Samorost 3 arrives as the third entry in Amanita Design’s series of puzzle-platformers, and it carries forward the studio’s signature style: hand-drawn backgrounds, gentle music, and puzzles built from natural objects. The game asks players to guide a small creature across a strange, branching world, searching for answers to a question about his missing brother. It is a quiet, meditative experience, best enjoyed slowly, without a clock pushing you along.
Trailer, via Amanita Design.
The World Around You
The game opens with the hero, a small bug-like figure, floating through space after being struck by a falling star. He lands on a distant planet and sets out to find his brother, who has been taken away. Each stage is a distinct location, connected by a central map screen that lets you choose where to go next. The world is full of life, from tiny bugs to towering trees, and the art direction remains consistent with the studio’s earlier work.
The scenery is the star here. Each area is rendered in watercolor and ink, with a painterly quality that holds up across every platform the game supports: PC, iOS, Android, and Mac. The lighting shifts subtly as you move, and the sound design leans on ambient textures rather than dialogue. There is no spoken word in the game, only the hum of wind and water.
Puzzles Built From Nature
Samorost 3’s puzzles are the heart of the game. They ask you to use simple objects found around each stage — ropes, mirrors, pipes, and musical instruments — to solve problems. The solutions are rarely obvious, but they are fair. The game trusts you to experiment, and it rewards patience.
A few puzzles stand out:
- A mirror placed just so, reflecting light into a dark corner.
- A pipe used as a flute, producing a note that opens a hidden door.
- A rope tied to a moving platform, carrying you across a gap.
These moments feel like discoveries rather than chores. The game never punishes you for failing, and it rarely repeats itself.
A Slow Pace That Works
Some players will find Samorost 3’s pace frustrating. There is no urgency, no timer, and no way to skip a puzzle you are stuck on. This is deliberate. The game wants you to look around, to notice the small details in each scene, and to think about how the objects you see might be used together.
This pacing is also a weakness. Long stretches of wandering can feel aimless, especially when you are not sure where to go next. The central map screen helps somewhat, but it does not always make clear which path is the right one. The game expects you to backtrack, sometimes over familiar ground, and this can test your patience.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack deserves special mention. It is composed by Jakub Toufar, and it matches the visual tone perfectly. The music swells during key moments, but it stays soft and unobtrusive elsewhere. The sound effects are minimal, mostly clicks and chimes, which suits the game’s gentle tone.
The audio design is subtle, but it matters. A distant bird call or a rustling leaf can signal a hidden object nearby, guiding you without ever telling you directly what to do.
Controls Across Platforms
Samorost 3 runs on PC, iOS, Android, and Mac, and the controls adapt to each platform. On touch devices, you tap to move and select; on PC, you use the mouse and keyboard. The game handles these differences well, though the touch controls can feel less precise than the desktop version.
The load times vary depending on the device. Some players have reported longer waits on older hardware, but the game runs smoothly on newer systems. The frame rate is stable across all platforms, which is notable for a game this visually dense.
Length and Replay Value
A standard playthrough takes around six to eight hours, depending on how often you get stuck. The game does not offer a difficulty setting, and there is no New Game Plus mode. What it offers instead is a second pass through the world, once you know where everything is hidden.
There is some replay value in finding the extra items scattered across each stage, but the core experience is linear. The game does not push you back toward old areas, so the second pass feels more like exploration than a new challenge.
Key Facts
- Platforms: PC, iOS, Android, Mac
- Developer: Amanita Design
- Composer: Jakub Toufar
- Length: 6–8 hours
- Score: 7.9/10
The Verdict
Samorost 3 is a beautiful, thoughtful game that rewards curiosity and patience. Its puzzles are clever, its world is rich, and its tone is consistently calm. It is not for everyone — the slow pace will frustrate players looking for a fast, goal-driven adventure — but for those willing to take their time, it offers a rewarding experience.
The game is available on PC, iOS, Android, and Mac, and it looks and sounds great on all of them. The controls are solid, and the technical performance is strong. The only real complaint is the pacing, which can drag during the middle stretch.
Samorost 3 earns a 7.9 out of 10.
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