The Mooseman

About

The Mooseman is a single player arcade action adventure game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Morteshka and was released on February 17, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

"The Mooseman" is a atmospheric 2D adventure game where players take on the role of the Mooseman, a mythological character from the Finno-Ugric culture. Explore different layers of the universe, use magical abilities to interact with the environment, and uncover ancient legends and lost stories. Immerse in the unique visual style and sound design, inspired by Perm animal style art.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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80%

Audience ScoreBased on 252 reviews

story51 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The Mooseman features stunning hand-drawn visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that create an immersive atmosphere.
The game offers a unique exploration of Finno-Ugric mythology, providing players with an educational experience about a lesser-known culture.
The minimalist gameplay encourages a meditative journey, allowing players to appreciate the art and storytelling without the pressure of complex mechanics.

The gameplay is slow-paced and can feel tedious, with many players finding the walking mechanics frustrating and the puzzles overly simplistic.
The narrative delivery through collectibles and menus can disrupt the flow of the game, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging experience.
Some players may find the lack of action and challenge disappointing, as the game leans heavily on exploration and atmosphere rather than traditional gameplay elements.

story
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The game's storytelling is characterized by its subtle and poetic approach, drawing heavily from finno-ugric mythology and environmental cues to create an immersive experience. While some players appreciate the meditative pace and rich cultural context, others find the abstract narrative and slow gameplay less engaging. Overall, the story is praised for its artistic presentation and unique folklore, though it may not resonate with those seeking more traditional or action-driven narratives.
- “Its approach to storytelling is subtle and poetic, relying heavily on environmental cues, cryptic symbolism, and fragmented folklore to immerse players in a culture rarely explored in video games.”
- “The story itself is refreshing, not only because of its low-key shamanic hero, but because it gives players a very well-researched and immersive glimpse into lesser-known ancient religious beliefs.”
- “The mooseman offers a delve into the mythology of ancient Russian cultures, allowing you to take part in a story involving Komi folklore.”
- “The story of the game is told mostly through lore-collectibles that unlock somewhat poorly written text (at least in the English translation) that's accessed through plain-looking menus, and through text cutscenes; the main story is actually told in the lore-collectibles before you reach it in the actual story progression, which takes away the value of the narrative of the game, since you already know it by the time you reach it.”
- “The story is not that interesting – you've not much connection to the player character and myths are always a tad too absurd/figurative to be immersive.”
- “The gameplay is boring and the 'story' intervenes constantly.”
music
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, blending natural sounds with a minimalist soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the use of folk music and choral arrangements, which complement the stunning visuals and contribute to a mystical atmosphere rooted in mythology. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's artistic presentation and emotional impact.
- “The ambient audio is sparse yet richly textured, featuring natural sounds like wind, water, and animal calls that blend seamlessly with a haunting, minimalist soundtrack.”
- “The music, the art, the atmosphere it created was incredible.”
- “The mooseman is short, atmospheric game with haunting music and beautiful visuals.”
- “Music is also 'weird', it is Siberian vocal folk music.”
- “While the gameplay aspect is a little primitive, the visuals and the soundtrack make up for it.”
- “I do appreciate the artworks and music, but it is such boring if you are not into ancient histories.”
graphics
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
44%
3%
The graphics of "The Mooseman" are widely praised for their unique and evocative art style, which draws inspiration from Finno-Ugric mythology and ancient artifacts, creating a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere. While some players find the visuals stunning and immersive, others note that the simplicity can lead to a repetitive experience. Overall, the game's aesthetic, complemented by a fitting soundtrack, enhances the storytelling, making it a visually engaging journey despite some criticisms regarding gameplay depth.
- “In summary, The Mooseman stands out as an artistic and atmospheric adventure that brings Finno-Ugric mythology to life with subtle storytelling, evocative visuals, and immersive sound design.”
- “The art style is amazing, the game has a mythical atmosphere, and I absolutely love it!”
- “Stunning, hand-drawn visuals matched with beautiful music!”
- “The visuals seem okay at first, but quickly get repetitive and uninspired.”
- “Pretty aesthetic, but I'm sorry to say that is all it has.”
- “This may have special significance for Russian gamers, but since I'm not Russian, I can't recommend this; it's barely a game, and the graphics, artwork, and 'story' aren't notable enough to warrant any awards for 'games as art instead of games.'”
gameplay
