Wind Peaks review – Good-looking, not mind-blowing

If quiet and peaceful hidden object games are your jam – if they’re how you unwind – then charming Wind Peaks from Actoon Studio will likely ascend your favourites list fast. If you aren’t a fan of the casual gaming sub-genre, though – which is basically the interactive version of those colourful Where’s Wally? puzzle books – this new console release is unlikely to make you a passionate convert.

Wind Peaks has actually been around since June 2020, when it launched on Steam for PC. Two years, and a Nintendo Switch release, later, Wind Peaks has finally arrived on PS and Xbox consoles. This is to the game’s advantage because its biggest selling point is its award-winning art style, inspired by the likes of animated series Hilda, and Gravity Falls. Players can now relax comfortably on the couch, and experience the game’s detailed hand-drawn visuals on a much bigger, vibrant screen.

And… that’s it, really. Wind Peaks doesn’t build on, or expand beyond, the gameplay expectations of the hidden object genre. It’s primarily a searching game, with comic book panels between the ten or so levels to sketch out a very basic, and not always coherent, plot. The plot in question? Out on a camping expedition, five scouts find a treasure map, which leads them, and their troop leader, into an increasingly mysterious and mystical part of the forest. 

There isn’t any dialogue in Wind Peaks, aural or textual. The most you get is off-putting toddler-like giggles when you click on the adolescent scouts. Despite their quirky cartoon stylings, the unnamed characters have zero personality to win over players. Then again, it’s the lovingly-designed game world where most of the flavour, and pleasure, of Wind Peaks can be found.

If you’ve ever played a hidden object game, you’ll be familiar with how exactly you engage with the on-screen universe. The player scans over a series of increasingly complex environments, zooming in and out to find a list of missing objects. In addition to collecting these items, there are other bonus interactions to make the game more interesting – and further bring its world to life. These include parting bushes, opening tent flaps, prodding at skittish wildlife, igniting fires, taking photos, and even reassembling totem poles.

Offering a literal couple hours of entertainment, Wind Peaks is a purposefully casual game. It isn’t out to frustrate or punish players. With the only exception being certain objects on the final stage, if you’re stuck, you can always activate a 3-minute countdown, after which you will be guided to the exact location of the AWOL item. During the countdown you can continue your search, so you’re not wasting time.

It’s all so simple, peaceful and nice. With “nice” leaning in the bland direction. Wind Peaks just doesn’t offer anything more, despite laying the foundation for more flavoursome possibilities. For example, the treasure map leads the scouts to a witch’s derelict settlement, yet you never meet this witch despite collecting various magical paraphernalia (and a few cats) belonging to her.

The most you get is a notable night stage, where the blue-hued forest transforms into full colour under your flashlight beam. This instantly makes the search mechanic more engaging and gratifying. For the record, once you’ve completed a stage in Wind Peaks, you’ve unlocked it on the game’s menu screen, allowing you to replay your favourite levels individually.

Wind Peaks is solid as far as hidden object games go. Apart from its art style though, it doesn’t seem compelled to even attempt to stand out. This is an issue when you’re releasing against other more sophisticated games in the same genre like I Am Dead, which provided a powerful emotional experience alongside simple “trawl through the environment” gameplay.

If you’re looking for something (ha!) a bit more, there Wind Peaks is lacking. It’s very much a case of “scenic before.” That said, genre fans should be happy, and the game’s cartoon stylings should make younger players more receptive to its developmental benefits.

Having released for console yesterday, October 27, Wind Peaks can be played now on PC (through both Steam and Windows Store), Xbox, PS and Nintendo Switch.