Cocoon (video game)

Last updated

Cocoon
Cocoon Cover Art.png
Developer(s) Geometric Interactive
Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive
Director(s) Jeppe Carlsen
Producer(s) Mads Engberg Hansen
Composer(s) Jakob Schmid
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
ReleaseSeptember 29, 2023
Genre(s)
Mode(s) Single-player

Cocoon is a 2023 puzzle adventure game developed by Geometric Interactive and published by Annapurna Interactive. The player controls a beetle that can hop between worlds, solving puzzles to unravel the universe's mysteries. The game was released on September 29, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. [1]

Contents

Cocoon received generally positive reviews from critics.

Gameplay

The player can pull specific objects found throughout the world. Cocoon Gameplay Screenshot.webp
The player can pull specific objects found throughout the world.

Cocoon is a third-person puzzle video game. The player controls a small insectoid creature navigating multiple desolate worlds.

The player wakes up in a barren wasteland, soon after discovering a mysterious orb. Each orb contains one of the game's worlds, allowing the player to hop between them, while also doubling as a unique ability in itself. The orb can also be used to power the various machinery found in these desolate worlds, such as lifts and platforms. As the player reaches the end of each orb, they are confronted by a boss fight they must complete by using a mechanic to impede the creature. [2]

Development

Cocoon was directed by Jeppe Carlsen, who previously designed Limbo and Inside . According to Carlsen, the game started development shortly after he left Playdead in 2016, and was centered around how "spatial relationships between interconnected realms could be used in puzzles". Composer Jakob Schmid and art director Erwin Kho joined Carlsen to form Geometric Interactive. [3]

The game was initially conceived as a sidescroller, but they found that it lessened the impact of traveling between worlds and switched the perspective to top-down. Cocoon's sound design is entirely made up of synthetic noises rather than recordings. Certain orb designs did not make the final cut: a rhythm orb that worked in tandem with the game's music, for instance, proved too distracting to players. [4]

Reception

Cocoon received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic. [5] [6] [7] 98% of critics recommend the game on OpenCritic. [9]

Kim Hana of IGN praised the design of the puzzles, writing, "seeing how each piece of the puzzle interacts with others and figuring out the layers between them is some of the most mesmerizing and engaging stuff I've seen in a while". [2] Eurogamer's Christian Donlan enjoyed the art direction of Cocoon, feeling that it captured the alien nature of the setting, "you're exploring worlds that are both gloopy and organic, filled with heavily vesseled tumours and sacs and twitching mandibles". [12]

Rachel Watts of GamesRadar+ liked how the game placed the player into a "flowstate" with its puzzles, "Sure, you may need to get those neurons firing for one of two puzzles, but solving the majority is a more meditative experience". [14]

In Game Informer's review of the game, Kyle Hilliard felt that some of the puzzles could be a bit drawn out, saying, "there are a few instances where I felt I was going through a motion to finish a puzzle as opposed to arriving at a moment of brilliant catharsis". [13] Writing for Polygon , Grayson Morley said that he loved the soundtrack, feeling it complemented the atmosphere perfectly, "A gorgeous synth soundtrack accompanies your journey, occasionally threaded with a dampened piano glissando that never fails to inspire dread". [17]

Ed Thron's Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game for not being overly obtuse, writing that "solutions are often intuitive twists on a blueprint", rather than "brain-busting world swappery". [20]

Awards

The game was selected by Eurogamer as their Game of the Year. [21]

Awards and nominations
YearCeremonyCategoryResultRef.
2023 Golden Joystick Awards Ultimate Game of the Year Nominated [22]
Best Indie GameNominated
Breakthrough AwardWon
The Game Awards 2023 Best Independent GameNominated [23]
Best Debut Indie GameWon
2024 27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Game of the Year Nominated [24] [25]
Adventure Game of the Year Nominated
Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game Won
Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Game Design Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Audio Design Nominated
24th Game Developers Choice Awards Game of the Year Nominated [26] [27]
Best AudioHonorable mention
Best DebutNominated
Best DesignNominated
Innovation AwardNominated
Best TechnologyHonorable mention
Best Visual ArtNominated
Audience AwardNominated
Independent Games Festival Seumas McNally Grand Prize Nominated [28] [29]
Excellence in AudioNominated
Excellence in DesignNominated
20th British Academy Games Awards Best Game Longlisted [30]
Debut Game Nominated [31] [32]
Artistic Achievement Nominated
Family Nominated
Game Design Nominated
New Intellectual Property Longlisted [33]

Related Research Articles

<i>Baldurs Gate</i> Franchise of fantasy role-playing video games

Baldur's Gate is a series of role-playing video games set in the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting. The series has been divided into two sub-series, known as the Bhaalspawn Saga and the Dark Alliance, both taking place mostly within the Western Heartlands, but the Bhaalspawn Saga extends to Amn and Tethyr. The Dark Alliance series was released for consoles and was critically and commercially successful. The Bhaalspawn Saga was critically acclaimed for using pausable realtime gameplay, which is credited with revitalizing the computer role-playing game (CRPG) genre.

