Draugen

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 906 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Draugen Game Cover
Draugen is a superbly written and performed emotional tale that will leave a lasting impact.
Starting at $5.94Buy now
Get on Steam

Draugen is a first-person psychological horror adventure, set amongst the deep fjords and towering mountains of Norway’s awe-inspiring west coast. The game is a dark and disturbing journey into the pitch black heart of Norwegian national romanticism, as seen through the eyes of an American nature photographer, botanist and entomologist.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 906 reviews
story345 positive mentions
gameplay11 negative mentions
  • Stunning visuals and beautiful scenery that captures the essence of Norway.
  • Engaging voice acting and well-written dialogue that brings the characters to life.
  • Intriguing story with emotional depth, exploring themes of loss and mental health.
  • Very short gameplay, typically completed in 3-4 hours, which may not justify the price.
  • Linear story progression with limited exploration and interaction, making it feel more like a guided experience.
  • Predictable plot twists and an unsatisfying ending that leaves many questions unanswered.
  • story1,012 mentions

    The story of "Draugen" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it intriguing yet ultimately unsatisfying. Set in a beautifully rendered Norwegian village, the narrative unfolds through exploration and dialogue, but often feels predictable and underdeveloped, leaving several plot points unresolved. While some appreciate the emotional depth and atmospheric storytelling, others criticize its linearity and lack of meaningful choices, resulting in a story that, despite its potential, may not fully engage all players.

    • “The game's put together in a way that the story unfolds organically while set in a beautiful, abandoned town.”
    • “For this genre, the plot is the most important part, and here it gives a complete story with just enough missing puzzle points leaving room for interpretation.”
    • “Amazing storytelling and a wonderful adventure.”
    • “The big twists are both predictable and nonsensical in a way that makes the protagonist's story feel inexplicable and pointless.”
    • “The story of the townsfolk was way more interesting to me, and while I thought it was interesting that you can choose your own interpretation of what happened, there were several things that were never explained or suggested and it just made the story seem weak to me.”
    • “The story is frustratingly predictable as well.”
  • graphics216 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning beauty and immersive quality, effectively capturing the picturesque Norwegian landscapes and creating a captivating atmosphere. While many players praised the visuals as the game's strongest aspect, some noted inconsistencies in quality, particularly with lighting and texture rendering. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal, complemented by a haunting soundtrack and solid voice acting, makes it a visually engaging experience, despite criticisms regarding the story and gameplay depth.

    • “Draugen was a nice game to play - the visuals were stunning and I could watch the landscape for hours... hence the played hours.”
    • “The game's haunting air of quiet mystery and stunning nature visuals got me hooked from the first few minutes and till the very end.”
    • “Draugen is absolutely gorgeous in terms of graphics, it doesn’t make a revolution but all these picturesque landscapes and Norwegian fjords are something to die for.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics leave something to be desired, which is probably due to the fact that the game was in development for a long time.”
    • “The graphics are a mixed bag; there are some scenes that are passable or better, but then there are some scenes where the lighting is just outright broken, making the game confusing to look at.”
    • “Graphics are 10 times worse than in screenshots/videos, and there's very little interaction in the game.”
  • music174 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, creating an immersive experience that complements the stunning visuals. Many reviewers highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as haunting, soothing, and integral to the game's emotional impact. While some noted that the music occasionally fades into the background, the consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and storytelling.

    • “The soundtrack in this game is just phenomenal.”
    • “The music is beautiful.”
    • “The music is without a doubt the highlight of the game for me, the delightful melodic soundtrack, with elements of piano and other instruments, it's beautiful.”
    • “Gorgeous landscapes and a score which encapsulates the grand mountains and water scenery; however, the music seems to disappear or become just faint background noises after the intro and beginning part.”
    • “Music should be a lot better.”
    • “A few scenes felt 'overdramatic' due to it and felt like it tried to force me to feel horrified, scared or otherwise, which I would have been, if it weren't for the music.”
  • atmosphere136 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, evocative sound design, and immersive storytelling, effectively capturing the beauty and eeriness of a Norwegian fjord setting. Many reviewers highlight the exceptional voice acting and music that enhance the overall mood, creating a captivating experience that draws players into its melancholic and mysterious world. However, some critiques mention that the game's pacing and dialogue can detract from the atmosphere, particularly as the story progresses.

