We had a chance to play a very early test version of the game Rootbound and we are delighted with the possibilities, but also with the simplicity of the game. It is a puzzle/mystery game where the focus is on research and uncovering secrets.
The game starts with a seemingly simple delivery quest. Very early on we meet a living backpacker who joins us on the adventure and helps us through the game. We can store things in it, but also throw objects towards it, which it will try (sometimes unsuccessfully) to catch and store if there is room for them.
We discover the world through limited zones in which we solve puzzles. Most objects can be picked up, used as weapons, thrown, or stored in a bag. Maps have multiple items that we can manipulate and collect. Until we get to the specific puzzles, it's hard to guess what exactly we need at first and it's easy to fill the bag with unnecessary materials or weapons. The visual style is very simple and pleasant, and it adds significantly to the quality of exploring maps and secrets.
The combat itself in the game is a bit clumsy, but it's a lot of fun. We have a large number of options of what we can throw at enemies or what we can use as a weapon, and when we are not sure what to do the dodge roll is there for us. All the enemies have been very simple so far, but the focus is more on exploring and clearing obstacles than fighting.
As it is a game where the bag is one of the highlights, the only painful part of the game appears there, inventory management. The limited space for storing items forces us early on to choose what we carry with us and in what quantity, as only some items can be stacked on top of them. It's part of the challenge and a completely expected element of the game, but it's a downside to the game for someone like me who likes to hoard everything he finds.
All in all, the game seems very promising and we hope it will develop well. The currently available content is very limited, but it still showcased the main aspects of the game well.
With a couple of new combat options and more open zones as a game it could be great. We will follow the news related to the game and look forward to any news.
Pristup ranoj demo verziji games omogućio nam je razvojni studio Brainlag Games. Going out predviđen during in 2026 za PC and consoles. During this oneodišnjeg Gamescom od 20. - 2August 4 2025. posjetitelji će moći isprobati demo version u Home of the Indies pavilion in hall 10.2.