The BAFTA Games Awards or British Academy Games Awards are an annual British awards ceremony honouring "outstanding creative achievement" in the video game industry. First presented in 2004 following the restructuring of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, the awards are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Media Molecule</span> British video game developer

Media Molecule Ltd. is a British video game developer based in Guildford, Surrey. Founded in 2006 by Mark Healey, Alex Evans, David Smith, and Kareem Ettouney, Sony Computer Entertainment acquired the firm in 2010. It became part of SCE Worldwide Studios. The company is best known for developing the LittleBigPlanet series, 2013's Tearaway, and 2020's Dreams for PlayStation consoles.

God of War is a fantasy action-adventure game franchise created by David Jaffe and developed by Santa Monica Studio. It began in 2005 for the PlayStation 2 (PS2) video game console and has become a flagship series for the PlayStation, consisting of nine installments across multiple platforms. Based on ancient mythologies, the series' plot follows Kratos, a Spartan warrior who becomes the God of War and comes into conflict with various mythological pantheons. The earlier games in the series are based on Greek mythology and see Kratos follow a path of vengeance against the Olympian gods; the later games in the series are based on Norse mythology and see Kratos go on a path of redemption while also introducing his son Atreus as a secondary protagonist.

<i>Closure</i> (video game) 2012 video game

Closure is a puzzle-platform game developed by American programmer Tyler Glaiel and artist Jon Schubbe with music and sound by Chris Rhyne. Originally available as a Flash game on the website Newgrounds, a full version of the game was later released for Microsoft Windows, Macintosh, and PlayStation Network in Spring 2012. A Linux port was included in the Humble Indie Bundle 7 in 2012.

<i>Limbo</i> (video game) 2010 video game

Limbo is a puzzle-platform video game with horror elements developed by independent studio Playdead and originally published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox 360. The game was released in July 2010 on Xbox Live Arcade, and has since been ported by Playdead to several other systems, including the PlayStation 3, Linux and Microsoft Windows. Limbo is a 2D side-scroller, incorporating a physics system that governs environmental objects and the player character. The player guides an unnamed boy through dangerous environments and traps as he searches for his sister. The developer built the game's puzzles expecting the player to fail before finding the correct solution. Playdead called the style of play "trial and death", and used gruesome imagery for the boy's deaths to steer the player from unworkable solutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Annapurna Interactive</span> Video game publisher

Annapurna Games, LLC is an American video game publisher and developer. The company is a division of Annapurna Pictures, and was founded in 2016. Notable games published by the company include What Remains of Edith Finch, Outer Wilds, Neon White and Stray.

<i>Moss</i> (video game) 2018 video game

Moss is a virtual reality adventure game developed and published by American video game development studio Polyarc. The game is presented from a blend of first-person and third-person perspectives, with a primary focus on solving puzzles. Moss was released for the PlayStation 4 in February 2018. In June, a PC version featuring high-resolution graphics was released. A PlayStation 5 version was released in February 2023.

<i>Harry Potter</i> video games Licensed video games based on the Harry Potter novels

The Harry Potter video games are a series of video games based on the Wizarding World franchise originally created by J. K. Rowling. Many of the Harry Potter-inspired video games are tie-ins to the film adaptations of the same name. The main series features a video game for every film. There are multiple distinct versions for individual games.

<i>Baldurs Gate 3</i> 2023 video game

Baldur's Gate 3 is a 2023 role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main installment to the Baldur's Gate series, based on the tabletop fantasy role-playing system of Dungeons & Dragons. A partial version of the game was released in early access format for macOS and Windows in October 2020. It remained in early access until its full release for Windows in August 2023, with versions for PlayStation 5, macOS, and Xbox Series X/S releasing later that year.

<i>Party Animals</i> (video game) 2023 multiplayer brawler

Party Animals is a multiplayer physics-based brawler/party video game developed by Recreate Games and published by Source Technology. The game was released for Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on September 20, 2023.

<i>Terra Nil</i> 2023 strategy videogame

Terra Nil is a strategy video game developed by Free Lives and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released for Windows, iOS and Android on March 28, 2023; the mobile port was released as part of the Netflix subscription service. Ports for macOS, Linux, and the Nintendo Switch were released later in 2023.

<i>Thirsty Suitors</i> 2023 video game

Thirsty Suitors is an adventure video game about a young woman, Jala, who returns to her hometown for her sister's wedding and must navigate her relationships with her family and former paramours. It has been developed by Outerloop Games and published by Annapurna Interactive. The game was released on November 2, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

<i>Venba</i> (video game) 2023 video game

Venba is a narrative cooking video game developed and published by Visai Games. The story begins in 1988 and follows an immigrant couple settling down in Canada and adjusting their day-to-day lives in the new environment. The player controls the titular character, Venba, an Indian woman who moves with her husband to Toronto, where they eventually have a son. The game draws heavily from Tamil culture and South Indian cuisine. The game was released on July 31, 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.

