Ah, the humble fetch quest. It’s a mainstream RPG that tries to cram you in with hundreds of hours of content by having you race back and forth like a glorified courier. However, the benefits are much less than that of an Amazon delivery driver. Although the quest handling has been criticized for being lazy, it has also become a genre in itself. There are a ton of games built around parcel delivery, and Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is the latest, inspired by the classic 1990 Japanese animated film Kiki’s Delivery Service.
But before we delve further into this review, it’s worth mentioning the development and release of the game. Mika and the Witch’s Mountain was actually released on PC and Switch in 2024. Strangely enough, the Switch version sold normally, but was released as an Early Access game on PC. The description says more content will be added, so developers Chibig and Nukefist felt it made sense to release it as an Early Access title. It’s now coming to Xbox and PlayStation with all the planned content. This means it should be the complete final game in all its magical glory, minus any updates for bugs and glitches.
Available on: Xbox, PlayStation, PC, Switch
Reviewed for: PS5
Developer: Chibig, Nukefist
Publisher: ChibigReview key provided by the publisher,
The game features Mika, a witch of unknown age and seemingly infinite cuteness. A beautifully animated opening sequence sets the scene. Armed with a broom and a hat, she heads to the top of the mountain where an old witch lives and will probably teach Mika the secrets of magic. But instead of imparting wisdom, the old bat explains that there are important traditions that must be followed first to teach the witches a lesson. And she sends Mika down from the mountain.
After being kicked off a mountaintop, little Mika finds himself trapped in an idyllic village and becomes the owner of a broken broom that is in desperate need of repair before he can hope to return to the mountain to a potential mentor. Luckily, she ended up in a town full of friendly people, and the first woman she met agreed to help her fix her broom. But she’ll need a few coins to fund the repairs. This means getting a job with a local courier company and delivering packages to its diverse and colorful residents. Before long, Mika becomes absorbed in all the stories of the people around him. the loving bond between grandfather and grandson; An artist struggling to find inspiration; A loner who hides himself; A scientist who thinks his passion is boring everyone else and more. And she learns more about the people and becomes welcomed into the community. Mika begins to enjoy his new job.
Thus, the core of the game loop is formed. It involves picking up and delivering packages from warehouses or directly from people. Some cannot get wet, some cannot be damaged, and some may need to be delivered quickly, such as a delicious ice cream. As the story progresses, deliveries become more challenging, requiring you to visit new areas of the small island or reach places that can only be accessed by using an ancient floating fan or finding a handy wind funnel. It’s not particularly difficult. The most difficult thing may be figuring out how high you are to reach the boat or having to spend some time navigating to find your way. But the simple nature of the gameplay is also part of the appeal. It allows you to immerse yourself in the cozy warmth of wandering around, enjoying the scenery and finding a few collectibles along the way.
Mika’s biggest advantage in package delivery is that he can cruise along the ground and fly through the sky with his magic broom. well. She may be a witch, but Mika can’t fly. Instead, her broom floats a few feet above the ground and can perform a bit of hopping to gain even more height. However, if she flies from high up, the broomstick can glide a considerable distance, and its flight is aided by various boost rings, wind, etc. Even if you can’t fly completely, you can get close. The controls are simple and easy to grasp, and while Mika’s broom isn’t the most precise tool in the world, it’s generally capable of performing pinpoint landings or slipping through gaps with ease. Of course, it also helps that Mika remains perfectly healthy even if he falls from a great height.
The writing drops the ball a bit in the form of two island dwellers, both of whom play more antagonistic roles. There are no enemies or villains to fight in this relaxed delivery game, but the two do represent a bit of a counterpoint to the game’s friendly atmosphere. Unfortunately, they disappear at certain points in the story, leaving the thread of the story hanging in the wind. It’s not a big problem, but I wanted a little more closure. Especially since the story seemed to naturally push Micah into a situation where he was in direct competition with one of these guys. But that never happens.
Problems aside, the writing does a good job of painting the characters as charming, simple people whose lives are improved by Mika, just as Mika finds his life better because of their presence. It captures the feel-good elements of classic animation well. Yes, it’s fair to say that the writing and characters lack any real depth or nuance. But considering what the game is aiming for, that’s perfectly fine.
I was also surprised that Mika’s witch powers were no longer in use. Aside from the broom and pointy hat, Mika is just a little girl. It would have been fun to add a more magical element to the gameplay for Mika, but unfortunately he has all the magical abilities of a Muggle. But on second thought, I guess that’s why she had to go to school.
It’s a good thing Mika and the Witch’s Mountain doesn’t overstay its welcome, as the gameplay loop is satisfyingly simple. You’ll probably finish the game in 3-4 hours. You can add a few more for side quests, and if you want to chase the platinum trophy like I do, it will probably take you less than 10 hours. The point is that the gameplay can no longer support it. Once your application is complete, you’ll be glad your adventure is over. That said, if you think good value equates to game duration, Mika and the Witch’s Mountain might not be for you. And it feels like there’s room to expand the gameplay a bit more, giving you room to expand your character and maybe even add a few more cool cutscenes.
as a result…
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain hit me at the right time as I’m in a phase where I’m reading a lot of cozy fantasy books, so the low stakes and warmth of the game reminded me a lot of that genre.
Mika and the Witch’s Mountain is a heart-warming game turned into a delivery game with warm hugs wrapped in cute packaging. It’s a game that will appeal to a very specific crowd looking for something cozy, cute, easy and fun.
