Old Man's Journey

About

"Old Man's Journey" is a soul-searching puzzle adventure game about an old man's reflective journey through a beautifully handcrafted world. Players solve lighthearted puzzles by shaping the landscape, revealing vignettes of the old man's memories, and experiencing his emotions. With its Apple Design Award and Best Art Award, the game offers a meditative and artistic exploration of life's complexities.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,638 reviews

story482 positive mentions

replayability9 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and visuals that resemble a living painting.
Touching and emotional story told without any dialogue, allowing for personal interpretation.
Relaxing gameplay with simple puzzles that enhance the narrative experience.

Very short game, typically completed in under two hours, leading to questions about its value at full price.
Repetitive gameplay mechanics that can become tedious over time.
Lack of depth in the story and character development, making it feel predictable and cliché.

story
1,288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
60%
3%
The story of "Old Man's Journey" is a poignant and visually stunning narrative that unfolds through beautiful illustrations and music, focusing on themes of life, love, loss, and regret. While the gameplay is simple and the puzzles are not particularly challenging, the emotional depth of the story resonates with players, often evoking feelings of nostalgia and reflection. However, some reviewers noted that the plot can feel predictable and clichéd, with a lack of complexity that may not engage all players fully.
- “Beautifully told story about life, joy, struggles, and death.”
- “A short but sweet indie game telling an emotional story of an old man and his memories while going through different terrain around the world.”
- “As the old man pauses at different points, he reflects on his past, slowly revealing a touching story about life, death, and hope, blending moments of joy with sorrow.”
- “The story is simple and told completely without words.”
- “The story is basic, just ~7 animated photos.”
- “The story is nothing remarkable, but it's decent.”
gameplay
582 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
61%
9%
The gameplay of "Old Man's Journey" is characterized by its simplicity and reliance on a single mechanic of manipulating the landscape to create paths for the protagonist. While the unique terrain-shifting mechanic offers a novel experience, it quickly becomes repetitive and lacks challenge, leading to a gameplay experience that some players find tedious. The game prioritizes storytelling and aesthetics over complex gameplay, making it more suitable for those seeking a relaxing, narrative-driven experience rather than a challenging puzzle game.
- “The gameplay is simple and I found the memories, music, and story all very well done and engaging.”
- “The gameplay works very well and I really enjoyed solving the puzzles; it felt like you're molding the world and it's quite fun.”
- “The gameplay consists of moving parts of the landscape around so that the old man can continue his journey.”
- “The gameplay is literally watching an old man walk...”
- “The gameplay is repetitive and somewhat boring, but I still recommend this game because of the amazing artwork.”
- “The gameplay is very linear, there are no branching paths or anything of the sort, so this is sort of a one-and-done type of game, though one you may want to return to in the future.”
graphics
532 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
31%
1%
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning, hand-drawn art style, which evokes a watercolor aesthetic and beautifully complements the emotional storytelling. Many reviewers noted the visuals as the standout feature, often describing them as breathtaking and enchanting, with a charming atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, some users reported minor graphical glitches and expressed that while the art is impressive, the gameplay can feel repetitive and simplistic.
- “What an incredible game, the way the story is only told by the use of graphics while being accompanied by a musical background track is awe-inspiring, it shows simple games like these can and always leave lasting impacts for those who play them.”
- “The art style is amazing, the developers are able to tell a story without any words or pictures - just the landscape and memories of the old man.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the story is really cool and the gameplay is as simple as well done.”
- “Plenty of graphical glitches, even more at the edges of a 21:9 screen... two of the three menu buttons even move when you want to click on them!”
- “With such clearly buggy code and graphics, I was honestly surprised that they had two programmers and 54 testers!”
- “Frequent graphical glitches, a lack of puzzle variety or challenge, and a lame tearjerker ending turn this from a weak recommendation into a begrudging no.”
music
493 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
2%
The music in "Old Man's Journey" is widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, effectively complementing the game's stunning visuals and heartfelt storytelling. Many players find the soundtrack calming and fitting for the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience despite some critiques regarding its repetitiveness. Overall, the combination of enchanting music and exquisite art creates a memorable and immersive journey for players.
- “What an incredible game, the way the story is only told by the use of graphics while being accompanied by a musical background track is awe-inspiring, it shows simple games like these can and always leave lasting impacts for those who play them.”
- “The music fits the mood perfectly and the little changes in the tune play well together with the feeling of the story.”
- “The art and soundtrack do a perfect job of telling a beautiful story.”
- “The music was jumpy and agitating (also not relaxing).”
- “The music is abysmal.”
- “I found the music to be a bit on the annoying side, but perhaps only because it became repetitive as I took my time.”
emotional
351 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Old Man's Journey" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and beautiful visuals, often evoking strong feelings of nostalgia, love, and loss. Players appreciate the game's ability to convey deep emotions without dialogue, using art and music to enhance the experience, resulting in moments that can bring them to tears. While some find the story predictable, the overall presentation and emotional depth resonate with many, making it a touching and memorable experience.
