Developer: Lidlocks
Platform: PC (Reviewed)
Genre: Adventure, Simulation
Publisher: Parco Games
Publisher Parco Games and developer Lidlocks bring players a wonderfully charming adventure with Finding Polka, currently on Steam. This wholesome hide-and-seek journey is packed with creativity, quirky characters, and plenty of surprises, making it an adventure that’s hard to look away from.
This game has such charm to it that the developers’ goal of creating a game “that makes it impossible to look away” is absolutely on point. The creativity throughout Finding Polka is outstanding. You play as Friendy, who enjoys her life alongside her beloved sausage dog, Jazz. As the two head out for a stroll, they happen to spot a chunky Frenchie named Polka. Without any hesitation, they find themselves chasing after Polka, kicking off a wonderfully bizarre adventure.
First and foremost, the gameplay is incredibly soothing and relaxing. It encourages you to become curious about your surroundings rather than simply chasing after Polka. I mean, with these visuals, this environment, and the music, there’s no way you won’t find yourself getting completely lost trying to discover every interactable object and hidden secret. The controls are also extremely easy to use. You pretty much just use the keyboard for movement, interacting, and zooming in and out. Sometimes the movement did get caught up on certain objects, but it was nothing too over the top and never took away from the experience.
The essential gimmick of the game is that it plays like a hide-and-seek adventure, one filled with brimming charm. You’ll find yourself exploring shops, buildings, mazes, and winding paths while trying to track down Polka. However, it’s much more than just finding the dog. Along the way, you’ll meet other characters who ask for items, giving you even more reasons to explore every little corner. I always found myself checking every corner of an area or trying to climb onto every rooftop possible just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. The game has a fantastic sense of reward. While it’s possible to 100% the game by completing each level, it’s the interactions with the characters that really make it stand out. The creativity behind the characters, their little actions, and the life they bring to every environment is lovely, and I genuinely enjoyed every moment of it.
The game feels like much more than just a hide-and-seek adventure. It takes you through a story that is completely wild, surprising, and constantly introduces beautiful and intriguing locations. One of my favourite settings was the moon, as it genuinely felt out of this world. Every new area somehow manages to surprise you, making you excited to see where Polka will lead you next.
That brings me to the visuals because… wow. Everything is illustrated in a nostalgic hand-drawn ballpoint pen style that gives the game so much personality. It almost feels like you’re exploring the pages of someone’s sketchbook that’s slowly coming to life. The colour palette is very muted, with most of the world appearing in soft cream tones and delicate line art, while occasional pops of colour really stand out. Despite its minimalist style, it goes such a long way. Every animation, drawing, landscape, and little environmental detail pulls you deeper into the world.
I especially loved the little bursts of colour whenever you complete an interaction with a character and the two share a high five. The quirky cast is also an absolute joy. You’ll meet apes, aliens, snakes, wizards… honestly, anything and everything you could imagine. One of my favourite little touches was the QR codes hidden throughout the game. Scanning them with your phone takes you to funny chat rooms between characters. It’s such a unique idea that adds even more personality.
You can really tell how much love has gone into this game. Created by Japanese solo developer Shinnosuke Kumazawa, Finding Polka blends slice-of-life storytelling with surreal moments. Knowing that the game is a love letter to his late dog, whose spirit lives on through Polka, makes so many of the little details even more meaningful. I also loved finding the real-life photographs of the dog hidden throughout the game, as they made the whole adventure feel incredibly personal.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the soundtrack. Every setting and scenario has its own unique track, and some of them were incredibly catchy, especially the songs with little lyrics mixed in. I really liked the contrast throughout the soundtrack. If you’re wandering through a rainy forest, you’ll hear subtle piano melodies accompanied by gentle rainfall. Then you’ll step into a farm where upbeat country instrumentals play, complete with animal sounds whenever you get close to cows or pigs. Even during quieter moments, you’ll still hear footsteps and little ambient sounds, which really helps the world feel alive. I also really enjoyed the little Polka voice notes that the character would say every time they saw Polka from a distance, in different tones that felt extremely personal.
The game is all about taking your time and exploring everything around you, and every aspect of that experience is delivered really well. Finding Polka is a whimsical walking adventure where the journey is every bit as important as the destination. It’s a gentle celebration of unexpected encounters, tiny acts of kindness, and the joy of getting a little lost with those you love.
Nothing about the game felt short either. It took me around three hours to complete, and that’s without even knowing if I found every interaction. I was a little confused about what the final two achievements were tied to, although one of them might be linked to finding every portrait of Polka, which was such a delight to search for. The fact that I immediately wanted to replay levels to make sure I’d seen everything says a lot about how enjoyable the exploration is.
I would absolutely love to see future games like this or even another entry in this series. This level of creativity and randomness feels so refreshing, and somehow it all works perfectly within a hide-and-seek adventure. I also loved the little easter eggs scattered throughout the game, like the theatre showing a hand-drawn sketch version of E.T. You genuinely become invested in what every person, animal, or alien is doing around you, which makes exploring such a joy. I ended up playing the game in one sitting, and I’d happily revisit every level to collect any portraits or secrets I may have missed because 100% completing it feels genuinely fun rather than like a chore.
Finding Polka is a wonderfully charming adventure filled with creativity, heart, and rewarding exploration. From its beautiful hand-drawn visuals to its quirky characters and relaxing gameplay, every part of the experience feels like it was made with genuine love and care. If you’re looking for a wholesome adventure that’s full of surprises, be sure to check it out!
Overall: 9/10
This is S & S. We are world game explorers. We play games. We have played over 10,000+ games! We travel, we write reviews AND we play more games!!!!
