Away

About

Away is a single player action game. It was developed by NipoBox and was released on October 31, 2018. It received neutral reviews from players.

Away - is a short game telling about the hero's death experience, performed in a gloomy black and white style.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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42%

Audience ScoreBased on 487 reviews

story7 positive mentions

gameplay7 negative mentions

The game offers a brief but thought-provoking narrative about mortality and the importance of making the most of life.
The minimalist black-and-white visuals create a haunting atmosphere that enhances the emotional impact of the story.
It's a quick experience that can be completed in just a few minutes, making it easy for achievement hunters to add to their collection.

The gameplay consists of minimal interaction, requiring only a few clicks to progress through a short monologue, which many players feel does not qualify as a game.
The experience is extremely brief, lasting only about 2-3 minutes, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement.
Many reviews criticize the game's price point, arguing that it should be free given its lack of content and gameplay.

gameplay
77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
87%
9%
The gameplay is widely criticized for being minimal and lacking depth, often described as little more than a series of dialogue prompts and a few clicks to progress the narrative. Many reviewers express disappointment, noting that the experience feels more like a short interactive story than a traditional game, with some suggesting it could have been more impactful in a different medium. While the sound design and philosophical themes are appreciated, the overwhelming consensus is that the game fails to deliver meaningful gameplay, leaving players wanting more engagement and interaction.
- “In a world where games often measure worth by hours of content or mechanical depth, it’s refreshing to encounter something that leans into simplicity and mood.”
- “Its deliberate simplicity—both in visuals and gameplay—creates a powerful emotional space that encourages reflection on the universal themes of life’s impermanence and the inevitability of death.”
- “By choosing to forego traditional gameplay, the game invites players to simply be present in this transitional moment, focusing on the emotional rather than the mechanical.”
- “This shouldn't cost money; I must confess that I believe other games may give you actual gameplay while also providing the philosophical meaning one could desire from this experience. It doesn't take advantage of the medium it seeks to use for expression, and it could have been done in much better ways in other mediums.”
- “The gameplay consists of clicking the words 'go to the light' a handful of times between narrated clips.”
- “Players expecting actual gameplay may find it boring or disappointing.”
story
72 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
83%
7%
The game's story is described as a brief and abstract exploration of mortality, often lacking depth and character development, which leaves many players feeling unsatisfied. While some appreciate its evocative themes and minimalist presentation, others criticize it for being more of a passive experience than an engaging narrative, with many feeling it doesn't justify its price. Overall, the storytelling is seen as underdeveloped, with potential that remains largely unfulfilled.
- “The game’s strength lies in how it uses its brevity to tell a focused, evocative story.”
- “At its core, away offers a brief but powerful experience that invites players to immerse themselves in the final moments of life, presented in stark black-and-white visuals that amplify the emotional weight of the story.”
- “Engaging yet short story, would love to see it expanded.”
- “The story about the hero’s death experience is intriguing, yet it feels underdeveloped and ends before it can make a meaningful impact, leaving the game with insufficient content to satisfy the players.”
- “You don't even get the courtesy of having a story like who this character is or how he died or even what happened before he died.”
- “It's nothing less than a short 'story' (not even a story, as there is no development, more of a generic monologue) about a person dying, with a classic ol' 'but thou art still in time to change thine life' moral.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
82%
9%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a stark black-and-white aesthetic, featuring minimalistic visuals that primarily consist of a central light against a dark background. While some players appreciate the haunting atmosphere created by this simplicity, others criticize the lack of interaction and visual variety, deeming the graphics basic and unremarkable. Overall, the minimalist design effectively enhances the emotional weight of the narrative, though opinions on its artistic merit vary significantly.
- “On the surface, it’s deceptively simple: a short, black-and-white journey into the final moments of a protagonist’s life, told through minimalist visuals and introspective pacing.”
- “What struck me most was how much atmosphere the developers managed to build with such a stripped-down presentation — the stark art style and muted tones create an emotional space that feels contemplative and personal rather than just stylistically sparse.”
- “The black-and-white graphics and minimalist visuals create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, while the soundtrack helps you fully immerse yourself in the story.”
- “Graphics: 1/10”
- “The visuals are nothing more than a black-and-white background with a light in the center that gets bigger and brighter as you reach the end.”
- “This is not even worthy of being called a visual novel, because you sometimes click on the same text which appears in the same spot, and there are almost no visuals.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
18%
19%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by its stark, monochrome visuals and minimalist audio design, creating a contemplative and hauntingly beautiful experience. While some players find the fleeting narrative moments may not leave a lasting emotional impact, the overall ambiance is immersive and thought-provoking, appealing particularly to fans of introspective indie titles. Despite its stripped-down presentation, the game successfully evokes a unique emotional space that resonates with its somber themes.
