Review – Zefyr: A Thief’s Melody: A Cleverly Layered Adventure with Cozy Charm

Twelve years in the making, Zefyr: A Thief’s Melody is a lovingly crafted indie adventure by solo developer Mathias Fontmarty, released under his Oneiric Worlds label on June 2 via Steam and itch.io. With its soft cel-shaded palette, floating islands, and contemplative rhythm, the game feels like a distant cousin to Wind Waker or Beyond Good & Evil—but with a charm all its own. From turtle sailing to stealthy thievery, this is a feel-good game made with nothing but patience, care, and a deep love for the genre.

A Simple Start That Grows on You

You’re Eïko, a modern-day AA Link if there ever was one—and the game isn’t shy about dropping those Zelda nods either. You’re also, for what it’s worth, an apple addict. Zefyr: A Thief’s Melody’s opening chapters unfold on Eolia Island with a storyline that first comes across as your standard “The world is under threat from a mysterious Blight” type of tale. But gradually, as more regions open up and the cast of characters expands, you begin to feel genuinely drawn in by where this journey is headed.

Everything kicks off with Eïko’s training at the Thieves’ Guild, run by the ever-stoic Master Josh. This mainly acts as a tutorial, as alongside basic movement and healing mechanics, you’re introduced to the Magnetic Gauntlet—your first major tool. With the gauntlet, you can scale walls automatically by jumping at them, provided your magnetic energy (essentially stamina) holds up. It also softens fall damage, which comes in handy more often than you’d think. Once this tutorial arc wraps up, your first official Thief Contracts roll in.

These initial missions feel quite sandboxy and, honestly, a bit like extended tutorials. You’ll be hunting for a hawk egg for Eron, snatching up a clothing item for Lia, or just doing what Josh tells you in the dojo. They’re repetitive, sure—but they sneak in bits of real progress. And the puzzles you encounter during these errands? Simultaneously simple and brilliant. Most of them use verticality and logical design in ways that make you feel clever rather than guided.

From Dojos to Discovery: A Touch of Metroidvania Magic

This positive feeling extends to the Dojo quests—linear labyrinths that mostly act as skill tests. To even enter one, you’ll need to have collected enough Magnetite crystals. They’re deceptively tricky: swarming with pesky turrets you can’t disable, and packed with platforming sections that look impossible until you start managing stamina properly. But once you crack the rhythm, each dojo delivers a satisfying chunk of progress.

Completing one nets you a new item, often with a traversal-based ability that opens up huge new sections of the map. And yes, eventually, you unlock your own turtle mount—an absolute joy to use as you explore the game’s open-world waters. The Metroidvania DNA becomes increasingly obvious here, reminiscent of the Wonder/Monster Boy classics. Every new tool triggers that “wait, now I can go back and try that area” feeling, and I really loved this.

Whimsical Combat With a Slapstick Edge

Key tools for progression include swimming fins, plus a set of weapons: bow, bombs, slingshot, and your first melee gear—the trusty Bo staff. That’s right: a cheeky nod to Donatello from Ninja Turtles. Its basic attacks include a light tap and a charge move, perfect for smashing giant vases to scavenge items. Still, combat in Zefyr isn’t its strongest suit. There’s no lock-on, and it often devolves into chaotic button-mashing. Enemies go down easily, and the challenge rarely spikes. That said, stealth is an option: sneak attacks put foes to sleep, and it’s hilariously satisfying to knock enemies off ledges or watch them drown mid-fight. There’s something charmingly retro about how the game handles violence—almost slapstick.

However, what hurts usability slightly is the absence of map markers. There’s no way to link active quests to the world map, nor can you flag objectives. You’re mostly left to match your quest list to the terrain and explore manually. It feels a bit old-school, and while the frequent backtracking can be a drag, it does also tether you more closely to the game’s world and layout.

Zefyr’s lack of voice acting also doesn’t detract from the experience, but one thing that does feel like a missed opportunity is the NPC interaction. After finishing their side quests, characters rarely have much new to say. They might acknowledge your return with a throwaway line, but you won’t get meaningful choices or relationship growth. It’s not a dealbreaker—clearly, that’s not the game’s focus—but it does feel like untapped potential.

Charming Colors, Cozy World — Rough Edges Aside

Visually, Zefyr is a treat. Its art direction is easily on par with some of the more recent Zelda games, and the Unity engine shows no signs of performance hiccups. The day-night cycle adds depth and immersion, with sunsets often painting the sky in truly postcard-worthy hues. Collision detection can be a little off—your head might clip into a cliff or two—but it never breaks the vibe.

And vibe, here, is everything: the soothing soundtrack, the cozy world design, and the infectiously joyful NPCs all reinforce the game’s warm, feel-good atmosphere. Even the Game Over screen refuses to punish you, instead tossing out helpful items for your retry attempt like the game’s giving you a hug.

Final Thoughts

Zefyr: A Thief’s Melody is a slow-burn gem. It begins like a playful homage to the classics, grows into a solid exploration-based adventure, and surprises you with how much heart it has. The combat’s on the light side, the interface a bit clunky, and the quest structure slightly undercooked—but that never overshadows the charm of its world or the passion behind its creation. For a solo-developed project that took twelve years to craft, the result is nothing short of remarkable. It’s not perfect, but absolutely worth your time—especially if you’re craving a whimsical, slightly clumsy, but ultimately uplifting journey across a world that just wants you to feel good.

Additional Information

Release Date: June 2, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the developer and publisher— with thanks.
Developer: Oneiric Worlds
Publisher: Oneiric Worlds
Official Website: https://www.oneiricworlds.com
Relevant Links: Zefyr: A Thief’s Melody on STEAM