Moss

Moss is one of those games that is, in the purest and simplest way, golden. PSVR has found its champion, its poster child.

For a debut game, Moss is a remarkably mature, intelligent, confident and purposeful game by Polyarc...Moss really is the best VR game we've seen to date.

Moss is a flawlessly crafted experience starring a character that absolutely deserves to be the face of modern VR. Every inch of the world shows attention to detail, and a story is woven that draws you in, making you truly invested in the world and in Quill as a person.

Although Moss is relatively short at around four hours long, it was firing on all cylinders at the end, the final portion of the adventure brings the beautiful score, lush visuals, and tight, varied mechanics into a unified whole that’s pushed at a frenetic pace into a satisfying climactic end. I found myself completely exhilarated and thrilled.

Moss is a gorgeous game, with Disney-level animation (on Disney's best day), spectacular world building, and intriguing puzzles. Quill the mouse is a living creation, delicate but with real weight and personality. Like the way the best 3-D worlds incorporate 3-D organically, Moss avoids VR gimmicks and relies on wonder and story to produce the first essential title on PS VR.

The first VR game where I feel like everyone I know needs to play it.

Moss is an irresistibly uplifting landmark experience that is simply essential for PSVR owners everywhere.

Moss hits way above its weight — creating one of the few captivating, must-play stories on VR.

A delightful adventure and excellent VR showcase. [Issue#199, p.84]

A beautiful fairy tale and smart use of VR makes this game one of the great VR experiences thus far.

Moss is one of the most fun and imaginative games available for the PlayStation VR. Even the VR design, which plays with distance and depth of field, is really cool. Although the story was mostly lacking, the world building is fantastic and real, the puzzles offer enough challenge for this age-friendly game, and above all, you’ll be enchanted by Quill and want to hug her and be her best friend forever and ever.

Polyarc has created a fantastic world filled with compelling characters, creative puzzles, and a story that’ll stick with you long after the five-hour runtime. Moss is precisely the reason you buy a PSVR, and it’s sure to make any player fall in love with a brave little mouse named Quill.

Billed as the first part of Quill's storybook adventures, Moss showcases some of the best ideas to grace the PlayStation VR since its inception. Not only is it comfortable and easy to get into, but the forest world that Quill calls her home is a character all its own.

Playing Moss is like living inside a diorama where you can manipulate bits of the scenery.

Moss is one of the more unique games for PlayStation VR, without a doubt. The game does not just really use vr to the fullest, it feels amazing from start to finish.

The PlayStation VR deserves to be thought of as a whole separate platform, and thus far that platform has been lacking in the killer games to sell it. This is the first must-have release to arrive; something truly special. Moss is an absolutely phenomenal experience; completely captivating, utterly endearing, and absolutely magical. Ghibli fans will find this closer to the works of the legendary studio than the Ni No Kuni games. Best of all, it finishes on a promise of more adventures to come and, like a bibliophile desperate for that next book, players will be left desperately wanting the next chapter in this story.

Moss is not so much a game as it is an experience. Polyarc sets an immensely high bar for storytelling in VR, exuding careful and deliberate artistry in every aspect — sound design, lighting, camera, visuals — to create a world worthy of straining your back to see the area in 360 degrees. In every sense, I felt like I was inside one of those beautiful, gilded storybooks. The only thing missing was the smell of the forest and old paper.

Polyarc has built an amazing adventure with a grand sense of scale, bonding players with the smallest hero as they send her out beyond the safe walls of her tiny mouse village. Even if it ends too soon, Moss is one of the most memorable and immersive VR adventures I’ve ever been on, but more importantly, it’s the best friendship I’ve ever had with a VR mouse.

Moss is the hidden gem the PSVR never knew it needed. From the first moment we played the game at E3 almost a year ago until we saw the closing credits roll, Quill’s adventure has captivated our hearts and minds. Moss strikes that perfect balance between tense, action-packed moments of combat with slow, methodical puzzles that require you to rethink the way you interact with video games through the power of VR. Polyarc has crafted one of PSVR’s most essential games to date.

This could easily be a flagship series for PlayStation VR.

