What parents need to know
Zorya: The Celestial Sisters is a co-op game that is played exclusively by two players. They have to communicate and cooperate in order to solve different puzzles. In the past, Aysu, goddess of the night, and Solveig, goddess of the day, worked together to preserve the balance of the world of Vyraj. Aysu, jealous of the attention Solveig was receiving, decided to drop her role as goddess and leave Vyraj, which upset the balance. Aysu and Solveig will have to pool their strengths in order to restore it.
 | Release date: February 8, 2022 Developed by: Madlife DIvertissement Published by: TLM Partners Available on: Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, PC Game Type: Puzzles Average duration of a game:30 minutes Themes: Puzzles, cooperation, communication. Business model: Need to buy the game once. Only one of the two players must own the paid version of the game. Number of players: 2 players exclusively online 2 players exclusively local Available in digital format only. Playable in French and English. The game was provided by the publisher for a review. It does not influence our opinion. |
Possible Configurations of the Nintendo Switch:
 |  |  |
| Players | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ |
| Neophytes |  | |  | | |
| Intermediate | | | | | |
| Experienced |  | | | | |
Replayability
It’s fun to redo the levels with each of the playable characters. Solveig and Aysu play differently, so there’s a fun trying out the levels with each of them.
Difficulty
The first 4 levels make up the tutorial. They are quite easy. From the 5th level, the game becomes more difficult. We recommend playing this game by being next to each other or communicating verbally (phone, Messenger, Discord, etc.). Good communication will really facilitate the progress of the game.
Violence, fear, nudity?
No violence. It is a game with a very peaceful atmosphere. There are enemies who must be paralyzed by the wind of Aysu or by the light of Solveig in order to avoid them. Enemies are simply additional elements to consider when solving puzzles.
Language level used
No problem.
Positive message
The game tells the story of two sisters who, after a separation, try to reunite in order to repair their relationship and restore the balance of their world. The game emphasizes the importance of cooperation and communication.
Minimum reading level required
Must know how to read for a few years. All the cutscenes are narrated by the characters. The tutorial of the game is presented in the form of multiple text bubbles that must be read.
Additional costs ?
It is possible to buy an artbook and the soundtrack of the game. It is also possible to get an edition with these 2 elements for a more advantageous price than if they are purchased separately. They are not available on the Nintendo Switch.
These elements do not add any benefits to the game itself.
Minimum level of execution on the controller required
The controls of the game are very simple. They do not require speed of execution of buttons. On the contrary, you have to take your time in order to succeed in the puzzles. The game is best played with a controller, as the controls with the keyboard and mouse on PC are less intuitive.
Principle of the game
Zorya: The Celestial Sisters was developed by MadLife Entertainment, a Montreal studio. Both players must cooperate in order to achieve the objective of each level. Each player controls each of the goddesses, Aysu, the goddess of the night and Solveig, the goddess of the day.
Aysu controls himself like most characters in video games: you have a view behind your shoulder and you direct it with the directional cross. She must cross the level in order to get to the objective, and this, walking only in the shadows. Solveig is played differently: you have a bird’s-eye view, and you control the sun. Solveig can change the angle of the sun to move shadows. It can also use its sunshine to activate switches or to knock out enemies. The sunbeam acts as a pointer.
Solveig must therefore move the sun in such a way as to create shadow paths that Aysu will use to achieve the goal.
2 players required.
There is a version of the game and a paid version.
One of the two players must have the paid version of the game. The 2nd player can join the other’s game with the free version.
Local game mode
The main story is the only game mode. The game is necessarily played with 2 players, no more. Local game modes do not allow playing with players on the different consoles.
The game is playable in split-screen mode in the following ways:
On PC :
- Each player uses a controller.
- One player uses a controller, the other uses the keyboard and mouse.
On Nintendo Switch:
- The game is playable in split-screen mode where each player uses a Joy-Con.
- The game is playable in local mode, one next to the other, each player uses his own console.
Online gaming modes
There is only one game mode: the main story. The game is necessarily played with 2 players, no more.
It is possible to play cross platform, that is, the 2 players do not have to be on the same platform to play together. A person who owns the Nintendo Switch version can play with a player who owns the PC version.
How to play cross platform
Here’s how to play with your friends in cross platform :
Click Play.
Click Online Co-op.
Click the Search User field and enter the Name of the Steam or Nintendo user in the text field. You’ll have the choice between Add as Friend or Invite. Click Invite. The 2nd player will have to accept the request on his console.
When we tested the cross platform, we faced a few bugs: Aysu teleporting unexpectedly and the sudden interruption of communication between the two players. We didn’t encounter any such bugs when we tested the online game on the Nintendo Switch.
We also encountered a bug on PC that displayed an error message, which prevented the game from launching. The Nintendo Switch version seems more stable than the PC version. While testing the demo on the Nintendo Switch, we didn’t encounter any bugs.
Trailer
Conclusion
Zorya: The Celestial Sisters is a game that, when communication is effective, is very enjoyable. Indeed, he plays well with his child. The visuals are interesting, and the puzzles are creative, these will make you think carefully. It is recommended to play with at least one teenager or adult. We have experienced many times when we were really proud to have found the solution to a puzzle. What a golden opportunity to raise your child’s problem-solving skills!
The person who controls Solveig (thus who controls the sun) takes on a more leadership role since he has a view of the whole level at the same time. The person who controls Aysu plays a bit blind, his sight often being obstructed by walls. Solveig must therefore take the lead by showing Aysu the way forward. So it’s up to you to decide who takes the role of whom, which offers a nice variety in the gaming sessions.
More information about the game: Official website of the game
Recommendations
If you like this game, you may also like:
This game is an adventure that is played exclusively in cooperation and requires communication in order to solve puzzles of all kinds.
