Arctic Awakening

About

Arctic Awakening is a single player open world action adventure game with drama, mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by GoldFire Studios and was released on September 18, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Arctic Awakening is a first-person narrative adventure following Kai, a pilot stranded in the frozen Arctic after a mysterious storm causes a plane crash. With only a robotic companion named Alfie, you must brave harsh conditions, uncover hidden secrets, and search for your lost co-pilot to survive and find a way home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 193 reviews

story83 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features a compelling story with strong character development and emotional depth, particularly in the relationship between the protagonist and the robot companion, Alfie.
The visuals and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive experience that captures the essence of the Arctic setting.
The voice acting is excellent, enhancing the narrative and making the characters feel more relatable and engaging.

The gameplay can feel slow and repetitive, with excessive walking and minimal interaction, leading to moments of boredom.
There are numerous bugs and technical issues that can disrupt the experience, including soft locks and unclear objectives.
The choices made throughout the game often feel inconsequential, with the final decision lacking the impact that was anticipated.

story
187 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
54%
2%
The story of "Arctic Awakening" is generally praised for its engaging narrative and emotional depth, drawing comparisons to other story-driven games like "Firewatch" and "Life is Strange." While many players appreciate the intriguing plot twists and character development, some express disappointment with pacing issues and a lack of meaningful choices that impact the story. Overall, the game is recommended for those who enjoy immersive storytelling in a beautifully crafted environment, despite some technical flaws and a slow start.
- “The story and attention to detail is what makes this game good.”
- “What begins as a survival story against the elements slowly becomes something deeper, as Kai and Alfie uncover hidden truths and conspiracies buried beneath the snow.”
- “The story is fantastic and keeps you wanting more.”
- “The story is very slow to get started and actually get anywhere, and when it does it's not explored much at all. You walk, walk, walk till you reach the end of an episode, something weird happens, then that's it. Next episode, same formula, until the end where it just tells you everything in one cutscene.”
- “The characters are boring. I'm supposed to care that I and my friend survive, except I don't, because I have no idea who they even are until you actually give some backstory in the later episodes. Even when they are given personalities, they're still quite thin and I don't relate to them.”
- “I was a bit disappointed that the choices — which are said early on to impact the story — actually have very little influence.”
gameplay
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
66%
13%
The gameplay in "Arctic Awakening" is primarily a walking simulator with simple mechanics, focusing heavily on exploration and narrative rather than complex interactions. While some players appreciate the atmospheric storytelling and the inclusion of light survival elements, many criticize the slow pacing, repetitive tasks, and the forced mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game appeals to those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences but may disappoint players seeking more engaging gameplay.
- “This is a fun walking simulator with some slight puzzle/exploration mechanics.”
- “The art, music, and sound are on point if not really fantastic, and the gameplay mechanics are fun.”
- “Despite some bugs, the gameplay flow is masterful: there's no filler and something interesting is going on constantly.”
- “Una scrittura di livelli altissimi strozzata purtroppo da un gameplay lento, legnoso e scialbo.”
- “The gameplay won't convert skeptics.”
- “The game has a lot of issues, in narrative, build up, gameplay.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
17%
10%
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers highlighting the enchanting soundtrack and strong voice acting. While some noted a desire for more ambient music during exploration, the majority found the soundtrack to be a standout feature, complementing the art and narrative beautifully. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength, contributing to the game's atmosphere and emotional impact.
- “Strong voice acting and a soundtrack that knows when to stay quiet elevate the experience.”
- “The atmosphere and graphic design is beautiful, the music is enchanting, and overall I came away more than satisfied with my experience.”
- “I do wish there was a little incidental/ambient music while out wandering, but understand the decision to use it to increase the cinematic feel of the game.”
- “The music in this game really moves you emotionally, and is able to sway your feelings and opinions.”
- “Everything down to the music, sure, there are a few bugs, but this is a masterpiece.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
39%
11%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and engaging art style, often described as hand-painted or cartoonish, which adds personality and charm to the experience. While some players noted a lack of variety in environments and repeated assets, the overall visual presentation, combined with enchanting music, creates a captivating atmosphere that enhances the narrative journey. Despite minor glitches, the graphics are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The atmosphere and graphic design is beautiful, the music is enchanting, and overall I came away more than satisfied with my experience.”
- “Arctic Awakening's episodic story is told in a frigid & detailed environment filled with charm & beautiful visuals.”
- “The engaging narrative, excellent voice acting, and striking cartoon-style visuals that made perfect use of the Unity engine turned exploration into a delightful visual and auditory journey.”
- “Graphics were so-so for this type of game, although the same assets were used way too much and more variety would have been much better.”
