Gift (Europe)

Gift is a platform game released for the Game Boy Color in 2001, exclusively in Europe. It was developed by French studio Eko Software, with creative direction from Cryo Interactive's Philippe Ulrich and artwork by well‑known illustrator Régis Loisel. The game parodies classic adventure titles, wrapping its platforming action in a humorous, self‑aware tone that stands apart from more straightforward platformers of the era. This is an official commercial release, not a hack or homebrew.

Players guide a character through ten levels rendered in a fully three‑dimensional world - a technical feat for the Game Boy Color. The core loop involves jumping across platforms, avoiding hazards, and collecting items while progressing through themed stages. The 3D perspective gives the game a distinct visual style, though the actual gameplay follows standard side‑scrolling platformer conventions. Enemies and obstacles are encountered along the way, and each level ends with some form of challenge or goal.

For collectors of late‑life Game Boy Color titles, Gift offers a curious artifact: a French‑developed platformer that tries to push the hardware with 3D visuals while poking fun at the genre's tropes. It is not a top‑tier classic, but its short length and quirky personality make it worth a quick play for anyone interested in the system's less‑known library. If you enjoy experimental platformers or are curious about Eko Software's work, this is a neat curiosity to try.