Moss bridges the gap between traditional games and virtual reality experiences. It’s an adventure game brimming with charm, crafty puzzles, and a fully realized fairy tale world that makes you feel as if you are really there. Moss is proof that virtual reality games can redefine well-known genres.

Moss is my favorite VR experience so far. This is partly due to the fact that it’s extremely gentle. Because it doesn’t task you with moving through the environment, it’s an accessible VR game for people who are prone to getting motion sick. The world’s beauty is also a draw.

Moss is a gorgeous virtual reality experience that combines the eloquence of a theatrical play, the cuteness of smaller-sized subjects and making their scale feel grander, and the enjoyment of playing video games. I have never experienced something quite like Moss, and although it is partially due to the VR headset, it's more than equally due to how the developers used the technology to create a genuinely enjoyable experience. Moss is probably my favorite VR game yet, and I'd expect that sentiment to be echoed by many others.

​Moss is definitely one of the best PlayStation VR games so far. Looking forward for its book two.​

Moss is one of the most interesting experiences ever done on VR and has a main character that we deeply love: Quill. It may not be perfect due to the restrains of PS VR, but despite that, it's an excellent portrait of VR narrative and gameplay.

Moss is a whimsical and awe-inspiring journey through a magical land, where the true possibilities of the marriage between traditional gaming elements and virtual reality is put on clear display for all the naysayers.

Moss represents a major step forward for the platform.

Moss is the best game available for PSVR at the moment. If you like puzzles, platforming and action and you have a PSVR headset, you shouldn't miss it.

Sugar sweet hero's journey in a believable fairy tale world, which convinces with its successful staging and the "in the middle of it" perspective.

Moss is a fantastic game despite an imperfect ending. The fantastic protagonist Quill, great gameplay and clever puzzles make Moss an experience to remember.

Moss is one of the best games for VR, full of right decisions. It has, however, a very precipitous ending and leaving the player eager for more.

In spite of a reduced enemy pool which gives the incentive to kill the same foe over and over, and regardless of its short story, Moss is one of the best PlayStation VR games out there. The camera is used with skill and helps create a strong link between Quill and the player.

A tiny mouse is an unassuming heroine, dioramas are inconspicuous puzzle boxes, and virtual reality often prefers exhilaration to gratification. Moss erases these assumptions and projects its bold ambition across a gorgeous procession of puzzles and platforming. In a medium consumed by flash and artificiality, Moss presents a mature and genuine alternative.

Delightful. Maybe the best Playstation VR exclusive. Moss is simple and short, yes, too good to be that short, but it's also the most beautiful thing we've seen in VR, and it's not a random walking simulator with an empty story and no mechanics. Actually, it is a pretty good combination of platforms, puzzles and action.

Although it is a title as short as it is simple, Moss still manages to ensnare our body and soul in an adventure that we would never want to end: the PlayStation VR becomes the gateway to a world that is amazing and enveloping, to explore in the company of one of the most "living" virtual characters of all time.

Moss is a joyous, delightful experience that is both captivating and enchanting. It's one of those games that leaves you with an indelible smile on your face from beginning to end. It's just a pity that the end comes so soon.

Moss made a wonderful first impression and never let up. Spending four hours with Quill in this VR world was a joy, and no one element or environment type wears out its welcome. Its mix of combat and puzzles hooked me quickly, always kept things fresh, and left me wanting more.

Moss is one of the very first surprises of 2018 for PlayStation VR owners, a little-big adventure filled with brilliantly designed puzzles, that puts its focus on the main character, a little rat, that moves around levels designed as doll houses. Its biggest flaw is that it's a very short game, but one you will embrace and love for a long time to come.

Moss is magic. It's an impressive game, not just for the excellent use of PlayStation VR, and at the same time it's the perfect way to spread what VR is capable of.

Enchanting. [May 2018, p.81]

Without a doubt, the PSVR needs more games like Moss; its use of VR prioritizes long-lasting immersion over cheap gimmicks that end as soon as they begin, and it also shows how VR tech can be used to create a more personal engagement between the player and the character (waifu simulators notwithstanding).

Going on an adventure with Quill in Virtual Reality is an utter joy. The game looks absolutely gorgeous and radiates a magical atmosphere throughout the entire experience. Unfortunately, it is also rather short considering it's fairly steep price tag but that shouldn't prevent you from having a blast while it lasts. Recommended.

