Draugen

73%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,033 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Draugen Game Cover
Draugen is a superbly written and performed emotional tale that will leave a lasting impact.
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"Draugen is a single-player, first-person psychological mystery game set in 1920s Norway, where you play as Edward Charles Harden, an American traveler searching for his missing sister, accompanied by the enigmatic Lissie. Explore a forgotten coastal community, uncovering secrets and experiencing an intriguing story with wonderful graphics, amazing soundtrack, and a highly emotional narrative."

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

Reviews

73%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,033 reviews
story398 positive mentions
gameplay14 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and stunning scenery that captures the essence of Norway.
  • Engaging voice acting and well-written dialogue that brings the characters to life.
  • Intriguing story with psychological elements that encourages player interpretation.
  • Very short gameplay, typically around 3-4 hours, which may not justify the price.
  • Linear progression with limited exploration and interaction, making it feel restrictive.
  • Predictable plot twists and an unsatisfying ending that leaves many questions unanswered.
  • story1,212 mentions

    The story of "Draugen" is a blend of mystery and personal exploration set in a beautifully rendered Norwegian village, focusing on the protagonist's search for his missing sister. While the narrative is engaging and features intriguing plot twists, many players found it predictable and felt that it lacked depth, leaving several story threads unresolved. Overall, the game is praised for its atmosphere and character interactions, but some reviewers expressed disappointment with its brevity and the unsatisfying conclusion.

    • “You have to believe it or not believe it. This is a game in which you essentially create your own interpretation of events and your own interpretation of what exactly happens to your own character or characters within the story, and it's a really cool way to tell a unique story that has its foundations within Norwegian folklore without simply copying and pasting the actual mythology.”
    • “The story is intriguing, and the game itself looks amazing. The moody setting, stunning views, and moving soundtrack immerse the player into the storytelling, not trying to give a comprehensive explanation to the mystery but showcasing dichotomies of isolation and community, fear/anger and hope, loss of faith and belief in something bigger.”
    • “Draugen is a walking simulator with a linear story that lasts about 3 hours. The environment is beautiful and atmospheric, the music is great, and the story/mystery is intriguing with great thematic elements, but the game doesn't resolve in a satisfying way.”
    • “The story is rather meager, starved even.”
    • “The story is frustratingly predictable as well.”
    • “The story simply didn't interest me from what I experienced.”
  • graphics248 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning beauty and atmospheric quality, effectively capturing the essence of Norwegian landscapes. While many reviewers noted the visuals as a standout feature, some pointed out inconsistencies in character models and lighting, suggesting that the graphics, though impressive, are not without flaws. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal, combined with its evocative soundtrack, creates a captivating experience, even if the gameplay itself may not meet the same high standards.

    • “Draugen was a nice game to play - the visuals were stunning and I could watch the landscape for hours... hence the played hours.”
    • “The graphics are better than most recent AAA games, even though Draugen came out 5 years ago.”
    • “The graphics are stunningly beautiful and you'll have some 'wow' moments.”
    • “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.”
    • “This was the thing that bummed me out the most: the graphics really don't reflect how nature looks here at all very well. At times, I was wondering if the developers had ever been in Norway. The graphics are a lot worse than what the trailer is showing.”
  • music220 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers highlighting its beauty, atmospheric quality, and ability to enhance the overall experience. Composed by Simon Poole, the soundtrack is described as haunting yet tranquil, perfectly fitting the game's themes and setting, and is often considered one of its standout features. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's immersive atmosphere, making it a memorable aspect for players.

    • “Draugen's soundtrack is my favorite soundtrack ever made; every song is unnerving yet tranquil and embodies the feeling of awakening to truth despite its harshness.”
    • “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.”
    • “The moody setting, stunning views and moving soundtrack immerse the player into the storytelling, not trying to give a comprehensive explanation to the mystery but showcasing dichotomies of isolation and community, fear/anger and hope, loss of faith and belief in something bigger.”
    • “The music seems to disappear or become just faint background noises after the intro and beginning part.”
    • “The music was average, nothing that would make me remember it after finishing this game.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere168 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and evocative music, creating a mystical and eerie ambiance that enhances the storytelling experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of place, particularly in its depiction of a remote Norwegian fjord town, while also noting that the atmosphere is a key strength despite the game's brevity and occasional narrative shortcomings. Overall, players recommend the game for its captivating atmosphere, which is integral to its appeal as a walking simulator and narrative-driven experience.

