Trine 4: The Nightmare Prince is a 2019 video game developed by Frozenbyte and published by Modus Games for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One in October 2019 and released for Stadia in March 2021. It is the fourth installment of Trine series and features a return of the series' three protagonists and medieval fantasy location. Gameplay Trine 4 refines the gameplay of the previous installments. It is a 2D platformer with a focus on physics puzzles. The abilities available to the for solving puzzles include conjuring boxes, attaching ropes to objects, and telekinesis. The player character in the game is, story-wise, three characters in one. The player can transform into one of these three characters at a time: Amadeus the wizard, Zoya the thief, and Pontius the knight. Amadeus can conjure boxes, spheres, and planks, and he can telekinetically move some objects. Zoya can affix ropes to objects either to swing from them, immobilize them, or create rope bridges. She is also armed with a bow. Pontius has a shield with which he can deflect certain projectiles at other targets, and jump-stomp. Pontius is also armed with a sword. As with previous entries, the gameplay is a mix of physics puzzles and combat. Trine 3 a 3D platformer because the player could move across the Z-axis Trine 4 returns to the strictly 2-dimensional movement of the first two Trine games. In another return to form, Trine 4 adds character progression (which was missing from the third game). While certain core abilities (such as Zoya's "fairy rope") are unlocked at fixed points in the game, there are optional abilities that the player can purchase using tokens collected over the course of the game. These abilities give the player new options for solving puzzles, or new ways to fight monsters. If the player wishes, they can replay earlier levels with unlocked abilities to solve those earlier puzzles in new ways. Plot Prince Selius (introduced in Nine Parchments) had aptitude for magic, but misused his father's spellbook, releasing the shadow of his soul and destroying his family's castle. His parents therefore sent him away to the Astral Academy, but the Academy wizards were unable to control the prince's nightmare magic and he eventually escapes. Amadeus the wizard, Pontius the knight and Zoya the thief are tasked by the Academy headmaster to bring Selius back. At first the trio tries