Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PC, Xbox Series X|S
2018’s Moss was a charming virtual reality-exclusive action-adventure featuring a brave mouse that embarks on a fairytale-inspired quest. Its equally enchanting sequel, Moss: Book II, again put players behind this blade-wielding rodent in an all-new fantasy-fueled romp.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic bundles both acclaimed titles, allowing faithful fans and fresh recruits to enjoy all the franchise’s swashbuckling fun in one definitive package. Even better, the compilation comes to non-VR platforms, reimagining the courageous creature’s pair of perilous journeys for those who’d rather clutch a controller than get behind the goggles.
This tiny hero’s adventures could rival any big screen fantasy saga.
For newcomers, this means discovering two of the best storybook adventures in recent years for the very first time. The series stars Quill, an adorable, unassuming mouse tasked with saving her uncle and, ultimately, her entire kingdom from the Arcane, an evil faction of robotic creepy crawlies. Toss in an epic quest for magical glass shards and a showdown with a screen-filling, fire-breathing serpent, and this tiny hero’s adventures could rival any big screen fantasy saga.
Those yet to fall in love with the medium’s cutest fantasy hero can also look forward to exploring lush, vibrant worlds packed with eye-popping effects, absorbing details, and plenty of cozy charm. They’ll also tackle environmental puzzles, overcome platforming challenges, and combat metallic menaces.
Fans who’ve had the pleasure of conquering Quill’s VR campaigns might wonder how the “Reader” translates to traditional platforms. In the originals, the player also assumed the role of this “Reader,” a second protagonist who could bond with Quill by reaching right into the virtual world to help her crack conundrums and battle baddies.
These immersive interactions lose some luster from behind a gamepad, but they fare much better when playing The Forgotten Relic on the Nintendo Switch 2, specifically in its handheld mode. This method allows the system’s touchscreen to essentially mimic those VR-specific inputs – from flipping through the storybook’s pages to fiddling with puzzle items and sidelining persistent foes – with your actual fingers.
The Switch 2’s portable mode also marries perfectly with the game’s bite-sized chapters, while its large LED display beautifully showcases the game’s diminutive, yet detail-drenched world. The leap from VR – even on Switch 2 – isn’t entirely without hiccups, however, as the adaptation’s more fixed camera occasionally leads to some frustrating navigation.
Still, if you missed Moss and its sequel during their VR run, The Forgotten Relic is the perfect way to experience them. And if you’re craving that extra bit of tactile immersion, the Switch 2 version nicely delivers on the titles’ original vision.
