Unravel Two is a cooperative multiplayer side-scrolling platformer that follows the adventure of two adorable little characters made out of yarn called “Yarnies.” It can be played single-player, but it excels in 2-player multiplayer. The gameplay centers on the two characters being tied together via yarn, figuring out the platforming and solving puzzles by swinging from each other.

It’s a fun experience with tight controls and physics that feel fantastic. The visuals and music are simply beautiful. There are definitely some more “janky” elements in the game, but it’s otherwise really well put together and very entertaining. 

With all that being said, though, Unravel Two would have been a much better gaming experience without its story. This may sound strange, as a story can improve a lot of video games out there, but that’s far from the case with this one.

Unravel Two’s story focuses on two kids who are on the run after escaping an abusive foster home. On their journey, they overcome various obstacles and get into tons of trouble. This may sound exciting and heartfelt, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the characters you play as. The Yarnies aren’t a part of the story whatsoever.

The story entirely takes place in the background as you’re playing, and it’s told using smokey, faded flashbacks that are hard to make anything out of. Additionally, it’s not even told well. It’s not at all clear what’s going on most of the time. It feels like the kids are just sort of doing things. Why are they running? Where are they running to? It’s never really known unless you read the game’s Wiki. It all ends with the kids eventually ending up back with the adults chasing them anyway, so it’s all pointless.

It’s not a great story and it’s told in the dumbest way possible. The worst part about it, though, is that you can’t ignore it. The blurry kids in the background knock things over or light things on fire, and that alters the level you’re playing on and the platforms you can jump on and swing from. You just never have any idea as to why it’s happening.

While you’re trying to make out what the blurry kids are doing and trying to figure out what’s even happening, you’re also being distracted from the actual gameplay. Any level that doesn’t attempt to force this rather awkward into the scene is infinitely more fun than the ones that do.

There are plenty of fantastic video games out there that don’t have much of a story. Look at games like Pizza Tower. It’s also a 2D platformer, but there’s barely a story. Even Super Mario Bros. is just about saving the princess. There’s barely a story, and certainly nothing distracting shoved in the background that claims to be story.

Unravel 2 could have just been all about the quest of these little yarn fellas as they travel across the island. Maybe they wanted to fix the lighthouse to shoo the darkness away. It didn’t need to be anything more than that. It’s overall a fun game, but the story detracts from the experience.

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