That Little Red Triangle is Way Too Cute
Those with a soft spot for Studio Ghibli‘s art style may want to set their sites on a fresh new release! Hoa promises a relaxing, breathtaking experience with beautiful art and an imaginative story. Its world is hand-painted, and the benefits are plain to see – the game looks absolutely stunning, and the altered scale of the world adds a degree of charm reminiscent of Ori and the Blind Forest.
The game advertises itself by encouraging that whimsical atmosphere, asking players to get into a more child-like headspace. The wonders found in even the smallest parts of the world seems to be at the core of Hoa’s identity, and its easy to see how themes like that can carry the player into a more carefree mind.
In their devotion to the project, Skrollkat Studios put out a statement showcasing how much Hoa means to them:
“Hello there! We still cannot believe that Hoa is finally coming to the world. The game is out, meaning the joy and fun we had with this project now belong to everyone. Just like that, it is already an immense happiness to us, a dream come true. We hope nothing more for our small game than for it to be a beautiful little thing that warms your heart. For having followed Hoa’s tiny footsteps from her early days, for coming with our little character on her little adventure, from the bottom of our hearts: Thank you.”
Hoa is available in both digital and physical releases for the Nintendo Switch, Playstation, and Xbox consoles, as well as a PC release via Steam. The physical versions are a bit more costly, coming in at $40 USD (as opposed to a $15 USD digital version), but for that extra price you also get the game’s soundtrack and a special postcard, with a message from Hoa herself. A very cute add-on to be sure, but your mileage may vary depending on personal taste.