The Eternal Life of Goldman is developed by Weappy Studio and published by THQ Nordic. It is a hand-drawn 2D platformer game. Now seasoned followers of my little corner of the internet will be holding their heads in their hands with a large smile across their faces. Why? Because platformers and I have a love-hate relationship. So why choose to review the demo? Read on to find out.
“The Eternal Life of Goldman is a vibrant yet dark adventure that weaves together legends, fairy tales and myths. It takes the genre at an unusual angle and offers something unexpected at every turn. Upgrade your cane with new parts and unlock new abilities to explore the hidden corners of the Archipelago and face incredible creatures.“ THQ Nordic
Legends, fairy tales and myths, unusual angles and offering something unexpected, surely this game cannot deliver all of this. I had to find out, so I installed the demo on my trusty Xbox Series X.
Gameplay
There are approximately 90 minutes of gameplay in the demo. In my case, it took somewhat longer! I should have set up a death count! It is a blend of hand‑drawn action‑platforming, light combat, and exploration‑driven storytelling. It has a very specific feel that sets it apart from other indie platformers.
The game plays like a precision‑leaning 2D action‑platformer. It has tight, readable movement, very little margin for error. A cane‑based combat system that’s simple early on but clearly designed to evolve. I liked the ability to quickly switch between cane parts without having to pause the game, enter options and configure your trusty cane. What is not to like about a “bouncy shaft?!”
There is an unfolding narrative layer through exploration rather than cutscenes. It is cleverly designed, so that it carefully withholds information and lets the world do the talking. It’s subtle, atmospheric, and deliberately fragmented. There was zero spoken dialogue until after the first boss fight.
You’re dropped into the Archipelago with:
- No exposition dump
- No narrator
- No “chosen one” framing
- No clear goal beyond moving forward
This creates a quiet tension. You’re aware something is wrong or incomplete, but the game trusts you to sit with that ambiguity.
The demo ends right as the world opens up and the stakes start to shift. The mystery deepens, and you are left on the precipice of a narrative cliff.
Artwork
The artwork in The Eternal Life of Goldman is one of its defining strengths. A fully hand‑drawn, frame‑by‑frame animated world that blends classic animation craft with dark folklore influences. The result is a visual identity that feels both nostalgic and strikingly modern.
Everything is hand‑illustrated and planned “to the smallest detail.” The game avoids the repetitive look common in tile‑based platformers. Every environment is unique, every creature has personality, and every animation feels intentional. It is colourful, vibrant, energetic and has a comic feel—a moving story-book.
Music
The soundtrack for The Eternal Life of Goldman is a major highlight of the game, featuring an international team of award‑winning composers whose work elevates the hand‑drawn world with cinematic depth. The music blends orchestral themes, atmospheric soundscapes, and emotional motifs that support the game’s myth‑inspired storytelling. With contributions from renowned composers known for anime, RPGs, and modern action titles, the score delivers a rich, immersive audio experience that enhances exploration, platforming, and narrative moments. This focus on high‑quality, story‑driven music helps The Eternal Life of Goldman stand out among indie platformers and adds significant emotional weight to its worldbuilding.
Performance
The performance of The Eternal Life of Goldman on Xbox is shaped by its hand‑drawn, frame‑by‑frame animation, which runs smoothly on Xbox Series X.
The handcrafted environments and detailed animations are designed to maintain visual clarity and responsiveness during platforming and exploration, offering a stable experience on modern Xbox hardware.
While the core gameplay performs well, some players have reported controller‑specific issues on Xbox devices — including unintended character movement and input delay — which the developers have acknowledged and are actively investigating. Steam Community. This was a few months ago, and I noticed no such problems. Suggesting that this may now have been resolved.
Overall, the game delivered a strong visual performance on the Xbox Series X.
In Summary
The Eternal Life of Goldman delivers a memorable blend of hand‑drawn animation, atmospheric storytelling, and precision‑focused platforming, making it one of the most distinctive indie releases of the year.
Its expressive art style, layered worldbuilding, and cinematic soundtrack create a world that feels both mythic and personal, while the gameplay offers a confident mix of exploration and light combat. On Xbox, the game’s handcrafted visuals run smoothly on modern hardware.
Whether you’re here for the animation, the narrative mystery, or the platforming challenge, The Eternal Life of Goldman stands out as a beautifully crafted experience that’s worth keeping on your radar — especially for players who appreciate story‑driven indie games with a strong artistic identity.
If you imagine a midpoint between Ori, Horace, and a storybook‑style platformer, you’re in the right zone.
The Eternal Life of Goldman is currently scheduled for release in 2026, with the game confirmed for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. At the time of writing, the developers have not announced a specific day or month.
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