Tall Trails review

Adversity is abundant in video gaming. But sometimes, I just want to wander around rather than have to conquer some overwhelming form of villainy. And that’s exactly what makes Brady Soglin’s Tall Trails such a delightful experience. From the moment Alp, the game’s grinning golem, steps onto the game’s colorful, lo-fi landscapes, it is clear that this is a game designed to pique your curiosity and provide a sense of tranquility.

Unlike games that rely on high-stakes conflict or punishing mechanics, Tall Trails delivers an untroubled ramble through its imaginative world. The focus here isn’t on survival or combat. Instead, the thrills exploration and discovery, as well as simple joy of movement, will impel a trek through five different biomes.

A Golem Without a Goal

Driving this journey is Alp’s perceived lack of purpose. Other golems in Tall Trails’ world were created for specific roles. But like many of us occasionally feel, Alp hasn’t found his calling, providing the game with a lighthearted but relatable premise. Instead of embarking on a quest to save the world, this little golem’s adventure is rooted in self-discovery, providing a premise that’s refreshingly tender. Delightfully, the game’s fantastical mechanics mesh comfortably with this character study.

Likely, the most distinctive of those systems is the Rocket Boot that Alp carries on his back. This isn’t just a basic backpack, but a magical container that’s capable of holding anything Alp picks up along the way. Everything from mushrooms, frogs, jars of peppers, to an entire house can be stowed inside, before being converted into makeshift fuel.

Fueling Fun, One Frog at a Time

Fascinatingly, each item has unique properties that affect how Alp launches himself upward, providing a constant sense of playful experimentation. Here, chili peppers provide a rocket like boost, while sunflowers propel your skyward as each petal is plucked. But the boot isn’t a gimmick. Instead, it drives experimentation as you discover you to utilize each improved fuel source.

While there are plentiful sources of golum-petrol, you can also jump and hold onto surfaces as you as there’s enough stamina in the Breath of the Wild-style meter. As such, the combination of climbing, leaping, and soaring is fluid and joyful, generating a blissful sense of play. Where most platformers lean on challenge to hook players, Tall Trails taps into our sense of curiosity and is a better game for it.

This Boot is Made for Flying

The main story of Tall Trails is concise, delivering four or five hours of collecting, fueling, and climbing. Yet the game extends its life through modes like New Game+ and Randomizer, which remix its levels into fresh experiences. Collectible hats and badges add additional incentive, allowing players to customize Alp or enhance his abilities. These additions ensure that Tall Trails remains inviting even after the main story concludes, providing players with a way to extend the exploration.

Tall Trails was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.