Game Review: Rivenaar's Grove

By Al

Players: 1
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, XBox One, XBox Series, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PC (Steam)

It looks like the New Year is starting with a look at several smaller titles, and I'm all for it. Rivenaar's Grove is a sliding puzzle game that features a medieval farm aesthetic that probably promises more than it delivers. It's out now on just about every major platform by way of publisher EastAsiaSoft, and we're going to be taking a look at the version released on the Nintendo Switch. This is going to be a quick one, so let's dive right in.

Even though Rivenaar's Grove has a very specific name attached to it, it doesn't have any sort of story to be found in-game. Is Rivenaar the person you're playing as, or just the name of the playing area? If those answers are in the game, I never found them. Not only is the title never really explained, but the setting isn't either. I guess it really doesn't matter at the end of the day, but it did come off like a missed opportunity to enhance the game's presentation. What does matter though, is that you play as an apprentice farmer who must collect all the crops for an old man who occasionally explains the game's simple mechanics. There are no actions like running or jumping to worry about here, you can only move in four directions, and you move all the way to the end of one direction until something stops you. In essence, this game plays like the ice sliding puzzles found in some Action RPGs, or the tile sliding puzzles from the old school Pokémon games. Moving allows you to collect any crops that are in your way, and you clear a level by gathering every plant and/or vegetable on the field. It sounds simple enough, and that's because it truly is, but there are a few things that keep things interesting.

Rivenaar's Grove's levels start off rather easy enough, and the only way to truly fail them is by leaving crops unclaimed that you're only able to gather from your starting position. Things quickly get a bit more difficult though, and that aforementioned old man is always there to let you know of the changes. Later levels include spikes that come in and out of the ground that kill you instantly if you touch them, and portals that send you to a different part of the current stage. The retractable spikes require a bit of timing on the part of the player, and the portals open up new ways to essentially turn your character around in ways you'd not be able to do via sliding. Getting hit by a spike restarts a level, and you can also restart with a button press if you've locked yourself into an impossible situation. Even though things may seem difficult at times, there are multiple solutions to most levels, and you don't have a time or move limit in the main game to worry about. Actually, the main game felt pretty easy overall, and I was able to beat it in a single sitting. Clearing the game requires you to go through 50 levels, with the difficulty varying between them. This might seem like things are a bit light on content, but there's still a bit more to discuss.

Though the game only has 50 levels to complete, you actually have three modes in which to take them on. The normal mode has no limit on time and the amount of moves you can make, while the other two gameplay modes restrict both of those. The timed mode is arguably just as easy as the normal one, though the limited moves mode is where the true challenge lies. Even though there are still multiple ways to clear most levels, it's far easier to trap yourself in an unwinnable scenario. I say "unwinnable", but quitting and resetting the puzzle is a very easy process. Seeing as the base game can be rather easy at times, these other modes are a fun way to change up the established formula. That said, I was also able to clear them without much fuss too, since I figured most of the solutions while playing through the main mode. These modes mainly exist for completionists, and I couldn't help but feel that they could've all been included in one central mode that made up the main game.

All told, I was able to 100% Rivenaar's Grove in a bit over an hour. I might have been able to do so more quickly if I didn't choose to complete the other modes too, and there are some players that might have a bit more trouble at things than I did. No matter how you look at it though, this is a rather short game. The fast-paced nature of the gameplay, and the fast movements of the player character in general, mean that most levels are over in a minute or two at the very most. Even harder levels only require a reset or two at best, and those are near instantaneous. That said, I did have fun with the game, and I really dug its aesthetic. It doesn't offer much in the audio department, but the visuals have that cozy farming vibe that felt right at home on the Nintendo Switch. It also comes with a very low $4.99 price tag, so I can't find it in my heart to complain very much.

While I don't think I'll ever pick up Rivenaar's Grove again, nor give it much thought after writing this review, it's not a bad puzzle game. If you're a fan of maze type puzzle games, but want some slide puzzle action to go with it, then this is the game for you. It's also cheap enough that one can pick up on simply a whim, and short enough that it can be cleared in one single marathon session. While I doubt that it's going to be anyone's favorite game of the year, it's not a bad way to start out 2025. On that note, I'll see you in the next one!

Check Out Rivenaar's Grove on Nintendo Switch:
https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/rivenaars-grove-switch/

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Story: N/A
Gameplay: B
Graphics: B
Music/Sound: B-
Value: B

Overall: B

Pros:
+ A fun puzzle game that is quick and easy to get into.
+ Features a cute and cozy farming aesthetic that did a good job of drawing me in.
+ Though the core game is rather easy, the extra gameplay modes do offer some decent challenges.
+ At just $4.99, picking this one up on a casual whim won't hit one's wallet very hard.

Cons:
- The game only really has 50 levels, and there isn't much reason to keep playing once you've beaten them all.
- Even though I had an enjoyable time with it, this isn't a very memorable game.
- Some sort of story, even if it was just a screen or two, would've done wonders for this game's presentation.

A copy of this game was provided to us free-of-charge by the publisher for the purpose of this review. This did not affect our review in any way.

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