Game review: Unravel

A scene from Unravel, an Xbox One and Playstation 4 game.

A little ball of wool just made my son burst into tears. And it was completely my fault.

I was in charge of Yarny, the cute main character in Unravel, when I made him fall off a bobbing apple into the water below. Little Yarny drowned. Then I made the same mistake. Yarny drowned again. And again.

It was then that my tearful boy got so upset he buried his face in a pillow and demanded we play a Lego game instead.

I don't blame him. It's easy to get attached to Yarny as he unravels his way through this cute platform game that reminds of last year's similarly-themed Yoshi's Woolly World on the WiiU.

A scene from Unravel, an Xbox One and Playstation 4 game.

Backed by gorgeous backdrops and stunning animations, you're in charge of guiding Yarny through a series of simple locations as he swings like Tarzan around the screen, using his thread to overcome obstacles, complete puzzles, catch flying kites or snag fish in the water below.

Yes, the game's background story - connecting a grandma's lifetime of family memories - feels too distant and ponderous to be relevant. And the challenges certainly won't keep you awake.

But at its heart, Unravel is a cute, simple yarn that will engage children of most ages.

Just be careful on those bobbing apples - especially if young children are in the room.

Game: Unravel
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One
Rating: G
Verdict: Woolly story gets the job done