Wunderling DX Review

Game: Wunderling DX Review
Genre: Puzzle, Platformer, Adventure
System: Nintendo Switch (Also on Steam (Windows))
Developer|Publisher: Bitwave Games
Age Rating: EU 3+ | US Everyone
Price: US $14.99 | UK £13.99 | EU € 14,99
Release Date: March 8th, 2022

Review code provided with many thanks to Sandbox Strategies PR.

Definitive Edition

Wunderling is a 2D puzzle platformer that breaks the usual norm and has you playing as a weak minion. The game was originally released in 2020 but now comes back with a DX version making this the definitive version of the game. If you own the original version of Wundeling already you’ll be pleased to hear this DX edition comes as a free update. If this is your first time now is the best time to jump in on this little gem.

A Different Perspective 

Carrot Man is the hero of this story. A snarky protagonist on a quest to save Princess Pea. You actually start the game playing as this guy running about jumping on the heads of Wunderlings which seem quite reminiscent of Goombas from the Mario series.

The game does not shy away from making fun of that famous IP as well as other gaming troupes. Before you know it the story shifts perspective. Instructed by a Witch and her Cow pal, you now play as one of the Wunderling goons, gifted with the ability to jump. Your quest is to thwart Carrot Man and deprive him of his extra lives. The story is pretty simple with plenty of moments of humour that is suitable for all audiences. It feels like a familiar underdog story but it certainly has a charm to it.

Puzzle Platformer

When you begin the game properly you’ll notice the Wunderling constantly moves forward. To start you only have the ability to jump. But as you progress you’ll unlock other abilities like wall jumping and dashing. You use these moves to keep your Wunderling from coming to harm It’s worth noting you could probably play this game with one hand. So if you’re a new Dad like me you could in theory hold the kid in one hand and play this with a joy-con in the other. 

The goal of the game is to reach the end of the level without perishing. Along the way, there is a trail of flower petals that act as collectables but also as health. If you linger too long without collecting these you explode. Levels are also filled with hazards like spike traps and pitfalls. Take a single hit and its back to the start or the nearest checkpoint.

This description might put off a lot of gamers. Particularly those not fond of hard platformers. But I have to say Wunderling does a really good job breaking you into its gameplay. Sure, things get more frustrating towards the end of the game. But with the game’s bite-sized level design and tight controls, I felt compelled to continue to try again until I conquered the level. After finishing the game I even felt compelled to replay older levels to unlock all the collectables I missed. 

I may describe this game as a platformer but it’s more a puzzle of figuring out the best route to the exit. Levels are not just filled with hazards but switches, portals and wings to let you fly about temporarily. It’s quite rewarding figuring out the best way forward. The controls are so responsive I surprised myself how well I traversed its tricky looking levels. 

A feature I really like about this game is that any collectables you grab on a run is permanently banked. For example, if you want to collect all the flower petals the game clearly highlights the ones you have already collected so you can focus on the ones you missed. For me, it made it much more appealing to replay. Don’t dismiss this as a casual platformer. Wunderling still packs a challenging punch just not one that had me wanting to throw my Switch out of the window.

Pixel Beauty

Graphics are incredibly detailed pixel sprites. There is a very nice diverse range of level designs from the expected forest like levels to castles to swamp-like areas. But it’s the attention to detail that really impressed me here. Birds will fly out from the foliage as you walk past and rats will scurry around the dungeon areas. This is pixelated graphics at their very best. You also have a very nice soundtrack to accompany you on your platforming endeavours. 

Plenty of Content

The game features 7 worlds to explore, each with 15 levels and a few hidden levels to discover. The game also has two endings. If you spend the time collecting all the flowers at each level you will unlock a new world with more levels. There are also lots of cosmetic items to find in hidden chests, cleverly hidden within each level. This DX edition includes new levels, items, story beats and a speedrunner timer. So if you have brought the game already it may be a good idea to jump in again to see what’s new. Overall, it’s a nice package that can be enjoyed in long or bite-sized gaming bursts.

Conclusion – Wunderling is Wonderful

Wunderling DX really impressed me in the end. Going in I expected yet another run of the mill hard platformer but the concept here felt fresh and new and kept me hooked through the adventure. It’s also rare for me to feel compelled to return to previous levels to grab all the collectables. Also, high praise goes to the developers for not featuring a single buzzsaw. Readers of my work will know how much I love that tired troupe. Wunderling DX is just wonderful and you should give it a go.

But if you still need convincing there is a free demo on eShop to try.

Final Verdict: I Like it a Lot