Tomba!

There are games that defy all categories — and the pink-haired wild boy Tomba is one of them. This zany creation from 1998 combines platforming action with an extensive quest structure into such an original whole that it still holds cult status today and, among collectors, a reputation as a rare piece.

Behind the game stands Tokuro Fujiwara, creator of the legendary Ghosts 'n Goblins, and his signature can be felt in every detail — from the brisk, finely tuned gameplay to that characteristic blend of difficulty and playfulness. Tomba takes place in a colorful 2.5D world where the player, in the role of a wild little boy, chases devilish pigs that have cursed the land. What sets it apart from ordinary platformers, however, is its elaborate quest system: the game offers over a hundred quests that open up, branch and intertwine, so that instead of simply running left to right, a small open world lies before you to explore.

This combination makes Tomba a surprisingly rich experience. You jump, climb hand over hand, latch onto enemies and catch pigs in bags, with every pig you nab transforming part of the world and unlocking new paths and quests. The energetic, colorful and unrestrained presentation breathes with the joy of creation and fits into no period category — it is a game that does things its own way and delights precisely through its idiosyncrasy.

Commercially, Tomba remained rather outside the mainstream, which over time made it a sought-after and hard-to-find title that collectors and fans of unusual games still pursue today. It is precisely this rarity, together with its undeniable originality, that earned it a devoted, if small, fan community.

Today Tomba is a little treasure for anyone looking for something off the beaten path — proof that even a platformer can be an adventurous expedition full of discovery.

Why play it: An original and cult platformer-adventure from the creator of Ghosts 'n Goblins, full of quests, colors and unrestrained creativity.