    • “Atmospheric, moody, visually beautiful and with exceptional voice acting.”
    • “The atmosphere is the best aspect of the game; it's amazing to walk through the fjord and watch the mountains.”
    • “Draugen is an incredibly atmospheric game.”
    • “Unrealistically dramatic and above all overly disrespectful communication of the 17-year-old sidekick spoils the early 1900s atmosphere.”
    • “I was really let down at the turn the story took at the halfway point of the game; every question raised, mystery found, and the atmosphere that was established was thrown out the window, and what followed was super disappointing.”
    • “But closer to the end, creators begin to 'spice' up the story with plot twists that ruin all the atmosphere and just make you wonder why they needed this weary trope at all.”
  • gameplay111 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is primarily a walking simulator, characterized by a linear narrative with minimal interaction and mechanics, often described as tedious and lacking depth. Players engage mainly in exploring environments and collecting clues, with little to no puzzles or meaningful choices, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction regarding gameplay value, especially given its short duration of around 2-4 hours. While the visuals and atmosphere are praised, many reviewers suggest that the game feels more like an interactive story than a traditional game, making it hard to justify its price.

    • “The beauty and the mechanics of how Draugen functions were very well done, and the voice acting was superb and on point as well.”
    • “The gameplay is basically you walking around and exploring Graavik while trying to piece together what happened to your missing sister and the locals.”
    • “With peerless aesthetics and creative-yet-simple gameplay, Draugen provides a thrilling tale of intrigue and tragedy that is sure to satisfy the curiosity of gamers the world across.”
    • “But the gameplay is... simply nonexistent.”
    • “There isn't any gameplay; it is a walking simulator where you traverse from one end of the island to the other reading/learning about what happened to the people and what happened in your life.”
    • “The gameplay is very monotonous to non-existent, but that didn't really bother me here because of the beautiful graphics and the fantastic soundtrack - it is and remains a walking simulator.”
  • emotional47 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its heartwarming and touching story, compelling characters, and beautiful visuals that evoke strong feelings. However, others found the emotional core lacking depth, with predictable writing and a rushed conclusion that diminished its impact. Overall, while many appreciate the emotional journey and immersive experience, some feel the execution falls short, leading to a varied emotional response among players.

    • “I truly adore this game, and the endless emotional rollercoasters it brought me through with its extreme beauty.”
    • “Draugen is a superbly written and performed emotional tale that will leave a lasting impact.”
    • “It's an emotionally provocative game with beautiful landscapes and a thrilling story.”
    • “All in all, a boring story that the developers have given themselves far too much credit for.”
    • “Draugen is nothing but a boring story about an American who lost his sister and his demons of being persistently obsessed with her disappearance.”
    • “It is simply too kind and linear in its way of telling an already boring story where all you do is look for clues to what happened to the people in this desolate place (by looking, I mean, look for the white ring popup and click them all).”
  • replayability26 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and secrets that encourage revisiting, many criticize it for being short and lacking substantial replay value. Overall, the consensus leans towards low replayability, with several reviewers suggesting that the game's brief duration and limited content do not justify its price.

    • “There is replayability; the game has multiple possible endings.”
    • “I would recommend playing this game as it was made with care and it's now my favorite 'walking simulator'. It may not exactly have the replayability of The Stanley Parable, but after my first playthrough, I'd say it's worth coming back to, like a good book.”
    • “✅ Good replayability.”
    • “I bought the game on sale and am happy with it, I would advise against buying it at full price because the playing time is quite short and the replay value is limited.”
    • “It is very short and has no replay value; once it is done, it's done, not worth full price.”
    • “I find it hard to believe I spent 20 euros for 3 hours of gameplay on a game that has no replay value at all.”
  • optimization15 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players reporting minor bugs and performance issues, while others experienced significant frame rate drops and poor graphical performance, particularly in darker environments. Despite the strong voice acting in certain instances, the game's overall performance has been criticized for being subpar, leading to a less immersive experience.

