Enraptured by its clever use of the VR format — both in terms of gameplay and environmental storytelling — I knew I was witnessing the birth of a special franchise when I played Moss back in 2018. Now, nearly a decade later, Moss: The Forgotten Relic combines that remarkable first outing with its equally excellent sequel into a single cohesive experience that no longer requires VR, breathing fresh life into a series previously bound only to niche hardware.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic takes place within the pages of a storybook, casting players as both “the Reader” and a headstrong mouse named Quill, as she battles through a perilous world in an attempt to rescue her uncle and save her kingdom. This collection combines Moss: Book 1, the Twilight Garden DLC, and Moss: Book 2 into a single 10-hour tale.
The environments — ranging from overgrown castles and mystical forests to dank mines and unsettling industrial facilities — are even more stunning than before, thanks to improved visuals and performance previously unattainable on VR headsets. The art direction on display here is simply dazzling, and seeing it all for the first time without the VR “screen-door effect” is a delight.
Though you don’t track her movements with your head in this version, you still control Quill by moving with the joystick and attacking with the face buttons. Meanwhile, arm and hand actions have been replaced with joystick or mouse controls, letting you interact with the world as the Reader to assist Quill by moving objects to solve puzzles, creating new paths for her, or manipulating foes.
There’s a little something lost in this move from VR, though. The joy of manually tracking Quill through areas with my head and physically peering around every corner to discover the game’s many hidden secrets was one of my favorite parts of the original version. The new “smart follow” camera in this retooled adventure works well at tracking Quill more traditionally — but it’s easy to spot the VR remnants in the level and puzzle design, for better or worse.
Luckily, everything about Moss is so fundamentally enchanting that the loss of a bit of VR magic is worth it when I know how much more accessible the game now is for new players. Quill is an endlessly charming and loveable hero, the plethora of clever puzzles test without ever becoming frustrating, and the simple but effective combat remains incredibly fluid and fun. This is definitely the perfect way for those unacquainted with the best mouse ever (sorry, Mickey) and her fascinating kingdom to see the entirety of her story… so far?
Also, yes, you can still high-five Quill. And yes, you’d better do so. She deserves it, and leaving her hanging would make you a monster.
Verdict
Admittedly, VR remains the very best way to play through both Moss games, as there’s an undeniable magic in being physically present within the games’ gorgeous environments. But for those without the means, Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a wonderful way to experience this double-feature myth about the unyielding bravery of a very mighty mouse. I just hope it’s not the last time we see my dearest Quill.
