“Oracle Scroll” is Playdate's must-play Metroidvania without combat.

I find myself constantly impressed by the experiences the developers have managed to cram into play date. That's not to say that I had low expectations for this handheld and its potential when I first impulsively pre-ordered it, but I guess I really didn't know What Aside from crank-centric games, Panic, which was first previewed ahead of release, seems to be more geared toward short-term gaming. I've played a lot of these games over the past few months and really enjoyed them, but I've also spent hours solving puzzles and exploring the game's intricate maps, which have a staggering amount of content. Echoes: Oracle's Scroll, Recently appeared in the Playdate directory, Probably one of the best yet.

Created by developer bumbleborn, Echoes: Oracle's Scroll is a Metroidvania, but if you don't like combat, don't let that put you off; it's non-violent and focuses on tricky platforming, puzzles, and finding your way through vast caverns. The developer says the map feels large for a Playdate game – with more than 250 rooms spread out between the four levels.

exist Echoes: Oracle's ScrollA disease known as the Blight threatens to wipe out all life, forcing the inhabitants of the Three Kingdoms to flee underground. Humans live at the bottom, in a kingdom called Bottomrock. As the game's child protagonist, you're tasked with delivering scrolls to the Archives, requiring you to travel through some dangerous third kingdoms. It's a world full of secrets, and you'll have to interact with certain elements of the environment in unexpected ways in order to progress or access seemingly inaccessible items.

But there’s a haunting tranquility to it all, even in challenging moments. The music creates just the right atmosphere, and visually speaking, Echoes: Oracle's Scroll is amazing. The artwork is so Crisp down to the tiniest detail, I just love the style of it all. Especially the larger characters – like the Frog Prince you can bounce on your belly – really come alive. Between the music, the art, the lore and the overall vibe, Echoes: Oracle's Scroll Totally got me.