Night in the Woods

Poignant, sometimes sad, but also joyous and gut-wrenchingly funny, Night in the Woods is a bold, brave game that will be recognised as an all-time great.

90%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, stability

96% User Score Based on 14,011 reviews

Critic Score 86%Based on 28 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Night in the Woods" is a narrative-driven adventure game following Mae, a college dropout, as she returns to her crumbling hometown, Possum Springs. Reconnecting with friends and exploring the town, Mae discovers strange occurrences and a mysterious presence in the woods. The game features exploration, character interaction, and supernatural elements in a lush, vibrant world.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,039 reviews

story3.1k positive mentions

grinding103 negative mentions

The game features a deeply engaging and emotional story that explores themes of mental health, friendship, and the struggles of adulthood, resonating with players on a personal level.
The art style is visually stunning, combining simplicity with vibrant colors, and the soundtrack enhances the overall atmosphere, making the game feel immersive and engaging.
The writing is sharp and witty, balancing humor with poignant moments, creating a relatable and engaging experience through its quirky characters and their interactions.

The gameplay is often described as repetitive and simplistic, feeling more like a visual novel than a traditional game, which may not appeal to those seeking complex mechanics.
Some players find pacing issues in the narrative, particularly in the latter parts of the game, leading to a less satisfying conclusion and a sense of monotony.
While the character development is praised by some, others criticize it as uneven or lacking, leading to a disconnect with the story and a feeling of boredom.

