Carry Onward

About

Carry Onward is a single player casual simulation game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Andrey Chudaev and was released on July 21, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

"Carry Onward" is a poignant narrative-driven game about Thomas, a grieving man packing up his home. Engage with objects holding significance to his past, shaping his emotional journey towards healing and one of five possible outcomes. Witness the profound impact of small moments in this short game by a solo developer.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 24 reviews

story6 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully written story that explores themes of love, loss, and moving on, resonating deeply with players who have experienced grief.
The visuals are charming with a simple, cell-shaded style and impressive lighting that enhances the emotional atmosphere of the game.
The voice acting effectively conveys the protagonist's emotions, adding depth to the narrative and making the experience more impactful.

The gameplay is minimalistic and can feel slow, with some players finding the interactivity lacking and the overall experience too brief at around 20-30 minutes.
The writing and voice acting have been criticized for lacking emotional depth, which detracts from the overall impact of the story.
Some players feel the game is overpriced for its short length, leading to disappointment regarding its value as a full game.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The story of "Carry Onward" is a poignant exploration of loss and personal growth, centered around the character Thomas as he navigates memories while preparing to move. Players appreciate the emotional depth and beautifully written narrative, which allows for multiple playthroughs through various interactive choices. While some find the gameplay slow and desire a longer experience, the overall sentiment highlights the game's focus on storytelling over mechanics, creating a moving and relatable journey.
- “Carry Onward is a beautifully written story about one person's loss and their struggle to 'carry onward' and eventually move forward with their life.”
- “The story you are part of felt very personal and was moving and well written.”
- “For all who want to buy this game, I want you to know that this game focuses on the story rather than the gameplay.”
- “This game tells a story that we are human beings with flaws, have struggles and regrets in life, and how to use memories and connections to find motivation.”
- “In Carry On, you follow the story of Thomas who, well, without spoiling, has to carry on.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find it deeply touching and resonant, particularly in its portrayal of grief and personal connections, others criticize the voice acting and writing as uninspiring. Many players report having strong emotional reactions, including tears, due to the game's narrative and character development, suggesting it effectively captures complex feelings despite its brevity. Overall, the game seems to evoke a significant emotional response for some, while leaving others wanting more depth and engagement.
- “Another part I enjoyed was how they wrote our character; his feelings and attachments made me cry a lot, especially due to how he spoke about the good times.”
- “I cried while I played it, not because of my sadness, but because I felt like someone understood.”
- “A short emotional narrative adventure where the hero deals with difficult feelings of loss and tries to move on.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The gameplay is characterized as slow and simplistic, primarily focusing on storytelling rather than interactive mechanics, with players engaging in basic actions like walking, picking up objects, and exploring memories. While some appreciate the powerful message conveyed in a short playtime of around 15 minutes, others criticize the lack of depth and quality in both gameplay and writing, suggesting that a more substantial experience is expected even from short games.
- “Another short game that delivers a pretty powerful message with simple mechanics.”
- “For all who want to buy this game, I want you to know that this game focuses on the story rather than the gameplay.”
- “This game is about 15 minutes of gameplay time.”
- “I expect 35 minutes to 1 hour of gameplay for a short game.”
- “The gameplay consists of walking back and forth, picking up boxes, interacting with objects, and exploring the protagonist's memories with some internal dialogue options.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are characterized by a simple, cell-shaded style that features impressive lighting effects, enhancing the atmosphere of each room. While the visuals are generally well-received, some players note that the gameplay is slow, aligning with the game's focus on storytelling rather than extensive gameplay mechanics.
- “The visuals have a simple, cell-shaded charm to them with stunning lighting; simply turning the light switch on or off gives each room its own unique light or dark look.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is beautifully composed and enhances the overall experience, with many users recommending the use of headphones for an immersive listening experience. Additionally, the quality of the voice acting complements the music, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “Beautiful music plays in the background, and I highly recommend you play this with headphones.”
- “The voice acting and music really enhance the experience of this game.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a compelling plot and beautiful voice acting, effectively evoking strong emotions and captivating players, even those who typically do not favor atmospheric titles.
- “The plot and beautiful voice acting create an atmosphere that pulls on your heartstrings.”
- “I'm not normally one for atmospheric, emotional titles, but something about this really captivated me.”