Familiar Travels: Volume One

About

Familiar Travels: Volume One is a single player action game with fantasy and erotic themes. It was developed by Balin Tudor and was released on August 18, 2019. It received positive reviews from players.

"Familiar Travels: Volume One" is a single-player, open-world fantasy game with an intriguing story that offers around 14 hours of playtime. After receiving an acceptance letter to a school of magic despite having no magical experience, you will encounter and interact with various character types and personalities inspired by modern-day individuals in this game heavily influenced by the internet culture.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 92 reviews

story21 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

The art style is amazing, with vibrant and detailed illustrations that enhance the overall experience.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, with engaging storylines that evoke genuine emotions.
The game offers a unique open-world structure, allowing players to explore different locations and interact with various characters in a non-linear fashion.

The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs, typos, and inconsistent character interactions that can disrupt immersion.
The pacing can be slow, with some players feeling that the story takes too long to develop and that certain scenes are unskippable.
The open-world format can lead to confusion, as players may miss critical events or information if they do not follow specific character routes.

story
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
5%
The story of "Familiar Travels" is praised for its emotional depth and complex character interactions, inviting players to explore multiple narrative paths that reveal different facets of the plot. While the initial chapters set a promising foundation, some players feel that the story loses momentum in later volumes, and the experience is enriched by replaying to uncover all character arcs and events. Overall, the game is recognized for its engaging writing, vibrant artwork, and the ability to evoke strong emotional responses, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and technical issues.
- “Familiar Travels is one of those rare visual novels that doesn’t just tell a story—it invites you into someone else’s heart.”
- “A fantastic story with good themes and morals to really sink your teeth into!”
- “The characters are real, have real problems, interact with the world and story in a real way, and honestly, it does not feel scripted or forced.”
- “The game starts off promising, but unfortunately, it becomes worse as the story progresses in volume two.”
- “Not only do they detract you from the story, but a few of their designs are way too horny, off-putting, and do not fit in at all.”
- “The story seems aimless and boring at times; at least have a more linear mode or an easy mode for people who want a more streamlined set of options to choose from.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
54%
14%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its beautiful artistry and thematic alignment, particularly in the second part, while others criticize certain tracks as repetitive or unenjoyable, especially the unskippable voiced song. Despite the inconsistencies, many players appreciate the overall soundtrack and its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with standout pieces like Tsitsi's room music being highlighted. However, technical issues such as buggy menus and the inability to skip certain scenes detract from the experience for some players.
- “Beautiful artistry and music: over 100 detailed illustrations and a 30+ track soundtrack paint Vanaheim with texture and warmth.”
- “The music is great.”
- “Music: the music is phenomenal, with no bad tracks and every track matched the theme it was going for.”
- “Though coding and scenes aren't its strong suit due to the buggy menus, inconsistent backgrounds, and character sprites, the music (at least for the first volume) is pretty bad and can get tiresome to hear for a long period of time.”
- “Then comes the parts that are entirely not skippable, like the awful chiptune music scene with terrible vocals upon completing Nil's ending... why is the text skippable by rapidly clicking but those cutscenes aren't?”
- “The music in the first part is really bad.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics in the game are highly praised for their vibrant and consistent artwork, particularly the character designs by renowned furry artist gillpanda, which resonate well with fans of anthropomorphic art. While the art style is generally well-received, some players express personal preferences against it, and there are calls for more animation and improved UI. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that enhances the immersive experience of the game.
- “The artwork is consistent and of a fairly high standard, provided you can handle industrial strength furry cringe.”
- “This is a fantastic indie game, with a plethora of story to devour, and vibrant artwork that makes the world come alive.”
- “The art style does a nice job changing it up with the background blending well with Gill's character art and moving to an 8-bit style.”
- “I didn't like the art style, but that is a personal preference.”
- “They still need to fix some things in the UI, the graphics need more animation, and the story seems aimless and boring at times.”
- “The graphics go from 8-bit to still art decently well, but more of those 8-bit scenes and some more animation would be nice.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized due to numerous technical glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay and immersion. While some players report minor issues, others experience significant problems, including crashes and unachievable endings. However, many appreciate the developers' efforts to address these issues through regular patches, and despite the instability, the core story and artwork are often praised as strong points of the game.
- “Though coding and scenes aren't its strong suit due to the buggy menus, inconsistent backgrounds, and character sprites, the music (at least for the first volume) is pretty bad and can get tiresome to hear for a long period of time. It would be great if they remastered the game and added extra content such as post-game content for the characters or alternative endings. Nonetheless, it is a good experience to play through that some could relate to.”
- “There are glitches, so I would say save often to avoid losing your progress. Some endings will glitch out and become unachievable, but I do like the novel mode because it lets you access the true ending.”
- “Won't even start up after I was forced to force quit the game; not worth the money for a game this buggy.”
emotional
