Geometric Interactive, the studio founded by former Playdead employees Jeppe Carlsen and Jakob Schmid, has unveiled their highly anticipated debut game, Cocoon. Demonstrated at Summer Game Fest 2023, Cocoon offers a unique and captivating gameplay experience that left a lasting impression on attendees.
Carlsen, known for his work as the lead gameplay designer on the critically acclaimed puzzle platformers Limbo and Inside, teamed up with Schmid, the audio programmer behind Inside, to create Cocoon. The duo previously collaborated on the minimalist indie platformer 140. Over the course of five years, with a small team based in Denmark, they have meticulously crafted Cocoon into an extraordinary gaming experience.
True to the studio’s signature style, Cocoon features simplified controls and minimal interactivity. Players navigate the game world using an analog stick and interact with the environment using a single button, reminiscent of the mechanics found in Limbo, Inside, and 140. The focus lies in the environment and exploration, with the absence of dialogue and tutorials contributing to the immersive nature of the game. Similar to titles like Tunic and Hyper Light Drifter, Cocoon offers a sense of discovery and mystery.
Central to Cocoon’s gameplay are orbs, which serve as key elements for solving puzzles and progressing through the game. These orbs not only open doors and trigger switches but also function as self-contained levels. Geometric Interactive has ingeniously incorporated the concept of entire worlds existing within these orbs, each with its own unique atmosphere, puzzle mechanics, and even boss fights. Players can transport themselves into and out of these worlds by placing orbs into sockets strategically placed throughout the game. Furthermore, the ability to bring orbs into other orbs becomes crucial for unlocking new paths and abilities.
Although Cocoon includes boss fights within each orb, traditional combat is absent. Players must rely on interactions with the environment, such as utilizing water spouts or explosive mines, to defeat these bosses. Interestingly, the boss fights in Cocoon are forgiving, as a single “hit” merely ejects the player from the boss’s world rather than causing damage or death. This clever mechanic adds depth to the gameplay and prompts players to navigate back to the boss in order to finish the encounter. Successful completion of boss fights grants new powers, following the beloved Metroidvania style, enabling access to new areas and the discovery of additional orbs.
Throughout the demo, attendees encountered various environmental puzzles. Some challenges required determining the correct sequence for hitting switches, while others involved moving towers to open doors. A slightly more complex puzzle involved backtracking to uncover a hidden path. As the demo only showcased the beginning of the game, it is anticipated that the complexity of these puzzles will escalate significantly. By the end of the playthrough, players were already seamlessly moving between worlds to strategically position orbs for progression.
Despite being a newcomer to this genre of games, the intuitive nature of Cocoon’s gameplay resonated strongly with players. The experience felt natural, and every action seemed to effortlessly align with the game’s logic. Solving puzzles became a state of flow, eliciting a sense of joy and excitement as players roamed the world, carefully carrying their precious orbs.
Cocoon has rapidly climbed to the top of many gamers’ wishlists, including mine. With Annapurna Interactive as the publisher, the game is set to launch on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles later this year. As anticipation builds, fans eagerly await the opportunity to immerse themselves in the captivating world of Cocoon and unravel its mysteries.
