Hilda (Video Game Franchise)

''This article is about the video game series. For the first game in the series, see Hilda (video game). For other uses, see Hilda.''

Hilda is a video game series based on the graphic novel. It is a series of episodic graphic adventure games co-published by Annapurna Interactive and 505 Games. Created by Giant Sparrow, the series debuted with the first installment, which released episodically in five chapters from January to September. Three years later it was followed by a prequel, Hilda: Before Trolberg, which was developed by Fullbright Studios and released in five chapters from August to April. Less than two years after that, a third installment, Hilda 2, which is a sequel, was once again developed by Giant Sparrow and released in five chapters from February to October. Three years after that, a fourth installment, which is an additional sequel, Hilda and The Watercolors, taking place after Hilda 2, will be released in its entirety in September. Additionally, a remastered collection of the original game, a prequel, and a sequel was released a few months later in February. A year after that, a fifth installment, which is an additional prequel, Hilda: Johanna, which takes place before the events of Hilda: Before Trolberg, focusing on Johanna, was developed by Playdead Games and was released in three chapters from July to November. Two years after that, another additional sequel, Hilda and The Black Hole, which is a second part of Hilda and The Watercolors, was developed by Fullbright Studios and released in its entirety in November. Two years after that, Hilda 3, which takes place after Hilda and The Black Hole, was yet again developed by Giant Sparrow and released in its entirety in November, with a stand-alone expansion, Hilda: Forever After, which serves as an epilogue of Hilda 3, recapping the events of the series so far, was released in March.

Gameplay
The Hilda games are graphic adventures played from a first-person view. The player can examine and interact with objects, which enables puzzle solving in the form of fetch quests and making changes to the environment. The player can explore locations and communicate with non-playable characters. Dialogue exchanges feature branching options in conversation. In some instances, choices in dialogue will alter and affect the story through short or long-term consequences. For each one of the choices, something good in the short term could turn out worse later.

Games
The video game universe will be a seperate canon to the graphic novels and the Netflix series. Unlike the graphic novel and the Netflix series, the Hilda games will recieve "Teen" ratings from the ESRB. The decision of having T rated Hilda games was made so that developers can get out of their comfort zones and think about deeper topics but at the same time keeping it kid friendly for ages 13 and older.

The Hilda video game franchise will have similarities to the Life is Strange franchise.

Hilda

 * Main article: Hilda (video game)

Hilda is an 11-year-old girl who grew up with her mother in a cabin in the wilderness. Hilda and her mother decided to move to Trolberg. Over the course of the game, she and her deerfox Twig, later accompanied by an elf named Alfur and friends David and Frida, exploring the city to befriend mysterious animals, people, and spirits.

The game was released in five episodes from January to September for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Valve Steam Deck, Microsoft Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. Episode 1: Welcome to Trolberg was released on January 15, Episode 2: First Day of School on March 3, Episode 3: The Deerfox on May 18, Episode 4: Trolberg Watchtower on July 24, and Episode 5: Adaption on September 16. Retail editions of the complete game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were released on October 8.

Hilda: Before Trolberg

 * Main article: Hilda: Before Trolberg

The game will take place before the original game focusing on young Hilda. The game will tell the stories when she used to live in the wilderness. like when she meets Twig, and other completely new stories like how she meets the wood man and his family, how she meets the trolls for the first time, and also it is shown how her mother teaches her how to swim and hold her breath as long as possible every summer. and she'll also have to face some big troublemakers like a crew of tall vitras called "The Tallest Vitras".

The game was released in five episodes, three years after the original game, from August to April. Episode 1: Life in the Wilderness was released on August 1, Episode 2: Twig's Origin on October 14, Episode 3: Summer Training on December 21, Episode 4: Meeting the Elves on February 5, and Episode 5: The Midnight Giant on April 16. Retail editions of the complete game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X were released on May 18.

Hilda 2

 * Main article: Hilda 2

The game is a sequel, taking place after the first game. This game has the stories of the season 2 and the movie, but changing some aspects of them, like the fact that now Hilda's relationship with her mother started to sour.

The game was released in five episodes, two years after Hilda: Before Trolberg, from February to October for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S, Valve Steam Deck, Microsoft Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android. Episode 1: Family Issues was released on February 14, Episode 2: Running Away on April 21, Episode 3: Meeting Hilda's Relatives on June 8, Episode 4: Johanna's Suicide Attempt on August 15, and Episode 5: Family Therapy on October 22. Retail editions of the complete game were released on November 9.

