Omno Review

From the gorgeous title screen to the very first scene of the prologue, Omno sets expectations for players right from the get-go. The atmospheric 3D adventure features a lush, vibrant world that kind of makes you wish you were there instead of living in the aftermath of 2020 IRL. After all, who wouldn’t want to surround themselves with pristine white snowscapes and vibrant greenery every waking hour of the day?

The colorful critters in Omno are just too adorable and too friendly to aggravate, because again, spotting a hulking leviathan here replaces your usual dread with innocent, childlike wonder.

In Omno, while your nameless protagonist starts his journey without a clue as to where he is or how he got there, getting lost doesn’t actually seem so bad. Waking up to find yourself in this magical land filled with non-threatening creatures where death is an alien concept is actually a pretty welcome experience. The main appeal of this game, to me, is its totally chill vibe. 

There are no required collectibles, no checklists you have to complete, and no overarching missions or campaigns you have to clear. While you’ve got a nifty magic staff that basically transforms into anything you conveniently need, it’s not a weapon that lets you hurl fireballs at enemies or monsters in the semi-open world—and you really won’t want to, anyway. The colorful critters in Omno are just too adorable and too friendly to aggravate because again, spotting a hulking leviathan here replaces your usual dread with innocent, childlike wonder. 

This, to me, makes Omno an incredibly refreshing title—one that I never really thought I needed until now. Video games nowadays are too often littered with pressure-filled to-do lists and huge monsters you have to defeat. Here, gentle giants are your friend—you can lounge around by their side or ride them as you marvel at the breathtaking landscape around you. It really does make you wish this same conflict-less experience can be said with real life.

As for the little ones, they can playfully glide alongside you or scurry away when you get too close. These enchanting creatures are often shy or curious, and you can use your staff to interact with them in a wide variety of ways (discovering how to play with each creature can already be a game in itself). If there’s one collectible here, it’s the light-filled crystal orb thingies that you can gather from the flora and fauna. 

Now, I don’t want to give anything away, but even though the narrative isn’t that complicated, it’s still worth playing through the whole thing to fully immerse yourself in the game’s experience. There are no “deaths” that will set you back a few levels or anything—failing to scale a platform only results in a comedic thump and a few of your orbs scattering around you ala-Sonic and his rings, but this really isn’t a punishment. You can simply get up and try again, dashing through the air and landing on platforms with a satisfying “woosh”.

Omno | Final Thoughts

Overall, Omno is pure escapism in a short but sweet package. There’s no grand storyline here, controls are simple and intuitive, and puzzles are also very low-key. Headscratchers range from carrying torches of light to activate pillars to illuminating light points to reveal hidden bridges. Now, if you fancy having a look around to discover more of the world around you, you can gather information about each creature and log them into your almanac of sorts. It’s also a breath of fresh air to just spend time looking through those entries, as each creature's description can be pretty interesting. 

If there’s one complaint I have with this short but meaningful experience, it’s that it does feel a little too Journey-esque at times, especially with the random journal entries and the ancient carvings you find here and there. Even the stirring musical score that ebbs and flows to toy with your emotions is very Journey-like—but then again, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. 

TechRaptor reviewed Omno on Steam with a copy provided by the publisher. The game is also available on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Game Pass.