Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox One, PC

Publisher

Top Hat Studios

Developer

WeatherFell

Genre

Action, Adventure, Platform

Players

1-2

File Size (Minimum)

311 MB

Release Date (NA)

Nov 11, 2025

Purchase From

eShop

PSN Store

Microsoft Store

Steam

Windswept is an indie platformer game that’s full of ’90s platformer nostalgia. While it excels visually, players may find frustration in the difficult challenges it presents along the way.

Homeward Bound

Windswept‘s story is simple. Marbles, a duck, and Checkers, a turtle,are swept away from their homes by a powerful storm. Along the way, the two join forces to find their way back home, facing hazards on their journey. While the story may be thin, it matches the tone of ’90s platformers with its simple narrative and strong gameplay. 

Visually, Windswept is cute and creative with its pixel art style and layered depth of field, giving it a retro feel. The level designs range from visually pleasing to somewhat lackluster. For example, caves feel less visually appealing with their dark tones and lack of detail, while the first stage offers a pleasant walk through a decorative forest. Adding more details to the caves to create depth of field, similar to the visual style of Owlboy, would make them stand out more.

The soundtrack is fun and upbeat, featuring melodic instruments typical of classic platformers. Composed by Far Bard, there are at least forty different tracks, each bringing a fun and energetic rhythm to enhance the gameplay experience. Listening to the soundtrack itself is worth it.

For those familiar with ’90s platformers or recent games like Super Mario Bros. Wonders, Windswept offers an overworld map with various areas to explore and play. Each stage has its own unique layout and contains collectible items such as Moon Coins, Comet Coins (which spell out “Comet” when collected), Vinyl Records, and more. These items can be used as rewards to unlock bonus worlds and collectible figures in the in-game shop. It brings in replay value but many of these challenges feel too difficult and underwhelming in terms of the rewards offered, especially for casual players.

Tag Team Back Again

The biggest mechanic of the game is the tag team between Marbles and Checkers. Its gameplay style closely resembles that of the Donkey Kong Country series. The two critters have their own unique set of skills. For example, Marbles can hover for a short period of time and Checkers can roll and dash forward to break objects. Marbles has faster movement while Checkers feels more stable but a little slower. In tag team, Marbles can throw Checkers like a weapon and can call the turtle back from anywhere. With Checkers as the leader, the green critter can toss Marbles in the air above to grab items that are hard to reach. There are other mechanics players can utilize, and the game places the responsibility on the player to use those abilities. Additionally, Windswept lets you co-op with a friend locally. Now you can both struggle and win at the same time.

The first stage showcases many of these moves and then relies on players to take those lessons and apply their skills in subsequent levels. If you’re a casual player, you’ll face many frustrating moments where collecting feels like an unnecessary chore and quick deaths occur frequently. As you progress, the game begins to challenge you further and adds more frustration for players of any skill level. Bonus levels feel daunting as you try to maneuver around thorny plants. Donkey Kong Country didn’t feel this difficult.

Thankfully, Windswept does cater to a variety of game settings such as invisibility (except pitfalls or knockouts), infinity jumping, skip levels, and more. It’s like a cheat code to play and an opportunity for those learning the game to understand the mechanics and layout. If you want a challenge, you can add additional options like no checkpoints or easy knockouts. Speedrunners can also utilize the available game settings to capture speed times. 

While adventuring through these levels, you can pick up other critter buddies to help you get through the challenging levels. This is a concept similar to Donkey Kong Country’s setup with their animal buddies. If an enemy lands a hit on you, you and your comrade are thrown off as your buddy frantically moves around the level until they fall into a pit or you jump back on them. These critter buddies can help you attack fiends underwater or travel faster on land. Seek them out when possible!

While exploring, the game’s camera is at times off, causing unfair deaths. Additionally, having the option to move the camera with an available controller command, such as the right joystick, to slightly move around and find hidden treasures, platforms, or enemies that await would be beneficial.

The Final Swap

Windswept is a charming, retro-inspired platformer with an upbeat soundtrack, accessibility options, tag-team mechanics, and adorable pixel art. However, players should be prepared for a challenging experience, as the game can be frustrating for all.

A PlayStation 5 review code provided for this review. Windswept is available now for the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.