Olija Reviews

The product of a one man team, Olija is a tight and entertaining seafarer’s voyage that manages to be memorable despite not bringing anything particularly revolutionary to the table. Instead, it’s in the atmosphere and tone that Olija excels, proving that the deep blue sea isn’t full of just terrors.

As this game is available on Game Pass if you’re into 2D action platformers then I highly recommend it. It’s a solid 4 to 5 hours of engaging combat in a genre that rarely feels this heavy. That goes for the story as well which uses a minimalist style to tell a tale of lonely sadness. Olija doesn’t give the best first impression, but if you stick with it I think you’ll end up having one hell of a good time.

Olija stars Lord Faraday, leader of a struggling fishing village who gets shipwrecked during an expedition. He awakens alone in Terraphage, a collection of islands corrupted by an ancient evil and home to a foreign civilization governed by the mysterious Lady Olija. Who is Olija, what is this malevolent force, and how does Faraday rescue his crew and return home? Answering those tantalizing questions is a blast, because Olija looks good and plays better, making it one of the year’s first pleasant surprises.

Olija is incredibly cinematic, despite its minimalist approach to art style. The game still feels fantastical thanks to an incredible attention to detail with both the visual and sound design. In addition, Olija tells a heartfelt story with important themes, while keeping satisfying gameplay at the center of it all. It becomes even more impressive when you realize the game was practically developed by one person, Thomas Olsson of Skeleton Crew Studios. Olija is a pleasant treat and likely an early frontrunner for one of the best indie titles of 2021.

When I first saw Olija being advertised, the thing that really struck me was the gameplay. The character fluidly teleporting around the battlefield and carving pixelated chunks of flesh from their opponents. I knew nothing of the context for what was happening. I didn’t really care. It looked hectic, vicious and all kinds of enticing. In practice, all these attributes lie at the core of Olija. There’s just a lot of wasted time that surrounds it.

Expect fluid combat and a captivating atmosphere, with an art style that might not be everyone's cup of tea.

Olija is a unique, intriguing adventure that brings players to a strange land. It isn't long but its length is enough. The visuals and atmosphere are first-rate, as are the combat and level design. All of that makes it an easy game to recommend.

Olija is Devolver Digital‘s latest release; a beautiful homage to the early days of 2D pixel-art action and platforming. You play as Lord Faraday, your story beginning as you set sail in one last attempt to bring riches back to your people and your poverty stricken land. After getting shipwrecked on a mysterious island, you must search for an ancient harpoon of legend and rescue your crew.

But some of this might just be me being cantankerous. I can’t say Olija is all that great, but it’s definitely a solid game that aimed at what it wanted to be and hit it squarely. It’s unlikely to be anyone’s favorite game, but it is – at least – doing its own thing with no small degree of confidence.

Olija is a new action-adventure game made by Skeleton Crew Studio, published by Devolver Digital, and showcasing all the hallmarks of an indie darling. With fast-paced combat and an addictive gameplay loop, it has the makings of another decent slasher. However, with the help of extraordinary animation, excellent pacing, and a heartfelt narrative, it is lifted to wonderful heights.

The only disappointing thing about Olija is that there is so much promise and potential in what has been created already. People often say a short game respects their time but I left Olija wanting more. Perhaps the short and concise story is a contributor to what makes Olija so great but after only 5 hours I was incredibly impressed but sad it was over. It would be an absolute disservice to yourself to miss out on this game. A beautiful story told wonderfully and compact enough you could finish it in an evening. Thomas Olsson, the game’s developer, should be incredibly proud of what he has accomplished here. Do not sleep on Olija.

With Olija, what you see is what you get. It is well-executed for the most part and is an absolute joy to play. If this is your type of game, don't hesitate to pick this one up.

But that’s about the only complaint I can leverage at Olija. Aside from occasionally getting lost, every moment spent with this short adventure game is a joy. You’ll see the credits roll in less than six hours, but you’ll likely be itching to jump back in and continue exploring after that. The harpoon makes for a unique and useful weapon; whether you’re using it to destroy your foes or to transport yourself across the screen, it’s a fluid and rewarding experience. One of the first games of 2021 I’ve sank my teeth into, Olija certainly has set the bar high.

This darkly atmospheric action adventure delivers great grapple.

This tale of a man shipwrecked in a strange land feels like it ends before we can get invested in its world and characters.

Olija subverts the expectations of an unforgiving old-school adventure for something more fun and breezing, verging on slapstick combat, yet still dripping with atmosphere thanks to its impressionistic pixel art and excellent audio. Being a castaway makes for a good escape.

Olija might not be long and might not have the most interesting combat, but the story and style of the game make it worth playing.

Olija is a short-lived odyssey, and it would’ve been great if there were additional difficulties or any sort of incentive to replay its brief, four-hour campaign. But as a bite-sized 2D action adventure, it leaves a very strong impression thanks to a magical harpoon that makes fighting, moving, and discovering secrets especially rewarding. Its combat in particular packs a surprising amount of depth and flexibility, even if its enemies and bosses never really stepped up and demanded that I engage with that depth to defeat them. Much like Faraday himself, I don’t see myself ever returning to Olija’s mysterious world, but it’s an adventure I won’t soon forget.