Trine

🎮 Steam ⏳ 18 hours ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Magical Puzzle Adventure #

Trine is a charming and visually enchanting puzzle-platformer that blends side-scrolling action with clever physics-based challenges. Set in a beautifully rendered fantasy world (which we are never told the name), the game features three distinct characters, a knight, a thief, and a wizard, each with unique abilities that players must switch between to solve puzzles and navigate obstacles. The game’s strongest points are its vibrant art style, atmospheric music, and the satisfying interplay of character skills.

Co-Op Fantasy Fun #

The physics engine allows for creative problem-solving, though sometimes the controls and hit detection can feel imprecise, especially in combat. I highly recommend playing this with a friend in coop, even if remotely (Steam Remote Play, Parsec, etc) unfortunately this was not the case for me, although it is still a very enjoyable experience if played alone. Overall, Trine delivers a magical and engaging experience, particularly in co-op play, and laid the foundation for a successful indie franchise, which build upon it’s foundations to create much better games along the years.

Playful Puzzle Freedom #

One aspect where this game truly shines is in how it encourages experimentation rather than enforcing a single “correct” solution. Many puzzles can be approached in multiple ways depending on how creatively the player uses each character’s abilities, whether stacking objects with the wizard, grappling across gaps with the thief, or brute-forcing solutions with the knight’s shield and strength. This open-ended design gives the game a playful, almost toy-like quality, where trial and error feels rewarding instead of punishing, and clever improvisation is often the most satisfying path forward.

Flawed but Charming #

Now, for some of its flaws, combat tends to be the weakest element, often feeling repetitive and less thoughtfully designed than the puzzles themselves, with enemies serving more as obstacles than engaging encounters. Occasional difficulty spikes and minor technical frustrations can disrupt the otherwise smooth pacing. Still, these issues do little to diminish the overall charm of the experience. As a debut title, the very first Trine stands as a memorable and inventive puzzle-platformer, whose imagination and artistic confidence outweigh its shortcomings and make it well worth revisiting, even years after its release.