The stories of Moomin have been with me for as long as I can remember. There is something familiar yet magical about the characters and their world, something about the way they tackle big problems with quiet wisdom, that made the books a cherished retreat during my own childhood. These days, I find myself returning to that same valley, reading the very same stories to my children. So when I discovered that Moomin had been adapted into a point-and-click adventure, one of my absolute favorite genres, it felt like a perfect match. Not just for me, but as something I could share with my wife and kids.
A Valley Brought to Life
From the very first scene, Moomin: Midsummer Madness radiates affection for its source material. Every hand-drawn environment feels like stepping directly into the pages of Tove Jansson’s books, packed with small details that reward curiosity. As with any good point-and-click, you naturally want to click on everything, and here the game generously obliges: nearly every object comes with a story, and most of those tales carry a strong wave of nostalgia. It is clear that the developers love these illustrations, because that love shows in every frame.
Moomin: Midsummer Madness does not simply retell one adventure; it weaves together pieces of several beloved stories into something more coherent. You get to experience parts of the best tales the books have to offer, while additional snippets surface through conversations with characters or by interacting with objects in the world. Collecting these memories, these little echoes of greater adventures, was one of my favorite aspects of the game.
Puzzles So Easy Even Snorkmaiden Could Solve Them
Let’s be upfront: this is not a game for point-and-click veterans hunting for a challenge. Moomin: Midsummer Madness is gentle. Most puzzles are self-explanatory, and some practically solve themselves. If you do get stuck, the dialogue does a wonderful job of nudging you in the right direction, telling you what you need, where to find it, and what to do with it.
That accessibility is exactly what makes the game so special. It is ideal for children, for lifelong Moomin fans who may not usually play video games, and for adventure-game enthusiasts who simply want a couple of relaxing hours in Moomin Valley. In my household, it turned out to be the game that finally got my wife hooked on a video game, something I had been trying to achieve for over a decade. Meanwhile, my children, who usually gravitate exclusively toward sports games, stood in line for a turn. Everyone genuinely enjoyed it.
You will occasionally take control of different Moomin characters, switching between them with the press of a button, and a few puzzles require you to use the right person for the job. The game is very clear about when this is necessary, so it never becomes a source of frustration. Rather than deepening the mechanical complexity of the puzzles, character switching mostly serves to pull you deeper into the feeling of living inside a Moomin tale—which, frankly, is more than enough.
A Hummable Soundtrack and Silly Minigames
The audio matches the visual charm. The tunes are pleasant and fit the playful, happy tone of the game perfectly, though there are relatively few of them, and they begin to feel a little repetitive by the halfway mark. Even so, they are the sort of melodies I could imagine leaving on in the background long after the controller is set down. The sound effects for everyday actions also bring a constant smile to your face.
Beyond the standard clicking and combining, the game includes a handful of shorter minigames, variations on ideas you may have seen elsewhere (Professor Layton, I’m looking at you), but filtered through that unmistakable, cozy Moomin sensibility. My personal favorite involved throwing Little My into the sea to catch breakfast buns while dodging circling birds. It is silly, it is brief, and it is delightfully Moomin.
Final Thoughts
Moomin: Midsummer Madness does not try anything revolutionary, and its puzzles are deliberately easy enough for the whole family. That is not a weakness; it is arguably the game’s greatest strength. It is a title made with a big heart and a deep love for Moomin. The environments are beautifully drawn, the stories are familiar with just enough new twists to keep things fresh, and having experienced it through the eyes of my wife, a person who rarely plays games, and through my children, I can honestly say I cannot wait for a follow-up. Moomin Valley has never felt more inviting.
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