Jotun is a meditation on scale. It speaks of largeness and smallness; it ruminates on the legends of gods, the tales of men, and the differences inbetween. Never before has a David and Goliath story been so bold…or so beautiful.
Size is a fitting focus for a game born out of a Kickstarter campaign and developed by a small team. Indeed, Thunder Lotus Games has big ideas in mind for their debut title. Developing a game with purely hand-drawn animation is no small task, and the promise of epic boss battles is equally large in ambition. Despite these odds, Jotun stands as a testament of how great feats can come from humble beginnings.
The game tells the story of Thora, a fiery, red-headed Viking who dies ingloriously. In order to impress the gods and gain entry to Valhalla, she must defeat giant titans, called jotun, in combat. This quest sends Thora to the heights of the Northern Sky and to the depths of the world tree Yggdrasil’s roots.
The titular jotun are the game’s major draw and biggest challenge. These five bosses tower over Thora in both height and health bar. Worse yet, a single blow obliterates much of the Viking’s already modest health. Precision is key, as is visually interpreting—and understanding—the rhythm of each oncoming attack. Even then, most players will fail at least once. Whittling away the jotun’s health only enrages them, resulting in an increasingly frantic and desperate fight.
I admit to losing a few times, both in earlier builds of the game and in the final version, but the clarity of my mistakes drove me to become a better fighter. While I had a hard time keeping track of Thora among smaller enemies, this was due to my own negligence as much as the zoomed-out camera. Jotun is fair but brutally unforgiving in its execution, and so I could pinpoint my shortcomings after each defeat. I wasn’t just disappointing the gods—I was disappointing myself. I felt small each time Thora’s axe glanced off a jotun’s giant toenail.
And, when I finally defeated the giants, I felt larger than life.
In order to face the jotun, players must guide Thora through exploration levels to find runes, which grant access to the boss fight arenas. These runes—along with other treasures—are hidden in regions modelled after Norse Mythology, and all regions are accessible from the game’s central hub Ginnungagap (or the Void). While aesthetics vary distinctly between stages, the design often follows a few repeating formats with few exceptions. Some levels, such as Yggdrasil’s roots, function as winding mazes which force players to choose the correct route. This task is complicated by falling debris, harsh winds, or even giant eagle assaults. Other areas are occupied by minor foes, such as dwarves and fire giants, who strive to cut Thora’s quest short. I was especially enthralled by the Northern Sky stage, which called for me to reconstruct Norse constellations by igniting crystal pylons. I had to accomplish this all while avoiding lethal lightning strikes and equally devastating charged storm clouds. Each level offers its own challenge, and players would be wise to stay on their toes while navigating unfamiliar terrain.
Each region also conceals its own secrets. While exploring, players may encounter God Shrines, where Thora receives a god’s blessing and a new ability. These powers are delightfully tailored to reflect each Norse deity. Loki, the trickster god, grants Thora the ability to leave behind a doppelganger that distracts enemies. Thor reinforces Thora’s heavy attack with the power of the legendary hammer Mjolnir. There are also golden apples hidden on each level, often in obscure corners or off the beaten path, that increase Thora’s maximum health when consumed. I was careful to search every nook and cranny for these shrines and apples. By the time I finished my playthrough, Thora’s health had nearly doubled, and the viking had more than a few tricks up her sleeve.
It’s worth noting that, aside from the first nature region (which serves as the game’s tutorial), Jotun imposes no particular order on its players. They can collect runes in any order that pleases them. Similarly, those looking to dampen the difficulty can collect all abilities and health bonuses before fighting any jotun.
While the gameplay is simple, it is unmistakably polished. Every detail—from the wealth of lore to the brilliant animation—feels like it has been painstakingly scrutinized, refined, and rehashed with care. Jotun is more than a story about one woman’s redemption; it stands as a monument to an entire culture. Truly disciplined explorers may find noteworthy features lurking in each region, such as the forge where Mjolnir was created or Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent. Even those unfamiliar with Norse Mythology (like myself) will learn to appreciate these details. Thora carefully describes her surroundings, noting major figures and even detailing creation stories as needed. All of her voice acting is recorded in Icelandic, which feels like a reverent nod to Viking culture.
Thunder Lotus Game’s interpretation of Norse Mythology is simply a delight to behold, and this is largely the result of Jotun’s artistic direction. Every animation is hand-drawn and punctuated by pen strokes. While there are rare instances where the animation feels detached from its environment (as was the case with the Draugr enemy), the artwork effectively amplifies the game’s feel. Jotun move with sketch-like savagery. Saturated, watercolor-like aesthetics make environments appear lush and lifelike. Each painterly touch emphasizes the hands behind the creation, drawing an intrinsic link between the Norse gods of legend and the small group which strove to represent them by pen-point.
I anticipate that the largest complaints against Jotun will go something like this: the game is too short (because I wanted more). Jotun doesn’t offer enough replayability (because I cannot recreate the feeling of defeating a jotun for the first time).
Small and simple though Jotun may be, its heart is anything but insignificant. The game offers a polished, rewarding experience, and it shows great respect for Viking culture and lore through the careful inclusion of major figures and prominent places. Each level maintains a sense of wonder, promising intrepid explorers blessings from the Norse gods and glimpses at beautiful, scenic vistas.
That said, the challenge that Jotun presents is no small matter either. Thora asserts that she has a warrior’s spirit, and players must nurture this same trait if they wish to face the jotun and impress the gods.
This review is based on a Steam Code sent to SideQuesting by the publisher.
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