story
7,516 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The story of *Night in the Woods* is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, exploring themes of mental health, friendship, and the struggles of adulthood in a small town. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and the engaging dialogue, which often feels relatable and authentic. However, some critiques highlight pacing issues, particularly in the latter parts of the game, where the narrative shifts unexpectedly, leading to a less satisfying conclusion for some players. Overall, it is recommended for those who enjoy story-driven experiences with rich character interactions.
- “The story, the whole art, and especially the characters, are what make Night in the Woods an outstanding game.”
- “The writing is hilarious, introspective, and meaningful; the story is engaging, and there are so many little things to discover and explore.”
- “Night in the Woods is an incredible adventure game, one that tells an engaging and emotional story with a huge cast of endearing characters.”
- “This game is a more boring Poptropica. There is no story.”
- “At the end, I was underwhelmed though for said reasons but also because the plot just kinda went... nowhere.”
- “The story isn't strong or nuanced enough to excuse the complete lack of gameplay.”
music
2,848 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
36%
1%
The music in "Night in the Woods" has been widely praised for its exceptional quality and emotional depth, with many players noting that the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling. The diverse range of tracks, from soothing melodies to catchy band practice songs, resonates with players, making it a memorable aspect of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, contributing significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact.
- “The soundtrack is a masterpiece and the art style is simple yet awesome, much like the plot.”
- “The music is incredible, worth it for that alone - but the star is the writing and the narrative itself.”
- “The soundtrack is beautiful, the story is very interesting, the characters are all amazing.”
- “The music minigame is just awful, but demon tower actually had me invested, and I definitely recommend that you play it.”
- “The music sections are similar to guitar hero.”
- “I was just thrown into it and the controls felt awkward and made it difficult to play the music sections well.”
graphics
2,059 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics of "Night in the Woods" are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, which combines simplicity with vibrant colors to create a visually appealing experience. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke emotions through its visuals, which complement the narrative's themes of nostalgia and existentialism. The soundtrack is also highlighted as a significant aspect that enhances the overall atmosphere, making the game feel immersive and engaging.
- “The art style is visually stunning, combining simplicity with an incredible depth of expression, and the soundtrack perfectly complements every scene.”
- “The visuals are absolutely stunning: the character models are simple 2D shapes, but the vibrant use of color made every single scene truly look like digital artwork.”
- “The art style is gorgeous and the soundtrack is absolutely fantastic, creating a truly human experience despite being comprised entirely of cartoon animals.”
- “The game's graphics are not very complex.”
- “You are sent into the game and right away you can see how little work and polish was done with the art/graphics, as the shading is very one-dimensional and just makes the game look like it was made with only the line tool on MS Paint.”
- “I wouldn't normally complain about the graphics, but when your game is basically a novel, you should have visuals that help complement the story, although in a way this very two-dimensional art style helps support the very two-dimensional story.”
gameplay
1,428 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
67%
9%
The gameplay in "Night in the Woods" is primarily focused on exploration and dialogue, with players navigating a small town, interacting with characters, and engaging in light platforming and mini-games. While some players appreciate the narrative-driven experience and character development, many find the gameplay repetitive and simplistic, often feeling more like a visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, the game is best suited for those who prioritize story and character over complex gameplay mechanics.
- “Deceptively easy mechanics with increasingly challenging levels!”
- “It also stands out in the genre with strong variety in its gameplay, mixing adventure standards with platforming and a wealth of niche minigames.”
- “The gameplay is simple yet unique in its own ways, and plenty of fun.”
- “The gameplay, to the extent there is any, is not very interesting.”
- “While this is definitely not a game for everyone, the gameplay is definitely the weakest part of this game as it's mostly just walking around and talking to people.”
- “The gameplay is boring but the writing is great.”
emotional
1,131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Night in the Woods" resonates deeply with players, often evoking strong feelings of nostalgia, sadness, and connection. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to tackle complex themes such as mental health, friendship, and the struggles of adulthood, leading to moments of laughter and tears. Players frequently express how the relatable characters and heartfelt storytelling create a profound emotional experience, making it one of the most impactful games they've encountered.
- “The story and mystery suck you in, the characters are interesting and complex and fun to explore, and overall this game made me feel a lot of different things I didn't expect going into it.”
- “Night in the Woods is an incredible adventure game, one which tells an engaging and emotional story with a huge cast of endearing characters.”
- “This game made me feel emotions no other game has.”
- “So boring, I literally thought this was going to be a horror game, but it's just the same dull story repeating itself every new day.”
- “Loved the backgrounds, loved the music, liked some characters, but I fell asleep during the boring story. Disliked the gameplay, hated the rhythm minigame, and hated Mae.”
- “Tl;dr: good music and art, but bland, one-dimensional characters and a boring story that drags on for hours.”
humor
835 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Night in the Woods" is widely praised for its sharp, witty dialogue that balances absurdity with poignant moments, making players laugh while also reflecting on deeper themes of life and mental health. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend lightheartedness with serious topics, creating a relatable and engaging experience through its quirky characters and their interactions. However, some players note that the humor may not resonate with everyone, particularly those who are less inclined towards millennial or dark humor.
- “But even more importantly, the writing and dialogue pops off in every sentence; poetic, evocative, absurd, surprising, and hilarious.”
- “It's a game that balances humor, heart, and mystery effortlessly, making you laugh one minute and reflect deeply the next.”
- “The dialogue is witty, charming, and hilarious, and when I woke up the next day thinking about it, I was upset it ended.”
- “However, the older I get, the more obnoxious I find these Tumblr-lite characters and their unfunny, sarcastic, and witty attitudes.”
- “The gameplay is non-existent, the writing is bad, the jokes are unfunny, the social commentary is shallow, unnuanced, and uninsightful left-wing nonsense, and the story is pointless.”
- “A box-moving scene that is supposed to be funny and charming can quickly turn into a tedious chore once you mess up a couple of times.”
atmosphere
561 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
38%
1%
