Step into a cozy autumn world full of beauty, charm, and the magic of childhood with Olga – Episode 1, a quiet and atmospheric first-person narrative adventure by Workbench Entertainment. As you delve into Olga’s memories about the time she spent in her grandparents’ isolated mountain village of Belovodica, you’ll discover breathtaking views, curious townsfolk, and perhaps something a little darker—all wrapped up in the innocence of a sweet, kindhearted child who loves adventure.

A Young Explorer

It doesn’t take long to get to know young Olga. At the beginning of the demo, you have the chance to poke around Olga’s bedroom as she packs her bags for her stay in Belovodica. You can find Girl Scout trophies, pictures of her family and family friends, adorable stuffed animals, and plenty of decorations of the moon and stars. It’s a room that expertly and stylishly showcases the vibrant personality of an eleven-year-old girl who is responsible, curious, polite, and fearless.

After packing her backpack—and tidying up her room, if you choose to do so—Olga is ready to go. Thus begins the car ride to the outskirts of Belovodica, which you can spend munching on a sandwich, playing with a squeeze toy, and listening to Olga’s parents’ excuses about why they aren’t taking her with them on their weeks-long business trip.

This is the only part of the demo where the story feels a bit clunky. The characterization of Olga’s friendly but careless father and strict, grumpy mother is flat, and the sense of loneliness and abandonment is a touch heavy-handed, even if Olga herself is too young or too optimistic to express the tension between herself and her parents. They drop Olga off in the middle of the woods while her mother rushes them through an unaffectionate goodbye, creating an over-the-top moment of neglect.

Still, the scene serves its purpose of introducing Olga’s less-than-perfect family. And, of course, it creates the perfect setup for you to enjoy the game’s first walking segment: taking Olga down the path to Belovodica.

A Curious Village

Your journey through the woods starts out just as Olga remembers from her last visit here five years ago. The trees are red and orange and gold with the changing of the seasons. Giant, colorful mushroom clusters dot the path. A gentle breeze beckons you on as warm, melancholic music accompanies your walk. The sky is pink and gold as the sun sets on yet another quiet, peaceful day in the mountains.

But the rose-tinted glasses of Olga’s memories start to crack. These aren’t the same enchanting woods she played in as a little girl. Entire clearings have been cut down to provide more firewood for an abnormally frigid winter, and there are numerous hunting traps scattered around the forest. The animals Olga played with for hours as a child are now skittish and fearful. Letters found at campsites in the woods reveal fear and tension rising in the village as they prepare for what appears to be an abnormally brutal winter. These clues, along with Olga’s concerned narration, propel you forward closer to town. I found myself increasingly curious and nervous with every step.

And then you arrive at Belovodica itself. Things here seem normal as Olga runs into Pepi, an older gentlemen who, recognizing Olga, asks her to retrieve his tools and a box of nails from the general store so he can fix his cart. But outside the general store are two men who are surprised, even unnerved, to see a young girl in their village.

Strange things keep happening, but Olga has already proven herself to be both fearless and helpful. The demo closes with you handing the tools to Pepi and resting nearby while he finishes fixing his cart. As Olga leans back and basks in the surrounding scenery—a stunning, snowy mountain view that shows off just how breathtaking this game is—all you can think about is how beautiful and how intriguing Belovodica really is.

A Story Unfolding

It’s clear that this relaxing adventure holds a touch of something darker and more mysterious ready to unfold. As you explore the woods at the game’s easy pace, there are plenty of small, clever cues—footsteps in the leaves around you, skittish animals, corvid caws, and wooden, witchy stick charms blending in with the dead branches of the trees—to make you feel unnerved for a fleeting moment before the cozy, enchanting atmosphere settles in again.

Olga is, as promised, an easy-going game with a leisurely pace, but it’s clear that this demo is only a taste of the stories and adventures to come. There’s more to learn, more people to meet, and, with any luck, more to be done to help the spooked animals and troubled villagers in Olga’s beloved Belovodica.

Olga – Episode 1’s demo out now and was part of Steam Next Fest: October 2025. Play it for yourself and see what mysteries await you in the quiet town of Belovodica.