While people commonly like to bemoan the amount of kid-friendly fare on the typical Nintendo system, all things considered in the Switch generation and the indie space it’s actually pretty sparse. Sure, there are educational games or ones that skew very low, looking to appeal to first-time players. But it’s less common to see ones that just about any gamer could play, but are still satisfying enough for older players as well. With its mix of whimsy, mild action, and very approachable puzzling, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is one such title though.

As the title character, who seems to be sort of a traveling musician and good friend to the Moomins, you’ll come back to see your friends after their hibernation through the winter only to find something is amiss. Someone has turned the forest they live in into some sort of tourist trap, kidnapping your best friend to boot. Of course, you know that this means war, so as Snufkin you go out on a brutal killing rampage of vengeance, with your heart set on making them pay in blood. Sorry, no, he instead sets out to explore, help out and get aid from the various forest inhabitants, and win the day through a mix of his charm and a variety of musical instruments over the course of the adventure. 

While there are levels you need to advance, and experience to gain along the way, on the whole everything is played pretty low-key, and for the most part it all comes pretty easily. Most of your progress comes from performing simple tasks or completing some sort of puzzle, but there are sometimes sections that require some stealth and an odd maze to boot. Mistakes are generally met with just a mild setback, with the emphasis being on simple wholesome enjoyment more than anything else, and it’s difficult not to at least be somewhat charmed by the experience even if it skews to being quite simple for the most part.

The result is a warm hug of a gaming experience that should truly be an all-ages affair. The unique art style, generally soft colors and charming characters come together to play out in an almost storybook fashion. Yet even experienced jaded gamers should be able to enjoy it if they’ll slow down and pause to take it in.