Harold

Harold is a platforming game developed by the independent studio Moon Spider Studio, blending the platformer, racing and puzzle genres into a distinctive hybrid. Rather than controlling the runner directly in the usual way, the player takes the role of a guardian angel named Gabe, whose job is to help the hapless human runner, Harold, win a race down a series of obstacle-filled courses. Gabe cannot move Harold himself; instead the player manipulates the environment, triggering platforms, hazards and contraptions with precise timing to clear a safe path for the constantly moving Harold and to hinder his competitors. This indirect-control twist gives the game a puzzle-like quality layered over fast-paced platform-racing action, combining hand-drawn, animated visuals with a quirky premise. Announced and previewed during the early 2010s, Harold drew interest for its unusual concept and polished art style. As a smaller independent release, it occupied the experimental corner of the platforming genre, where developers sought fresh angles on familiar mechanics. POCG covered its announcement among its independent-game news. Harold stands as an example of the inventive, genre-mixing indie projects of the period, distinguished by the idea of guiding rather than directly controlling its protagonist through frantic, reactive course-clearing. It exemplified the inventive, genre-blending spirit of the indie scene, where unusual control schemes were a frequent source of novelty.