Tchia Throw your soul into anything

Tchia's gift lets her take over any animal or object in reach, and the list is long: more than 30 animals and hundreds of objects. Fly over the islands as a bird, dig up treasure as a dog, race through the waves as a fish, or roll downhill as a coconut. Each body moves differently, so picking the right one is half the fun, and it matters in puzzles too. When you need something that isn't there, play a melody on your ukulele to call it over. You drop onto a beach, spot a crab, and suddenly the crab is you, snipping through a chain.

This is a physics-driven sandbox, and movement is the heart of it. Between the two big islands sit smaller archipelagos and shipwrecks, and your customizable boat carries you across the lagoons; sailing long distances stays pleasant rather than tedious. The world does not show your exact spot on the map, which asks a little more of your eyes and memory than most open worlds do. Some players love that, some find it fussy.

The ukulele is fully playable, chords and all, and it is more than a toy. At key story moments you play rhythm sections alongside the islands' inhabitants, and out in the world, unlockable melodies trigger real effects: calling animals over, bringing rain, and stranger things. Between quests you can just sit at a campfire and jam. The music throughout draws on New Caledonian instruments and rhythms, and it is a highlight, from the songs that close each chapter to the tune that picks up while you sail.