We love a surprise release date reveal. Especially when it’s for a game we’re already excited for. And we love it even more so when the title will be out within weeks.
We’ve been keeping an eye on The Spirit and the Mouse since the 2021 Wholesome Snack indie game showcase, and now it turns out that the heartfelt adventure (with puzzle platforming elements) will be coming to PC and Nintendo Switch on 26 September.
From indie developer Alblune (comprising of Lucie Lescuyer and Alexandre Stroukoff), and publisher Armor Games Studios, The Spirit and the Mouse centres on the unlikely partnership that develops between Lila the mouse and Lumion the Spirit guardian following a severe thunderstorm. Suddenly gifted with electric powers, Lila must work with Lumion to bring light back to the quaint French village of Sainte-et-Claire during one summer evening. By doing good for inhabitants, and restoring tranquility, Lumion can return to the sky where he belongs.
With an emphasis on characters and narrative, players must listen to the villagers’ woes, then seek out the mischievous electric spirits called Kibblins to fix Sainte-et-Claire’s newfound electricity problems. (As South Africans, we sympathise!).
Gameplay is a combination of puzzle solving, light questing to complete objectives, mini-games, collection challenges to unlock new abilities, and, of course, exploration from the unique perspective of a mouse. Helping with that exploration are Lila’s new electricity-based powers, which allow her to traverse the world using electric wiring and plug points – which is a pretty nifty mechanic. Oh, and did we mention that there’s a dedicated squeak button?
Cute, credibly behaving animal protagonist. Unlikely buddies. Loving crafted urban environments experienced from a rarely shown viewpoint. Animal noises on demand. Right now, The Spirit and the Mouse is actually making us think of Stray, which isn’t a bad thing at all.
The Spirit and the Mouse also looks like it will please fans of cosy games, as it places emphasis on helping those in need, and promises a low-stress experience with lush environments and a soothing soundtrack. For the record, The Spirit and the Mouse is the first game from studio Alblune, which has a stated objective to create immersive, charming and non-violent worlds for players of all ages. They certainly seem to be ticking every box with their debut title.
The Spirit and the Mouse releases on PC via Steam, Epic, GOG, and itch.io as well as Nintendo Switch. It’s priced at $19.99 USD. Wishlist the game on Steam here.