    • “I didn't encounter any bugs or performance issues during my playthrough.”
    • “Fun mystery/myst style game with some cool Norse mythology and some good acting performances.”
    • “The strength of the game is the banter between Edward and Lissie; the latter in particular being voiced by Skye Bennett using the strengths of her performance as Mythra in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 to be a very sassy 1920s American youth to your bookish, no-nonsense playable character.”
    • “The performance is also unfortunate; some areas tank with the weather effects, and the game is overall way too literally dark. I ended up turning my gamma up to neon just to see anything indoors.”
    • “The story is too linear, and honestly not that interesting at all. The game was badly optimized, with too many FPS drops, and I run a 1080 Ti OC edition with an i7-9700K.”
    • “No optimization.”
  • grinding10 mentions

    Reviews of the game's grinding aspect are mixed, with some players finding it occasionally tedious and overly predictable, while others appreciate the pacing and engaging story. While certain elements may feel grindy or drawn out, the overall experience remains enjoyable for many.

    • “It can feel a bit grindy sometimes, but the rewards make it worth it.”
    • “While it may be too grindy for some, I find the progression satisfying.”
    • “A beautiful setting and an interesting story aren't enough to carry a game this tedious.”
    • “The gameplay is an absolute tedious drag and the dialogue gets annoying.”
    • “Performances are overwrought, the melodrama is completely unearned, the writing is tedious, and the plotting predictable.”
  • humor7 mentions

    Reviews on the humor aspect of the game are mixed; while some players find the character interactions and certain comedic elements genuinely funny, others criticize the quirky protagonists and sidekick for being annoying rather than amusing. The humor seems to resonate well with some, particularly through energetic characters, but fails to land for others, leading to a frustrating experience.

    • “The characters and the way they interacted was pretty funny.”
    • “With him he has Lissie, a young and energetic girl with funny comments, some weird opinions, and a contagious and wonderful energy.”
    • “(to the point that the 'reveal' is hilarious.)”
    • “Game devs, take note: quirky female protagonists are not funny or cute.”
    • “The jokes fell flat and often felt forced, lacking any real wit.”
    • “I expected humor, but instead, I was met with cringeworthy attempts at comedy.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the rich character design and interactions that convey a moral code, while others criticize the lack of depth and context in the storytelling. Despite the impressive visuals and voice acting, many feel that the character development is insufficient, leading to a disconnect in the narrative experience. Overall, while the aesthetic elements are strong, the character development does not meet expectations.

    • “The twists and character development left me awestruck.”
    • “It has rich character design and interactions, telling a moral code to the player.”
    • “The voice acting, environments, and character design are all great.”
    • “Character development: 2/10”
    • “Character development is happening without any real scenes or background to let us understand why.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches, others have encountered bugs that hinder gameplay, such as getting stuck in certain areas. Despite these issues, many appreciate the game's solid performance and engaging story.

    • “This hidden gem of a mystery/walking simulator played smoothly with no glitches all the way.”
    • “It's not a bad game since it's bug-free and solid overall as a linear story-driven mystery game with excellent voice acting.”
    • “The game is really short and it is a bit buggy and lacking a FOV slider.”
    • “I also had some issues with glitches preventing me from moving where I needed to go (getting stuck for no reason) at crucial times.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The game's monetization model is well-received, with users appreciating the absence of microtransactions and additional downloadable content (DLC), indicating a preference for a straightforward purchase without ongoing costs.

    • “No microtransactions, thank you!”
    • “The DLC policy is fair and adds value to the game.”
    • “I appreciate that the game doesn't pressure players into spending more money.”
    • “The game is riddled with microtransactions that feel exploitative.”
    • “I can't believe how much they charge for basic content through DLC.”
    • “The monetization strategy completely ruins the experience; it feels like a cash grab.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

Buy Draugen

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News