The words ‘relaxing’ and ‘platformer’ don’t traditionally go together. Platform games usually mean dodging spiky hazards and lethal opponents.
But Eden Obscura isn’t like the other platform games. It’s still a game, but it has more in common with on-rails rhythmic shooter Rez than it does with Super Mario Run.
It’s a beautiful game with a striking visual style, and it makes really clever use of your camera: what you point your iPhone or iPad at becomes part of the background, chopped up and distorted in various interesting ways.
The music’s great too. The minimalist dance tunes make the whole experience feel more like being in a chill-out room than playing a game.
But it is a game and, like all good games, it’s easy to pick up and hard to master. The moves may be simple, but without speed and strategy, you won’t be able to gather what you need to complete the levels. If you don’t fertilize the right seeds, you’ll never grow the plants you need to swing and jump from.
It’s – ahem – blooming brilliant.