Kandria

Postapocalyptic 2D platformers are all the rage, with a few titles breaking some ground over the past couple of years. Kandria joins that legion with a more minimalist approach to the theme but with a seemingly artistic purpose. The game wants to be less violent and more exploratory, to allow a bit more exchange of dialogue, create backstories for the environment, and focus more on cognitive mechanics.

From initial impressions, there's not much to mechanically separate Kandria from the many other similar platformers. However, the quality of these titles is exceptionally high, leading us to believe this game follows the same standards. We better get strapped up and ready to face this fallen world's obstacles.

It's Our World

Kandria's core focus isn't about achieving some primary objective, but rather the design approach is about exploration. Players will find themselves in an 8-bit world, ripped apart by various factions struggling for survival in what's left of the planet. But you won't have to follow any linear path to complete levels; you'll be able to wander through this open world to your heart's content.

Admittedly, it's different from most platformers, where you'll feel forced to follow a specific path to success. Kandria offers enough explorative potential that players will feel encouraged to go off the beaten path and piece the mysteries of the universe together. There are plenty of things to collect, people to talk to, and areas to explore to help your journey of survival.

Kandria is an entertaining game, but it doesn't come without a few peeves. The UI of the game is clunky, which becomes obnoxious when managing inventory or curating character improvements. Also, the narrative doesn't click in many instances, sometimes leaving players unsure of how to proceed in the game. However, the fluidity of gameplay, including movement and combat, tends to compensate for the flaws.

One of the more intriguing elements of Kandria is that players can create their levels, building a community that can immerse themselves in more content even if the central part of the game is said and done. So does this title meet the exceptional standards of recent 2D platformers? Ultimately, yes, it does.

Satisfied Curiosities

Kandria reminds me of Celeste, another fantastic 2D platformer, only with an open world. Plenty of gameplay elements keep players curious about their surroundings and encourage them to wrap up the rollercoaster storyline. The level editor is one of the critical driving factors to play, where players can get creative and build their takes on postapocalyptic environments.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Well-designed open-world 2D platformer game
• Appealing to both casual and seasoned platform players
• The level editor

Cons:

• UI isn't great
• Direction can be hard to come by in the open world