Closer the Distance

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 42 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • gameplay
Closer the Distance Game Cover
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"Closer the Distance" is a narrative-driven game following Angela, a young girl who, after a fatal accident, watches over her loved ones as they grieve. With the ability to influence townspeople, Angela's choices will determine Yesterby's fate. This emotionally charged game explores themes of empathy, community, and closure, offering unique storylines through choices-matter gameplay. CW: The game deals with themes of grief and tragedy.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 42 reviews
story positive mentions
grinding negative mentions
  • The game features a beautifully written and emotional narrative that effectively explores themes of loss, grief, and community.
  • The character development is strong, with each character having unique needs and desires that enhance player immersion and connection.
  • The visuals and soundtrack are delicate and tasteful, contributing to the overall emotional experience of the game.
  • The gameplay can feel tedious and bogged down by the need to micromanage characters' needs, which may detract from the narrative experience.
  • Some players found the pacing to be problematic, with a lack of control in the final days and a feeling of waiting for events to unfold.
  • There are issues with the user interface and controls, making it difficult to navigate tasks and manage character interactions effectively.
  • story45 mentions

    The game presents a beautifully crafted, emotional narrative centered on themes of loss, grief, and community, effectively utilizing life simulation mechanics to deepen player immersion and connection with the characters. While the storytelling is praised for its depth and impact, some players feel that the demanding gameplay can detract from the overall experience, suggesting that a more relaxed pacing could enhance the narrative flow. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a story-driven experience reminiscent of titles like "Life is Strange" and "The Sims."

    • “Setting itself up as a life-sim game, this title manages to tell a beautiful, bittersweet story about loss, grief, community, and growth.”
    • “The story is emotional and beautifully written, with a soundtrack that really enhances the narrative element.”
    • “A touching story about loss and coping with it, with sprinkles of topics like the decomposition of community, erosion of tiny towns, as well as sparking hope for the future to come.”
    • “The most critique I would give the game is pacing - the time you have to complete tasks is too short - and the needs system is quite demanding for a story-driven game.”
    • “I'm afraid that for most casual players, the game can be too stressful and demanding, and they might not experience the story because of that.”
    • “The story is relatively decent, but I feel like the gameplay bogs down the experience way too much, like every single step of the way.”
  • emotional16 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its deeply emotional narrative, touching characters, and impactful storytelling, often evoking strong feelings such as sadness and nostalgia. Many reviewers highlight the beautifully written story and evocative soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience, making it particularly appealing to fans of narrative-driven games like "Life is Strange" and life simulation titles. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a heartfelt journey that explores themes of loss, community, and hope.

    • “A beautiful and very emotional game.”
    • “The story is emotional and beautifully written, with a soundtrack that really enhances the narrative element.”
    • “A touching story about loss and coping with it, with sprinkles of topics like decomposition of community, erosion of tiny towns as well as sparking hope for the future to come.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique approach to storytelling, while others find it lackluster and boring, detracting from the overall experience. Critics note that the gameplay often feels simplified and inconsistent, failing to effectively support the game's themes and narrative.

    • “There needs to be more games of this type of gameplay; it's a unique and interesting way of telling a great story.”
    • “The story of this game seems interesting, but the gameplay really bogs the experience down.”
    • “The story is relatively decent, but I feel like the gameplay bogs down the experience way too much, like every single step of the way.”
    • “The gameplay, at times, was a bit boring and had me scrolling through my phone.”
    • “Also, the gameplay is lackluster; it's basically simplified Sims that had the potential to focus on the themes of the story but does not.”
    • “The story is relatively decent, but I feel like the gameplay bogs down the experience way too much, like every single step of the way.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, significantly enhancing the overall experience and narrative. Reviewers highlight the fantastic soundtrack and effective voice acting, which together create a captivating atmosphere that complements the game's stunning design and storytelling.

    • “The music in this game is fantastic - I can't stress that enough.”
    • “The story is emotional and beautifully written, with a soundtrack that really enhances the narrative element.”
    • “Closer the Distance is an absolutely lovely and emotional game, with an incredible soundtrack.”
    • “The music and voice acting deliver the setting very well.”
    • “~~~{ audio/soundtrack }~~~”
  • graphics5 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their delicate and tasteful design, complementing the overall aesthetic and art style. While the visuals and sound design are appreciated, some players feel that the game's writing and atmosphere do not meet the same standard.

    • “The visuals are delicate and tasteful, as is the score.”
    • “Beautiful story and I loved the art style!”
    • “Graphically, the game works for what it's going for.”
    • “The visuals are delicate and tasteful, same for the score.”
    • “Graphically, the game works for what it's going for.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players note that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, requiring considerable time investment. Many find the repetitive nature of grinding, particularly in managing systems and micromanaging characters, to be tedious and frustrating.

    • “Time for grinding will be required.”
    • “You'll be grinding a lot.”
    • “The whole managing needs system is tedious, and having to micromanage people around is a pain.”
    • “Time for grinding will be required.”
    • “You'll be grinding a lot.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    While the game features solid graphics and sound design, many users feel that it lacks a compelling atmosphere, which is crucial for its genre. The writing and overall ambiance are seen as insufficient, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The concept is solid with this game, but the atmosphere is just not there.”
    • “For what it's worth, the graphics and sound design are nice, but games like these depend on the writing and the atmosphere; this game just does not have it.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report a range of glitches and bugs affecting gameplay, with some experiencing frequent crashes and performance issues. While some players find the game generally stable, others highlight significant stability concerns that detract from the overall experience.

    • “The game is plagued with glitches that disrupt the overall experience.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that made it nearly unplayable at times.”
    • “Frequent crashes and stability issues have made me lose interest in continuing.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received criticism, with users expressing dissatisfaction and suggesting that it falls short of expectations.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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