Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story is a fantasy action-platformer set in the expansive universe of League of Legends, developed by Tequila Works and published by Riot Games. Players navigate enchanting realms from a behind-view perspective, engaging in platforming challenges, exploration, and adventures that capture the magical essence of Runeterra.

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story: Review

Introduction

Imagine a world where the chaotic frenzy of League of Legends‘ multiplayer battles gives way to a tender tale of boy-and-yeti companionship, trekking through frostbitten wilds in search of lost family and ancient magic. Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story, developed by Tequila Works and published under Riot Forge, transforms two whimsical League champions—Nunu, the gap-toothed boy in a floppy-eared hat, and Willump, his massive blue yeti pal—into protagonists of a heartfelt 3D platformer. Released in November 2023 amid Riot’s ambitious expansion of its Runeterra universe beyond MOBAs, this game echoes the emotional resonance of Tequila Works’ prior hits like RiME while carving a cozy niche in the Riot Forge lineup. My thesis: Song of Nunu stands as a triumphant, accessible entry in the League spinoff canon, masterfully blending narrative depth, inventive puzzles, and visual splendor to deliver a family-friendly adventure that warms the heart more effectively than any snowball fight, even if its combat and brevity temper its replayability.

Development History & Context

Tequila Works, a Spanish studio founded in 2009 by Raúl Rubio Munárriz and Luz Maria Sancho Rodríguez, brought their signature narrative-driven expertise to Song of Nunu. Known for BAFTA-nominated Deadlight, time-loop mystery The Sexy Brutale, and the poignant puzzle-platformer RiME, the team—bolstered by 811 developers and 129 additional credits—excelled in crafting emotional, atmospheric experiences. Here, Game Director David Canela Lagunas, Creative Director Raúl Rubio Munárriz, and Narrative Directors Ángel Luis Sucasas Fernandez and Miguel Santorum González wove a story expanding League‘s Freljord lore, with writing contributions from Stephen Long, Iain Sharkey, John Zurhellen, and others.

Riot Forge, Riot Games’ indie-publishing arm launched in 2021, provided the canvas. Amid a 2023 slate including The Mageseeker and Convergence, Song of Nunu arrived on Windows and Nintendo Switch on November 1, 2023 ($29.99 standard; $99.99 Collector’s Edition with plushies, art book, and diorama), followed by PlayStation 4/5 and Xbox One/Series ports in 2024. Technologically, it leverages middleware like SpeedTree for foliage, PhysX physics, and Wwise audio, targeting 30-60 FPS on modest hardware (minimum: Intel i5-2300/AMD FX-6300, GTX 960/R9 380X). The 2023 gaming landscape—dominated by sprawling open-world epics like Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom—contrasted sharply with this concise, 6-8 hour linear adventure, positioning it as a palate cleanser for MOBA-weary fans and newcomers alike. Constraints like a mid-tier budget yielded a stylized, performant (if occasionally hitching on Switch) title, prioritizing story over spectacle in an era of live-service bloat.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Plot Summary and Character Arcs

At its core, Song of Nunu chronicles Nunu’s quest across the treacherous Freljord—a civil war-torn tundra of blizzards, wolves, and ancient magics—to find his missing mother and the enigmatic “Heart of the Blue,” guided by prophetic dreams. Accompanied by Willump, the last yeti whose tragic past mirrors Nunu’s grief, the duo confronts raiders, elemental beasts, and Lissandra, the manipulative Ice Witch whose “Dark Ice” threatens eternal winter. Encounters with League champions like the hearty Braum (stew-brewing protector), forge-god Ornn (volcanic craftsman), and thunderous Volibear enrich the journey without overshadowing the leads.

Nunu, voiced brilliantly by child actor Adrian Raio (with Judy Alice Lee as his mother and Jonathan Lipow as Willump’s grunts), evolves from impulsive child to resilient hero, processing trauma through whimsy and resolve. Willump’s silent expressiveness—conveyed via animations and Nunu’s translations—reveals layers of sorrow over his extinct kin, culminating in poignant reveals. Directors Josh Dean, David Canela Lagunas, and Leanne Loombe craft a self-contained arc accessible sans League knowledge, yet lore-deep for fans via murals, wind chimes, and a glossary.

