- The Moomin: Midsummer Madness demo covers Chapter 1 of six total chapters.
- Play as Moomintroll and Little My, switching between them to solve puzzles.
- Chapter 1 adapts the "About a Bark Boat and a Volcano" story from the novel.
- The demo ends with the volcano eruption cliffhanger; the full game is available now on Steam.
- Puzzles include the bark boat crafting challenge and Snorkmaiden's dress quest.
Demo Overview: What the Playthrough Covers
The Moomin: Midsummer Madness demo, developed by Crossbridge Game Studios, is a story-driven adventure set in Moominvalley. You start as Moomintroll dealing with a chaotic morning — Little My hiding in Moominmamma's work basket, Mymble yelling, and a garden full of interactive objects. The demo corresponds to the first of six chapters in the full game, titled after the original novel's chapter about a bark boat and a volcano.
Video Highlights:
- Full Chapter 1 demo run with controller gameplay
- Character switching between Moomintroll and Little My
- The bark boat repair puzzle solved on screen
- Snorkmaiden's beauty quest and the volcano eruption finale
| Demo Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Crossbridge Game Studios (indie Nordic studio) |
| Chapters included | Chapter 1 of 6 |
| Playable characters | Moomintroll, Little My (directable companions) |
| Input | Controller and keyboard supported |
| Availability | Demo live; full game wishlisTable on Steam |
The start menu alone is worth a look — the animated theater illustration sets the tone for the whole demo. Take a moment before pressing start.
Chapter 1 Story Beats
Chapter 1 follows Moomintroll through a single busy morning that spirals into foreshadowing of disaster. The pacing alternates between small domestic errands and mounting volcanic tension.
| Story Beat | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Morning chaos | Little My hides in Moominmamma's basket; Mymble hunts her with honey bait |
| Meeting Moomintroll | Moomintroll is recruited to pull a rope from a tree |
| Snorkmaiden's game | She wants a pirate-and-beauty dress-up adventure |
| Dried river | The heat has dried the river that should turn the mill |
| Volcano rumbling | The sleeping mountain begins spitting smoke and soot over the valley |
| Storm warning | Moominpappa predicts a terrible storm; Snufkin has not yet returned |
The dialogue stays remarkably faithful to Tove Jansson's tone — including Little My's "small but dangerous" one-liners and the running gag about who threw rocks at the bird's nest.
Snorkmaiden's Quest: Step-by-Step
Snorkmaiden wants to play "the wondrous beauty," which means collecting three specific items scattered around the garden and pond area.
Find the ankle ring
Look for something shiny in the pond. It is too deep to grab by hand — scoop it out using the bucket from Moominmamma.
Get the exotic flower
A mother bird has taken the special flower for her frightened nestlings. Trade her the candied nuts from Mymble's bowl to win it back.
Make the dress
Collect white cloth, wash the dirty paintbrush in the pond, then paint the cloth with bright colors before presenting it to Snorkmaiden.
Handle Mymble
Mymble has eaten too many candied nuts and feels sick. Take the bowl away while she recovers — this frees up the treats for the bird trade.
Do not skip item descriptions. The demo's hint system can be toggled, but reading the script log at the bottom of the screen helps if you miss any dialogue — especially useful for non-native readers.
Bark Boat Puzzle Guide
The final puzzle of the demo is repairing Moominmamma's bark boat after Snorkmaiden accidentally breaks it. It is a crafting-grid puzzle where you combine materials.
| Material | Source | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Sticks | Ground near the garden | Boat frame supports, need two |
| Leaves | Scattered around trees | Sail material, need doubles |
| Rope | Tree and bridge area | Ties, combine two for longer rope |
| Cloth scraps | Around the workshop | Hull covering |
The key mechanic is "change zone" — you must press the zone-switch button to move between the crafting grid's selection areas. Many players, including our playthrough, initially miss this and wonder why materials cannot be placed.
Read the Words
- The recipe silhouettes show required shapes
- Combine first, then place
- Doubled materials need two combines
Change Zone
- Press the zone button to move cursor areas
- Most common mistake in this puzzle
- Restart is available if you clutter the grid
Inventory Discipline
- Grid space is limited
- Drop excess items to free slots
- Combine ropes early to save space
Once the boat is repaired, the story immediately pivots to the volcano eruption and the demo's cliffhanger ending — a satisfying payoff for the crafting effort.
Controls and Gameplay Tips
Demo Completion Checklist:
- Complete Snorkmaiden's three-item beauty quest
- Trade candied nuts to the mother bird
- Repair the bark boat crafting puzzle
- Talk to Mymble and discover the house key
- Watch the volcano eruption finale
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Left/Right trigger | Character interactions and lifting |
| A button (controller) | Confirm / interact at bridges and objects |
| B button | Change zone in crafting puzzles |
| Run input | Hold to sprint between areas |
| X button | Hint toggle (can be undone) |
You can direct companion characters like Little My to move to specific spots instead of walking them manually — useful when managing multiple tasks around the garden.
FAQ
Q: How many chapters are in Moomin: Midsummer Madness?
The full game has six chapters. The Moomin: Midsummer Madness demo playthrough only covers Chapter 1, 'About a Bark Boat and a Volcano.'
Q: Who develops Moomin: Midsummer Madness?
Crossbridge Game Studios, an indie Nordic studio, develops the game — similar to how Hyper Games handled the recent Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley.
Q: Can you switch characters in the demo?
Yes. You play primarily as Moomintroll and can direct or switch to companions such as Little My to reach areas or interact with objects he cannot handle alone.
Q: Where can I get the full game?
The full game is available on Steam. The demo is designed as a standalone taste of Chapter 1, ending on the volcano eruption cliffhanger.