Little Orpheus
Developer(s)The Chinese Room
Publisher(s)Sumo Digital
Secret Mode (PC, console)
Director(s)Dan Pinchbeck
Composer(s)Jim Fowler
Jessica Curry
EngineUnity Engine
Platform(s)
Release
  • Apple Arcade
  • 12 June 2020
  • Windows, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
  • 13 September 2022
Genre(s)Adventure, platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Little Orpheus is a 2020 adventure-platform game developed by The Chinese Room and published by Sumo Digital. The game was released on Apple Arcade on 12 June 2020 for iOS, macOS, and tvOS. Ports for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S were released by subsidiary label Secret Mode on 13 September 2022.

Gameplay

The game is a 2.5D adventure platform game, featuring cinematic platforming and environmental storytelling.

Development and release

The game was first shown in an Apple Arcade showcase at the Apple Event on 25 March 2019. The company's Twitter account posted a teaser with a cryptic message in the form of a telegram.[1][2] Creative Europe had published the application of successful grants in August 2017, with a project "Little Orpheus" being awarded a maximum of grant €72 339 with 50% co-funding.[3]

Creative Director Dan Pinchbeck said the game's intent was described as applying the studios "arthouse background to traditional genres moving forward" and with a world filled with ridiculous "Soviet space technology, Russian mythology, and ancient creatures", like a homage to Ray Harryhausen movies.[4]

The game was released on Apple Arcade on 12 June 2020. A new game plus mode was released on 9 October 2020.[5] An update added episode 9 on 15 January 2021.[6] The title was set to release on Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on 1 March 2022 but was delayed due to its Soviet themes in light of the Russo-Ukrainian War.[7] The game launched on 13 September 2022.[8]

Reception

Critical reception

Little Orpheus received "mixed or average" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic.[9][10][11][12][13]

Matt Gardner of Forbes gave the game a mixed review, praising its story but criticizing its gameplay: "Little Orpheus over-relies its strongest assets–great voice acting, an intriguing script, beautiful art, and engaging gameplay–and doesn’t hit these highs with its core gameplay."[20] Nintendo Life's Lowell Bell criticized the narration of the game: "there’s no narrative payoff here, no greater meaning or memorable conclusion that sticks with you".[21]

Accolades

Develop awarded it Best Mobile Game at the Star Awards in 2021.[22][23] Pocket Gamer awarded it Best Platformer Game in 2021.[24]

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Apple Design Awards June 10, 2021 Best Game: Delight and Fun Little Orpheus Won [25]
Best Game: Visuals and Graphics Nominated
D.I.C.E Awards April 22, 2021 Mobile Game of the Year Little Orpheus Nominated [26]
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition Jessica Curry, Jim Fowler Nominated
TIGA Awards November 24, 2020 Best Casual Game Little Orpheus Won [27]
Best Visual Game Nominated
Best Action and Adventure Game Nominated
Ivor Novello Awards September 21, 2021 Best Original Videogame Score Jessica Curry, Jim Fowler Nominated [28]
Golden Joystick Awards November 24, 2020 Best Mobile Game Little Orpheus Nominated [29]
The Game Audio Network Guild Awards April 28, 2021 Best New Original IP - Audio Little Orpheus Nominated [30]
One Voice Awards June 30, 2021 Best Performance Paul Herzberg Won [31]
Music+Sound Awards October 14, 2021 Best Original Composition in Gaming Jessica Curry, Jim Fowler Nominated [32]
Indie X Awards November 9, 2022 Game of the Year Little Orpheus Won [33]
Best Art Direction Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Leonard, Matt (25 March 2019). "Little Orpheus announced by The Chinese Room". GameRevolution. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  2. ↑ Bendle, Stewart (26 March 2019). "Little Orpheus Announced For New Apple Game Streaming Service". GGS Gamer. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  3. ↑ Purchese, Robert (24 August 2017). "Creative Europe spills beans on games including The Chinese Room's Little Orpheus". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  4. ↑ Horti, Samuel (9 December 2019). "Everybody's Gone: Dan Pinchbeck on Rebuilding The Chinese Room". Electronic Gaming Monthly. EGM Media, LLC. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  5. ↑ Gregson-Wood, Stephen (9 October 2020). "Little Orpheus' first major update introduces a New Game Plus mode alongside collectables and costumes". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  6. ↑ Nelson, Jared (14 January 2021). "Episode Nine of The Chinese Room's 'Little Orpheus' on Apple Arcade Coming Tomorrow". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  7. ↑ Knoop, Joseph (1 March 2022). "Platformer Little Orpheus Delayed Indefinitely on PC and Console Due to Soviet Storyline". IGN. Retrieved 3 December 2023.
  8. ↑ Romano, Sal (16 August 2022). "Little Orpheus for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC launches September 13". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Little Orpheus for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 1 July 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  10. 1 2 "Little Orpheus for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Little Orpheus for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  12. 1 2 "Little Orpheus for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Little Orpheus for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Andiressen, CJ (28 February 2022). "Review: Little Orpheus". Destructoid. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  15. ↑ Johnson, Leif (16 June 2020). "Little Orpheus Review". IGN. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  16. ↑ Bell, Lowell (12 September 2022). "Mini Review: Little Orpheus - A Whimsical Tale That Left Us Wanting". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  17. ↑ Sullivan, Dann (16 June 2020). "Little Orpheus review - "A cinematic platformer with a seemingly inconceivable story"". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  18. ↑ MacDonald, Keza (18 June 2020). "Little Orpheus review – madcap adventure to the centre of the Earth". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group plc. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  19. ↑ Wise, Josh (22 June 2020). "Little Orpheus review". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  20. ↑ Gardner, Matt. "'Little Orpheus' Review: Great Ingredients But Far From Filling". Forbes. Archived from the original on 15 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  21. ↑ Bell, Lowell (12 September 2022). "Review: Little Orpheus – A Whimsical Tale That Left Us Wanting". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2022.
  22. ↑ Wallace, Chris (3 September 2021). "Develop:Star Awards 2021 Shortlist Announced". MCV. ISSN 1469-4832. Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  23. ↑ "Develop:Star Awards 2021 Winners Announced". Mynewsdesk. 28 October 2021. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  24. ↑ Staff, PocketGamer biz (16 March 2021). "Revealed: All the winners at the Pocket Gamer Awards 2021". pocketgamer.biz. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  25. ↑ "WWDC 2021: 'Little Orpheus', 'Bird Alone', 'Genshin Impact', 'Alba: A Wildlife Adventure', 'League of Legend: Wild Rift', and More Win Apple Design Awards – TouchArcade". 11 June 2021. Archived from the original on 4 June 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  26. ↑ Beresford, Trilby (22 April 2021). "D.I.C.E. Awards: Indie Game 'Hades' Takes Top Honors". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  27. ↑ "2020 Winners". TIGA. Archived from the original on 29 December 2021. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  28. ↑ "Gareth Coker wins Ivor Novello award for 'Ori And The Will Of The Wisps' score". NME. 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  29. ↑ Heather Wald (24 November 2020). "Lego Builder's Journey wins Mobile Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2020". gamesradar. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  30. ↑ "Game Audio Network Guild Awards Nominees Announced". Game Rant. 19 March 2021. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "One Voice Awards UK 2021". www.onevoiceconference.com. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  32. ↑ "2021 Composition Finalists". Music+Sound Awards. Archived from the original on 6 January 2022. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  33. ↑ Indie X 2022 | Awards Ceremony - rtparena on Twitch, 9 November 2022, archived from the original on 5 December 2022, retrieved 5 December 2022
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