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Ogu and the Secret Forest

Ogu and the Secret Forest is an adorable take on the tried and tested Zelda formula, with varied gameplay and loads of hats to wear.
Ogu and the Secret Forest Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, stability
97% User Score Based on 323 reviews
Critic Score 85%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCEpic GamesTabletAndroidMac OSPhoneiPadSteam DeckMobile PlatformiPhoneWindows
Ogu and the Secret Forest Game Cover

About Ogu and the Secret Forest

Ogu and the Secret Forest is a single player and multiplayer open world platformer game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by Sinkhole Studio and was released on March 23, 2023. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Explore the wonderful world with baby Ogu! Unravel the mystery of the world.

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Reviews

97%Audience ScoreBased on 323 reviews
story32 positive mentions
grinding12 negative mentions

  • Charming art style and adorable characters with smooth animations and a whimsical, cozy atmosphere.
  • Large, well-crafted open world with lots of exploration, puzzles, bosses, and minigames that keep the gameplay varied and engaging.
  • Balanced difficulty with accessible modes, family-friendly content, and a captivating story with endearing NPCs and collectibles that enhance replay value.
  • Combat can feel stiff and clunky with some frustrating difficulty spikes; some boss fights and mini-games require precise timing or fast reflexes, which may alienate casual or less skilled players.
  • The extensive collectathon and achievement hunting, especially for the museum completion, can be grindy and tedious with random spawns and repetitive tasks.
  • Some menus are overwhelming and poorly designed; occasional bugs, awkward translation, lack of customization for controls, and minor technical issues detract from the overall experience.
  • story

    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    39% positive mentions, 57% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The story is generally described as cute, charming, and heartwarming, featuring a simple yet engaging plot about a young animal hero saving a magical world, with a focus on exploration and positive themes. While some find the narrative a bit generic or occasionally confusing due to numerous characters and fantasy elements, it is praised for its well-written dialogues, entertaining side quests, and emotional depth that appeals to both younger and older players. Overall, the story complements enjoyable gameplay and puzzles, making it a delightful experience without overstaying its welcome.

    • “The story is well told and vast considering all the characters you meet and befriend.”
    • “The game also has a genuinely really good story, then simultaneously doesn't take itself too seriously, but also isn't entirely ridiculous, like you end up caring about the world, and the characters, furthermore the story doesn't overstay its welcome, and neither does the game, I 100% completed the game in less than 40 hours.”
    • “The story, the hand drawn visuals and animated cutscenes, the adorable goofy cast, and the incredible soundtrack had me humming the same way I do for The Legend of Zelda.”
    • “The characters are fun, though as the game progressed it kind of lost me on the story arc because too many gods, peoples, weird terms, and beasts were involved; towards the end I mostly skipped over most of the dialogue.”
    • “The plot is quite plain and not very exciting though, but it is not an issue.”
    • “The combat is clunky, the puzzles are uninteresting, the story exists and nothing more.”
  • gameplay

    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    26% positive mentions, 67% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions

    The gameplay combines a variety of mechanics, puzzles, and collectibles inspired by metroidvania and Zelda-like exploration, offering a charming and often challenging experience with unique boss fights and hat-swapping abilities. While some find it occasionally overwhelming or slightly cluttered with menus, the overall execution is fun, engaging, and balanced, with difficulty settings to accommodate different players. Its diverse mechanics and cozy, heartful design create a deep yet accessible adventure praised for its charm and replayability.

    • “Many bosses have multiple phases and mechanics.”
    • “After the first dungeon the game is truly open with each area introducing a variety of new mechanics along the main path, while having secrets and side paths that require abilities from other areas, with the endgame utilizing your whole move set.”
    • “Just do yourself a favor and play this absolute gem of a game. It has so much charm and heart, and on top of that some seriously stellar gameplay. Each boss fight feels unique and fun, and the few times they do reuse a boss it has a changed mechanic that fundamentally changes how you approach the fight.”
    • “It is a mishmash of every mechanic the devs could think of, it's ostensibly for children but the difficulty spikes are real and bizarre, there are about 20 different inventory menus, and it feels like you never get out of the tutorial.”
    • “In the beginning it feels like a cute little top-down slash game like turnip boy etc., but it is a massive game with so many puzzles, dungeons, collectibles, and mechanics that it can be overwhelming.”
    • “To be fair, there is a mechanic that makes it easier to collect the bugs/fish you're missing; unfortunately, this mechanic is unlocked by collecting the two sigils that I did last, is still infuriatingly random and prone to giving you the wrong item, and you still have to suffer through the other categories.”
  • graphics

    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    55% positive mentions, 38% neutral mentions, 7% negative mentions

    The game's graphics feature a charming, hand-drawn, and cartoon-like art style that is widely praised for its cuteness and cozy, whimsical atmosphere. While relatively simple and sometimes low-res in cutscenes, the visuals effectively complement the engaging world, character design, and storybook feel, creating a delightful and immersive experience. Overall, the aesthetics are a major highlight, appealing especially to fans of charming indie adventure games.