<i>Disney Illusion Island</i> 2023 video game

Disney Illusion Island is a 2023 platform video game developed by Dlala Studios and published by Disney Electronic Content for the Nintendo Switch. The game received mixed or average reviews upon release.

<i>Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical</i> 2023 video game

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is a roleplaying musical adventure game developed by Summerfall Studios and published by Humble Games. The game was released on August 10, 2023, for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

<i>Viewfinder</i> (video game) 2023 video game

Viewfinder is a puzzle video game developed by Sad Owl Studios and published by Thunderful Publishing. The game was released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in July 2023.

<i>Chants of Sennaar</i> 2023 video game

Chants of Sennaar is a 2023 adventure video game developed by Rundisc and published by Focus Entertainment. It was released for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 5 September 2023. The game is inspired by Heaven's Vault and Captain Blood. The gameplay mostly revolves around solving puzzles and minigames to translate fictional languages, but it also features stealth gameplay. The plot is inspired by the Tower of Babel myth, with the player translating between various different tribes that don't understand each other, as they speak different languages.

The 20th British Academy Video Game Awards were hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts on 11 April 2024 to honour the best video games of 2023. Held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, the ceremony was hosted by comedian Phil Wang for the first time. Nominations were announced on March 7, 2024, with epic fantasy roleplaying game Baldur's Gate 3 earning a leading eleven nominations. Charity SpecialEffect was honoured with the BAFTA Special Award for their work in making gaming more accessible to people with physical disabilities. Baldur's Gate 3 received the most wins at the ceremony, with five including Best Game.

References

  1. ↑ Holt, Kris (June 29, 2023). "Recursive puzzle adventure game 'Cocoon' will arrive on September 29th". Engadget . Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 Kim, Hana (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon Review". IGN . Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ Croft, Liam (June 30, 2023). "Interview: How Cocoon Melds Many Worlds into One Promising Game". Push Square . Archived from the original on October 1, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ Bailey, Jason M. (September 28, 2023). "In Cocoon, a Journey Between Mysterious Worlds Awaits". The New York Times . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "Cocoon for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Cocoon for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  7. 1 2 "Cocoon for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on October 23, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Cocoon for Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on November 22, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Cocoon Reviews". OpenCritic . September 28, 2023. Archived from the original on November 2, 2023. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  10. ↑ Colantonio, Giovanni (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon review: mesmerizing indie will put you inside of a bug's brain". Digital Trends . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  11. ↑ Bloodworth, Daniel (September 28, 2023). "Review: Cocoon". Easy Allies . Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Donlan, Christian (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon review - prepare to be astonished". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Hilliard, Kyle (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon Review - Molecular Mystification". Game Informer . Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  14. 1 2 Watts, Rachel (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon review: 'An utterly spellbinding puzzle platformer'". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  15. ↑ Helm, Jordan (September 28, 2023). "Review: Cocoon". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  16. ↑ Bailes, Jon (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon review". PC Gamer . Archived from the original on October 3, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Morley, Grayson (September 28, 2023). "The puzzle game Cocoon is impossibly good". Polygon . Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  18. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon Review (PS5)". Push Square . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  19. ↑ Denzer, TJ (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon review: Whole wide worlds in your hands". Shacknews . Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  20. ↑ Thron, Ed (September 28, 2023). "Cocoon review: this puzzler is a world-hopping delight". Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Archived from the original on September 28, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Cocoon is Eurogamer's game of 2023". Eurogamer . December 25, 2023. Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  22. ↑ Loveridge, Sam (November 10, 2023). "Here are all the Golden Joystick Awards 2023 winners". GamesRadar+ . Archived from the original on November 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2023.
  23. ↑ Spangler, Todd (November 13, 2023). "The Game Awards 2023 Nominations: Alan Wake 2, Baldur's Gate 3 Lead the Pack With Eight Noms Each (Full List)". Variety . Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ "27th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Finalists". interactive.org. Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  25. ↑ Chandler, Sam (February 15, 2024). "The D.I.C.E. Awards 2024 winners & finalists". Shacknews . Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  26. ↑ Sinclair, Brendan (January 16, 2024). "Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur's Gate 3 top GDC Award nominations". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on January 16, 2024.
  27. ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (March 21, 2024). "Game Developers Choice Awards 2024 Winners: The Full List". IGN. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  28. ↑ Elderkin, Beth (January 11, 2024). "Visai Games' Venba leads finalists for the 2024 IGF Awards". Game Developer . Archived from the original on January 11, 2024.
  29. ↑ Castle, Katharine (March 21, 2024). "Venba wins IGF Grand Prize for 2024". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Archived from the original on March 21, 2024. Retrieved March 21, 2024.
  30. ↑ "The 60 Best Video Games of 2023". bafta.org. British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Bafta Games Awards 2024: Baldur's Gate 3 and Spider-Man lead nods". BBC News. March 7, 2024. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  32. ↑ "20th BAFTA Games Awards: The Nominations". BAFTA. March 7, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  33. ↑ "The 60 Best Video Games of 2023". bafta.org. British Academy of Film and Television Arts . Retrieved March 26, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.