The joy of movement is often underappreciated in our favorite games. The medium is unique in that we aren’t merely a passing observer but an active part of the worlds we explore, our actions playing a role in their fate. The freedom to explore these worlds is a gift, and watching these places go by as we drift within them can sometimes feel liberating, or even peaceful.

Wavetale is one of those games. Its premise is deceptively simple. In the flooded and decaying world of Strandville, a young girl named Sigrid is forced to leave her island and learn why shadows are enveloping the world. Most of these shadows are a threat—not necessarily evil, but still a danger to the small communities you discover and help during your adventure.

One shadow befriends Sigrid, though, giving her the power to glide across the waves and explore the world to find answers. You move by essentially walking on water—building up speed by riding the waves, jumping and boosting through the air, using Sigrid's powers as the world sweeps past. Exploring Wavetale is rhythmic and peaceful, and at times it’s easy to forget there are objectives to complete and a story to uncover. Simply looking to the horizon and powering forwards feels calming and rewarding in a way few games achieve.

When merely moving through the world is rewarding, that memory sticks with you long after the credits roll. Swinging through New York as Spider-Man in Insomniac's recent Marvel adaptations is a joy. Death Stranding made the mere act of walking and plodding through the ruins of America thrilling. And Celeste is proof that even more contained experiences can thrive if you make the movement and momentum feel just right.

Wavetale belongs in that category, an embodiment of the saying that it’s all about the journey, not the destination.

It’s not like movement is all Wavetale has to offer over the course of its brief-yet-memorable duration. It’s a joy to look at. The cel-shaded environments you move through evoke the feeling of a paintbrush dragging along a canvas, with the blues and pinks of the sea and sky conjuring idealistic wonder. Leaving the simple and welcoming opening areas and diving deeper into Wavetale unveils a darker and more mysterious core, a gripping story that explores the relationship between Sigrid and her grandmother.

Wavetale is never overly violent, either. Any combat or puzzle is in service of saving the world—a world that deserves to live on, both within its carefully crafted universe and in our hearts.

You can find Wavetale on the Epic Games Store.