Tchia

We all get so bogged down by problems both big and small in our loud confusing world but Tchia reminded me that that doesn’t have to be the case. When Tchia would get out her ukulele to play along with friends, family or during village ceremonies prompting me to play along as a form of mini-game, the game would remind me that it didn’t matter if I missed a note - or even partook at all. The joy lies in listening or having a go - not in seeking perfection. What Tchia discovers on her journey wouldn’t be possible without the kindness of strangers and friends. Tchia is also a girl with a powerful gift but this is a game that shows you what happens when you use such a gift for good - and what can befall you if you only seek power. Since I finished playing, I’ve noticed that I'm focusing more on the joy and beauty in my own life. What greater gift could you ask for from a game? Thanks Tchia.

Tchia is a beautifully crafted game that celebrates tradition and culture, while offering varied gameplay and opportunity for exploration.

With minor technical adjustments to be made, Tchia is a true masterpiece in all its aspects, which together allow us a journey through the rich and still unknown culture of New Caledonia. With solid and light gameplay, captivating graphics, mesmerizing music, and a subtle and delicate narrative, it is a simply delightful game.

Few open worlds offer an experience as unique and different as Tchia, a game with a personality as overwhelming as its own world or the mechanics it proposes. Even with its flaws and technical aspects that can be improved, it is a game that deserves a chance, unless you are not into open world games.

Awaceb told us they were creating a game with "heart and soul", and Tchia really brings all of that and much more. With a touching story and versatile gameplay, it has all the tools to bring fun and joy to the players.

Tchia might very well be the most ambitious indie game we see in 2023. This open-air and open-sea adventure takes some of the best gameplay elements from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey and combines them into an adventure that’s filled with heart, humor, and compassion across a breathtaking archipelago. If you enjoy games with exceptionally designed worlds that are meant to be explored with a fine-tooth comb, I can’t see any reason why you wouldn’t love what’s on offer in Tchia.

Tchia is a gorgeous, endearing open-world adventure filled with the heart and soul of New Caledonian culture. It’s a world you’ll love being in despite the overall experience being stymied from reaching its true potential by tedious combat.

Tchia drips with joyful, explorative fun. The idea of letting players loose in an interactive sandbox is a goal that has been chased by developers since video games began. Few truly give you the freedom to frolic in a virtual playground, and though Tchia is not without its shortcomings, it’s a rare instance where the temptation to just play in the digital world is rewarding at just about every turn. The tone, the music, and Tchia’s abilities all come together to create something that is simply fun, and it all takes place in a setting that demands to be explored.

Tchia is a highly enjoyable and varied coming-of-age adventure game with a ton to see and do. The possession mechanic is a ton of fun, the sights and sounds are undeniably attractive, and it has a good dose of dark humour to top it all off.

A heartwarming open world adventure with lots of black humor and plenty of surprises.

Tchia is a great game to get you acquainted with New Caledonia, but even more to get you relaxed. Charming graphics and some really strong atmospheric moments make this world a joy to explore. The lack of strong story direction may put you off from playing it, but if you are the laid-back kind, it is an experience you surely will remember for a long time.

Sometimes you just need to relax, calm down, and breathe in the culture, and Tchia lets you do just that. It's got its issues, the technical side of things is a bit lacking, and the combat can become a bit tedious with time, but when you're just wandering, seeking out new stories, taking in all the world has to offer, everything else falls away.

Tchia could have benefited from a bit more polish, better flow, more animals and a bit more to do out in the countryside, but it's still a game anyone who enjoys the open world genre should check out.

A family adventure that exudes good humor and which will undoubtedly warm your heart, Tchia delivers a story as touching as it is effective and gratifies us with absolutely brilliant music and highly warm characters. It's also an exploration game that is teeming with beautiful little ideas, making the ride devilishly pleasant. We only regret that the open world is not attractive enough in terms of content to keep us long in its scope once the story is over.

There's so much about Tchia that feels at odds with what I'm accustomed to considering "good" game design, but it's also taught me to throw a lot of those ideas out the window. Tchia is a game that's exactly what it wants to be, and that makes it something that everyone needs to play. It's refreshing, charming, earnest, honest and – most importantly – a heap of fun.

Admittedly, aspects of the story caught me off guard, with some instances of cartoonish violence (that aren't overly graphic) and Maevora serving as quite an unsettling antagonist in an otherwise charming backdrop. But there's a welcome helping of humor and touching moments in the mix that kept me invested. The standout moments of Tchia are always centered around the different people and communities you meet along the way, who each come together and share in a musical moment you can take part in with a rhythm mini game, or sit back and enjoy. Overall, Awaceb delivers a delightful, inventive adventure that I was happy to get lost in. Tchia really is wonderful in many respects.

While Tchia's story doesn't find the steadiest of footing, its world and portrayal of culture are outstanding. The gameplay is also a lot of fun, even with a decent amount of padding to keep you busy in the gorgeous open world. New Caledonia is certainly worth the visit in this digital representation.

Definitely different from other dispersive and soulless open world experiences, Tchia is a tropical adventure that pays homage to the culture and territorial beauties of New Caledonia. However, this scaled-down version of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has its shortcomings, including technical stability issues and a not-so-great story longevity. In any case, Tchia remains a fun game that knows how to make players fall in love with the unique culture of the Kanak people.

Tchia has a lot of heart and charm. It's clear that the developers really wanted to honor the culture, traditions, landscapes and music of New Caledonia. Unfortunately, the exploration is repetitive after a few hours, the soul-Jumping mechanic never reaches its true potential and the combat is bland. That's unfortunately, as the game tries with love and honesty be a memorable experience.