Frozen Axe Review

Frozen Axe – A Frosty Slice of Platforming Charm, developed by Gray Boss

A light gaming palette-cleanser 

In a gaming landscape often overwhelmed by sprawling open worlds and high-octane action, Frozen Axe strides in with a humble gait and a warm heart wrapped in icy aesthetics. This cheerful platformer may not come bearing epic quests or cinematic drama, but it has something arguably more valuable: personality. 

With a hop and a skip and a thwack… 

From the get-go, Frozen Axe makes its whimsical intentions clear. The hand-drawn sprites, pastel snowbanks, and bouncy animations lend the game a storybook look that wouldn’t feel out of place in a children’s winter fairytale. The titular weapon—a chunky, frost-rimmed axe—is wielded by a sprite-sized warrior whose chunky mittens and wide-eyed stare immediately establish the tone: earnest, playful, and proudly twee. 

Gameplay in Frozen Axe sticks to a tried-and-true formula. Run, jump, thwack, repeat. But what it lacks in innovation, it makes up for in satisfying mechanics. Movement is snappy, with just enough float to the jumps to feel playful without sacrificing precision. The axe itself doubles as a weapon and puzzle-solving tool, freezing enemies or platforms to unlock new paths. While the platforming doesn’t ask for acrobatic mastery, it does demand attention—especially in the later levels, which add slippery surfaces and timing-based obstacles that keep things lively. 

The game’s charm doesn’t just rest in its visuals or mechanics—it hums through its soundtrack, too. The music is a gentle cascade of bell tones and twinkling chimes. It sets a calming tone that complements the snowy environments and low-stakes gameplay. You’re here to enjoy yourself, not to rage-quit. 

There are moments where Frozen Axe feels like it wants to push beyond its cozy boundaries. A few puzzles hint at deeper mechanics, and occasional secrets scattered throughout the levels suggest a love for exploration. But these ambitions are always reined in by the game’s compact design. No sprawling maps or exhausting item lists—just bite-sized chunks of joy. It’s this restraint that keeps Frozen Axe feeling accessible and never bloated. 

The game has a total of 31 levels, 30 standard levels and a final boss stage.  This is not a long game, with a little effort this game could be completed in a couple of hours.  The game also likes to give achievements for each level completed, as well as other landmarks along the way to the boss. 

It’s fair to say the game won’t appeal to adrenaline junkies or those craving deep narrative immersion. The story, if one exists, is barely sketched in. You’re a hero with an axe, in a world of frost, facing vaguely disgruntled snow-creatures. That’s it. But for many players—especially fans of games like Celeste or Fez who appreciate earnest craft and aesthetic coherence—that simplicity is the entire point. 

Frozen Axe is not trying to be groundbreaking. It’s trying to be delightful. And in that mission, it succeeds with gleeful finesse. 

It is worth noting that this game plays brilliantly through Remote Play (tested on remote console with Steam Deck). 

Summary

Frozen Axe is a delightful little titbit of gaming that deserves the time it takes to ensnare you in it’s simple beauty.  Recommended (By Odin).