    • “Not only does it really fit the overall setting and time period, but it also gives off that 'mystical, mythological, mysterious' vibe that it should, while still having the diversity and creation of atmosphere and ambiance that aided the overall experience.”
    • “Draugen definitely falls in that third as this Norwegian village in the middle of nowhere has immense atmosphere through sheer desolate landscapes.”
    • “The atmosphere, story, and voice acting were very good even though I called the twist pretty much immediately.”
    • “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 did they need this weary trope at all?”
  • gameplay134 mentions

    The gameplay in "Draugen" is primarily a walking simulator, characterized by linear exploration and minimal interaction, with players mostly traversing environments and engaging in dialogue rather than solving puzzles or making impactful choices. While the visuals and atmosphere are praised, many reviewers find the gameplay monotonous and lacking depth, leading to dissatisfaction with its short duration of around 2-4 hours, especially given its price point. Overall, the game is seen more as an interactive narrative experience than a traditional game, which may appeal to fans of the genre but leaves others wanting more in terms of gameplay mechanics.

    • “The gameplay consists of exploring the village and collecting clues, with the ability to interact with several objects sometimes.”
    • “The gameplay is short and runs out without giving satisfactory answers to questions.”
    • “The gameplay in draugen is pretty good as far as adventure games and walking simulators go.”
    • “The gameplay consists of walking from point A to point B, looking at points of interest, and then standing still listening to the characters talk at each other for 5 minutes.”
    • “But the gameplay is... simply nonexistent.”
    • “There is zero gameplay here, not even small puzzles or anything; you just walk from point A to B.”
  • emotional42 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its touching and heartwarming story, beautiful landscapes, and strong voice acting that evoke genuine feelings. However, others criticize the narrative for being shallow, predictable, or lacking emotional depth, particularly in its character development and plot twists. Overall, while many find the game to be an emotional rollercoaster, others feel it falls short in delivering a compelling emotional experience.

    • “I truly adore this game, and the endless emotional rollercoasters it brought me through with its extreme beauty.”
    • “The story of Graavik unfolds like a faded photograph, piece by piece, revealing a truth that's both beautiful and heartbreaking.”
    • “Draugen is a thrilling interactive adventure, with a great storyline that can be touching, beautiful environment, impeccable voice acting, and a peaceful but emotionally intense rhythm.”
    • “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).”
  • optimization26 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing minor bugs and performance issues, while others reported smooth gameplay without significant problems. However, many noted that the game suffers from poor graphical optimization, leading to frame rate drops and inadequate texture detail, particularly in demanding scenes. Overall, while the voice acting is praised for its immersion, the game's technical performance leaves much to be desired.

    • “I didn't encounter any bugs or performance issues during my playthrough.”
    • “Since it's a slow game, I have no big complaints about performance.”
    • “The performances are pretty good from the voice actors; they definitely feel like immersive characters all things considered.”
    • “The puzzles are nonexistent, the voice acting is subpar, the performance is bad for what it is.”
    • “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, too much FPS drops and I run a 1080ti OC edition with i7-9700k.”
  • 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 too 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 cannot recommend it due to the high price for the very short gameplay with limited replayability, but if you like a well-told story of mystery with dark undertones, I would give this game a look and maybe hold off until a sale.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and dull, which detracts from the overall experience. While some players appreciate the story and setting, many find the gameplay repetitive and lacking meaningful choices, leading to frustration. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major flaw that overshadows the game's strengths.

    • “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.”
    • “This game is so dull and tedious that it wears down your patience.”
    • “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.”
  • humor7 mentions

    Reviews on the humor aspect of the game are mixed; while some players found the character interactions and quirky comments amusing, others felt that the protagonists, particularly the sidekick, were more annoying than funny. Overall, the humor elicited a range of reactions, from laughter to frustration, indicating that it may not resonate with all players.

    • “Still, it was engaging, made me laugh, and left me feeling haunted with the music lingering in my mind.”
    • “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.”
    • “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 strong visuals and voice acting, many feel that the character development is insufficient, leaving players wanting more substantial narrative connections. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal does not compensate for its shortcomings in character development.

    • “The twists and character development left me awestruck.”
    • “It has rich character design and interactions, telling a moral code to the player.”
    • “The game is beautiful, the character designs and environment are very well done.”
    • “Character development: 2/10”
    • “Character development is happening without any real scenes or background to let us understand why.”
  • stability5 mentions

    The game's stability received mixed reviews; while some players praised it for being mostly bug-free and smooth, others reported significant glitches, including distracting texture issues and instances of getting stuck, which hindered gameplay. Overall, the experience varied greatly, with some enjoying the stability and others finding it problematic.

    • “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.”
    • “The glitches in textures were very distracting, and I also had some issues with glitches preventing me from moving where I needed to go (getting stuck for no reason) at crucial times.”
    • “The whole 'detective' mechanics were so poorly implemented it didn't even feel like I was solving anything.”
  • 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.”
    • “The DLC policy is confusing and seems designed to squeeze more money from players.”
    • “I appreciate that there are no microtransactions, but the game still feels incomplete without additional content.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 21 analyzed playthroughs

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