The most creative game I’ve played this year also rips straight from classic 3D platformers, and it’s awesome

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The idea that everything has been done before – a concept found in everything from Shakespeare to the Bible – is surprisingly relevant when looking at most modern art forms.

It’s easy to feel like everything’s already been done, and that true originality is impossible. But that’s not true! A great example is the video game Ruffy and the Riverside, which is one of the most creative games released this year.

Ruffy and the Riverside clearly takes inspiration from the classic 3D platformers we all know and love, and it feels wonderfully nostalgic. But it’s not just a throwback – clever modern additions and a really smart, core gameplay idea have made it one of my top games of 2025. Here’s what makes it so good.

Don’t like what you see? Just SWAP it out

As an analyst, I’ve been observing that ‘Ruffy and the Riverside’ clearly draws inspiration from classic adventure stories. It’s got a really vibrant, almost cartoon-like visual style, and a surprisingly lighthearted plot despite the fact the world is supposedly at risk. What’s interesting is the main character – he’s energetic and determined, but also seems a little unsure about being the one everyone’s counting on.

The game feels wonderfully retro, featuring classic platforming, simple combat with easily defeated enemies, lots of easy puzzles, and plenty of collectible coins floating around to find.

SWAP can change anything – the land, buildings, water, plants, objects, and even animals.

Okay, so what *really* makes Ruffy and the Riverside special is this ability he has called SWAP. He picked it up while helping out at his dad’s painting workshop, which is pretty cool. Basically, SWAP lets him mess with reality – he can swap the materials, colors, and even patterns of almost anything he can see! It’s like a super-powered remix tool for the world around him.

Facing a dangerous shark? Easily transform the water around it into burning lava. Have a tough stone pillar to destroy? Simply change it into delicate wood. If a precious ancient artifact is damaged, find its original symbols and repair it.

The core mechanic of SWAP is remarkably straightforward: you scan an object and then apply its properties to something else. With just a quick action, you can dramatically change your surroundings, and this ability is central to solving every puzzle and overcoming every challenge in Ruffy and the Riverside.

This game never gets too complicated, and that’s part of the magic.

A relaxing, totally-unserious adventure through Riverside

Ruffy and the Riverside is a lighthearted game that doesn’t aim for complexity. It’s full of silly, feel-good humor in its characters, conversations, and story, and it’s designed to be a relaxing, easy-going experience.

The world in this game is remarkably full of detail, with lots of small puzzles and challenges to tackle. Ruffy and the Riverside offers a huge amount to find and gather, and that’s really where the game shines.

The puzzles in Ruffy and the Riverside generally come down to two steps: first, noticing that a puzzle exists, and second, figuring out the answer. While both steps are usually pretty straightforward, the game’s overall simplicity surprisingly makes things a bit more challenging.

Ruffy and the Riverside is simple, and that’s exactly what makes it brilliant.

This 3D platformer features a unique ‘SWAP’ ability that lets you interact with almost anything in the game world. You’ll quickly learn to use it to solve puzzles, but you’ll also encounter challenges where the solution isn’t immediately clear. Surprisingly, the key to success isn’t careful thought – it’s about avoiding overthinking!

Ruffy and the Riverside is designed to be enjoyable for players of any age. A great example of this is when I got stuck on a puzzle, but my seven-year-old daughter solved it almost instantly. She came up with a simple, clever solution using the ‘SWAP’ mechanic that I hadn’t considered – it wasn’t a difficult puzzle, I was just overthinking it.

Ruffy and the Riverside isn’t about complex puzzles; it’s a game that encourages you to have fun and be imaginative. It’s a cheerful and easygoing adventure, clearly inspired by classic platformer games, but with a simple, clever idea that makes it stand out as one of the most original games I’ve played this year.

You can now play Ruffy and the Riverside on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch for only $20.

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2025-09-14 15:40