People ask me often if it’s fun being a game reviewer. Most days, I enjoy this job immensely! Especially when we get to highlight indie games that get overlooked by most other gaming publications and websites. Unfortunately, there are also times I feel awful because I play an indie title that I can tell has a lot of passion behind it. But it doesn’t gel with me as much as it would others. Which brings us to the review of Trifox.

Developed by Glowfish Interactive, Trifox is a top-down twin-stick action-adventure game set in a unique and colorful world inspired by classic platform games. It feels like a game inspired by the top-down adventures popular in the 90s and early 2000s. But allow me to explain why, even though it didn’t work for me, it could work for you.

A unique art style and passion go a long way.

The first thing that jumped out to me about Trifox is the gorgeous art direction. It’s clear Glowfish had a vision for this game based on the unique style alone. I can’t really describe it, but imagine a mixture of Tunic’s art style with a touch of more substance and watercolor inspiration. It catches your attention immediately as something you don’t see often in games.

The gameplay itself is fine. It’s twin-stick action and combat with a dose of platforming and exploration. The one factor that helps the game stand out is the three character classes. The Warrior, Engineer, and Mage are your classes of choice. Each one stands out alone in playability and doesn’t feel the same. Plus, they all have their own skill trees with a plethora of abilities to unlock and test out. And the best part? You can switch your class quickly and easily in the hub world at any time in the game. Honestly, the most fun I had was trying all three units out, understanding their abilities, and finding which one I enjoyed the most (the Engineer).

Fun with friends. By yourself, though?

This is where objectiveness is critical in a review like this. Trifox is a game I could see a lot of my friends enjoying. It invokes top-down twin-stick games of the past, and it has a sturdy element of co-op that rewards players. On paper, I should love this game. But it just felt so monotonous to play by myself. 

Fights felt designed to be much more laborious playing on my own instead of others. It was common to get my butt kicked by swarms of enemies and bosses. And the music is so by-the-numbers that it almost put me to sleep when playing. 

All this is to say I think Trifox is just not a game for me. It’s not objectively inferior in anything. Just more generic and bland, if anything. But I can see a game that others will enjoy more than I do. And hey! If that’s you, knock your socks off.

Final Thoughts

Trifox has some interesting concepts and ideas it’s working within gameplay. All three playable foxes feel different enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. And the unlock trees for each unit are tailored to their characters. Experimenting with which class and upgrades you enjoy the most is one of the standout elements of the game.

I wish it didn’t feel monotonous to play by myself. There is a fun game here that people will really enjoy. I just ultimately realized it wasn’t my cup of tea. If you’re going to play, find two friends to take the journey with you. It’ll be much more fun and could be a pleasant surprise for your squad!

Trifox is available now on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S and One, PlayStation 4/5, and PC.