Map Map – A Game About Maps – Review

Map Map – A Game About Maps is…. well, a game about maps. Sorry, I had to. Brought to you by Pipapo Games and Rekoup, this game, referred to as simply Map Map going forward, is an indie adventure simulation game where you use a forgotten skill to map your way around islands.

Now, before someone replies that cartography isn’t a forgotten skill, let me know when is the last time you used a physical map to go somewhere or navigate was? We are spoiled by being able to tap a destination into our phones now and allowing GPS to do the work for us.

The cute graphic style leads you to believe this is a cozy exploration game, and in some ways, it is, but underneath all the cute and cuddly, there is a game that encourages patience and observation. Full disclosure, 2 things I don’t often have when it comes to video games.

Now, when I was in Girl Guides, I needed to know how to use a map, and learning how to navigate with a map isn’t as simple as moving in a straight line from A to B. You must be familiar with the world around you, what you see, and the landmarks that will help you navigate and know you’re on the right path. In Map Map you play as a young cartographer tasked with helping an expedition crew map an island. You will locate landmarks and even uncover some hidden treasures. There are a variety of companions that will join you on your adventures. Each has their own personality and quirks, and they helped sell the game to me.

There is very little handholding in Map Map. It just trusts that you’ll figure it out. So much so, that I wondered if I had skipped the tutorial…Spoiler, I hadn’t. I was just lost. At your starting position, your map is oddly blank, something I am not used to in games. You are usually shown your position at a minimum. You must look around, examine any identifying landmarks, the coastline, etc. Working out exactly where you are on the map you’re holding. Once you think you’ve found your location, you place a marker. The game then shows you how accurate your guess was. I was so bad at this in the beginning. I have no spatial awareness.

Depending on the difficulty you’ve chosen, however, the game can be a little more forgiving…giving you hints and clues if you are struggling. I quite liked that, although it wants you to think for yourself, if never really left you stranded.

As you progress through the game, you will get more skills in your toolkit. A compass, stickers, navigation aids, and drawing tools will all be available to you. One of the things I loved was the built-in step counter. By simply holding a button, your character will count steps. This brought a new level of immersion into Map Map as I recalled my old hiking days.

Now that we’ve covered the mapping components, there is also treasure hunting. You can find clues spread throughout the islands, normally scribbled on walls or hidden in other places. Follow the clues, find the treasure. I loved these little rewarding moments.

Map Map is very pretty. Because you need to rely on your environment to map things, the world is full of distinct shapes and items. The soundtrack is pleasant and calm. While it didn’t stick in my head after the game, I found it very good at helping me focus on the tasks at hand.

On to the ‘bad’ part about Map Map. This isn’t a game for everyone. In fact, I wasn’t sure it was for me for the first hour I played. I felt lost, and not in a good way. Like I had no idea what I was doing or how I could be so off the mark by so much. If you’re looking for an easygoing and cozy experience, this might not be for you. The map controls while using a controller were also a little…off. Using the compass and drawing tools was easier with a mouse, so that is also something to consider. This game also has limited replayability as the maps are fixed, and once you master them, there isn’t much more to accomplish on each.