Deer & Boy Review (Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Switch & PC)

Deer & Boy takes the cinematic charm and emotional bearings of a classic creature comfort animation and, with the help of a striking ultraviolet undertone, finds a perfect balance between being a simple voiceless ode to friendship and a curious tale about adolescence, commitment, and determination. With as little as a young and predominantly unsung hero and a fawn to frame its world, Lifeline Games and Dear Villagers’ wayward vessel illuminates the importance of life, of companionship, and of being the sole source of light in a seemingly vacant world.

It begins with a runaway child, a candlelit vigil, and a young fawn that has no rightful future in the arms of nature. An unlikely friendship blossoms, and before long, a poetic connection flows through the power of music and spiritual language. A bond blooms, and two friends learn to walk alongside one another in a world where adults, beasts, and a peculiar substance known as Dark Matter hold a devastating influence over the boroughs. Friendship ferries the journey, and, as the one with the strings in hand, you take the opportunity to nudge them closer together over an emotional tale of unspoken loyalty.

Like a lot of 2D puzzle-platforming games that have been introduced over time, Deer & Boy spreads its own narrative over a series of logical environmental challenges and emotional blockades. In the beginning, the fawn is futile—inexperienced and incapable of aiding your journey through vast wooded areas and into the tight-knit quarters of a picturesque setting. As time advances forward, however, the bond between the two begins to flourish, and spectacular abilities soon emerge from the inner workings of a newfound friendship. The bond binds you to a mutual interest, which in turn leaves you to traipse the corridors and unravel the mystery surrounding the aforementioned Dark Matter.

There is no dialogue in Deer & Boy, but rather, a series of audio cues and majestic orchestral interludes that deliver the occasional gut punch as and when the mood shifts. A grunt, a sob, or a faint giggle makes a spontaneous appearance, but for the most part, Deer & Boy relies on sound, natural ambience, and visual effects to weave its plot and usher you towards the next beat in the timeline.

Needless to say, Deer & Boy isn’t a game that needs a multi-layered manuscript to convey a heartfelt tale. Given that the animation speaks for itself, and that the brief spells of music speak louder than words, you never really need to ponder the questions, much less the true meaning behind the song. Simply, you stroll through the verses, and you spectate the flow of the tide as two unlikely heroes make their noble journey across vast lands of bark, snow, and ultraviolet light. Frankly, you needn’t dig any deeper into it than that.

A puzzle-platforming game at its core, Deer & Boy tasks you with sifting through various biomes and, with the aid of a fawn, overcoming various obstacles, some of which are logical, some of which require you to stealthily outmaneuver ominous creatures. For the most part, though, you find yourself with a simple, albeit familiar task: to strafe to the right, and to weave through the surrounding areas of a serene landscape. Like Little Nightmares, then, but without the ungodly horrors.

Of course, Deer & Boy doesn’t aim to overstay its welcome with an unnecessarily long campaign or with the usual padding of a drawn-out platforming game. Instead, it opts to keep it short and sweet, with a two-hour story, a handful of relatively straightforward puzzles, and a cinematic experience that can leave a firm impression on you once the credit roll sheds its final moniker. Truthfully, it doesn’t need to deliver any more than that, either. It delivers a message, and it takes a swift exit from the main stage before the weight of the world becomes too much to bear.

While several of the in-game puzzles can be a little tricky to solve, I can’t quite bring myself to say that Deer & Boy is an overtly complex game. Enough, perhaps, to get the gears in your head turning, but not to the point where you would need to revert back to a manual to help you find the correct path forward. Given that you spend most of your time rolling with the punches and following the candlelit glints of a vibrant world, there isn’t a great deal to fret about here. It’s learning how to swallow the bitter pill, that’s the tough part.

With all of the above said, Deer & Boy does indeed make for a brilliant cinematic puzzle-platforming game with a lot of heart. It might not appeal to those who cradle the thought of plunging into a gameplay-heavy narrative I’ll admit. That being said, fans of side-scrolling, story-rich cinematic experiences like Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Unravel, and Inside ought to be able to find more than enough to love here. It’s short, sweet, and of course, emotional enough to get the waterworks flowing. What more could you want from a cinematic creature comfort?

Verdict

Deer & Boy finds comfort in the spirit of friendship, of unspoken values, and of orchestral harmony with a beautifully crafted cinematic puzzle-platforming affair that, while still rather short and light on gameplay, manages to deliver a well-needed emotional gut punch to the target audience.

With a gentle score that relies on ambiance and subtle audio cues, as well as an animation style that bears all of the faithful qualities of a traditional popcorn flick, Lifeline Games and Dear Villagers incubates and unleashes a solid entry-level game that, in all honesty, has the potential to swivel even the stiffest of necks.

Let it be said that, if it’s a gameplay-loaded puzzler that tickles your fancy, then you might want to look elsewhere for that next all-important dopamine boost. If it’s a tender, wholesome cinematic experience that compels your eyes, however, then I’d say that Deer & Boy is perfectly capable of giving you something to write home about. It might not be a masterclass in cinematic storytelling, but it is a beautiful game that packs enough of a punch to stir your emotions and curb your boredom. I’d call that a triumph.