- “The art style isn't what I expected; I expected it to be like Firewatch, but to this day I have not found any games that have the same look as Firewatch.”
- “None of the choices appear to matter beyond the aesthetics of seeing the left path rather than the right path on your way to the next plot point.”
atmosphere
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
22%
14%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its beauty, emotional depth, and immersive qualities, with many reviewers highlighting the enchanting soundtrack and well-crafted environments. While some note that the gameplay may be lacking, the strong narrative and atmospheric elements create a captivating experience, particularly for fans of narrative-driven games. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as cozy yet mysterious, effectively drawing players into its world.
- “The atmosphere is amazing and the characters are beyond well written.”
- “The atmosphere and graphic design is beautiful, the music is enchanting, and overall I came away more than satisfied with my experience.”
- “The atmosphere is wonderfully mysterious, and the environments, although gigantic, never leave us feeling lost.”
- “The game's atmosphere, while pretty, could 100% be so much more immersive with the addition of rain, thunder, and a natural progression of daylight, from midday to sunset to night, rather than being explored only in specific parts of the game.”
- “Arctic Awakening's strength lies more in its story and atmosphere than in its gameplay.”
- “Atmosphere-focused gameplay — emphasis on immersion and tension over combat.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Arctic Awakening" is highlighted by its reflective storytelling and character development, particularly the evolving relationship between Kai and Alfie, which serves as the game's emotional core. While many players found the writing and voice acting to create genuine emotional moments, some felt the story lacked depth and failed to deliver a satisfying emotional payoff. Overall, the game's atmosphere, soundtrack, and character journeys resonate deeply, making it a poignant experience for those who connect with its themes of isolation and connection.
- “Watching Kai slowly grow fonder of Alfie, sometimes in spite of himself, gives the game its emotional core.”
- “The writing delivers believable characters, emotional moments that sneak up on you, and themes of isolation and connection that feel deeply personal.”
- “The story pulled me in right away—it’s emotional, mysterious, and full of choices that actually feel meaningful.”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
86%
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting bugs and glitches that occasionally disrupt gameplay, while others note that it runs well, particularly on the Steam Deck. Frequent autosaves help mitigate issues, and overall, the graphical presentation is well-received despite the stability concerns.
- “It runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “The game maintains a smooth performance throughout.”
- “I haven't experienced any crashes or major bugs.”
- “Quite buggy and the story does not wrap up nicely.”
- “Tldr - the story did not engage me, the characters did not engage me, the puzzles are frustratingly slow trial and error, and it's buggy.”
- “I did encounter a few glitches, but nothing that impacted my playthrough.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by natural banter between characters, reminiscent of old friends using wit to cope with serious situations. While some elements, like the court-mandated drone, fall flat in comparison to iconic humorous characters from other games, the standout is the therapeutic robot companion, Alfie, who brings a mix of annoyance and memorable humor. Overall, the dialogue feels authentic and relatable, enhancing the comedic experience.
- “His banter with Kai feels natural, like two old friends using humor to keep the weight of the situation from crushing them.”
- “The real highlight is the therapeutic robot companion Alfie, who is sometimes annoying, often funny, but always memorable.”
- “The storyline feels like real situations that anybody can be in, and I love the conversations we have with our friend or co-pilot, with the funny cursing and everything, like real people lol.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game offers some replayability through alternate dialogue and late-game outcomes, but many players feel a single playthrough is sufficient. However, others argue that the lengthy experience and the thrill of surprise diminish the incentive to replay.
- “That replayability makes it even more exciting.”
- “Replay value exists, mainly to see alternate dialogue and late-game outcomes, but most players will be satisfied with a single playthrough.”
- “There is no real replay value either, as the game is too long and the best moments come from not knowing what comes next anyway.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development in the game shows a mix of strengths and weaknesses; while characters like Kai and Alfie are well-developed and performed, there is a lack of depth in exploring the broader lore, leaving some intriguing aspects underutilized. Overall, the storytelling is praised as amazing, contributing to a rich world, but the potential for deeper character exploration remains largely untapped.
- “The character development of Kai, Alfie, and other characters is great and well-performed.”
- “Storytelling was amazing, character development was phenomenal, and the world was beautiful.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the grinding aspect of the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
- “I spent hours grinding, and it still feels like I'm nowhere.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with no major performance issues reported. However, some players have encountered minor clipping problems when interacting with objects, which can occasionally lead to frustrating situations like getting stuck.
- “Every character's performance is delivered with authenticity by a wonderful cast.”
- “I didn't have any performance issues to speak of, but I did experience some clipping issues regarding interacting with objects, with one instance making me stuck.”
- “I didn't have any performance issues to speak of, but I did experience some clipping issues in regards to interacting with objects, with one instance making me stuck.”