    • “The visuals are lovely - the world is beautifully crafted and designed.”
    • “The attention to detail in the artwork is truly breathtaking, immersing players in a vibrant and living world.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous with a really childlike aesthetic to it that I personally love, but acknowledge might be an acquired taste.”
    • “Graphics are okay, some cut scenes were low resolution, despite the game supporting 4K.”
    • “Cute art style, combat is eh and the puzzles really suck.”
    • “[b]Ogu and the Secret Forest[/b] uses cartoon-like visuals with bold outlines and simple features.”
  • music

    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    69% positive mentions, 19% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions

    The game's music is widely praised for its beautiful, catchy, and well-composed soundtrack that perfectly complements the art style and atmosphere, enhancing exploration and immersion. Players appreciate the thoughtful integration of music into the world, creating a serene and enchanting experience, though some find repetitive sound effects after certain actions slightly irritating. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that significantly enriches the game's charm and depth.

    • “Art is beautiful and world building is awesome, OST is stellar, exploration is really fun.”
    • “The music, the story, the art style, the depth - everything that makes up this game is impeccable.”
    • “The music complements the visuals perfectly, creating an enchanting atmosphere that draws players deeper into the world.”
    • “The flourish/music after picking up bugs and fish, etc., gets annoying quickly.”
    • “I imagine a lot of passion went into developing the story, characters, and music.”
    • “It's very clear throughout the gameplay, music, and some special areas that the developers of this game are huge Pokemon fans, and I love that.”
  • emotional

    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game delivers a wholesome, heartwarming, and emotionally engaging experience, blending charming characters and cutscenes with a relaxing, immersive adventure. Its calming atmosphere and heartfelt story evoke strong emotional connections, making it a memorable and cozy journey for players.

    • “The ending was very sweet and heartwarming.”
    • “The wholesomeness of the game is mixed in so remarkably well with the dangers that go on in this world.”
    • “With no pressure to rush or compete, it lets you fully immerse yourself in its heartwarming story and enjoy the journey of being a hero at your own pace.”
  • grinding

    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 8% neutral mentions, 92% negative mentions

    Grinding in the game is generally manageable but becomes notably tedious when aiming for 100% completion, particularly with collecting gems, upgrading hats, and museum items required for the hidden ending. While the core gameplay isn't heavily grindy, certain side activities like fishing and crafting rely on RNG and repetitive tasks that some players may find frustrating. Overall, grinding is mostly optional and primarily impacts completionists.

    • “Upgrading your hats is unreasonably grindy for no particular reward.”
    • “I'm especially annoyed by how grindy and RNG-heavy the museum collection is (required for the hidden ending); fishing and chafs especially can take so much time since their appearance rates are so low.”
    • “If you spend a few hours getting a specific hat, it always has the same timing, but even then you're looking at 5-15 minutes of grinding QTEs to get another high-level fish to have a chance at making the dish again.”
  • atmosphere

    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    56% positive mentions, 33% neutral mentions, 11% negative mentions

    The atmosphere is praised for its beautiful, coordinated visuals and soothing soundtracks that create serene, relaxing, and enchanting environments. It effectively draws players in with a welcoming and memorable world, complemented by charming characters and engaging gameplay elements. Overall, the atmosphere enhances the storytelling and provides a calming yet immersive experience.

    • “The colors are beautifully coordinated and create wonderful places whose atmosphere is accompanied by beautiful soundtracks.”
    • “The soothing visuals and music create a serene atmosphere, making it an ideal choice for unwinding after a long day.”
    • “The music complements the visuals perfectly, creating an enchanting atmosphere that draws players deeper into the world.”
    • “However, all of them focused on a relaxing atmosphere, so they naturally fade into the background for me.”
  • humor

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game's humor is widely praised for being funny, adorable, and cleverly integrated with its cute art style and lovable characters. It features charming, subtle humor reminiscent of late 90s Nickelodeon shows, adding a playful and enjoyable tone that complements the story and gameplay.

    • “This fishing mini-game, while simple, is both funny and adorable. I like smacking the fish away instead of catching them; it's just so funny.”
    • “The theme and humor are all well done and pay clear respect to their obvious inspirational predecessors.”
    • “With art and subtle humor akin to a late 90s Nickelodeon show that should have existed.”
  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The stability aspect is not directly addressed in the user texts, which focus instead on the varied and emotive musical tracks within the game, ranging from cinematic and adventurous to enchanting and sentimental.

  • replayability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game offers strong replayability through its engaging puzzles and exploration, providing good value as a budget-friendly indie title. Players looking for an immersive experience with plenty to discover will find it worth multiple playthroughs.

    • “If you’re looking for an indie title that offers plenty of puzzles, exploration, and replay value at a budget-friendly price, this is definitely a must play.”
  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The optimization is praised for delivering smooth and stable performance, ensuring a seamless gaming experience without noticeable slowdowns or lag.

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game features charming character designs that complement its engaging gameplay and interesting story, making character development appealing and enjoyable for a wide audience.

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Play Times

30h Median play time
37h Average play time
26-56h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Ogu and the Secret Forest is a open world platformer game with fantasy and mystery themes. Common tags for Ogu and the Secret Forest include indie, trading, exploration, life sim, relaxing and others.

Ogu and the Secret Forest is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Phone and others.

On average players spend around 37 hours playing Ogu and the Secret Forest.

Ogu and the Secret Forest was released on March 23, 2023.

Ogu and the Secret Forest was developed by Sinkhole Studio.

Ogu and the Secret Forest has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Ogu and the Secret Forest for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Ogu and the Secret Forest is a single player game with multiplayer support.

Similar games include Mushi Come Home, Yoku's Island Express, Len's Island, Core Keeper, The Wild at Heart and others.