The studio has implemented a rather unique control scheme enabling play on iPhone and iPad using one finger only. A sliding bar at the bottom of the screen is dragged left and right for directional movement, and letting go causes your avatar to jump, while no  finger on the screen means you’ll stop altogether.

On iOS this works extremely well, but on the big screen through Apple TV, with the Siri Remote it’s frustrating, as you can’t help but think what a nice little platformer Runventure would be with a traditional game controller. The small size and lightweight nature of the Siri Remote doesn’t promote accurate control. With no indication that controller compatibility had been implemented, I thought I’d switch on my Nimbus in the hope that it had, and Happy Days, Runventure suddenly became very playable indeed.

The only thing that stops it short of 100% traditional platforming is the inability to jump straight upwards from a standing position. The avatar needs to be moving left or right to jump, which takes a little getting used to but is not a game-breaker. The accuracy and momentum of movement and jumping is spot on however, giving the confidence that death was your fault, not the game’s.

Switching over control from the remote to a traditional controller, opens up Runventure on the big screen, revealing a competent little game with a lot to explore.

At the moment there are 32 characters waiting to be unlocked, which is done by earning and then spending 500 coins. Doing this will award a character at random, the same system made popular by Crossy Roads, and which many free-to-play titles are now using.

Successful runs will see progress through differing environments such as jungles, volcanoes, haunted mansions, and snow, although death will start you back at the very beginning. Unlocking some of the higher tier characters however, will allow you to start back at those higher levels, although each character brings its own small changes to the layout of those levels.

Characters can be levelled up by achieving missions, which brings cosmetic changes and also unlocks Treasures such as bonus coins.

There’s a nice degree of difficulty present in Runventure, without being needlessly punishing and brutal. The levels are of a length that fits the overall vibe of the game; long enough to enable a good feel for the environment, but short enough to promote that desire for one more go, given that death means starting over.

It’s a pity that iCloud saving hasn’t been implemented, as this would be an ideal little adventure in which to carry progress between iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Maybe this will come in a future update?

Runventure is certainly not going to challenge the high production values of games like Leo’s Fortune (which you absolutely must play), but if you’re looking for a quick platforming fix while the next big adventure comes along, this is a nice place to start.