A Highland Song

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 355 reviews
  • music
  • story
  • gameplay
A Highland Song Game Cover
A Highland Song is an incredible game with fascinating details about Scottish folklore and stunning visuals.
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"A Highland Song" is a platforming and survival game set in the Scottish Highlands. Traverse rugged landscapes, climb peaks, and explore caves while dealing with the elements to survive. Collect map fragments to discover faster routes, and learn the region's stories and secrets as you journey to the sea, all to the rhythm of traditional Celtic music. Replayability is encouraged with multiple paths and challenges.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 355 reviews
music136 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and beautiful art style that captures the essence of the Scottish Highlands.
  • Engaging narrative with rich folklore and well-written characters, creating an immersive experience.
  • Unique blend of exploration, platforming, and rhythm mechanics that keeps gameplay fresh and enjoyable.
  • Navigation can be confusing, leading to frustration when trying to find paths or landmarks.
  • The time limit to reach the lighthouse can feel restrictive and detracts from the exploration aspect.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like climbing and map deciphering, can be clunky and may disrupt the flow of the game.
  • music279 mentions

    The music in "A Highland Song" has been widely praised for its beautiful and immersive quality, featuring a mix of original compositions by Laurence Chapman and traditional Scottish folk tunes from bands like Talisk and Fourth Moon. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere, particularly during rhythmic running segments that allow players to engage with the music while exploring the stunning Scottish highlands. Overall, the music is described as a standout element that complements the game's art and narrative, creating a captivating experience for players.

    • “The music and the art style are so great.”
    • “Finally, the music is also great, once again made by Lawrence Chapman, it provides a great variety based on what is happening in the scene, you might be racing with woodland animals in one moment to the rhythm of fast-paced percussions and bagpipes, only to slow down as you reach a valley and take a stroll accompanied by calming violins and other instruments.”
    • “The music enhances the overall experience, making it even more immersive and chill.”
    • “There is no enjoyment to be had in it, the music is, at best, mediocre, the narrative is uninteresting, and the voice actor's incessant groaning and panting, which she does while doing everything she does, is quite distracting.”
    • “My only complaints are that the musical sections feel punitive when you mess up because messing up one note means you receive no increased stamina.”
    • “The gimmick of the music-driven runs are few and often far between.”
  • story128 mentions

    The story of "A Highland Song" follows Moira on her journey through the Scottish highlands to visit her uncle, intertwining exploration with rich folklore and dynamic storytelling that evolves with each playthrough. Players appreciate the beautiful art, atmospheric music, and engaging voice acting, though some find the narrative's complexity and the need for multiple runs to fully grasp the story a bit frustrating. Overall, the game is praised for its charming and immersive storytelling experience, enhanced by its stunning visuals and cultural elements.

    • “The music, the art direction, the story, the atmosphere--this game was beautiful, all about getting lost and finding yourself again.”
    • “I loved that the story keeps iterating in different ways on each playthrough, and there was so much to find I was never bored.”
    • “The main story, however, is a touching, charming and moving folktale, with superb writing and excellent vocal performances.”
    • “The difficulties of trying to work with the map system, the frustration of when you're on the clock and you waste time, and the unsatisfying tension between trying to go off the path to find some bit of new story versus the clock overhead: it just wasn't particularly fun, and a disappointment as someone who has loved the replayability in their previous games.”
    • “This is a cool concept in theory, but the downside is that the ending feels underwhelming, if not outright confusing, the first time you see it because you're expected to play more than once to get the full context, and it's hard for a story's conclusion to make an impact when it isn't given the proper buildup first.”
    • “I was really taken out of the story, robbed of the pleasure of exploration as it is really difficult to understand the map logic, the location and mostly the goal.”
  • gameplay122 mentions

    The gameplay of "A Highland Song" is a blend of exploration, platforming, and rhythm mechanics, set against a visually stunning backdrop. While many players appreciate the unique mechanics and atmospheric elements, there are frequent criticisms regarding confusing navigation, repetitive gameplay loops, and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers engaging moments and a charming narrative that some players find worth the effort.

    • “Overall, beautiful game visually, the music is incredible, and the gameplay is unique and fun.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun, making this game a must-play for anyone seeking a relaxing yet engaging gaming experience.”
    • “The gameplay loop combined with how Moira expresses herself made me care more about her and my decisions.”
    • “Regarding gameplay, while the game has a PEGI 3 rating, finding the map's locations and navigating this world can be confusing and frustrating because the path isn’t always linear and the game doesn’t have a world map.”
    • “The gameplay seemed rather empty, boring, and monotonous to me.”
    • “It's very atmospheric, but the gameplay is really a complete disaster.”
  • graphics63 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning, storybook-like art style and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the beautiful environments, detailed 2D renderings, and the seamless integration of music and voice acting, which collectively create an immersive atmosphere. However, some minor graphical glitches and performance issues have been noted, though they do not significantly detract from the game's charm and aesthetic appeal.

    • “This game has a beautiful aesthetic that I can only describe as 'storybook-like.' Each area is represented by a 2D rendering that you can travel all the way to the left and to the right, and then you'll be able to exit that area by taking a path forward or backward, and enter the next area.”
    • “The graphics are almost understated and yet are incredibly vibrant and evocative all at once.”
    • “Brimming with personality, the gorgeous artwork and soundtrack capture the scale and beauty of the Scottish Highlands like no other game I’ve ever played.”
    • “Some minor graphical glitches in the reflections spoil some of the visuals.”
    • “I found an issue between Windows HDR and the game that absolutely murdered my graphics.”
    • “While I've fixed most of my graphic issues, sometimes, during rain in particular, the low contrast can strain my eyes.”
  • atmosphere35 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art style, immersive sound design, and evocative music, creating a serene and enchanting experience reminiscent of the Scottish highlands. Players appreciate the rich storytelling and folklore interwoven with the environment, making exploration feel rewarding and engaging. While some find the gameplay lacking, the overall ambiance and emotional depth of the atmosphere are highlighted as the game's strongest elements, making it ideal for those seeking a cozy, immersive experience.