If you own a PlayStation VR, you can't avoid playing Moss. With inspired art design and effective gameplay, it's one of the best games for the Sony visor.

Moss really is something special, but it feels a little abrupt.

Clever, different, but sadly all too brief. Moss might not be the singular game to justify the purchase of a PlayStation VR, but it is one of a growing number of PSVR releases that build up a decent list of reasons to pick one up.

The world of Moss is an intriguing one with lifelike animations and amazing music. We want more.

Moss is undoubtedly one of the best PlayStation VR games available. This little tale is absolutely charming, from beginning to end, and it offers a both interesting and perfectly balanced gameplay. Too bad it ends so quickly, after 3 or 4 hours of play, with a frustrating "to be continued"... We had such a good time. An enchantment you still have to live, if you're equipped with Sony's virtual reality headset.

Moss is an exceptionally thoughtful, beautiful and unique experience. It’s deceptively simple, but surprisingly deep in unexpected ways. While $29.99 USD is a steep asking price for an experience that feels unfinished, if you have a PlayStation VR and are dying to try out something fresh, you’d be remiss not to give Moss a go. It’s a game that wouldn’t feel right without VR, yet doesn’t rely on the technology as a lazy gimmick in lieu of proper game design. We haven’t seen the last of our little pal Quill and something tells us that her next adventure will take virtual reality to new heights.

If you have a PlayStation VR, I cannot recommend Moss enough. Though its $40 price tag for a roughly four-hour adventure may still seem a little steep for some, it’s an adventure more than worth taking.

One of the most impressive PlayStation VR games so far, in terms of both its technical achievements and the sheer joy of playing it.

Moss is an absolute joy to play, proving that a great VR experience doesn’t always require that you flail your arms around while fending off bouts of motion sickness. It’s a wonderfully realised puzzle platformer with clever twists, beautiful backdrops, and an adorable hero, making PlayStation VR even more tempting for prospective buyers.

Moss is a fantastic game with a story that will draw players into its world and it has some great visuals to back it up. While there is some death and darkness to the title, I would still consider it a family friendly title, but maybe not something for the young, young kiddies.

Moss is easily one of PlayStation VR's best titles to date, even if it's a little too eager to get you in and out of its world.

The wonderful relationship between a brave little mouse and the player character will ring as a bright spot in early VR development. Although the adventure is short-lived, and those looking for a challenge will be left wanting, Moss still serves as a great excuse to dust off your PS VR headsets if you haven’t done so in a while.

Moss is a charming puzzle game that every Playstation VR owner should play.

Moss is the beautiful opening to a promising tale of an adorable mouse and her silent helper. It's an artfully crafted game that you will want more of—more content, more story, and more depth. Moss feels like an opening chapter that's trying too hard to be a self contained story. It got the ball rolling but fumbled when it came to bring all the pieces together. If Polyarc can follow through with their (apparent) plans for timely episodic installments to the world of Moss, and continue building on this foundation, this could be the start of a world you'll look forward to losing yourself in any time there's a new story to be told.

Moss is an enchanting little puzzle game with a cute design and creative puzzles. Fight mechanics and areas of the motion controls could use some improvement, though.

Moss struggles with some aspects of its VR implementation. Playing a video game with your neck isn’t particularly fun and the motion controls cause more trouble than they’re worth, but many moments are aided by wearing the headset.

The biggest narrative crime comes right at the close, where what feels like the approach to the conclusion turns out to be, in fact, the end - a sour taste that's hardly helped by the naked sequel set-up that follows. [May 2018, p.122]

The poor battle system and the cliffhanger ending steal some of the wonderful charm from Μoss, but overall this is a unique VR game that offers some truly breathtaking vistas and great gameplay ideas.

As the debut release from Polyarc, Moss offers a surprisingly gorgeous world filled with wonder and delight. Seeing as its gameplay suffers from being a bit too basic and easy, I'm looking forward to a sequel that'll hopefully offer a longer and more fulfilling adventure.

Moss builds a world and draws you into it with gusto, confidently using some of the best visuals and art direction I’ve ever seen on Playstation VR. Despite this, technological limitations of the control scheme hold it back from being truly great.