Arden's Wake

About

Arden's Wake is a single player casual action adventure game with fantasy and post-apocalyptic themes. It was developed by Penrose and was released on February 26, 2021. It received positive reviews from players.

Starring Alicia Vikander and Richard Armitage, Arden's Wake is a VR animated short that tells the story of a young woman who embarks on a dangerous journey in a post-apocalyptic world. Meena lives with her father in a lighthouse perched atop the ocean's surface. When he goes missing, she must descend deep into the waters previously forbidden to her, embarking on a thrilling journey of family hist…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

story17 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The story is beautifully rendered and emotionally impactful, making it a poignant experience.
The animation and visual details are impressive, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
Good voice acting and a unique approach to storytelling through visuals rather than exposition contribute to a captivating experience.

The experience is completely non-interactive, which may disappoint those expecting a game-like experience.
The short duration of the story (around 30 minutes) leaves some viewers wanting more, and the ending feels abrupt.
Technical issues such as limited controller support and lower texture resolution detract from the overall experience.

story
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
41%
9%
The story is a beautifully crafted, albeit short and non-interactive, virtual experience that evokes strong emotions, though some users found it confusing and lacking depth. While the visuals and music enhance the narrative, many felt the emotional impact fell short, and the ending was weak. Overall, it is recommended for those who appreciate immersive storytelling, despite its brevity and some narrative inconsistencies.
- “Beautiful story.”
- “It's a great story presented in a really immersive way.”
- “Stunning short story.”
- “Found the story depressing and a bit confusing; unsure what the opening scene with the father swimming down had to do with the rest of the experience.”
- “The story tries for an emotional impact but missed its target with me.”
- “The story is very short and very weak; at no point did I feel any emotion for the characters.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the soundtrack as great and integral to the storytelling. However, some users feel that the sound distortion effects, particularly when the viewer sinks underwater, could be enhanced for a more impactful experience. Overall, the combination of visuals and music effectively conveys the narrative.
- “I rather enjoyed the music; though in my opinion, even more could have been done with the sound distortion when the viewer sinks underneath the waters.”
- “The animations are otherwise top-notch and the musical soundtrack is great.”
- “If this had a stronger impact on the background music, I think it could have led to more striking results.”
- “Most of the story is told through the visuals and music.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features several emotional moments that resonate deeply, with some players finding it capable of eliciting tears. However, there are critiques regarding the pacing of certain scenes, suggesting that some emotional beats could have been more impactful with additional development. Overall, the narrative aims for emotional depth, though it may not connect with everyone.
- “Made me cry.”
- “Still, the story is very emotional.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The graphics are visually appealing with impressive set pieces, though they lack the sharpness of more recent VR titles. While the visuals effectively convey the story alongside the music, players expressed a desire for higher resolution options and improved controls.
- “The visuals are nice (other than it isn't high resolution) and the set pieces are wonderful.”
- “Would've liked some options to change graphics and working index buttons so I don't have to start it with the keyboard, but that's very minor.”
- “The visuals aren't as sharp as the newer VR cinematic projects that have come out recently.”
- “Most of the story is told through the visuals and music.”
- “I would have liked some options to change graphics and working index buttons so I don't have to start it with the keyboard, but that's very minor.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
Character development in the game is described as somewhat sketchy and not deeply enriched, despite the darker theme of a heroine discovering her family history and transitioning to independence. The cheerful artistic style contributes to a light-hearted tone, contrasting with the narrative's seriousness.
- “The general theme of a heroine discovering her family history while transitioning to independence is somewhat darker compared to 'Allumette', but the cheerful artistic style and the rather sketchy character development still give it a light-hearted tone.”
- “Character development feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters on an emotional level.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional and their growth throughout the game is minimal, leaving players wanting more substance.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report stability issues, particularly noting that adjusting the field of view (FOV) is necessary to mitigate edge-glitches, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Having to limit my FOV to get edge glitches to disappear is a shame.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experience constant frame drops, which ruins the overall experience.”