- “What struck me most was how much atmosphere the developers managed to build with such a stripped-down presentation — the stark art style and muted tones create an emotional space that feels contemplative and personal rather than just stylistically sparse.”
- “The black-and-white graphics and minimalist visuals create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, while the soundtrack helps you fully immerse yourself in the story.”
- “Away is a wonderfully atmospheric and thoughtful indie game.”
- “The narrative is delivered in quick bursts, and for a game that revolves so strongly around atmosphere, some moments might feel too fleeting to leave a deep emotional impression.”
- “Accompanying the visuals is a minimalist audio design that enhances the meditative atmosphere.”
- “I will say, it's not a bad atmosphere, but it feels much more like the opening cutscene to a game than an actual game.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively creates a contemplative emotional atmosphere through its stark art style and subtle sound design, inviting players to engage with themes of life's impermanence and death. While the narrative moments may feel fleeting, the overall experience is heartfelt and impactful, encouraging introspection and emotional connection. Its minimalist approach allows for a powerful emotional journey, making it a memorable indie adventure, particularly for those interested in philosophical themes.
- “What struck me most was how much atmosphere the developers managed to build with such a stripped-down presentation — the stark art style and muted tones create an emotional space that feels contemplative and personal rather than just stylistically sparse.”
- “At its core, the game offers a brief but powerful experience that invites players to immerse themselves in the final moments of life, presented in stark black-and-white visuals that amplify the emotional weight of the story.”
- “Its deliberate simplicity—both in visuals and gameplay—creates a powerful emotional space that encourages reflection on the universal themes of life’s impermanence and the inevitability of death.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The music in the game is characterized by an eerie and minimalistic soundtrack that enhances the haunting atmosphere, creating a reflective experience for players. While some users appreciated the ambient sounds and voice acting, others found the music mismatched with certain elements, such as the voice work, and noted its brevity. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive storytelling, despite some mixed feelings about its execution.
- “Its minimalistic design and eerie soundtrack create a haunting, reflective experience.”
- “Gentle ambient sounds and a sparse, almost ethereal soundtrack underscore the solemnity of the experience without overwhelming the senses.”
- “The black-and-white graphics and minimalist visuals create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, while the soundtrack helps you fully immerse yourself in the story.”
- “The creepy music is okay, but again, it doesn't really match the voice.”
- “Next time, I could also use a bizarre music track paired with randomly plagiarized texts from philosophy books to create and release something, just to see how many would pay for it.”
- “The first time I heard the music on the menu, I thought my headphones were broken!”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The monetization in Away is criticized as exploitative, with players feeling it resembles a cash grab due to its simplistic gameplay and reliance on unskippable ads and microtransactions for in-game purchases.
- “Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
- “The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
- “I appreciate that the monetization model is fair and offers value for money.”
- “Away feels like a cash grab to me disguised as a game when all you do is click... and that's it.”
- “I've had unskippable YouTube ads with more narrative depth.”
- “[i] Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, suggesting that it demands an unrealistic amount of effort akin to needing a "second life" to complete.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Users indicate that the game has limited replayability, primarily relying on its longevity to encourage repeated play. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there may be some replay value, it is not substantial.
- “The game offers incredible replay value, ensuring longevity and a fresh experience with each playthrough.”
- “Replay value is a key feature, providing players with the opportunity to enjoy the game multiple times.”
- “The game's design encourages replayability, making it a joy to revisit.”
- “This is the only replay value it has.”
- “[i] Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
- “[i] Replay value - longevity and replayability.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is notably poor, with performance and gameplay failing to meet acceptable standards.
- “Performance and gameplay fall significantly below the passing mark.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues that hinder the overall experience.”
- “Framerate drops and long loading times make it difficult to enjoy the game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as a blend of funny and sad elements, with players noting the irony of certain achievements in comparison to more serious titles. Overall, it elicits a mix of amusement and melancholy.
- “I find it funny that this has an achievement, compared to some actual games.”
- “Funny and sad.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users feel that the lack of a detailed storyline and character development results in a superficial experience, leaving them craving greater depth and context for the characters.
- “The absence of a detailed storyline or character development could leave some wanting more depth or context.”
- “Character arcs feel rushed and lack the necessary depth to make them engaging.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with their journeys.”