Tinykin
Developer Splashteam
Publisher TinyBuild
Format PC (tested), PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series
Release Out now
For a while there, it felt as if Nintendo was almost singlehandedly keeping the 3D platformer alive. But, setting aside the returns of Sonic and Crash, in recent years it’s been indies that have picked up the slack. With Tinykin, developer Splashteam liberally borrows from Kyoto’s finest, but rather than attempt a Mario-like, it nods towards a pair of less obvious sources. Its tale of an intrepid astronaut harnessing the powers of indigenous creatures to navigate tricky terrain and carry everyday items to make his way home is clearly indebted to Pikmin, while downsizing its lead to turn household environments into sprawling expanses calls back to Chibi-Robo. But this is a less fricative experience than either. There are few puzzles worthy of the name and little strategy involved in marshalling your miniature allies; instead, this Rare-style collectathon focuses on the simple pleasure of navigating complex environments, while nailing the fundamentals to a surprising degree.