A lost child on ice – charming indie game North Shore lets you explore frozen waterways on skates

Canadian studio Ravine Studios has unveiled North Shore – an unusual top-down game where the player controls a child journeying across icy expanses on ice skates. The title has already made a splash at MAGFest 2026, where it won the "Staff Pick for Best in Show" award.

At the heart of North Shore is a lost and alone child embarking on a journey through the frozen waterways of the North Shore, seeking peace amid its beauty, horror, and mystery. According to the game's description, it intertwines the imaginative wonder of childhood with the stark realities of adulthood through a series of vignettes, puzzles, and boss battles, capturing the delicate balance between playful violence and genuine peril.

Gameplay revolves around authentic ice skating mechanics where momentum, friction, and timed precision play a key role. Ducking, jumping, diving, and launching off ramps all feel dynamic and responsive, while recovering seamlessly from falls becomes an essential skill for continuous exploration.

More advanced techniques like spins and slides require rhythm but boost speed, style, and discovery. Off the ice, players navigate through snow and frigid waters, which changes the pacing and opens up new exploration opportunities.

North Shore doesn't have a release date yet, but there's already a Steam page.