Olija

Olija is a 2D side-scrolling platform video game from Skeleton Crew Studio, a one-person Japanese company, and was published by Devolver Digital. It launched in January 2021 on Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, with an Amazon Luna version following in October 2021.

The story follows Faraday, a lord from a struggling fishing village who sets sail to find salvation for his people. A whale chases his ship during a storm and destroys it. Waking on a foggy beach, Faraday finds his dead crew and, after being attacked by creatures in a cave, grabs an ancient compass. A monster chases him out, and he escapes by leaping through a window. He then wakes on a boat with the Boatman, who takes him to Oaktide—a settlement made from the wrecked ships of other castaways who have lost hope of returning home. There, Faraday finds a map that lets the Boatman navigate to new islands. Eventually, he discovers the Shadow Gate, which will let him return home if he collects all the required keys.

Gameplay is built around a magical harpoon that lets Faraday teleport short distances. It works as both a tool for navigating the world and a weapon against enemies. Players can also craft hats that grant special perks and powers. The game uses 8-bit pixelated graphics.

Development was led by Thomas Olsson, who handled most of the work from programming to design. He composed the music with a Japanese saxophonist, a shakuhachi player, and his wife. Major inspirations included *Moby Dick*, *Pirates of the Caribbean*, and *Prince of Persia*. The story was written late in development, described by Olsson as improvised and made on the fly. The game was first revealed on July 12, 2020, alongside a playable demo.

Reviews were generally positive. Critics praised the smooth animation, which evoked classics like *Prince of Persia* and *Another World*. The 8-bit art style was liked, though some found it hard to distinguish enemy types. The harpoon was highlighted as effective for both movement and combat, with puzzles and levels that worked well with the mechanic. Some reviewers noted the control system could be confusing due to two separate inputs. Combat was praised for its satisfying animations, and the story was commended for building strong bonds between characters despite the pixelated visuals.