Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
11
Premium Benefits
24/7
Access Available
21K+
Active Members
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Background
Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Badge picture
Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • View Deals
    • Game Deals
    • Tech Deals
    • TV Deals
    • Buying Guides
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Video
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • Saros review
  • Arc Raiders
  • The Boys S5
  • Best turn-based RPGs
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
  • Delta Force giveaway
Don't miss these
A crop of Coen looking at his closed fist in The Blood of Dawnwalker
RPGs Blood of Dawnwalker takes after Baldur's Gate 3's freedom and Gothic's small but dense world design
The Blood of Dawnwalker
RPGs The Blood of Dawnwalker makes one hell of a first impression
Blood of Dawnwalker screenshot showing Unreal Engine 5 open world
RPGs Five reasons why The Blood of Dawnwalker is becoming my most anticipated RPG of 2026
Windrose early access trailer screenshot shows a female pirate.
Survival Games Windrose proves that survival games don't have to be difficult to be popular
The player checks in with Eyla, in Tides of Tomorrow
Adventure Games Tides of Tomorrow is a single player multiplayer game where you have to deal with what the last player did...
Mixtape screenshot featuring the three main characters pushing a shopping cart while being chased
Adventure Games Mixtape review: "A nostalgic, vibes-based experience set to a shockingly solid soundtrack"
Arjun holds up his hands in a Saros cinematic
Third Person Shooters "We live on the fringe": In Saros, Housemarque's greatest influence is itself
The GamesRadar+ upcoming PC games for 2026 banner image shows Batman standing before a moonlit backdrop in Lego Batman Legacy of the Dark Knight, James Bond in 007 First Light, an abstract woman's face in Control Resonant, and Coen in The Blood of Dawnwalker
PC Gaming Upcoming PC games: New PC games for 2026 and beyond
A header image for the Best Games 2026 list with a GamesRadar+ logo, showing Resident Evil Requiem, Pragmata, Marathon, and Monster Hunter Stories 3
Games The best games to play in 2026, so far
An older Makoto wars a hat and glasses, with neon lights behind him in Stranger Than Heaven
Action RPGs Stranger Than Heaven offers the grounded refresh I've been desperate to see from Yakuza RPGs for years
Upcoming indie games for 2026 showing images from Mixtape, Toem 2, Find your Words, and Grave Seasons
Games Upcoming indie games for 2026 and beyond
The Blood of Dawnwalker
RPGs With The Blood of Dawnwalker, Rebel Wolves wants to "get a few steps closer to pen-and-paper RPGs"
The Blood of Dawnwalker
RPGs The Blood of Dawnwalker devs "were afraid that people wouldn't want to play as human Coen"
An antagonist with a regal mask in 007 First Light has an RPG slung over their shoulder
Action Games 007 First Light isn't about mowing down foes because "it's important that every encounter feels crunchy and dangerous"
The Blood of Dawnwalker screenshot
RPGs Former Witcher 3 devs "can't" and "don't want to challenge" bigger games and companies with The Blood of Dawnwalker
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Survival

A Highland Song features Breath of the Wild-inspired climbing sequences

News
By Elizabeth Fryer published 2 April 2022

And a little survival gameplay thrown in there too

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

A Highland Song
(Image credit: Inkle Studios)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

 A Highland Song, the latest title from 80 Days studio Inkle, might look like a rhythm-action game, but it has taken part of its inspiration from Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

Inspired by the Scottish Highlands, A Highland Song is "a journey through the wilderness", where you play as Moira, a rather "fragile" character. 

In an interview with Edge Magzine, director Joseph Humfrey admits "we've never made a game with a jump button before", and says the climbing sections are a nod to Breath of the Wild's stamina system. 

You may like
  • Peak Peak devs originally borrowed from Zelda Breath of the Wild's climbing, but "everything changed" 1 week into development
  • Atsu looks out across the surroundings of Mount Yotei in Ghost of Yotei Ghost of Yotei almost had Breath of the Wild's rock climbing, but found it's not "a core aspect of being a ronin"
  • Bel's Fanfare screenshot showing main character Bel up close After blending Wind Waker with Kiki's Delivery Service last year, indie dev reveals N64-inspired Zelda-like RPG
Latest Videos From

Essentially it is a rhythm survival game. Humphrey says that the game isn’t a traditional crafting survival game, but he draws on his own personal experience to infusing life into the very real issues Moira faces climbing in the Highlands. For example, you'll be worrying about the temperature shifts that drop the higher you climb, meaning you must then seek shelter to prevent killing Moira from the cold.

The Highlands are rather inhospitable to people, with mountains ranging from 900-1300m and temperatures often going below freezing, “but the experience of going out into the wilderness isn’t one of just cruelty and brutal, macho survival”,  adds Humfrey. 

