We’ve been following the release of Wren’s Resurgence closely and have now had a chance to play the game for this review. Following a small delay, the game launched on 22nd January 2025 and there is a demo to try before diving in for those curious. The game is a 2D action platformer set in feudal Japan and stars Wren who is on an adventure to save her sister following her capture. The game has been developed by Solilquey Games and is out now on Steam priced at £12.95.
Wren’s Resurgence starts slowly with a few lowkey cutscenes that introduce you to the characters and the game world. An evil force has control of the island and Wren’s sister, Swan, has been taken captive. Once you get underway, Wren has a limited set of moves but these evolve and by the end of the game she’ll be equipped with everything needed to defeat the evil. Most of the upgrades come by using the in-game currency to purchase new equipment and abilities, while some are found by exploring. The game is set out in a non-linear open world where players can track back at any time and experiment with routes to uncover secrets.
From the moment you begin to play there just feels something off with Wren’s Resurgence, the controls work well but the odd bug appears that either interrupts the proceedings or means the game needs restarting altogether. This is the common theme of the game and it spoils what should’ve been a great experience. The graphics, sound, animation and general presentation are out of this world amazing. The pixel art is beautiful and the music is spot on creating the feel of feudal Japan. Anyone familiar with the period and aesthetic will recognise lots of nods and homages that have been included. Wren’s Resurgence has some very high-quality artwork that is impressive as it is jaw-dropping and the traditional Japanese music is good enough to listen to on its own.
However, video games need to have decent gameplay to back up any creative brilliance. Wren’s Resurgence plays fine for the most part, the bosses are tough, the platforming is fun and exploring the world is exciting at times. But then, a weird glitch will hit, or it isn’t clear what needs to be done next. A few times during our playthrough the game seemed to ‘skip’ a cut scene that meant to give a clue as to where to go next, but as it didn’t actually appear we were just left lost, running aimlessly about.
Wren’s Resurgence is a tough game to finish, there is enough challenge here to make a purchase worthy, as long as players are aware the game needs some updates to feel more polished. The presentation is what stands out here and those that enjoy a platformer with good action may be able to see past the technical shortcomings. It’s a real shame as Wren’s Resurgence looked amazing from the trailer and it’s easy to see exactly what the developer was aiming for. Maybe there is still time to iron out the bugs and help it shine, but as it stands it’s hard to recommend this to anyone other than hardcore lovers of the genre.