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in emotional authenticity, with characters that feel alive and routes that resonate deeply, blending humor with poignant moments. Players appreciate the gentle pacing that allows for a profound connection to the story, making it highly recommended for fans of character-driven narratives. Overall, the emotional impact is significant, leaving players eager for more.
- “Emotional authenticity: the characters feel alive.”
- “Each route glows with subtle animation and emotional beats that linger.”
- “Whole game left me wanting to play more and had a decent amount of emotional impact on me.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by an open world structure that can lead to inconsistencies, though some players appreciate the unique travel mechanics and choice options. While it may not offer extensive gameplay elements, it provides an enjoyable experience, especially for newcomers to the visual novel genre. Overall, the gameplay is a mixed bag, with some elements working well and others feeling less effective.
- “Honestly, one of the best visual novels I've played. I also really liked the travel mechanic; it made things a bit different.”
- “Ft takes a slightly less familiar route with its choice mechanics than other games of the genre that I'm aware of.”
- “While the game is labeled as 'open world,' this structure introduces several issues that make the gameplay feel inconsistent.”
- “The open world setting doesn't mechanically work very well sometimes; novel mode is probably what you want to do the first time around, though I have not actually tried it yet.”
- “Not much in terms of 'gameplay,' but for my first visual novel, I had a great time.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The character development in the game is highlighted by appealing designs and a unique art style, particularly praised for its anthropomorphic elements. While the characters appear interesting and the world is engaging, some players express concerns about potential narrative depth and gameplay issues that hinder their experience. Overall, the visual novel offers a promising foundation for character exploration, though its execution may vary.
- “It has nice characters, an interesting world, and the art style is amazing. The character designer happens to be my favorite anthro artist ever, and in a game like this, it is refreshing that the character you control is a human being.”
- “The game looks fantastic, and I do think the artists behind it did a fantastic job at the character designs and general look of the game.”
- “The art is beautiful, and for all I know, the characters might be interesting. However, judging by the character archetypes and the magical technocratic state they set up in the background in the first two and a half days, I'm inclined to believe these bright, soft character designs will give way to maudlin drama quickly enough. I'm still unable to play this game because every time I sit with it, I find myself grinding against some foolish choice the developers made or some bug.”
- “That said, so far it seems like a pretty widely branching visual novel with a distinct flavor of furry character designs.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game offers significant replayability due to its extensive narrative depth, featuring over 300,000 words, multiple character arcs, and 20+ endings. Players can explore different paths and character interactions, ensuring that each playthrough reveals new details and experiences.
- “You don't get all the details following one path—by focusing on one character like I did, the replayability to see what your other friends are getting up to and witnessing their own plots unfold is really there.”
- “You don't get all the details following one 'path'—by focusing on one character like I did, the replayability to see what your other friends are getting up to and witnessing their own plots unfold is really there.”
- “Depth and replayability: two volumes, 300k+ words, and multiple character arcs with 20+ endings—this is a journey you’ll revisit with fresh eyes and different hearts.”
- “Plenty of replayability.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a fun and engaging environment, complemented by charming characters and strong world-building that enhances the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly fun, with lovely characters and excellent world-building.”
- “The immersive atmosphere draws you in, making every moment feel alive.”
- “The game's atmosphere is rich and captivating, creating a unique experience that keeps you engaged.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, citing repetitive loops that hinder progress and lead to tedious gameplay. Despite the appealing art and potential character depth, the frequent setbacks due to design choices and bugs detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “The art is beautiful, and the characters might be interesting, but I find myself grinding against some foolish choices the developers made or some bugs that hinder my experience.”
- “The game loops a lot; you play through a scene, but instead of moving forward, it often puts you back at the beginning of the same day or right back at the start of the scene, making progress through the game tedious to impossible.”
- “Grinding in this game feels endless, as I constantly find myself repeating the same tasks without any meaningful advancement.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in Chapter 2 is appreciated by some players, providing moments of laughter that enhance the experience, though it is not essential for achieving the game's proper endings. Overall, the comedic elements contribute positively to the narrative, making players feel more connected to the story.
- “Chapter 2 is definitely required for the full experience; luckily, the funny scenes aren't necessary for the proper endings if you're not into that.”
- “I found myself laughing at parts while also feeling like I truly belonged in the story.”

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Familiar Travels - Volume One
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14h Median play time

14h Average play time

14-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Familiar Travels: Volume One is a action game with fantasy and erotic themes.

Familiar Travels: Volume One is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 14 hours playing Familiar Travels: Volume One.

Familiar Travels: Volume One was released on August 18, 2019.

Familiar Travels: Volume One was developed by Balin Tudor.

Familiar Travels: Volume One has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Familiar Travels: Volume One is a single player game.

Similar games include Major\Minor, The Pirate's Fate, Siren's Call, Angel Wings, Winds of Change and others.

Familiar Travels: Volume One

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