Themes: Friendship, Grief, and Found Family

Thematically, Song of Nunu is a masterclass in emotional intimacy. Friendship shines through rituals like snowball duels, chest bumps (sending Nunu’s hat flying), and flute dances, forging an unbreakable bond akin to Brother Bear or The Last Guardian. Grief tempers the joy: Nunu’s caravan attack haunts him, paralleled by Willump’s yeti genocide, exploring denial, rage, and acceptance without preachiness. Found family emerges as Nunu reframes Willump as kin, echoing League‘s matriarchal Freljord clans. Dark undertones—Lissandra’s sacrifices, ancient Watchers beneath the ice—add maturity, balanced by childish wonder. Dialogue sparkles with humor (Nunu’s “true roar” attempts) and heart, making the finale’s bittersweet resolution—a hero’s growth amid loss—profoundly moving.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Core Loops: Platforming, Puzzles, and Dual Control

Song of Nunu is a third-person platformer with direct control, blending exploration, puzzles, and light combat in a linear 6-10 hour loop (main story: ~7 hours). Switch seamlessly between Nunu solo (agile jumps, ledge-shimmying) and riding Willump (four-legged sprints, wall-climbing, ice-freezing). Puzzles dominate: Nunu’s Svellsongur flute plays glyph-notes (7 total, combinable) to activate runes, summon turtles, or redirect lasers—Simon Says meets environmental rhythm, intuitive yet satisfying. Snowballs stun foes, freeze water, or trigger switches; sled rides deliver high-speed obstacle avoidance.

Co-op Dynamics: Willump auto-assists (e.g., freezing paths), but separation heightens tension—Nunu squeezes into vents while Willump hauls “true ice” in Tower of Hanoi-esque shuttles. Collectibles (poros for snacks, murals, songs) encourage off-path exploration without gating progress.

Combat and Progression

Combat is underdeveloped: Willump’s light/heavy attacks, dodges, and Nunu’s freezing snowballs handle wolf packs or shielded elementals. No death—revive Willump mid-fight—renders it low-stakes, though final bosses demand patterns. UI is clean (glossary auto-unlocks), with generous checkpoints and accessibility (aim assist, subtitles). Flaws: Clunky camera, instant-fail stealth, imprecise jumps. Progression is narrative-gated, no RPG trees, emphasizing puzzle evolution over grinding.

Mechanic	Strengths	Weaknesses
Platforming	Magnetic grabs, variety (cliffs, sleds)	Finicky timing, camera obstruction
Puzzles	Flute innovation, dual-character synergy	Rare tight timings
Combat	Forgiving, finisher heals	Simplistic, tacked-on feel
Exploration	Collectibles, secrets	Linear, short (~8 hrs)

World-Building, Art & Sound

The Freljord bursts with enchantment: frozen shipwrecks, rainbow-lit caves, Ornn’s lava forges, Lissandra’s ominous castle—far beyond monochrome snow. Tequila Works’ angular, cartoonish art (Art Director Ramón Acedo) evokes RiME meets World of Warcraft, with vibrant hues and detailed models (poros, yetis). Physics shine in avalanches, splashes; SpeedTree foliage sways realistically.

Sound Design (Audio Director José Luis Lara Romero, Wwise-powered) immerses: Crunchy footsteps differentiate Nunu/Willump; flute melodies enchant; orchestral score swells from melancholic flutes to epic horns. Voice acting—Nunu’s exuberance, Willump’s grunts, Braum’s booming warmth—pairs with DEEGAN’s “You and Me Makes Us” for emotional peaks. Atmosphere builds wonder and peril, every blizzard howling menace, every campfire radiating coziness.

Reception & Legacy

Critically, Song of Nunu earned solid acclaim: MobyGames 7.7/10 (77% from 50 critics; highs: Rectify Gaming 100%, Digital Chumps/TechRaptor 90%); Metacritic 75/100 (PC/Switch), OpenCritic 75 (61% recommend). Praises flooded for “heartwarming storytelling” (Polygon, Nintendo Life 8/10), “charming duo” (Hey Poor Player 9/10), and “Zelda-like puzzles” (NintendoWorldReport 8/10). Critiques targeted “simplistic combat” (3rd Strike 8.5/10), “short length” (Noisy Pixel 7.5/10), Switch performance dips (Pocket Tactics 8/10), and “bland platforming” (PCGamesN 6/10).

Commercially modest ($7.49 sales post-launch), it ranked #799 Switch/#2110 Windows (MobyGames). Player scores: 4/5 (sparse). Legacy-wise, it exemplifies Riot Forge’s success (Ruined King, Hextech Mayhem), humanizing League lore for non-MOBA audiences, influencing cozy platformers like Planet of Lana. As Tequila Works filed insolvency in 2024 amid industry woes, it cements their narrative prowess. Post-Riot Forge shuttering (2024 layoffs), it endures as a benchmark for accessible universe expansion, boosting Bandle Tale expectations.

Conclusion

Song of Nunu: A League of Legends Story distills Riot’s sprawling Runeterra into a compact, soul-stirring gem, where Nunu and Willump’s bond eclipses mechanical simplicities. Tequila Works’ puzzle flair, Freljord’s evocative beauty, and themes of grief-forged friendship elevate it beyond spinoff novelty, rivaling RiME in emotional punch. Flaws—underwhelming combat, brevity, port hitches—notwithstanding, its 6-8 hour joyride earns a 8.5/10, securing a cherished spot in platformer history as Riot Forge’s heartfelt pinnacle. Essential for League fans, delightful for families; a yeti hug for the ages.