VINE is a single-player puzzle platformer adventure game that blends action and indie elements through its distinctive rope-based mechanics. Players control Rick, a yellow frog navigating a post-apocalyptic world in search of an insect-filled paradise. The core experience revolves around using an extendable tongue to swing, pull objects, and solve environmental challenges in a dilapidated research facility known as Cosmos.
Gameplay
The central mechanic involves Rick's tongue, which stretches infinitely and attaches to surfaces like boxes, vines, and structures. This allows for rope maneuvers that emphasize physics, including gravity acceleration and centrifugal force for Tarzan-style swings. Players must master timing and momentum to traverse treacherous paths, move obstacles, and progress through the environment. The game incorporates over 200 puzzles that test dexterity and problem-solving, with hazards such as contraptions adding layers of challenge. Exploration reveals hidden journals that expand on the backstory of the Poro beings and the events leading to the current state of the world. Rick can consume insects as a form of progression tied to player skill in navigating sections.
Game Modes
VINE operates exclusively as a single-player experience with no multiplayer components or separate game modes. The entire journey focuses on linear yet puzzle-heavy progression through Cosmos toward Paradise, supported by Steam achievements and leaderboards for personal best tracking. Features like Steam Workshop and Cloud save enhance the solo campaign without introducing competitive or cooperative elements.
Story and World
Set 700 years after humanity abandoned a nuclear-ravaged Earth, the narrative follows Rick awakening to hunt for food and heading toward Uru's Paradise. Along the way, encounters with other Poro characters such as Roco, Pio, Olim, Fleia, Lord Crown, Bell, and Laon introduce themes of illusion, collaboration, and personal quests. The story unfolds through environmental details and collectible journals rather than direct exposition, revealing the genetic engineering origins of the Poro and the failure of their mission to restore the planet.
Is It Worth Playing?
With an 82 percent positive rating from 40 user reviews on its primary platform, VINE appeals to players who enjoy deliberate puzzle-platformers that reward understanding of physics and precise controls. The roughly 20-hour length provides a contained adventure suited to those seeking a focused indie title without ongoing seasons or updates. It suits fans of mechanics-driven exploration in a compact package, though the challenging puzzles may frustrate those preferring lighter platforming. Availability on PC makes it accessible for anyone interested in its unique tongue-based system and atmospheric setting.
