Europa Review
Europa is a stunning Ghibliesque world that can feel a bit empty.
Europa. Credit: Novadust Entertainment / Future Friends Games.
Europa was developed as a passion project by Helder Pinto, the former art director behind Overwatch and Diablo 3, alongside his small but talented team at Novadust Entertainment. This indie title, published by Future Friends Games, offers a visually stunning adventure set on a lush, terraformed version of Jupiter's moon. With its painterly 3D graphics and serene atmosphere, Europa feels like stepping into a living watercolor—a tranquil and hauntingly beautiful world.
Players assume the role of Zee, an android exploring terraformed Europa in search of answers. The little he has of his father’s journal tells Zee to find his way to a floating island. The story unfolds gradually as Zee collects scattered journal entries that add depth to the experience, encouraging reflection on humanity's impact on the world we inhabit.
Europa. Credit: Novadust Entertainment / Future Friends Games.
Where Europa shines brightest is in its artistic presentation. The game’s painterly 3D graphics are beautiful, with a dreamlike softness. Ruined buildings and machines covered in moss litter its Ghibli-inspired landscape. While it’s gorgeous to behold, the expansive and picturesque world of Europa can feel sparse in terms of content; the scale feels too large for what there is actually to do, and the landscape can feel empty. Aside from collecting 40 hidden gems and piecing together the story through journal pages, there is little to engage with.
Europa. Credit: Novadust Entertainment / Future Friends Games.
Zee’s Zephyr jetpack serves as the primary mode of movement. Players can jump, glide, and boost through the air, using power bubbles to refuel the jetpack and chain movements together to fly continuously. The jetpack mechanics feel great, offering moments of serene, free-flowing flight, especially when soaring across open spaces. However, on the ground, Zee’s movement feels slippery and overly floaty, and the imprecision often led me to frustrating moments during platforming sections.
Europa. Credit: Novadust Entertainment / Future Friends Games.
Europa offers a breathtaking visual journey that you can finish in around 3.5 hours, if you’re not a completionist. However, the game’s exploration could stand to be more engaging, and the control mechanics could be tighter. The game excels as a meditative, low-pressure experience with an emphasis on atmosphere, but if you’re looking for deeper action and a world packed with things to do, this isn’t the game for you.
Europa is available now for PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch. It will arrive on PlayStation and Xbox platforms at a later date.
Overall Score: 6/10
Played on: Steam Deck
