Knights and Bikes is a game about friendship, summer holidays, and the strange creatures that live just beneath the surface of things. It is also a game about bicycles, and about the island of Penberth, a small community where nothing is quite as it seems. Developed by Davey Wreden, best known for his work on The Turing Test, the game launched in 2019 for PS4, Linux, PC, and Mac, and it carries a critical score of 7.8 out of 10.
The premise is simple. Two girls, Nessa and Alfie, meet a boy named Monty on the island of Penberth during their summer holiday. The three of them become friends, but their bond is tested when a mysterious force begins to change the island around them. The game follows their adventures, their arguments, and their growing realization that the world they thought they knew is far stranger than they ever imagined.
Trailer, via Double Fine.
Penberth and Its People
Penberth is the heart of Knights and Bikes, and it is rendered with a hand-drawn charm that feels both nostalgic and alive. The island is divided into distinct areas, each with its own personality. There is the quiet village street, the bustling harbor, the dense forest, and the windswept cliffs beyond. The art direction leans heavily on bright colors and a whimsical, almost cartoonish style, but the game never loses its sense of place.
The people of Penberth are just as memorable as the scenery. Each character has a distinct voice and a clear purpose, even those who appear briefly. The adults are present throughout the game, though they play a supporting role rather than driving the main plot. This allows the focus to remain on the children and their relationships, giving the island a lived-in warmth.
The dialogue is sharp and often funny, with jokes that land well and conversations that feel natural. The writing avoids the saccharine trap that many games aimed at younger audiences fall into. Instead, it treats its characters as real people with genuine feelings and conflicts. That approach gives the game its emotional weight, even when the plot takes a surreal turn.
Nessa, Alfie, and Monty
Nessa is the confident one, the girl who knows what she wants and is not afraid to say it. Alfie is the quiet observer, the one who notices the details that others miss. Monty is the outsider, the new kid who arrives on the island and quickly becomes entangled in its mysteries. Together, the trio forms the core of the game, and their interactions drive the narrative forward.
The player controls each of the three characters in turn, switching between them as the story demands. This structure allows the game to explore multiple perspectives without feeling fragmented. The transitions are smooth, and the game rarely asks the player to stop and think about who they are controlling at any given moment.
The relationships between the three are central to the game’s appeal. Their arguments are honest and sometimes painful, but they are always resolved through communication and mutual respect. The game does not shy away from showing the friction between them, and that honesty makes their eventual bond feel earned.
The Island’s Secrets
The mystery at the center of Knights and Bikes is a gradual reveal. Strange occurrences begin to happen across the island, and the three friends find themselves drawn into a larger conflict involving the island’s history and the creatures that inhabit it. This plot thread is where the game’s tone shifts from light-hearted adventure to something darker and more unsettling.
The pacing is uneven, with some sections dragging while others crackle with energy. The game spends considerable time establishing the world and its inhabitants, which can slow down the momentum. However, the payoff comes in the final stretch, where the secrets of Penberth are finally uncovered and the stakes become clear.
The game’s handling of its central mystery is competent, though it does not reach the heights of its predecessor, The Turing Test. The puzzles are less abstract and more straightforward, relying on exploration and observation rather than logic. They are enjoyable in their own right, but they do not carry the same intellectual weight.
Gameplay and Exploration
The gameplay in Knights and Bikes is primarily focused on exploration and puzzle-solving. The island is large enough to encourage wandering, and there are hidden items and secret areas to discover. The game rewards curiosity, and the map is filled with collectibles that offer context about the island’s past.
Biking is the primary means of movement, and the game makes it feel satisfying. Riding a bicycle across the island is a joy, especially when the terrain changes from paved roads to dirt paths. The controls are responsive, and the physics of motion are well-implemented. It is a simple pleasure, but it is effective.
There are moments where the game leans on repetition, particularly in the middle portion of the story. Some areas require the player to backtrack, and the pacing suffers as a result. These stretches are not terrible, but they do break the flow of the game’s early hours.
Music and Atmosphere
The soundtrack is a highlight of Knights and Bikes. The music is cheerful during the daytime scenes and grows more ominous as the mystery deepens. It sets the tone perfectly, shifting with the emotional beats of the story. The sound design is also strong, with ambient noises that make the island feel lived-in.
The game’s presentation is polished, with a consistent visual style that holds together across all its platforms. The art direction is cohesive, and the game looks good whether played on PC, Mac, Linux, or PS4. The frame rate is stable, and the load times are brief, which is notable given the game’s ambitious scope.
Final Stretch
The game’s conclusion brings everything together, tying the threads of the mystery into a satisfying whole. The final act is emotionally resonant, and it delivers on the promise the game has been building since the opening hours. It is a fitting end to a journey that has been full of surprises.
There are a few rough edges that keep the game from being perfect. The pacing issues mentioned earlier are a persistent problem, and they are most noticeable in the middle portion of the story. The game could benefit from tighter editing in those sections, though the overall experience remains engaging.
The game’s strengths outweigh its weaknesses. Knights and Bikes succeeds in creating a world that feels lived-in and populated with characters the player cares about. It handles its central mystery with care, and it delivers an ending that feels earned.
“It’s a story about finding your tribe.”
The game earns a score of 7.8 out of 10.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
