Every once in a while, a game chooses to ignore traditional mechanics and instead be a more emotional experience than most games. Meditative atmosphere defying typical expectations is one such title — Europa.

Like how Limbo made platforming a hellish experience or Journey focused on that emotion over it, Europa is all about that mood; creating a surreal, dreamlike setting that you just can’t get out of.

Europa, a game set in the titular landscape of a ruined kingdom under the shadow of Jupiter, builds things up to a high sense of wonder. When played as Zee, last humanoid inhabitant, you’re thrown into a lush green sea surrounded by azure skies, and relics of an ancient civilization.

Whilst there isn’t much in terms of gameplay, this visual style calls to mind world building of The Legend of Zelda or emotionally powerful story telling from Studio Ghibli works such as the works of Hayao Miyazaki.

Further, progressive emotional undertones are reinforced by the game’s story, which is an alien world, a vulnerable child struggling to survive guided by messages from his late father.

The game opens with a poignant introduction: a tombstone with ADAM’s name on it – the first steps of a personal journey. Once players have had a gentle tutorial to Zee’s motions, they soon discover that Europa isn’t just about actions, but sensations.

You can feel how ethereal Zee’s movement felt, like it’s in the dream. The fluid, fantastical rhythm of the game owes as much to the classic Nights into Dreams as his ability to jump charge, levitate and fly through glowing energy pockets.

Zee glides down hills on land, mowing through the greenery with an almost therapeutic satisfaction. But the boundaries are clear, easily defined, yet forgiving, so no big penalties for any mistakes; just re-do the jump, which never fully rebounds away for another shot.

Sometimes people forced through vortexes to new destinations, as other people are let free to roam. But it’s a platformer in form but different to the type of challenges we’re often used to. But there’s no urgency, no failure states, and not a lot of urgency, and so Europa soaks up that calm, almost meditative feeling.

The exploration is the basis for the gameplay, with tasks that bring you steadily closer to the goal, without ever feeling intrusive to the overall nice feeling. Zee collects, and sometimes simple puzzles, where crystals are scattered throughout the world.

Zee’s ground pound is one of the vital thing’s players can do, which is basically an ability to interact with the environment, namely creating energy bursts to light torches, or to activate switches, etc. Through page here and there in the world about Europa’s past and Zee’s life and why he’s so isolated, but along the way too.

A beautifully composed soundtrack is also included, with soft piano melodies and mournful strings that support environmental storytelling. It gives the player an emotional experience of the chill, which is what the story wants it to be, as it is narrated in the warm, calm tone.

Europa completely avoids combat like many other games. Yet tension is confined to Zee’s isolation, which, notwithstanding, is more an extension of solitude than a struggle to overcome.

There are both mythical alien beings and the regular mammals like rabbits and deer in the world. There are creatures like turtle-like beings with their plant covered shells to create a feeling like peaceful coexisting, and then there’s a monstrous serpent made of rocks that gives us awe.

Each time you travel through Europa, Zee can sketch these creatures into his journal giving added personality to the experience. It’s in these moments of quiet discovery that the game both as a challenge to reflexes and introspection and serenity.

Conclusion

Europa presents an alternative for an industry often ruled by fast paced, high stakes games. It is not a game, but an emotional journey: prioritizing over feeling rather than over mechanics.

Europa offers beautiful escape from reality with its beautiful world, evocative soundtrack and soothing gameplay. It provides a platform for players to decompress, digest, and dive into a wondrous world of serenity to understand one, one year on from Planet Zoo.