- “The story is a very touching adventure that is very similar to a Pixar movie with moments that will very likely leave you teary-eyed at the very least.”
- “An incredible game that tells an absolutely beautiful story that is so emotional it can draw tears to your eyes without uttering a single word the entire time.”
- “This game made me cry and call my family right afterwards to tell them I love them.”
atmosphere
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
32%
4%
The atmosphere of "Old Man's Journey" is widely praised for its beautiful art style, calming music, and emotional depth, creating a relaxing and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke nostalgia and mindfulness, making it appealing for those seeking a gentle, story-driven adventure. However, some critiques mention that the atmosphere can feel generic or disconnected from the gameplay, suggesting a disparity between the visual and narrative elements.
- “Old Man's Journey creates an atmosphere of simplicity and beauty.”
- “Beautiful artwork combined with great music and atmosphere had me from the start and kept me happy until the very end.”
- “The atmosphere created by the music, colors, animation, and mechanics leads to powerful depth, revisiting the everlasting motif of 'the journey'.”
- “The worst thing that I criticize is that the music is not relevant to the atmosphere.”
- “I wish this game's visuals, music, and atmosphere had been paired with a different story.”
- “However, the puzzle mechanics don't go well with the atmosphere and it feels like a separate game.”
replayability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
59%
31%
Overall, the game has very low replayability, with most players noting that it can be completed in a short time frame (around 1.5 to 2 hours) and lacks significant variation in narrative or puzzles. While some appreciate its artistic qualities and find it enjoyable for a single playthrough, many recommend purchasing it only at a discounted price due to its minimal replay value.
- “I can't speak for its replay value, but I feel like even one playthrough was worth the price of the game.”
- “It has replay value in the sense that it's like a sweet film you'll put on again, some quiet afternoon or evening months or years later, when the right mood strikes.”
- “You'll get 2 hours of gameplay for your first playthrough with similar replayability akin to a game like Limbo.”
- “Keep in mind that it doesn't have a lot of replayability; it's more like an interactive storybook.”
- “There isn't much in terms of replayability as you're not going to get a different narrative and the puzzles aren't going to change.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is over very quickly, and can easily be done in one sitting, and with little to no replayability value, you may end up regretting your choice in buying this game.”
grinding
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
96%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being tedious and repetitive, with many players finding the gameplay boring and lacking variety. While some appreciate the cute art style and story, the overwhelming sentiment is that the mechanics become monotonous, leading to frustration during extended play sessions. Overall, the game is seen as a mixed bag, where the enjoyable elements are often overshadowed by the grindy nature of the puzzles and gameplay.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear.”
- “The grind is real, but the sense of achievement you get from leveling up makes it all worth it.”
- “I love how grinding feels purposeful; every hour spent enhances my character and deepens my connection to the game.”
- “This was, to be honest, the most tedious, redundant, and annoying game I've played in a long time.”
- “I'm typically very tolerant of dry, redundant, and 'grindy' games, but I just found the gameplay itself to be plain boring.”
- “The game is tediously slow, repeating the same puzzles over and over with little variety beyond a slightly different background.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
87%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with numerous reports of graphical glitches, buggy transitions, and unresponsive menu buttons, particularly on wider screens. While some players noted that the issues are not game-breaking, the overall experience is marred by these technical flaws, leading to frustration and disappointment. Despite having a team of programmers and testers, the game appears to be unfinished and lacking in basic functionality.
- “100% bug-free product.”
- “Consistently smooth and bug-free gameplay.”
- “Plenty of graphical glitches, even more at the edges of a 21:9 screen... two of the three menu buttons even move when you want to click on them!”
- “With such clearly buggy code and graphics, I was honestly surprised that they had two programmers and 54 testers!”
- “Although graphics are superb and the idea was supposed to make you relax and follow a story, the gameplay is extremely frustrating and buggy, spoiling everything.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
Overall, the game's optimization shows mixed results; while performance is generally good with no major bugs reported, there are noticeable stuttering issues during train segments and texture glitches in underwater scenes that indicate areas needing improvement.
- “I didn't find any bugs during my time spent in the game, and the performance was good.”
- “Some stuttering during the train segment and texture glitches in the underwater scene leave room for improvement.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its innovative mechanics and overall fun experience, though some feel it can become repetitive quickly. The game's short length does not detract from its comedic elements, which are complemented by a great soundtrack and graphics.
- “It was a short game, but it was funny and easy to play!”
- “The mechanics are innovative and funny, but they get old rather fast.”
- “The soundtrack and graphics are really great, and the gameplay is kind of funny in a way.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Character development is praised for its great design and creative storytelling, complemented by relaxing music and beautiful landscapes. While the character design stands out, the overall narrative depth enhances the player's connection to the characters.
- “The character development is beautifully crafted, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the overall narrative.”
- “The game excels in character design, featuring a diverse cast that evolves throughout the story, making each interaction feel meaningful.”
- “The combination of creative character designs and engaging storytelling truly enhances the player's emotional connection to the characters.”