Giraffe and Annika

About

"Giraffe and Annika" is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game with an intriguing story and stellar gameplay. As Annika, you explore the mysterious Island of Spica, solving hidden mysteries and challenging five unique dungeons to recover star fragments. The game features phenomenal graphics and soundtrack, as well as cute cat collectibles and a comic-book style narrative. A recent DLC includes an art book and comic book for fans to enjoy.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 89 reviews

story23 positive mentions

stability4 negative mentions

The game features a charming and heartwarming story with adorable characters that resonate emotionally with players.
The combination of exploration, platforming, and rhythm-based boss fights creates a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience.
The art style and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall cozy and relaxing atmosphere of the game.

Gameplay can be clunky at times, particularly with swimming mechanics and rhythm game controls that may frustrate players.
The game is relatively short, taking around 6-8 hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
There are minor technical issues and bugs, such as character movement glitches and unclear checkpoints, that can detract from the experience.

story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
56%
5%
The story of the game is described as a charming and emotional journey, often surprising players with its depth and bittersweet moments. While it starts off simple and somewhat predictable, it evolves into a more engaging narrative with heartfelt twists that can evoke strong emotions, including tears at the end. The storytelling is enhanced by unique comic book-style presentations and adorable characters, making it a delightful experience for both children and adults.
- “Just finished the game and what a lovely bittersweet story it was.”
- “I thought the story was wonderful and very moving; I may or may not have cried at the end. It's quite a short game, I was able to beat it in about 8 1/2 hours, so if you're looking for something you can finish over the weekend, it's a perfect length.”
- “The characters were adorable, the story was heartwarming, and the soundtrack was amazing!”
- “The story is mostly predictable and several clues are given to you right at the start, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.”
- “The story is a bit confusing; it's all told in manga cutscenes, and then some cutscenes in-game as well.”
- “But removing standard core gameplay features (jump, swim, run) for the sake of making them the exclusive story-progression rewards left a sour taste in my mouth.”
music
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
44%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its charm and quality, with many reviewers noting its soothing and catchy nature that complements the game's visuals and atmosphere. The rhythm-based boss fights offer a refreshing twist, although some players felt the limited number of tracks was a drawback. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's adorable and heartwarming experience.
- “The true strength of this game, in my opinion, is the music, which was wonderful throughout, reminiscent of Joe Hisaishi, complementing the game's beautiful visual style, which very much looks inspired by Studio Ghibli.”
- “A really pretty game with a really soothing and calming soundtrack, definitely recommend.”
- “The characters were adorable, the story was heartwarming, and the soundtrack was amazing!”
- “Although the game claims to be a rhythm game, it only features 5 music tracks with 5 rhythm battles that feel more like a tennis game.”
- “The day/night cycle feels a bit too short, causing NPCs to run home before I have a chance to finish their quests, and the soundtracks switch rather often.”
- “So far, the songs have been pretty memorable, but I can tell I'm going to be disappointed that there are only 5 songs in total.”
emotional
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and wholesome story, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking tears, especially towards the end. Reviewers appreciate the charming characters and the blend of cute visuals with an engaging narrative, making it a relaxing yet impactful experience. Overall, the game successfully delivers a bittersweet emotional journey that leaves a lasting impression.
- “Apparently I did not learn my lesson as a kid with the dog island on the Wii that wholesome cute games can have strong stories that just make you break out in tears, especially at the end.”
- “Giraffe and Annika tells a rather interesting and emotional story through the use of a comic book and in-game events.”
- “Without spoiling the ending, it was very bittersweet and made me cry, but it also wrapped up the game very nicely.”
gameplay
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
58%
16%
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and rhythm mechanics, providing a casual yet enjoyable experience. While some players noted clunky controls and occasional technical issues, the overall journey is described as charming and engaging, with a well-paced introduction of new mechanics. However, the removal of core gameplay features for story progression was a point of contention, leaving players wanting more depth and tighter mechanics in potential sequels.
- “The world is adorable and easy to navigate in, the soundtracks are nice, gameplay (while casual and not punishing players much at all for mistakes) is fun, and the rhythm mechanic for boss fights was a nice change of pace from the usual RPG formats.”
- “The gameplay has everything that I love: story, exploration, small puzzles, platforming, secrets, and even rhythm.”
- “Gameplay is mostly simple adventuring, but the rhythm game boss fights are what separates this game from the rest.”
- “Gameplay can be a bit clunky at times (especially swimming) and it's a bit short (around 6 hours) but it was a nice journey anyway.”
- “The gameplay was not difficult at all, though I was having odd issues with the left click sometimes not registering, which made for some frustrating attempts at the later rhythm game fights.”
- “But removing standard core gameplay features (jump, swim, run) for the sake of making them the exclusive story-progression rewards left a sour taste in my mouth.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
56%
17%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a consistent and charming art style, featuring cute characters and a blend of 2D and 3D elements that create a relaxing atmosphere. While some users noted minor technical issues reminiscent of older gaming eras, the overall presentation, including artwork and storytelling, is praised for its quality and appeal. Despite not being groundbreaking, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's enjoyable and immersive experience.
- “Everything about this game is built full of love and care from its devs, from the graphics to the story to the balance of the mechanics to every single tiny detail.”
- “Presentation, artwork, and storytelling are really great, and overall it makes for a very relaxing and adorable experience.”
- “The graphics are just amazing.”
- “While from a graphical/technological point of view, it's not perfect (still pretty nicely done though), I simply loved the game!”
- “While the game is a little rough around the edges with its weird PS1-era collision on objects, I still felt compelled to finish the story and even do a little extra exploring for the 'meowsterpieces', collectible artwork that can really only be described as feline fanart, though none of it is related to the world of Giraffe and Annika oddly enough.”
- “It's not terribly long and the graphics won't blow you away but there is a lot to enjoy here.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurdity, such as blowing up gigantic rocks with a shotgun, and is complemented by charming comic cutscenes and well-designed character sprites. Reviewers appreciate the blend of cuteness and wit, noting that the developer captures the essence of humor with heartwarming moments. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with emotional depth.
- “Lastly, can I just say that it's absolutely hilarious how you get to blow up gigantic rocks by shooting at them with a shotgun?”
- “This developer truly understands the most important thing about being cute and funny; it's the heart.”
- “The comic cutscenes have a cute art style and feature a lot of funny moments. The character sprites in the dialogue boxes look great too.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting smooth performance. However, some users have experienced minor glitches, such as characters getting stuck and dialogue issues, though these do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “I encountered a couple of minor glitches, like Annika getting stuck at one point and a quest dialogue not disappearing when I clicked close at first.”
- “Despite some glitches, this game pleases the player.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a comfy and serene ambiance, enhanced by soothing music and appealing graphics, creating an inviting environment that encourages players to relax and enjoy their time with the characters.
- “The atmosphere is really serene and the music is too.”
- “Aside from a couple of platforming segments that took me a few tries, it's an easy game, and that's fine; the atmosphere generated by the music and graphics is comfy and will make you want to just hang out and have a good time with these characters.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is highlighted through engaging story segments presented in charming manga panels, complemented by detailed character designs made possible by Unreal Engine 4's impressive 3D capabilities.
- “Story segments are told through cute manga panels and showcase the detailed character designs.”
- “This game uses Unreal Engine 4, which has impressive 3D character design.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The game suffers from optimization issues, but these do not significantly detract from the overall gameplay experience.
- “The game itself is not well optimized, but it does not spoil the gameplay.”
- “The optimization issues in this game are frustrating, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I was really disappointed with the optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested on various hardware.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the poor optimization makes it nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”