One of my favourite genres to emerge in the last 15 years or so is the cinematic platformer, but what really excites me about it is how studios are starting to broaden and diversify the experience, experimenting with every aspect, from narrative to gameplay. One such game is Deer & Boy.
Deer & Boy is a single-player, 2D cinematic platformer developed by Lifeline Games and published by Dear Villagers, which follows the emotional journey of a runaway boy and a young fawn who bond over their shared grief over losing a loved one. It’s a story that is equal parts beautiful and poignant, where the very design of the game reflects the duo’s adventure; travelling from left to right on screen, trying to outrun the sadness and pain they carry, only to find it hiding around every corner.
What begins as a more grounded, gentle adventure through sun-dappled forests, occasionally pursued by police through busy construction sites and factories, steadily builds the action and stakes, as well as the more menacing, metaphorical presence that acts as the game’s main antagonist. A creeping dark matter begins to infect their surroundings and even other creatures, putting the titular duo in some tense spots, from being chased by corrupted wolves in the deep snow to sneaking through claustrophobic sewers while avoiding the gaze of sinister-looking creatures. It’s a clear manifestation of the pair’s emotional turmoil, the very thing they are trying to escape, and whether you see it as a more physical or imagined presence, it works brilliantly at capturing that struggle to come to terms with these painful emotions and the new reality they must face.
One of the game’s key selling points is that there is no dialogue throughout, with everything communicated to the player via the game’s music, sound design, and visuals. While this may be a regular trapping of the cinematic platformer genre, most of these games opt for far more abstract narratives, leaving it up to the player to take away what they want from the experience. This makes it all the more impressive that the devs were able to tell such an intimate and powerful story without a single word, written or spoken, and without sacrificing gameplay and the player’s involvement.
Gameplay consists of a healthy mix of platforming, puzzling, stealth and chase sequences, with you controlling the Boy while issuing commands to the Deer to help. Much of the usual fare is here, like moving boxes to reach high ledges or hiding behind parts of the environment to avoid detection, but the inclusion of the Deer’s assist role, as well as their supernatural gifts, elevates it all while embellishing the duo’s growing relationship and the Deer’s literal growth. Early on, the Deer is small and must be carried by the Boy in his backpack, making it harder to jump, but is also used to weigh objects down when placed on the floor. As the game progresses and the Deer grows, they become less reliant, able to act as an equal partner, often coming to the Boy’s aid.
The Deer can muster a blue energy to push back and clear the encroaching corruption, first needing the Boy’s support to do so and taking time to recover afterwards, until they grow to control and wield it to greater effect. I found this to be an excellent representation of the Boy and Deer’s growing resolve, a light against the darkness that starts as a flicker, but through nurturing their bond and relying on each other, grows into a roaring flame. It makes the game’s last two chapters, which border on a ‘Dragon Ball Z’ level of epicness, feel entirely earned, allowing the closing moments of the game to hit with startling weight that I welcomed with tears in my eyes.
All of Deer & Boy’s powerful imagery and ambience are delivered via its painterly 3D environments and character models, blending the natural and familiar with the surreal effortlessly. No UI exists to get in the way, with any information the player may need delivered by visual clues, like how the Deer’s antlers spark back up with a blue light when they are ready to use their cleansing ability again. Environments flow nicely one into the other, each packed with a level of detail that adds to the game’s immersion, whether it’s the way the trees cast shadows across your path, or a depth easily conveyed with the use of subtly highlighted ledges to mantle.
As I mentioned earlier, there are no words spoken or written throughout the game, so every emotional beat and action is communicated through the game’s world and characters. While the visual language used in their surroundings does an excellent job, it is the character animations that really sell it for me. There are brief cutscenes, moments of peace, relief, and even joy for our adorable duo, like running through tall grass to fill the night sky with fireflies or sitting on the edge of a moving train carriage, looking up at the moon, the Deer’s head gently resting on the Boy’s shoulder. These are not only some of the moments that stand out most to me, but on several occasions are used to cleverly age up the Deer for the next section of the game; clever in its design and smooth in its execution.
Matching Deer & Boy’s pitch-perfect visuals and animations are the game’s soundtrack and sound design, which do a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to conveying both gameplay and narrative beats. The game’s music is performed with real instruments, with a prominent use of strings, woodwind, and piano, delivering a soft, melancholic sound that carries through most of the pair’s adventure. During more intense moments, such as chase scenes and the game’s climactic conclusion, it swells and erupts as thundering drums join the sweeping orchestral score, an intensity I feel that is rarely seen in this genre.
Where the audio picks up on the little details and drives home that immersive worldbuilding is in its sound design. It’s hard not to feel something for these two lost souls, especially when the Deer lets out one of its fragile bleats. Each grunt of exertion, burst of laughter, or cry of fear sounds genuine, needing no further explanation other than what is happening on screen. It is that final, crucial piece that brings all of Deer & Boy’s design together, adding that human element to help the game resonate with the player. It’s these details that go unnoticed more often than not, but with little other audible distractions, they become the key to our understanding and empathy.
Final Thoughts
With beautiful visuals, engaging gameplay that evolves throughout, and excellent sound design and music, Deer & Boy is a fantastic and polished cinematic platformer with a huge heart, but what impressed me most was how much it surprised me. What starts with the gentle, almost peaceful energy of a timid fawn grows to a crescendo as powerful and majestic as a fully grown stag, carrying its message of companionship and healing proudly upon its back.
Deer & Boy is out on June 23rd across PC, PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.
The game was reviewed on PC with a controller.
We would like to thank Lifeline Games for providing a review key.
Will you be picking up Deer & Boy? What are some of your favourite cinematic platformers? Let us know in the comments below, and join the Gamer Social Club Discord to chat about your favourite games, play in community game nights, take part in giveaways, and more!
