Departed Away

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 82 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Departed Away Game Cover
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"Departed Away" is a narrative-driven game about a high school student who becomes the target of blame for a misunderstanding on their first day. Struggling to survive in a hostile environment, the player must navigate the school's secrets and conflicts while dealing with a complicated family situation. The game is currently in development with Turkish, Japanese, and Chinese translations in progress.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews
story19 positive mentions
  • The game features charming pixel art and a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The narrative is rich with emotional depth and offers multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
  • The developer shows a commitment to improvement and actively seeks player feedback for future updates.
  • The writing can feel immature and contains several typos, detracting from the overall quality of the story.
  • There is a significant lack of quality-of-life features, such as a skip option for previously read text, making replaying routes tedious.
  • Character development is lacking, with many characters feeling superficial and underexplored, which diminishes the impact of the story.
  • story62 mentions

    The game's story is noted for its intriguing potential and captivating elements, particularly through character-driven narratives and multiple endings that enhance replayability. However, many reviewers feel the plot is somewhat predictable and lacks depth in character development, leaving certain storylines feeling unfinished or superficial. While the writing and atmosphere are praised, there is a consensus that the game could benefit from more thorough exploration of its themes and character arcs.

    • “The story unfolds through a series of choices that lead to multiple endings, encouraging replayability.”
    • “The story of the game is superbly captivating and intriguing; I eagerly look forward to new games with impatience!”
    • “You'll have to play the game more than once if you want to see all the endings and different plot twists, but it's worth it.”
    • “My biggest criticisms, though, are to do with the story. It feels a bit unfinished; there are a couple of areas where you're hit by a game over screen, where I was kind of hoping for an alternate path in the story, and it just feels like there could have been a bit more to it.”
    • “The rest of the characters receive nothing of development, nor a fleshed-out backstory. At most, you'll get the character (and maybe one more person) infodumping their backstory on the player, and nothing will happen after.”
    • “Even though most of the game happens in the school, your interactions with the characters there are extremely superficial and they don't contribute anything to the narrative of the story.”
  • graphics22 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received high praise for their charming pixel art style, which combines simplicity with detailed visuals, creating a nostalgic yet fresh experience. Reviewers appreciate the whimsical aesthetic, vibrant character designs, and the overall immersive atmosphere, often highlighting the game's unique charisma compared to others in the genre. Overall, the graphics are consistently rated around 8 to 8.5 out of 10, with a strong desire for more indie visual novels to adopt this art style.

    • “The game's pixel art style is both charming and immersive, providing a nostalgic yet fresh visual experience.”
    • “The game's aesthetic is simple yet detailed, and it pops so much more than most games of this genre.”
    • “Although the art is amazing, it's been a while since I've been this impressed by a pixel art style, and the developer is really open to feedback, which is also really good.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game has received high praise for its whimsical and funky vibe, perfectly complementing the art style and overall atmosphere. Reviewers noted the soundtrack's quality, with ratings ranging from 7/10 to 10/10, highlighting its ability to enhance the gaming experience. Overall, the combination of fun music and pixel artwork contributes significantly to the game's charm.

    • “The music in it fits perfectly with the vibe the game gives off.”
    • “The fun music and the pixel artwork give it a very whimsical feeling.”
    • “The OST is also good; it manages to complement the game well.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay features multiple choices that influence the player's route, along with sections of minigames; however, some players may find the repetitive nature of spamming the enter key for extended periods tedious. While the game is noted to be somewhat incomplete in both story and gameplay, the developer is responsive in addressing issues and adding content. Overall, it has received a positive rating of 8/10 for gameplay.

    • “The game has several choices, which determine the route you will follow and even features sections of gameplay minigames. Simply spamming enter for 45 minutes to see a route is not something everyone will do.”
    • “The game offers a variety of options that shape your journey, including sections of gameplay minigames, making it a unique experience.”
    • “Although the game is fairly incomplete in terms of story and gameplay, the developer is quick to fix and add new content.”
    • “The game has several choices, which determine the route you will follow and even features sections of 'gameplay minigames'. Simply spamming enter for 45 minutes to see a route is not something everyone will do.”
    • “But the game is also fairly incomplete, both in terms of story and gameplay. Although the last part is inconsequential, the developer fixes and adds content really quickly.”
    • “The game has several choices, which determine the route you will follow and even features sections of 'gameplay minigames'. Simply spamming enter for 45 minutes to see a route is not something everyone will do.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is praised for its effective balance with creepiness, creating a unique and unsettling experience. Players appreciate the quirky art style and funky music, which complement the game's funny and referential elements, making it a standout indie visual novel.

    • “This game does an absolutely masterful job of balancing its humor and its creepiness.”
    • “If you want a soulful, funny, and unsettling indie visual novel experience, you definitely cannot go wrong here.”
    • “Really loved the art style, funky music, humor, references, and characters.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game features a narrative filled with emotional depth and meaningful character interactions, which many players find touching and impactful.

    • “The narrative is rich with emotional depth and intricate connections between characters, making each interaction significant.”
    • “This is actually kind of touching.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the pixel art style used in character design and environments, noting it as a refreshing choice that enhances the overall experience of indie visual novels. However, there is no specific mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.

    • “I'd love to see more indie visual novels go for this pixel art style of character design and environments in the future; it was very refreshing.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game offers high replayability due to its branching narrative structure, where player choices result in multiple endings, inviting players to explore different outcomes.

    • “The story unfolds through a series of choices that lead to multiple endings, encouraging replayability.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, making it hard to put down.”
    • “With different character paths and outcomes, every session feels fresh and exciting.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Departed Away" is highly praised, with players noting its impressive graphics and engaging storytelling that contribute to an immersive experience. Initially underestimated, the game ultimately delivers a captivating ambiance that enhances gameplay.

    • “At first sight, I didn't think Departed Away was going to be a good game, but then I played it. The graphics, storytelling, and atmosphere in general are impressive.”
    • “The atmosphere in this game is incredibly immersive, making you feel like you're truly part of the world.”
    • “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
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