Moss: The Forgotten Relic Review
Two beloved VR adventures finally reach flatscreen players in Moss: The Forgotten Relic.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic. Credit: Polyarc
Polyarc’s Moss: The Forgotten Relic unites the original VR-exclusive Moss and its sequel in a single package. Both critically acclaimed games are finally available to us flatscreen players on PC and consoles. I’ve never owned a VR headset, so I was thrilled to finally experience them myself. It was worth the wait.
The story follows Quill, a young mouse who stumbles upon a magical artifact that sends her on a journey to save her home from the mechanical evil that drove her people into exile. This mystic Macguffin gives Quill a connection to the Reader—you, the player—who plays a key role in her adventure. Everything unfolds across the pages of a storybook, complete with warm narration that gives the adventure a cozy fairy tale feel. Other characters will sometimes address you directly while Quill isn’t paying attention, one of several small touches that makes you feel like her partner rather than a spectator.
You effectively control two characters at once: Quill and your own guiding hand. The left stick and face buttons control the mouse hero, while the right stick and trigger move the pointer representing your influence over the world. Quill handles the platforming and combat while you manipulate enemies, mechanisms, and the environment to help her progress. It sounds busier than it is. Within minutes, juggling both roles feels completely natural. I know I’m controlling Quill too, but separating her actions from my guiding hand still creates the convincing illusion that we’re working together. It gave me a deeper connection to Quill than I usually feel toward a game protagonist.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic. Credit: Polyarc
Each level is divided into small diorama-like rooms filled with platforming, puzzles, and combat encounters. The fighting is fairly basic. The puzzles make much better use of the unusual dual-control setup. Reaching into the world to push, pull, and rotate pieces of the environment makes solving puzzles feel tactile even on a standard controller. It’s all worth it for those moments where you get to give Quill a high-five.
Moss isn't a technical showcase, but its art direction has aged beautifully. Quill is the star. Watching her run, jump, and climb is magical; she feels like a living, breathing character, a true companion exploring the world with you. The soft-lit fantasy environments are full of mystery and danger, and the sense of wonder as you explore is palpable.
I'm genuinely happy these games are no longer trapped behind VR hardware. Moss deserves a much wider audience, and it deserves all the praise it got on its original releases. It took way too long to get into everyone else’s hands.
Moss: The Forgotten Relic
Moss: The Forgotten Relic is a magical platforming adventure whose dual-control design gives the bond between player and protagonist unusual emotional weight.
