Noita
A pixel-simulated roguelike where every pixel is physically simulated.
Noita, released in 2020 by Nolla Games, blends platforming with roguelike elements. You play as a witch—called minä in the game’s bestiary—who gathers wands and spells to fight enemies drawn from Finnish mythology, like Hiisi and Iku-Turso. The main campaign sends you through a series of procedurally generated zones, each leading to a boss, but the game hides far more secrets and side content beyond that path. It entered early access on Windows on September 24, 2019, and reached its full 1.0 version on October 15, 2020.
In this single-player experience, every pixel in the 2D world is physically simulated. You explore biomes stacked vertically, descending deeper underground. Eight main biomes—Mines, Coal Pits, Snowy Depths, Hiisi Base, Underground Jungle, The Vault, Temple of the Art, and The Laboratory—are separated by Holy Mountains, safe zones where you can edit wands, buy gear, and pick perks that alter gameplay, like damage immunity or trading max HP for extra power. Each successive biome ramps up enemy strength and loot quality. The final boss, Kolmisilmä, waits in The Laboratory and only attacks once you grab the Sampo, an artifact that can end the game or start New Game+ depending on your actions. Its name changes with the number of Orbs of True Knowledge you collect, eventually becoming “Amulet of Yendor,” a nod to Rogue.
The physics system, inspired by falling-sand games like The Powder Toy, simulates every pixel. Wood can burn into smoke that suffocates you; lava and water react to form rock, steam, or rain. Alchemical combinations let you create magical liquids or purify dangerous ones. Box2D physics also let you kick or throw objects into enemies for heavy collision damage.
Wand building is another core mechanic. Wands act as containers for spells, which you can rearrange only in Holy Mountains (or with a specific perk). Wands have stats like cast delay, recharge time, mana pool, and mana recharge rate. Spells include projectiles, modifiers, and multicasts—for example, a Spark Bolt is a fast projectile, a Double spell casts the next two spells, and Ping-pong path makes spells last longer and bounce back and forth. The Chainsaw spell removes cast delay entirely, enabling rapid fire. Modifiers tweak speed, trajectory, damage, or wand stats. Miscellaneous spells like Torch or Energy Shield don’t affect other spells but provide utility.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Noita
- Developer
- Nolla Games
- Engine
- Falling Everything
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows
- Released
- 15 October 2020
- Genre
- Platform, roguelike
- Modes
- Single-player
- Programmer
- Petri Purho, Olli Harjola, Arvi Teikari, Antti Tiihonen
- Composer
- From Grotto and Niilo Takalainenpeli-1
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Noita is a single-player video game in which the player character is a witch who finds, collects, and casts spells in a procedurally generated 2D world where every pixel is physically simulated. The player fights enemies that include creatures named after Finnish mythological creatures such as Hiisi and Iku-Turso. The story opens with a cutscene that references the Karelian and Finnish national epic Kalevala. The goal in the main story is to get the Sampo and use it to turn the world into gold. The main path consists of eight biomes stacked on top of one another, descending deeper into the cave: Mines, Coal Pits, Snowy Depths, Hiisi Base, Underground Jungle, The Vault, Temple of the Art, and The Laboratory. In the final biome resides the main boss, Kolmisilmä, which attacks the player once they grab the Sampo. The Sampo's name changes based on the number of Orbs of True Knowledge possessed by the player, with the final name being 'Amulet of Yendor', likely a reference to Rogue.
Reader's Guide
Noita's significance lies in its physics system inspired by falling sand games, particularly The Powder Toy; every pixel in Noita is simulated. This allows for alchemical reactions, such as lava poured into water creating rock, and smoke that can suffocate the player. The wand building mechanic is another core feature: wands have stats including cast delay, recharge time, mana, and mana recharge, and spells can be projectiles, modifiers, or multicasts. The system allows for complex synergies and unexpected interactions. Noita has permadeath and is known for its difficult gameplay, with enemies that can kill the player in a single hit even early on, leading players to coin the term 'Noita'd' for deaths considered especially unfair. The game contains many secrets, including hidden bosses, secret biomes, and puzzles, some of which remain unsolved, such as the Eye Messages and the Cauldron Room. The most difficult ending, requiring 34 orbs, is considered impossible without cheats or external tools; the 34th orb has only a 1/100,000,000 chance to drop from a Greater Treasure Chest. Some secrets may misdirect players; for example, data miners found that the 34-orb ending loads a QR code that leads to a Rick Roll. Noita allows modding, including built-in modes like Nightmare Mode and Twitch integration.
Did You Know?
- The game's sound design was by Niilo Takalainen, and the soundtrack was a collaboration between the Finnish psychedelic band From Grotto and Niilo Takalainen.
- One cypher added in the Epilogue 2 Update decoded to the message 'seeking truth, the wise find instead its profound absence'.
More in Roguelikes of the 2020s, Part 1 1-24
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