93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The gameplay of "The Mooseman" is characterized by simple mechanics focused on exploration and puzzle-solving, primarily involving walking and light interactions with the environment. While some players appreciate the meditative atmosphere and cultural storytelling, others find the slow pace and limited gameplay elements tedious and unengaging. Overall, the game prioritizes mood and narrative over traditional gameplay challenges, making it more suitable for those interested in mythology and art rather than action-oriented experiences.
- “Gameplay centers around exploration and puzzle-solving, but these elements are deliberately restrained to maintain the game’s contemplative atmosphere.”
- “Rather than relying on complex mechanics, the game encourages observation, patience, and an intuitive understanding of its cryptic world.”
- “The gameplay is fun but challenging, and will want you to continue on until the game is done.”
- “Gameplay is very annoying from time to time though.”
- “The gameplay is essentially a walking simulator.”
- “Very limited gameplay mechanics result in tedious, repetitive puzzles and a lot of slow walking between them.”
atmosphere
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
23%
5%
The atmosphere of "The Mooseman" is widely praised for its haunting beauty and immersive qualities, effectively bringing finno-ugric mythology to life through minimalist design, evocative visuals, and a captivating soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a mystical and contemplative environment, although some note that the slow-paced gameplay may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game's artistic direction and sound design contribute significantly to its enchanting and atmospheric experience.
- “The Mooseman, developed and published by Morteshka, is a unique and atmospheric adventure game that dives deep into the rich tapestry of Finno-Ugric mythology, bringing to life ancient legends through a hauntingly beautiful and minimalist experience.”
- “The atmosphere was so realistic that I felt as if I were the real shaman traveling through three worlds.”
- “Absolutely beautiful game, stellar atmosphere through the splendid art and soundtrack.”
- “It's lacking a bit on the gameplay side and falls a bit too short, but the narrative and the atmosphere make up for it.”
- “The game features unique graphics and sound based on real historical heritage, and its atmosphere brings the myth to life and lets you feel and experience it.”
- “This game has a dark, mystic, shamanic atmosphere with a touching soundtrack as you go walking and discovering more about the mythology.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious and repetitive gameplay, with limited mechanics leading to frustrating puzzles and slow navigation. While some players find the puzzles manageable, many agree that the experience is marred by aggravating elements and a lack of engaging variety. Collectibles also contribute to the tedium, as they often require backtracking to find hidden items.
- “Very limited gameplay mechanics result in tedious, repetitive puzzles and a lot of slow walking between them.”
- “There are 'puzzles' that are more tedious than puzzling, there are action- and stealth-lite bits that are absolutely atrocious and the weird choice to make historic artifacts collectibles (despite them being a very vital part of the whole experience), only means that in 90% of all screens you need to go left first, to find a 'hidden' collectible immediately off the screen.”
- “They occasionally try some mechanics to 'mix things up', but these are more aggravating and tedious than anything.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, with many users noting its short length and lack of substantial content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some collectibles offer a slight incentive to revisit, the primary appeal lies in experiencing the art and sound rather than engaging gameplay.
- “Mooseman comes at a fair price point, is short but mostly pretty well put together, and by way of collectibles offers some replayability.”
- “Small game, not really any replay value apart from experiencing the art and sound again.”
- “Rather short and with no replay value.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game emotionally resonant, highlighting its dark, mystic atmosphere and touching soundtrack that enhance the exploration of mythology. The experience evokes deep feelings, prompting reflections on freedom of perception and the spiritual journey, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “This game has a dark, mystic, shamanic atmosphere with a touching soundtrack as you go walking and discovering more about the mythology.”
- “I don't know how to accurately describe my emotional state after playing it... it just really resonated with me.”
- “The third point of reference is freedom of perception; it is intent; it is spirit; the somersault of thought into the miraculous; the act of reaching beyond our boundaries and touching the inconceivable.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is criticized for being buggy and unfinished, leading to frustrating experiences, particularly during artifact hunting and specific gameplay segments. Overall, users find the game to be amateurish, with significant technical issues detracting from the overall experience.
- “While the game itself is not bad, although quite boring, hunting for the artifacts scattered around the game is annoying, buggy, and pretty much impossible without a guide.”
- “But if we judge the game portion of The Mooseman, it's not very well done; the big fish part was buggy on my side and made it very painful to complete.”
- “Unfortunately, this game is buggy, unfinished, and amateurish – a student work.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is perceived as ironic, with players finding amusement in the idea of potentially refunding the game without even playing it, suggesting a self-aware or meta comedic element.
- “The humor in this game is absolutely top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever jokes and witty dialogue throughout the game.”
- “The comedic timing of the characters is perfect, adding a delightful layer to the gameplay.”