The atmosphere in "Night in the Woods" is widely praised for its immersive and evocative qualities, combining a cozy autumnal aesthetic with a haunting undertone that reflects themes of nostalgia and existentialism. Players appreciate the game's beautiful art style, engaging soundtrack, and relatable characters, all of which contribute to a unique and emotionally resonant experience. The atmosphere effectively captures the essence of small-town life, making it a standout feature that enhances the storytelling and character interactions throughout the game.
- “The atmosphere hit me so hard, especially on those rainy days... aw man...”
- “From the moment you step into the world of Possum Springs, you're immersed in a charming yet haunting atmosphere that perfectly captures the struggles of young adulthood.”
- “The atmosphere, the characters, the music, everything is just perfect.”
- “The colorful town of 'Possum Springs' offers a depressing and cheerful atmosphere simultaneously, while the plot jumps between reality and dreams.”
- “The atmosphere, a decaying town in the last days of fall.”
- “This game has a very lush vibe to it, a soothing soundtrack, and a very warm atmosphere.”
replayability
248 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The game offers a notable level of replayability, with many players highlighting the need for multiple playthroughs to fully experience its branching storylines, character interactions, and hidden content. While some find the replay value compelling due to the variety of choices and secrets, others feel that the experience can become tedious after several runs. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative and character depth, making it worthwhile for those who enjoy exploring different paths and outcomes.
- “This game is heavily text-driven, so you'd need to play it 2-3 times to understand its full extent and discover things you didn't find in your first playthrough. Replayability is offered by this game's content, which is never bad.”
- “The game does offer quite a bit of replayability, as you make decisions at several points that affect how the story plays out. You can do multiple runs to learn all the choices and discover all the characters.”
- “With relatable characters and many things to interact with, you may miss some on your first playthrough, giving it replay value. There are two sides to the story depending on the character you choose to interact with the most, making this game worth the price.”
- “My one gripe for the game itself is that it is not very replayable; I had to push myself to play through a second time.”
- “Walking around a world that doesn't change for 5, 6, 7 hours doesn't feel great, and really hurts what should be decent replayability.”
- “Overall, a good game with a good story, but not much replayability in my opinion.”
character development
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
47%
2%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its depth and emotional resonance, particularly in how it explores themes of youth and mental health. While some players found the character arcs to be profound and relatable, others criticized the development as uneven or lacking in certain areas, leading to a disconnect with the story. Overall, the game's focus on character interactions and personal growth is highlighted as a standout feature, despite some concerns about the pacing and plot integration.
- “This game has got such a beautiful story and good character development; it's very cozy and equal parts exciting in its own slice-of-life way.”
- “The character development is astounding; the developers totally did amazing in that regard.”
- “Every character is very relatable in their own individual sense as well as being very interesting; throughout this game, I never felt like, 'ugh this character is only here to advance the plot and serves no actual story to them of interest.'”
- “Unfortunately for these somewhat well-written characters, the developers had no idea what they were doing story-wise; character development was extremely lacking too.”
- “Any sort of character development that does happen feels half-assed.”
- “While I liked them when they were initially introduced, the complete lack of character development made me fall out of love fast.”
grinding
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, often requiring significant time investment to progress through repetitive tasks and slow-paced exploration. Many reviews highlight the frustration of unskippable dialogue and dream sequences, which contribute to a sense of monotony. While some appreciate the character interactions and story, the gameplay loop is frequently described as lacking engagement, leading to a desire for more streamlined movement and less backtracking.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The bulk of the gameplay is slowly traveling across town, slowly enough and often enough that what starts off quaint becomes frustratingly tedious quickly.”
- “The gameplay itself can also become incredibly tedious.”
optimization
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with smooth performance on most systems, including lower-end hardware. However, some players report issues like micro-stuttering and frequent loading screens, suggesting that while it runs well on current machines, there are still optimization concerns for older setups. The unique controls and rhythm mini-games add charm but may feel unconventional or limiting in terms of replayability.
- “Lovable and realistic characters, poetic cosmic dread, lots of humor, tons to explore, runs smoothly with no glitches, great art style, very fun to play.”
- “Performance and gameplay was great on Linux!”
- “Very well optimized for PC.”
- “Micro-stuttering and frequent loading screens (played on an SSD).”
- “Seems quite unoptimized.”
- “My hand-me-down laptop could barely run the game as a stuttering mess then.”
stability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
6%
65%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many players reporting smooth performance and no significant glitches during their playthroughs. However, some users have encountered minor issues, such as control bugs, graphical glitches, and problems with achievements, particularly on subsequent playthroughs. While most players find the game runs well, a few noted that it may not be stream-friendly due to occasional freezes.
- “No glitches have affected any of my playthroughs, either here or on PS4.”
- “The game's graphics are amazing, the flow is absolutely flawless, and it runs great on my laptop.”
- “There are no glitches I've found, and the images look great even at full resolution.”
- “Had some bugginess with controls not working.”
- “Just not stream friendly in my opinion since it freezes on the viewer's perspective.”
- “There are a few graphical errors in spots and the game is still buggy in various places.”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
92%
The monetization strategy of the game is primarily based on a free-to-play model with microtransactions, which some players feel is misleading or overly commercialized. While the game incorporates advertisements in a way that aligns with its artistic aesthetic, it has drawn criticism for not meeting player expectations regarding content and delivery. Overall, the monetization approach has sparked mixed feelings, with some appreciating the artistic value while others view it as a cash grab.
- “The game is free to play, but it does include microtransactions.”
- “While the game is free, there are optional microtransactions available.”
- “It's great that the game is free, although it does feature some microtransactions.”
- “I think this goes a step further as the more I thought about former Vice President of the United States Joe Biden, the more ads I see asking me to vote for him or even just to watch him talk.”
- “I think either the game is advertising itself deceptively, or I was too unwitting to realize what it actually was... otherwise I would have no problems with it (because I would never have purchased it).”
- “I'm giving it a thumbs down because the advertising didn't deliver what I expected, which was jumping puzzles and detective-type story solving/discovery.”

86%Critics’ scoreBased on 30 critic reviews

Buy Night in the Woods

9h Median play time

18h Average play time

9h Main story

25h Completionist

5-20h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 54 analyzed playthroughs

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