Moss: The Forgotten Relic Review - A Great Port That Keeps Most Of The Magic

As an almost cartoonishly queasy gamer who gets motion sickness from moving the camera around too fast, virtual reality has always been an absolute no-go for me. But there are plenty of VR games I’d love to experience, from Batman: Arkham Shadow and Blade and Sorcery to Half-Life: Alyx and Beat Saber.

Of all the VR games that my sickly self has missed out on over the years, the original Moss and its expanded sequel have always stung the most. I love puzzle platformers with a unique twist, and Moss certainly delivered that thanks to how it directly involves the player in Quill’s adventures. Sadly, as much as I wanted to experience it, it was never meant to be.

At least, that was the case until Moss: The Forgotten Relic, an ambitious port that removes the VR elements from both games and turns them into a more traditional experience that everyone can enjoy. While much of the special charm of the original games is unsurprisingly lost, Forgotten Relic is a great way to jump into the wonderful world of Moss without having a bucket nearby.

Even Without VR, Moss Is Something Special

Quill waving at the player while standing on a block in Moss: The Forgotten Relic.

For those unfamiliar, the original versions of Moss and its sequel were VR games that had you literally watching over adorable mouse protagonist Quill and controlling her movements and attacks while simultaneously interacting with the environment to guide her through her journey. The player, known in-universe as the Reader, wasn’t just an omniscient presence, as Quill and several other characters would acknowledge your existence and celebrate your actions throughout the story.

Moss: The Forgotten Relic takes those two games, splits them up into Book One and Book Two, and completely removes the VR camera and motion controls. You still play as both the Reader and Quill at the same time, but now the camera mercifully follows Quill’s movement instead of requiring you to actually look around, while your interactions with objects in the environment are now done with the right stick and right trigger.

VR was such an integral part of Moss’ identity that I was a little sceptical of The Forgotten Relic, but it works surprisingly well. Outside of some issues with depth perception due to the overhead camera and a few instances where interacting with objects was a little fiddly, Moss’ transition away from virtual reality is a big success.

The overhead camera does take a little getting used to even without virtual reality, but it does go a long way towards making you feel like you're part of the adventure.

Most importantly, the connection between the player and Quill that many have championed as the thing that makes Moss a must-play is still here. Quill is an incredibly endearing protagonist, and her relationship with the Reader, from high-fives to pointing things out in the world, is a joy. Of course, some of the magic of actually being in Moss’ world and feeling like you’re part of the story is inevitably lost without VR, but I still think it’s preserved as well as it possibly could have been.

Both Moss Games Are A Simple But Satisfying Treat

Quill standing next to a statue's head in Moss: The Forgotten Relic.

Without a signature VR gimmick to focus on, that just leaves the question of whether Moss and Moss 2 are good games on their own merits. Thankfully, that’s definitely the case. As you'd expect, the two share a lot of the same DNA and end up feeling like two halves of a single journey, but they have enough differences to make them stand out.

The first Moss follows Quill as she begins her adventure with the Reader and goes on a journey to save her uncle. It’s a more personal tale and sees Quill learning to be a hero, which resonated with me a bit more than its grander sequel. On the other hand, Moss Book One’s puzzles and combat are a bit more simplistic overall, making it feel like the blueprint for what’s to come.

Moss Book Two picks up directly after the first game ends and sees a more experienced Quill seeking out five glass relics to keep them out of antagonist Tylan’s hands. It’s a bigger adventure with greater stakes than before, which is matched by two new weapons (a hammer and a chakram), more complicated puzzles, and more abilities for the Reader.

The hammer is a particular standout in Book Two, even if it can be a little overpowered.

Quill using a hammer against an enemy in Moss: The Forgotten Relic.

Moss and Moss 2 both follow the same structure: light combat encounters, fairly basic platforming, and puzzles that range from simple to needing some extra brain power. Of the two, I preferred Moss 2 thanks to its deeper mechanics and how it builds on the first game’s framework, but both games are great and contribute to one particularly memorable adventure. Even if most of the mechanics are fairly straightforward, they all work together well and feel satisfying, especially with how clever some of the puzzles get.

One of the only downsides to Moss and Moss 2 is how short they are, with each game taking around three to four hours to beat and only having a few collectibles and objectives to pursue. That’s not as big an issue with the two coming together, but even when repackaged as a duology, there’s not a ton of meat on this mouse’s bones.

Even if Moss: The Forgotten Relic loses a little bit of the personal magic that it's become known for with the removal of VR, Quill’s charming adventure absolutely manages to stand on its own two paws as a slightly more traditional puzzle platformer. More than anything, I’m grateful that anyone who couldn’t handle Moss in VR finally has a chance to try out a truly special game.

Puzzle

Platformer

Exploration

Systems

Released: July 16, 2026
ESRB: Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
Developer(s): Polyarc, Blackbird Interactive
Publisher(s): Polyarc
Number of Players: Single-player

9 Images

Steam Deck Compatibility: Verified
PC Release Date: July 16, 2026
Xbox Series X|S Release Date: July 16, 2026
PS5 Release Date: July 16, 2026
Nintendo Switch Release Date: July 16, 2026
Nintendo Switch 2 Release Date: July 16, 2026
Genre(s): Puzzle, Platformer, Exploration
Platform(s): PC, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
X|S Optimized: Yes
File Size Xbox Series: 11.31 GB