Sometimes a game comes along that completely floors you. One unexpected, perhaps not on your radar, and within the first few minutes, the connection is instant. Waltz and Jam, the new action-adventure platformer from Seoul-based Flyway Games, Inc., hit me in that exact way. I had the opportunity to preview it, going hands-on for about five hours of the story. It took me through two and a bit worlds, and if the rest of the package can live up to the incredibly strong start, Waltz and Jam has all the makings of a new indie darling.
Waltz and Jam follows a little ghost named Waltz, trying to find their way through the afterlife. He wasn’t supposed to be there, shot down on his way to heaven and made to find his way there. He’s not alone, though, joined by a little spirit puppy named Jam that seems to know him, even if he doesn’t remember Jam. Together, they set out to bring Waltz to the proper afterlife, fighting across realms inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins to get stamps that will allow him to move on.
The story across the first few worlds feels very much like a darker Saturday morning cartoon. It may look cute and adorable, but the running themes just underneath the surface are surprising. The first major world sees you in a creepy forest, trying to help the local tadpoles. A new giant bird chef has started stealing important resources to cook food, but those same resources are what help the tadpoles grow, evolve, and eventually die. Without them, they’re stuck as eternal tadpoles, unable to carry on meaningfully.
Taken at face value, it’s a good reason for Waltz and Jam to help out, as the chef also holds the stamp needed to move forward. At the same time, it’s deeply unsettling to think about these poor tadpoles essentially being stuck eternally as children, unable to grow and then pass on the ability to do so to the next generation. It’s adorable dressing, hiding the true horror hiding underneath.
“Waltz and Jam has all the makings of a new indie darling.”
This continues on in the second world, Shadow Castle, a haunted and dilapidated castle home to a once murderous ruler. It’s a stark change from the bright greens of the forest before, a thick and heavy darkness weighing down the space. Waltz and Jam does the same thing here, never approaching any sort of dark horror in its visuals, but the themes and story bubbling with a startling amount of depth.
A desert awaits in the final area of the preview, another major visual shift compared to what came before. I only got to play the opening of this section, but the hints at where the story could go already have me invested to see what comes next. With seven total worlds, Waltz and Jam has a ton of potential.
The actual gameplay is also really satisfying, combining a mix of combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving. Waltz has a toy sword to start, finding it wrapped in an action-figure-like plastic wrap. Attacks are simple but fast, with more special attacks waiting in each world that double as traversal mechanics. The wind-up boxing glove can knock back enemies, but can also smack parts of the environment to interact with them. A jumping mushroom is hit to elongate it, letting you access other parts of the level. It all intertwines together to make for a really fun loop.
Jam isn’t just for show either, helping Waltz where he can. It starts out simple — hanging off a higher space, Waltz climbing up on them to reach a new area. In the third world, Jam really pops off, chugging down water to grow in size, now rideable. With these new water abilities, Jam bounces around, hardens sand that would otherwise drop out from under your feet, and blasts enemies with a very Squirtle-like water gun attack.
The bosses are another early highlight, each with their own unique mechanics that push Waltz and Jam to their limits. The first boss, the owl, has you running around a turning platform as you dodge attacks and send bombs back at it. The second has you jumping through portals to different realms, one with attacks in the dark, another where the light burns you if you stand in it too long. Each encounter is creative and varied so far, fights that demand much more than just attacks and dodges.
Worlds aside, Waltz also heads to Central Station No.5, a hub world with plenty to do. Buy items, upgrade gear, pick up side quests, find route cookies that take you to new places — Central Station No.5 has plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered. This is all on top of optional virtual challenges that can be found in the environments, collectibles to find — Waltz and Jam has a surprising amount of depth across both its story and gameplay systems.
So far, Waltz and Jam has instantly shot up my list of most anticipated games this year. It’s adorable, charming, and deceptively deep in its approach. It’s a joy to play, with fun mechanics, great level design, and interesting bosses, while also offering more nuanced storytelling. Waltz and Jam uses the cute exterior to hide an unsettling and dark undertow. I can’t wait to be back in its afterlife, and thankfully, the wait won’t be long.
Waltz and Jam is out on December 3, 2026.
