We already published the interview with Nighthouse Games (the guys behind Sockventure), and you check it out right here! This is, however, the review for said game, so let’s put on your best socks and dive in!

Sockventure!

When a developer makes a game with the main idea revolving around ‘funny socks,’ you know you’re in for a treat. Sockventure is a story about a kid whose favorite sock gets eaten by a cursed washing machine. The kid needs immediate help and calls a superhero to the rescue, and the adventure begins. Make your way through the dangerous levels to find the missing sock inside the washing machine! Oh, and the superhero wears your socks, since why not?

In Sockventure, you get to beat over 200 levels of hardcore platforming, get new skills such as wall jumping, dashing, and stomping and bring the socks back safely. In addition, the game features a regular story mode and so-called Dark Chapters, unlocked by collecting coins. And this sounds easier than it’s done. You have to beat challenging jumps and platforming to collect all the coins you need for the unlockables. Oh, and if you think that was all, Sockventure throws a few pretty nifty challenges at your head as well… Try beating the first level without dying, or even worse, within the set time limit.

It’s over 200!?

So, 200 levels sound like a lot, right? They are split into seven main chapters and three dark worlds; the latter need to be unlocked and feature some of the most challenging sections of the game. Each platform, trap, and switch is perfectly placed, so that speeding through levels feels fluid and satisfying. The game’s pace is electric; when you get to the end of a level, you’ll be amazed at what you did to get there. You’ll discover new abilities, such as a double jump, a dash, a ground slam, etc. As you’d expect, new dangers and more intricately structured levels come with recent moves. And more sore thumbs.

This is precisely how Sockventure takes the whole hardcore platforming to a new level – challenging the player to do it as fast as possible. When I asked the developers about the fundamental speedrunning aspect of the game and if they included it in their game development process, they responded as follows; Eetu: Yes, it was. When designing levels for the game, we wanted to make multiple ways for players to beat the levels. And there are a lot of “speedrun routes” in levels that are designed with speedrunners in mind. There are also gameplay mechanics which support speed running very well. And they weren’t joking – once you get the hang of a particular aspect of a level, you will fly through the said level. Only to find a new part of the stated level, and it’s time to face the Dark Souls/Elden Ring level of dying again.

Loveletter & Conclusion

Another thing I liked about Sockventure’s much love and charm is thrown into the whole story. It’s such a simple theme that every kid can relate to. Each of the seven chapters has a distinct color theme and is great to look at. Plus, it’s filled with relatable stuff I would see my kids do. Combining these elements with the whole ‘let’s collect all kinds of weird socks,’ you get an excellent package of aspects all packed into one. But, it dares to stand out by being that very precise platformer that asks a little bit more of your average platforming skills and feels like a perfect fit on the Nintendo Switch. While keeping in mind that just two people make this, I’m curious about what’s next.

9/10

Tested on the Nintendo Switch.