This review contains spoilers
Röki is a game that addresses death, family relationships, and, consequently, the impact of death on family relationships. The game addresses these issues from a child's perspective, constantly conveying a heartache feeling. The story develops along with the maturation of the character's relationship with the death of Eva, Tove's mother. This development is very well written and very beautiful, but it doesn't make the game cozy because it constantly hurts. Despite not being a cozy game, it is indeed a peaceful game, as the characters' maturity makes them come to peace with themselves. And we have the opportunity to experience their whole process of maturation.
We can better appreciate the game if we think about what it would be like if it had gone down a different path. Imagine that Eve hadn't died, but was in the forest helping to restore it. Or that she had some relationship with the Jötnar, and that she had needed to fake her death for some reason. The characters would never have the chance to develop. Fortunately, the game took the story in exactly the opposite direction.
By making Eva's death something definitive and real, the game allowed Tove and Henrik to develop. At the beginning of the playthrough, I didn't know how Henrik would behave throughout the story. I was afraid Henrik was a character who could only be happy again if Eva appeared alive somehow. That was not the case. He became a healthier person, and his participation in the third chapter was incredible. Playing with father and daughter explored very well the feeling of family unity, and how it is fundamental to overcoming past shared traumas.
Röki made me reflect on why the study of literature at school doesn't treat video games with the same care as it does with books. Röki, as well as What Remains of Edith Finch, contributed greatly to the literature on death, leaving nothing to be desired compared to great classics such as The Death of Ivan Ilych. Röki is a game that helps us mature our relationship with death and appreciate what we have while we have it.
We can better appreciate the game if we think about what it would be like if it had gone down a different path. Imagine that Eve hadn't died, but was in the forest helping to restore it. Or that she had some relationship with the Jötnar, and that she had needed to fake her death for some reason. The characters would never have the chance to develop. Fortunately, the game took the story in exactly the opposite direction.
By making Eva's death something definitive and real, the game allowed Tove and Henrik to develop. At the beginning of the playthrough, I didn't know how Henrik would behave throughout the story. I was afraid Henrik was a character who could only be happy again if Eva appeared alive somehow. That was not the case. He became a healthier person, and his participation in the third chapter was incredible. Playing with father and daughter explored very well the feeling of family unity, and how it is fundamental to overcoming past shared traumas.
Röki made me reflect on why the study of literature at school doesn't treat video games with the same care as it does with books. Röki, as well as What Remains of Edith Finch, contributed greatly to the literature on death, leaving nothing to be desired compared to great classics such as The Death of Ivan Ilych. Röki is a game that helps us mature our relationship with death and appreciate what we have while we have it.