Adventure of Rikka - The Cursed Kingdom

Adventure of Rikka – The Cursed Kingdom is a charming throwback to the golden age of 2D action-adventure games, developed and published by Poorly Drawn Squid. It captures the familiar rhythm of exploring dungeons, solving puzzles, and collecting mystical items while unraveling the fate of a land cursed by an ancient calamity. The story unfolds in the Kingdom of Delheed, once peaceful but now ravaged by unnatural disasters—volcanic eruptions, storms, and poisoned waters. As Rikka, a lone adventurer drawn into the chaos, players embark on a journey to restore balance to the realm and uncover the secret behind its downfall. The narrative is simple yet effective, functioning as a framework that pushes exploration and discovery rather than dwelling on lengthy exposition. It channels the spirit of classic Zelda-like tales, where the joy lies in uncovering the world rather than being told about it. The heart of the experience lies in its gameplay loop, which combines action combat with puzzle-centric exploration. Movement and combat are intuitive and satisfyingly direct, with players wielding a sword and gradually acquiring new items such as the bow, bomb, fire wand, and grappling hook. …

Great game loved it

This is a really well-made Zelda-like with lots of heart put into it. Movement is fluid, controls are spot-on and the areas as well as dungeons come with interesting puzzles and bosses. The only thing I think the game is lacking is story-wise. It's simply not very interesting and kinda stereotypical. But still, I'm enjoying the game very much.

When it comes to 2D Zelda-likes, there is nothing more straightforward than The Adventure of Rikka. And that can be both good and bad, depending on your expectations. This is wholeheartedly an indie game, with that sweet indie jank, but also with loads of charm. You can get softlocked, UI is mediocre at best, story is... present, I guess? But it's also a fun way to spend a couple of hours for a couple of bucks. You can see that this is a product of genuine passion and while the skillset or budget might not be fully there, it's still worth it in my opinion. There are a ton of collectibles, some very clever puzzles and some dungeons have great designs. I think what this game lacks the most are QoL features - map is useless, UI is barely legible and there are only two slots for items without a possibility to quickly switch them. I wish the developer all the best with the next project! Despite all the cons, I really enjoyed my time with this game and I will surely check out whatever they release next.

This classicly tinged adventure invites you to explore a vast world filled with secrets. The gameplay encourages independent exploration and discovery. Prepare to be challenged, as the game rarely offers explicit directions. Overcoming obstacles will be immensely rewarding. A true test of skill awaits those brave enough to embark on this journey. Much reccomend for fans of top down 2d zelda !

Fun retro Zelda-like adventure