Saira as an introduction to Nifflas

If I liked Saira, what other Nifflas games would I like?

Introduction

Saira was developed by Nicklas Nygren (AKA Nifflas), an indie developer of exploration- and physics-focused platformer games. He's developed a large number of games in this genre, many of which are freeware downloads for PC.

His games are highly accessible, but some feature difficult platforming mechanics. In general, Nifflas' games reward skill, dedication, and exhaustive exploration.

If you liked Saira, this guide will help you figure out what Nifflas game to play next.

Common Elements

Nifflas' games tend to share art styles, platforming mechanics, and story elements.

• Characters which can climb up sheer walls
  
• Bouncing ball physics
  
• Sprawling world maps with extensive backtracking
  
• Female protagonists
  
• Similar sound effect libraries
  
• Moody, aesthetically-spare screen layouts
  
• Empty or destroyed worlds

Within a Deep Forest

Common Elements: Bouncing ball physics, large world with backtracking, destroyed world
http://nifflas.ni2.se/?page=Within+a+Deep+Forest



WADF is Nifflas' earliest large game available on the internet. It tells the story of a sentient bouncing ball who is trying to shut down the ticking time bomb his mad-scientist creator made to freeze the entire world. Over the course of the story, the bouncing ball acquires different abilities which allow it to bypass hazards or reach new areas.

Of all Nifflas' games, WADF's platforming is among the least similar to Saira's. The bouncing ball mechanics are challenging to many players, but are deep and rewarding to master. WADF has a reputation for difficulty and tends to evoke (the good kind of) frustration.

WADF manages to evoke emotion with a simple story, a spare, soothing soundtrack, and clean pixel-art animation. It gives off an old-school 16-bit vibe.

Will I like this if I liked Saira?: If you are comfortable with difficulty and are willing to try a game with unusual platforming mechanics, yes. Your children will probably also find it entertaining.

Knytt

Common Elements: Platforming with wall-climbing, large world with backtracking, destroyed world
http://nifflas.ni2.se/?page=Knytt


Knytt is an exploration-focused platformer that tells the story of a small, squirrel-like creature who is abducted by an alien. When the alien's ship crashes on a strange planet, the Knytt must go out and find pieces of the spaceship so that they can return home.

Knytt is a mellow, soothing game with extremely simple but gorgeous art. There are no enemies anywhere in the game, though it is possible to "die" by hitting hazards.

Of all Nifflas' games, Knytt has perhaps the simplest, "purest" feel. it can easily be finished in a few hours.

Will I like this if I liked Saira?: Knytt is a small-sized version of the kind of exploration platforming in Saira.

Knytt Stories

Common Elements: Platforming with wall-climbing, large worlds, destroyed worlds, female protagonist
http://nifflas.ni2.se/?page=Knytt+Stories


Knytt Stories is another game featuring the wall-climbing creatures of Knytt. Knytt Stories, however, is focused on user-created levels. A robust level-editor is available.

The protagonist in Knytt Story has additional powers beyond those of the original Knytt. Knytt Stories includes powerups like speedboosts, wall climbing, doublejumps, an umbrella for gliding, and others. Knytt Stories also includes enemies with a variety of movement and attack patterns.

Nifflas' base campaign, called The Machine, features a young female Knytt named Juni on a quest across a variety of environments. She gradually gains a full arsenal of ability powerups.

Will I like this if I liked Saira?: Knytt Stories is another small-sized version of the kind of exploration platforming in Saira. Additionally, the vast library of user-created levels means that the game has a lot more possible playtime than Knytt or Saira.

FiNCK

Common Elements: Large open world with backtracking
Free, PC download[nifflas.ni2.se]


FiNCK's real name is "Fire Nuclear Crocodile Killer." The game is a major Super Mario Bros. 2 send-up-- it features that classic game's core block-throwing mechanics and takes place in a vast, labrynthine world full of shortcuts and secret doors.

FiNCK is extremely different from the Knytt games-- it is deliberately focused on fun rather than style or atmosphere.

Will I like this if I liked Saira?: You will like this game if you liked Super Mario Bros. 2!

NightSky

Common Elements: Ball-centric movement
Paid, PC/3DS handheld


NightSky is totally dissimilar to Saira. The game is a physics puzzle-platformed featuring a rolling ball that must traverse a series of short puzzle levels. There's no open world here-- and no bouncing mechanics, either. The ball's movement is strictly based on realistic physics.

Will I like this if I liked Saira?: Again, NightSky is a very different game from Saira and is possibly the least similar to Saira out of all of Nifflas' games. Watch some trailers to see if it interests you.

Knytt Underground

Common Elements: Platforming with wall-climbing, large worlds, destroyed worlds, female protagonist, bouncing ball movement
Paid, PC/Console


Knytt Underground is the only commercial Knytt game. It's best described as a combination between Knytt Stories and Within a Deep Forest. In the early scenes of the game, a Knytt creature is merged with a bouncing-ball creature, and the rest of the story sees the two entities swapping back and forth to explore a vast underground space.

The protagonists in Knytt Underground are on a mission to perform an ancient ritual that will prevent the world from being destroyed. The main protagonist, Mi Sprocket, is another female Knytt, like Knytt Stories' Juni.

Knytt Underground has a vast overworld filled with extremely detailed background art. This game leaves the pixel-art aesthetic of the previous two Knytt games, focusing on semi-realistic, animated foliage.

Another departure from the previous games is the quest system and story, which features talking characters. Knytt Underground is a more directed experience than other Knytt games.

Will I like this if I liked Saira?: Knytt Underground is the least similar to Saira of all the Knytt games. if your favorite part of Saira was the vast world full of hidden secrets, Knytt Stories' word is certainly vast enough to scratch that itch for you. Unfortunately, the platforming mechanics are not as accessible as Saira's, and many of the puzzles are extremely frustrating. However, the lush art in Knytt Underground is most similar to Saira's out of all the Knytt games.

The Great Work

Common Elements: Large open world, female protagonist
Free, PC download[nifflas.ni2.se]


The Great Work is a companion game Nifflas created for a documentary about a man who devotes himself to studying alchemy for a year. The game focuses on alchemy, but contains platforming environments and mechanics reminiscent of Knytt Underground.

Unfortunately, this is the only Nifflas game I as an author haven't played yet! I recommend comments about it from anyone who's finished it.

[fsfsfsfs]

I just played Saira and found there are too many similarities with Knytt, a game that I played many years ago. Then I realised it was developed by the same person.

There is another game made by Nifflas you can find on Steam: Ynglet. Here is the demo: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1336070/Ynglet_Prologue/