Closer the Distance

About

Closer the Distance is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by Osmotic Studios and was released on August 1, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

story32 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully emotional story that effectively explores themes of grief and connection, resonating deeply with players.
The voice acting and music are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the game.
The art style is charming and visually appealing, contributing to the immersive experience of navigating the characters' lives.

The gameplay can feel tedious and bogged down by micromanagement, making it difficult to fully engage with the story.
Some character reactions to grief are perceived as unrealistic, which can detract from the immersion and emotional weight of the narrative.
The pacing is often criticized, with time constraints making it challenging to explore all character interactions and story elements.

story
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
The game features an emotional and beautifully crafted story centered around a town grappling with tragedy, where players control multiple characters, each coping with loss in their own way. While the narrative is praised for its depth and artistic presentation, some players feel that the gameplay mechanics can detract from the storytelling experience, making it feel overly demanding at times. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven games with life simulation elements, akin to a blend of "The Sims" and "Life is Strange."
- “The story focuses on a town that has recently been struck by tragedy and each protagonist you play deals with it in his or her own way.”
- “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 story is emotional and beautifully written, with a soundtrack that really enhances the narrative element.”
- “If you care about believable characters in a story, this is not the game for you.”
- “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.”
emotional
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its deeply emotional storytelling, beautifully written narrative, and impactful choices that resonate with players, often leading to strong emotional reactions, including tears. Fans of heartfelt, narrative-driven adventures, particularly those who enjoy titles like "Life is Strange" and "The Sims," will likely find this game to be a touching exploration of themes such as loss, community, and hope. However, some players feel that the emotional depth is occasionally overshadowed by the complexities of micromanagement within the gameplay.
- “I am normally not an emotional person, but the ending got me ugly-crying.”
- “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.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it lackluster and overly simplified, which detracts from the emotional depth of the story. While some appreciate the unique approach to storytelling, others feel that the mechanics are inconsistent and often boring, leading to a frustrating experience that overshadows the narrative. Overall, the gameplay seems to hinder rather than enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “For example, it's difficult to take care of yourself when you're grieving, but here the gameplay is very inconsistent.”
- “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.”
music
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
29%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing both the atmosphere and narrative. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature that complements the game's design and storytelling, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the music is described as gorgeous and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact.
- “The music in this game is fantastic - I can't stretch 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.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
55%
The game's graphics are generally praised for their beauty and tasteful art style, contributing positively to the overall experience. However, some reviewers feel that while the visuals are appealing, they are not enough to compensate for shortcomings in writing and atmosphere. Overall, the graphics are seen as a strong point, but not the sole focus of the game's success.
- “Beautiful story and I loved the art style!”
- “The visuals are delicate and tasteful, same for the score.”
- “I thought the voiceovers were very well done and the graphics were very nice.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise the music and sound design as fitting and well-executed, others feel that the overall atmosphere is lacking, undermined by insufficient writing. Despite solid graphics, many reviewers agree that the game fails to create an engaging atmosphere essential for its genre.
- “The music of this game is incredibly well done in terms of fitting the atmosphere.”
- “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.”
- “The concept is solid with this game, but it's just... the atmosphere is not there.”
- “For what it's worth, the graphics and the sound design are nice, but games like these depend on the writing and the atmosphere; this game just does not have it.”
- “This game is absolutely swimming in atmosphere.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring extensive micromanagement. Many reviews emphasize that significant time investment is necessary for progression, leading to a repetitive experience.
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The stability of the game has been criticized due to frequent glitches and bugs, which have negatively impacted the overall user experience. Many players report encountering technical issues that disrupt gameplay.
- “The game is plagued with glitches that completely ruin the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that caused frequent crashes, making it unplayable.”
- “The stability issues are so severe that I often find myself unable to progress due to constant errors.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews indicate a general dissatisfaction with the game's optimization, suggesting that it falls short of expectations.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While some players may not feel an immediate urge to replay the game, the presence of choices and tasks suggests that there is potential for replayability.
- “I don’t feel like I want to replay it soon, but given the choices and tasks, replayability is definitely an option.”