There is also the freedom that comes with such open spaces and the sense of being in tune with nature. Maybe, this is what inspired the rhythm side of the game. The players can feel immersed in the culture with the Irish folk band Talisk and Fourth Moon providing the soundtrack for the entire game.

"The music kicks in, and it procedurally generates a section of obstacles that match the shape of the music," Humfrey explains. "The longer she can stay in the music, the farther she'll get, and the better she'll feel, and the more fun you'll have."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

There has been no announcement for a release date, but it will be available on PC. 

Check out more about A Highland Song, Inkle's rhythm game set in the Scottish Highlands 

CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Elizabeth Fryer
Elizabeth Fryer
Social Links Navigation
Trainee News Writer

I have some experience writing for local magazines regarding food reviews and art, as well as currently I am writing a novel. I have a BA in History of Art and Design and publishing, and a keen interest to know more and develop my skills. I am an avid player of PS4. I play games that vary across the genres and styles, mostly preferring the RPG games, rich in lore, mystery and fighting.

Read more
Peak
Co-op Games Peak devs originally borrowed from Zelda Breath of the Wild's climbing, but "everything changed" 1 week into development
 
 
Atsu looks out across the surroundings of Mount Yotei in Ghost of Yotei
Open World Games Ghost of Yotei almost had Breath of the Wild's rock climbing, but found it's not "a core aspect of being a ronin"
 
 
Bel's Fanfare screenshot showing main character Bel up close
RPGs After blending Wind Waker with Kiki's Delivery Service last year, indie dev reveals N64-inspired Zelda-like RPG
 
 
Blighted key art featuring a monstrous creature on the ground in the background
Action RPGs Blighted, the cannibal Soulslike Metroidvania action RPG, is a lot to swallow
 
 
People of Note key art cropped to show pop singer Cadence and rocker Fret
RPGs This musical turn-based RPG hits all the right chords, and you can play the free Steam demo right now
 
 
Screenshot from Lil Gator Game: In the Dark, showing a smiling alligator kid wandering around a dark, candle-lit cave.
Open World Games My favorite Zelda: Breath of the Wild-like indie has a new expansion, and it follows Tears of the Kingdom underground
 
 
Latest in Survival
Dune: Awakening Polar Cap
Survival Games Dune: Awakening fans "so disappointed" by no Polar Cap in 1.4, Funcom dubs it "huge amount of work"
 
 
Woman wearing bandana appears up-close in front of rocky waters and shipwrecks
Survival Games Windrose balances brutal survival with cheat-style forgiveness in a way that keeps bringing me back
 
 
A pirate in Windrose
Survival Games Windrose devs issue patch to address fears their open-world pirate game was slowly destroying SSDs
 
 
Windrose early access trailer screenshot shows a female pirate.
Survival Games Windrose proves that survival games don't have to be difficult to be popular
 
 
Screenshot from Outbound, showing four people sat in a caravan staring toward the camera.
Survival Games Subnautica 2 pulls a Hollow Knight Silksong, shoves one of Steam's most-wishlisted games out of its release date
 
 
Subnautica 2 character with shocked expression
Survival Games Subnautica 2 devs won't touch generative AI despite "AI first" pivot at owner Krafton
 
 
Latest in News
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 peasants drinking at a table
Action RPGs Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead designer says "friction is intentionally" in the RPG
 
 
A sunset over a landscape made up of hexagon tiles
Strategy Games After 3 years of work, GTA 4 dev's sandbox game hits Steam
 
 
Close-up of concerned looking Paranormal Activity: Threshold character
Horror Games Paranormal Activity game dead after Paramount refuses to give legendary Mortuary Assistant creator more dev time
 
 
Old School RuneScape carrying treasure
MMO Games Old School RuneScape players riot as YouTuber's account is reset hours after finishing 3-month grind
 
 
An older Bill, Hank, Dale, and Boomhauer lined up against Hank's fence, with modern technology all around
Animated Shows King of the Hill season 15 trailer is a nostalgia bomb that takes us through some of the show's most iconic moments
 
 
A little frog wearing a hat and riding a sled in Sledding Game
Co-op Games Solo dev stunned as his "first ever video game" sells 100,000 copies in 5 days on Steam
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 peasants drinking at a table
    1
    Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 lead designer says "friction is intentionally" in the RPG because when "you overcome the friction, you feel better about yourself"
  2. 2
    Mortal Kombat 2 ending explained: who fights, who dies and every fatality
  3. 3
    After 3 years of work, GTA 4 dev's sandbox game hits Steam as he has to tell people it's "completely different" from Minecraft: "For starters, no Steve"
  4. 4
    Paranormal Activity game dead after Paramount refuses to give legendary Mortuary Assistant dev more time to make it "the best it could possibly be"
  5. 5
    Old School RuneScape players riot as YouTuber's account is reset hours after finishing ridiculous 3-month grind, but Jagex has receipts

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • Terms and conditions
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers
  • About us
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...