    • “The music, the art direction, the story, the atmosphere--this game was beautiful, all about getting lost and finding yourself again.”
    • “Like stepping into a Bob Ross painting, and just as ambient, atmospheric, and relaxing as that sounds.”
    • “It was okay, but to me, it felt somewhat disconnected from the rest of the game and atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere created is the crucial element of the experience, and sound and music play a vital role.”
    • “When I first saw the game, I immediately thought it was perfect for a cold winter, so you could snuggle up under the blanket and play it and immerse yourself in this atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands.”
  • replayability26 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability, with multiple paths, unique experiences in each run, and a design that encourages exploration and optimization of gameplay. Players can expect to uncover new secrets and story elements with each playthrough, making it a rewarding experience for completionists and those who enjoy narrative depth. Overall, the replay value is enhanced by the game's non-linear structure and the ability to retain progress across runs.

    • “The artwork and music are beautiful, and the story is super intriguing, plus the replay value is super high since you get to keep most of what you find during your runs.”
    • “Exploring the Scottish Highlands feels satisfying thanks to gorgeous music and scenery, and the sheer quantity of secrets to be found. It's designed with replayability in mind so that every playthrough feels unique.”
    • “The most interesting aspect I found was how the game managed to strike a delicate balance between replayability and the amount of content within each playthrough, which is not an easy thing for a narrative-focused game.”
    • “Replayability is not a plus: it's required and expected, and every new trip is unique and more fascinating than the former.”
    • “The most interesting I found, however, was how the game managed to strike a delicate balance between replayability and the amount of content within each playthrough, which is not an easy thing for a narrative-focused game.”
    • “Between the vast number of ways to reach the aforementioned point B, the large number of completionist goals, and the revelation that the story changes based on how (and how quickly) you reach your destination, there is a fair amount of replayability in this game for people who want to know every aspect of Moira's world as well as Moira herself.”
  • emotional13 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching narrative and heartfelt character journeys, particularly Moira's self-discovery in the Scottish Highlands. Players report being moved to tears by the beautifully written story and vocal performances, despite moments of frustration during gameplay. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to evoke deep feelings while offering a charming and immersive experience.

    • “They are pretty well written and Moira's journey is very touching.”
    • “A beautiful game about getting lost in the Scottish Highlands, a clear homage to both the place and culture accompanied by a heartwarming tale of self-discovery. Some sections are hard, but you mustn't take your wonder through the game in any stressful manner. Ignore the timer; it's fine, you can leave that for the next Beltane. The controls for some things could be sharper, but I never felt like it took away from the experience. I would recommend a controller; this is an underrated gem of a game.”
    • “With heartfelt vocal performances and a beautiful story that pieces itself together over time, there is a lot to love in 'A Highland Song'.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some mechanics feeling unnecessarily tedious and slowing down progress. While the game attempts to mitigate repetitiveness through shorter playthroughs and engaging replay mechanics, elements like navigating hand-drawn maps and waiting for weather conditions can detract from enjoyment, leading to frustration. Despite these issues, some players appreciate the design choices that encourage a more leisurely exploration of the game world.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Finding paths to progress using in-game, hand-drawn maps is tedious and unfun.”
    • “And because the controls, particularly the climbing, feel just a little off and slow, it becomes tedious and annoying.”
    • “However... after the first half of the game, the climbing and constant rain became tedious.”
  • stability4 mentions

    The game exhibits notable stability issues, with users reporting buggy climbing mechanics and minor graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Additionally, players have encountered frustrating gameplay elements, such as dead ends and confusing platforming, which contribute to a sense of instability.

    • “Some of the climbing mechanics are buggy, and the 2.5D art also makes platforming confusing in some places.”
    • “Some minor graphical glitches in the reflections spoil some of the visuals.”
    • “The gameplay is generally charming and fascinating, but it can lead to apparent dead ends and annoying cases of going around in circles, partly due to the buggy mechanics.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game offers two distinct modes: an open exploration mode where time is not a constraint, and a speed run mode focused on optimization. Players appreciate the balance between these modes, highlighting the engaging story and emotional performances that enhance the overall experience.

    • “After my first playthrough, I understood there were contrasting twinned modes: open exploring where (very mild spoiler) [spoiler] time doesn't really matter [/spoiler] and a speed run/optimization goal.”
    • “After my first playthrough, I understood there were contrasting modes: open exploration where (very mild spoiler) [spoiler] time doesn't really matter [/spoiler] and a speed run/optimization goal.”
    • “The optimization mechanics feel tacked on and don't integrate well with the overall gameplay experience.”
    • “I found the optimization aspect frustrating, as it often detracted from the enjoyment of the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as a form of unofficial advertising for VisitScotland, suggesting that the game primarily serves promotional purposes rather than providing a purely entertaining experience.

    • “My conclusion: VisitScotland now has its unofficial advertisement game.”
    • “The monetization in this game feels excessive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I feel like I'm being pushed to spend money at every turn, which ruins the enjoyment.”
  • humor1 mentions

    Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting moments like the unexpected and amusing experience of flying with an eagle, which adds a delightful surprise to gameplay.

    • “My favorite experience in this game so far was flying with the eagle, because it was a nice and funny surprise.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-12hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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