There are days, especially after a long shift, when all we want is to run an FPS and shoot as many digital brains as possible. Then there are quiet days—moments where we crave the absolute opposite. Mystik’art’s Mesoké: Unforgettable Kite Ride sits somewhere between a relaxing journey and a frustrating learning curve. It has a distinct “cold-warm” effect; it flirts with you, whispering sweet nothings about a peaceful flight, but slaps you the moment you try to pause and admire the beautiful world around you.
Gliding and Grinding
Mesoké is all about physics and the feeling of being carried around by a kite. By diving down, we pick up speed. By pulling back, we catch the wind. You need to be very careful and wary of your environments. If you fly really close to the walls, you gather energy a lot faster. Additionally, nailing a low-altitude run through a canyon feels great. It’s a satisfying traversal mechanic that, once mastered, successfully brings you into a zen state of calm—though it’s a calm built on a glass foundation.
A blue beam shoots into the sky the moment you collect enough energy. Flying into it, however, drops you back into the hub world. In this so-called Inner Palace, we are transformed into a glowing spirit globe, where we can roll around and pour our collected energy into stone channels on the floor to our heart’s content. It’s rewarding and fun to watch the water fill up the room so that you can unlock the next area.
As we mentioned earlier, the controls take some getting used to. Almost everything—steering, moving the camera, and flying up or down—is tied to the left stick. Even though a controller is highly recommended, chances are you will still have a hard time making tight turns. A true zen state is hardly achievable if you’re afraid to look around at the scenery. Until you know exactly what you’re doing, it’s very easy to accidentally change your flight path and crash.
But, once you gain control, it’s a lovely world to lose yourself in. It is a world with neither a map nor a compass. Objective markers? What are those? We simply had to follow the light and sound. This design choice can be a double-edged sword that might rub perfectionists the wrong way. Because we just wanted to relax and chill, we didn’t want to turn our playtime into a bitter scavenger hunt. If you really want to show the game who is boss, Mesoké becomes less of a meditation and more of an exercise in frustration.
There is a beautiful experience here if you can get past the tricky controls. Flying through the canyons is a great way to spend an afternoon, and the music is excellent. Just don’t let the relaxing vibe be ruined by a collectibles hunt that you don’t actually want to undertake. It is a very personal piece of art, and we’re glad to have experienced it.
ID Card
- Developer: Mystik’art
- Publisher: Mystik’art
- Platforms: PC (Steam)
- Release Date: May 26, 2026
- Genre: Adventure / Flying / Puzzle
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