Reviewed on Xbox Series X|S using a review code supplied via Keymailer. Independent editorial verdict.
Poetic Trio is a peaceful exploration game that invites you to slow down, admire your surroundings and discover poetry hidden throughout three beautifully crafted environments. There’s no combat, no real sense of urgency and very little in the way of traditional gameplay. Instead, you’re encouraged to wander through the scenery, searching for glowing flowers to place on pedestals that reveal pieces of poetry.
I’ll admit, I initially struggled to find much excitement in the experience. However, having spent around half an hour exploring each of the three levels, I found there was certainly more to appreciate than I’d first expected.
The scenery is undoubtedly one of the game’s strongest features. From gorgeous autumnal forests and winding pathways to snow-covered mountains, glowing flowers and mysterious landscapes, each environment has its own distinct charm. The soundtrack complements the scenery beautifully, creating a wonderfully peaceful atmosphere that makes the game feel like a virtual stroll through a series of picturesque locations.
Poetry, scenery and a gentler pace
Unfortunately, while the environments are lovely to explore, the gameplay itself can become rather repetitive. Finding a glowing flower, travelling to its pedestal and unlocking another piece of poetry is essentially what you’ll spend much of your time doing. The poems themselves are pleasant enough and suit the overall atmosphere, but I didn’t find them particularly memorable. They eventually became more of an objective to complete rather than something I was especially excited to discover.
The third level, Loverowind, was easily the most interesting for me, introducing some welcome variety to the experience. Beginning inside a mysterious castle, complete with an impressive spiral staircase whose direction can be changed using a lever, it almost felt like stepping into a different game.
Once outside, glowing orbs allow you to travel across the expansive landscape at a much faster pace, accompanied by the sound of wind rushing around you. At times, it felt rather like taking a springtime skiing lesson through a field of glowing flowers! Unfortunately, despite the apparent increase in speed, travelling between objectives could still feel surprisingly lengthy.
Loverowind also introduces mysterious lights that reveal poetry when you pass through them, rather than relying entirely on the usual flowers and pedestals. There’s even a helpful feature allowing you to highlight their locations, which is particularly useful given the size and openness of the environment. These additions made the final level feel considerably more engaging than the previous two, although they didn’t completely eliminate the underlying repetition.
Our verdict
Ultimately, Poetic Trio does exactly what it sets out to do. It’s a gentle, atmospheric experience designed around appreciating beautiful scenery and discovering poetry at your own pace. There’s something admirable about its simplicity, and I can certainly see the appeal for players who enjoy relaxing exploration games.
However, peaceful doesn’t necessarily have to mean uneventful, and I frequently found myself wishing there was a little more to do along the way. While the lovely visuals and soundtrack made the journey enjoyable at times, they couldn’t always compensate for the drawn-out exploration and limited gameplay variety.
Poetic Trio is a charming experience with some genuinely beautiful moments, but its repetitive nature means it won’t appeal to everyone. For those looking for a quiet escape into a world of scenery and poetry, though, it may be just the peaceful retreat they’re after.
Coloured Static Press score: 69/100
Review by the Coloured Static Press team.