Introduction

Recreating the sense of adventure found in classic Zelda titles is no easy task. Many games can imitate the pixel-art look, dungeons, and puzzles of those classics, but few manage to successfully convey the curiosity and joy of discovering the unknown. Spindle, drawing inspiration from titles like A Link to the Past, attempts to deliver an experience that feels familiar yet distinct, one where puzzles, exploration, and gameplay mechanics all serve the sense of adventure. But does Spindle succeed in recreating that same curiosity and adventurous spirit found in classic Zelda games?

Story & Narrative

Spindle’s story begins with a peaceful scene of Dengel fishing on the shore, a moment that quickly gives way to an unexpected turn of events that transforms him into Death. When Dengel regains consciousness, he finds a pig beside him, and the two set off on a journey that, on the surface, is about restoring balance to a world whose natural order has been disrupted, but beneath that surface, it explores themes like death, loss, and acceptance. From the very beginning, the game adds a layer of mystery through small details, such as Dengel’s reflection in mirrors and water, since unlike what the player sees, the people of the game world don’t recognize him as Death, but as his ordinary self.

A significant part of the game’s narrative identity is owed to its side characters and side quests. Conversations with NPCs go beyond simply handing out optional missions; through short stories about their concerns and struggles, the player gains a deeper understanding of the game world and the consequences of its disrupted natural order.

That said, the narrative doesn’t fully use its potential. The slow, sluggish pacing at the start means Spindle takes longer than expected to reveal its true identity. Meanwhile, the Pig character, who has engaging and promising interactions with Dengel early on, doesn’t get much dialogue or interaction afterward, even after becoming a playable character. This is despite the fact that the constant companionship of these two characters had the potential to create a more dynamic and impactful relationship, one that could have become one of the narrative’s strongest points through environmental reactions, conversations along the way, and commentary on events, but Spindle never fully capitalizes on this potential.

Gameplay Overview

The beating heart of Spindle lies in the trust it places in the player’s curiosity. While the game establishes its main destinations, it leaves the path to reaching them entirely up to the player. This is what allows exploration to go beyond a side activity and become an inseparable part of the adventure.

This same approach is reflected in the design of the game’s dungeons and puzzles. The puzzles aren’t simply obstacles meant to pad out playtime; they’re cleverly tied to various mechanics and abilities. Throughout the adventure, you’ll repeatedly come across paths, rooms, and even dungeons where you know a way through exists, but you don’t yet have the tools needed to solve them. This sparks the player’s curiosity and motivates them to keep progressing, since every new ability isn’t just a way to advance the main path, but also a key to returning to earlier areas and uncovering secrets that once seemed out of reach. That said, not all of the game’s abilities land equally well.

The final ability the player receives is a clear example of this. The ability to fast travel between statues, used to upgrade health and other character attributes, is inherently useful but is given to the player far too late. Its true value only becomes apparent in the post-game content, where the player must return to various points on the map to find mysterious objects that don’t belong to this world, having arrived from other realms, and solve the remaining puzzles in order to deliver them to the town museum. In that context, the system makes traveling far smoother. However, during the main adventure, this ability arrives only after most of the journey has already been completed, which makes its impact considerably smaller than it could have been.

Spindle’s boss fights are, overall, one of the game’s strong points. Most bosses feature multi-phase designs, changing their attack patterns and introducing new challenges that force the player to effectively use the abilities and mechanics they’ve learned up to that point. Interestingly, many of these battles aren’t limited to direct combat alone and come with a dash of puzzle-solving, pushing the player to think not just about quick reactions but also about how to use their abilities. This gives the boss fights more identity and variety, and many of them stick with the player long after the encounter.

That said, the boss fight before obtaining the game’s fifth ability doesn’t land as well as the others. Unlike the other bosses, which feature multiple phases, fresh ideas, and clever use of game mechanics, this particular fight lacks that same creativity and excitement, coming across as overly simple and ordinary. As a result, rather than creating one of the game’s memorable moments, the encounter leaves the player thinking, “That’s it?”

Fortunately, the final boss once again showcases the game’s usual quality. By incorporating multiple phases, a strong blend of combat and puzzle-solving, and requiring the player to use abilities acquired throughout the journey, this battle delivers a satisfying conclusion to the Spindle experience.

Accessibility

Another of Spindle’s strengths is its attention to accessibility and respect for different ways of experiencing the game. In the gameplay settings, the developers have included options that let players tailor the experience to their own taste and familiarity with the genre. For example, the Invulnerability option lets players avoid taking damage when hit, a decision that can be especially helpful for those without much experience with classic Zelda-likes or who prefer to focus more on exploration, puzzles, and narrative.

Even the display of enemy health bars is left up to the player. Spindle offers this as an optional setting so that everyone can tailor the experience to their preference. This decision respects player choice without forcing a particular playstyle, allowing each person to experience Spindle in whatever way they find most enjoyable.

Conclusion

Spindle may not make the most of every one of its ideas, but it understands the most important quality of classic Zelda games extremely well: trusting the player’s curiosity. Smart dungeon and puzzle design, creative boss fights, and respect for different playstyles all help this adventure stick with you long after it’s over. While the slow pacing at the start and the underutilization of some compelling ideas keep it from reaching its full potential, Spindle proves to be far more than a simple imitation, demonstrating that it’s possible to draw inspiration from the past while still creating something independent and worthwhile.