Hilda and The Watercolors

 * Main article: Hilda and The Watercolors

The game is an additional sequel, taking place after Hilda 2. The story tells us how Johanna was becoming a better person and having a good relationship with Hilda again. Hilda and her friends start another journey, where suddenly, Hilda turns into a troll. Now she has to deal with a new adventure where she'll meet the water witches and know about the existence of the watercolors, stones of colors that had free control to the water and discover how they were corrupted by the "Aqua Devil". Now she must start a dangerous adventure where she will meet new friends and new locations.

While still being structured in five chapters, the game was released fully on September 14, three years after Hilda 2, for the PlayStation 5, PlayStation 6, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Legion and Nova, Google Stadia, Amazon Luna, Valve Steam Deck, Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Android. It is scheduled to be released on Nintendo Hybrid on November 5.

Hilda Remastered Collection
A remastered version of Hilda, Hilda: Before Trolberg, and Hilda 2, was announced, titled Hilda Remastered Collection. It can be purchased as part of the Ultimate Edition of Hilda and The Watercolors, or as a stand-alone release. The remaster includes all the previously released content with remastered visuals across characters and environments, improved character animation using full facial motion capture, updated and refined gameplay puzzles, and engine and lighting upgrades.

The compilation will be released on PlayStation 6, Xbox Legion and Nova, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, Amazon Luna, and at a later date on Nintendo Hybrid.

Hilda: Johanna
This prequel of the prequel is a game where we'll use Johanna as the main protagonist. The game tells the backstories of Johanna not having a best relationship with her parents, specifically with her mother, moving away from her home city into the wilderness all alone, how she meet her boyfriend, and how she lost him but also got Hilda.

The game was released in three episodes, one year after Hilda Remastered Collection, from July to November for PlayStation 6, Xbox Legion and Nova, Valve Steam Deck, Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Android. Episode 1: Where It All Began was released on July 3, Episode 2: Life is Hell on September 6, and Episode 3: Going Our Seperate Ways on November 9. The Deluxe Edition included a bonus episode Growing Up With Hilda, released on December 12. In it, Johanna raises her newborn daughter, Hilda. Having a kid was the best thing that Johanna ever had.

Hilda and The Black Hole
This game is the second part of Hilda and The Watercolors and it's served as the final part of these two games. After defeating the aqua devil, and restoring the watercolors, Hilda and company discovered that the black hole where the aqua devil came from before corrupting the watercolors was still open and it was seemed to suck all the world if they didn't stop it. Now Hilda and her friends and family must find the way to stop the black hole from devouring the whole planet.

While still being structured with five chapters, the game was released fully on November 5, two years after Hilda: Johanna, for PlayStation 6, Xbox Legion and Nova, Valve Steam Deck, Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Android.

Hilda 3
This is the third game from the story of the Hilda video game franchise. After destroying the black hole, everything has been calmed down since then. It is Hilda's 12th birthday that she's celebrating with her friends and family. Everything may be in peace, but Hilda's journey is not over just yet, as she has one more journey left to go. Hilda faces her greatest challenge yet.

While still being structured with five chapters, the game was released fully on November 19, two years after Hilda and The Black Hole, for PlayStation 6, Xbox Legion and Nova, Microsoft Windows, Valve Steam Deck, iOS, and Android.

Hilda: Forever After
The stand-alone expansion serves as an epilogue of Hilda 3. The game can be purchased as part of the Ultimate Edition of Hilda 3, or as a stand-alone release. The stand-alone expansion was released on March 3, a few months after Hilda 3, for PlayStation 6, Xbox Legion and Nova, Valve Steam Deck, Microsoft Windows, iOS, and Android.

In the game, Hilda finally understands, these experiences are the whole of her, they make her who she is. Her journey is over and it's time for her to return home. Hilda became David's girlfriend in high school, Frida could master all the magic spells and become an expert witch like Kaisa, Johanna could reunite with her old boyfriend and start a new life with him again, and the trolls now had the liberty to go to Trolberg whenever they wanted. In high school, Hilda makes a school report recaping the events of the series so far. And then Hilda, her boyfriend, and her family grouped together in a family picture. In the final scene, the character is revealed to be Hilda and David's daughter Hilly. In a time in the future, Hilly places her picture of her family photo on her desk.

Future
It has been confirmed that Hilda: Forever After would conclude the video game series, but not the video game franchise itself, as a reboot will be in the works. The creator did say they will work on the reboot of the video game franchise, it's just that they need to take a break from the franchise so that both Annapurna Interactive and 505 Games can work on other projects.