Reaching for Petals

About

Reaching for Petals is a single player action game. It was developed by Blue Entropy Studios and was released on September 4, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"Reaching for Petals" is a poetic adventure game that explores themes of love, loss, and ambition in a desolate world. Players uncover the meaning of their travels by revisiting past memories, with dynamic music and breathtaking visuals bringing the story to life. The game features large, interactive environments and philosophical narration. A free VR edition and official soundtrack are available as additional content.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

story34 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

Reaching for Petals features stunning visuals and a beautifully crafted atmosphere that immerses players in its serene environments.
The narration is lyrical and emotionally resonant, effectively conveying themes of love, memory, and loss, which many players found moving.
The game offers a contemplative experience, allowing players to reflect on their own lives while enjoying the poetic storytelling and gentle soundtrack.

The gameplay is extremely minimalist and slow-paced, which may frustrate players looking for more interactive or engaging mechanics.
Some players found the writing to be overly abstract or pretentious, making it difficult to connect with the story or characters.
The game is relatively short, typically lasting just over an hour, which some reviewers felt did not justify its price point.

story
110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
64%
5%
The game's story, while brief and primarily delivered through atmospheric narration and environmental cues, offers a poignant exploration of love, loss, and the human experience. Players engage with a reflective narrative that intertwines philosophical themes with emotional depth, though its abstract and poetic style may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it provides a visually stunning and contemplative journey, appealing to those who appreciate narrative-driven walking simulators.
- “The story unfolds through both spoken words and environmental cues, inviting players to interpret events and feelings in their own way.”
- “The narration is gorgeous, and the story is moving.”
- “Reaching for Petals is a short walking simulator that tells a beautiful story about love, life, and loss.”
- “The bad: whilst technically good, the writing is incredibly boring and tedious, and the story is as cliché as it gets.”
- “The narration portions seem completely irrelevant to the story, and are fairly poorly written.”
- “The writing may have been poetic and philosophical and I enjoyed the narration, but it didn't tie the story together or make me care about the world or the characters in it.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
4%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their beauty and ability to create an immersive atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals and aesthetic design. However, some criticisms arise regarding optimization issues, inconsistent quality, and occasional technical glitches, which can detract from the overall experience. While the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they effectively complement the game's emotional narrative and tranquil ambiance.
- “The graphics are beautiful (I took some screenshots and uploaded them to Steam).”
- “This game blew all my expectations out the door, the visuals are beautiful, the narration was amazing, and the music was exquisite.”
- “The graphics and ambient sounds of nature are really very, very nice and the story, unreal graphics used to give us a beautiful path with nice music, the sound of birds and nature all around us and the breeze rustling tree branches above us is why this game has a $10 price tag.”
- “The graphics are nothing special, objects phasing in on proximity, and it does reuse assets a lot, but it tries to make the most of what it does use.”
- “Graphics are mediocre and optimization is really bad.”
- “The game is yet another walking sim made by a developer that doesn't know how to optimize their game so that it's a slog on lower end systems, even if those systems can run relatively new AAA games with much better graphics.”
music
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
47%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the emotional depth and aesthetic of the experience, with a gentle mix of melodic themes that align well with the narrative's contemplative tone. While the soundtrack is generally considered beautiful and immersive, some players noted issues with audio balance, where the music occasionally overshadowed the narration. Overall, the combination of evocative music, stunning visuals, and thoughtful narration creates a captivating atmosphere, although some players wished for more control over the audio elements.
- “The soundtrack complements the game’s aesthetic and narrative, featuring a gentle mix of melodic themes that underscore the story’s emotional beats.”
- “Music swells during moments of significance and recedes during quieter, introspective passages, reinforcing the contemplative tone of the game.”
- “For those that enjoy a peaceful experience with fantastic visuals, a beautiful, emotional story told through amazing philosophical narration and accompanied by a wonderfully haunting soundtrack, this is a highly recommended playthrough.”
- “While the audio design is effective overall, there are minor issues with balance at times, where the narration can be slightly overshadowed by the music.”
- “However, even those were implemented poorly and there were multiple moments where the music drowned out the narrator and I could not make out what he was saying.”
- “I don't think the music went on for long enough or didn't loop as you would get halfway through a level and the music would finish and it would just be silence for the rest.”
emotional
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Reaching for Petals" is a deeply emotional walking simulator that immerses players in a poignant narrative about love, loss, and memory, enhanced by its stunning visuals and reflective soundtrack. While the abstract storytelling may not resonate with everyone, those who engage with its poetic language and meditative atmosphere often find it profoundly moving, with many players reporting a strong emotional impact, including tears at its conclusion. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to create a heartfelt experience that invites introspection and emotional connection.
- “Reaching for Petals, developed and published by Blue Entropy Studios, is a contemplative walking simulator that immerses players in a tender and emotionally resonant narrative.”
- “This short but heartfelt story truly captures what enduring love and loss represent.”
- “For those that enjoy a peaceful experience with fantastic visuals, a beautiful, emotional story told through amazing philosophical narration and accompanied by a wonderfully haunting soundtrack, this is a highly recommended playthrough.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay of "Reaching for Petals" is characterized as minimalist and largely focused on exploration and narrative immersion, often lacking traditional mechanics or challenges. While some players appreciate its atmospheric storytelling and artful design, many criticize the limited interactivity, slow pacing, and control issues, leading to a perception of the game as more of an artistic experience than a conventional game. Overall, the gameplay may appeal to those seeking a contemplative journey, but it risks alienating players who prefer more engaging mechanics.
- “The gameplay in 'Reaching for Petals' is intentionally minimalist, emphasizing exploration and narrative immersion over mechanics or challenges.”
- “Its minimalistic gameplay and abstract storytelling may not suit all tastes, yet for players open to a contemplative and artful experience, it offers a powerful and memorable journey.”
- “At the heart of this debate are 'walking simulators,' a somewhat recent genre of game that has players walk around different areas and interact with objects without any real win/loss conditions or traditional gameplay elements.”
- “I loved the narration and the scenery, but in terms of actual gameplay, it is lackluster.”
- “Gameplay is really non-existent; just walk through the wooded mountainside and gaze at the ambience while listening to the narrator.”
- “The gameplay is virtually non-existent - I would not mistake this for an 'adventure' game.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its striking visuals, emotional storytelling, and immersive sound design, creating a contemplative and meditative experience. While the environments are often described as beautiful and alive, some players noted visual artifacts that detracted from the overall ambiance. Overall, it offers a brief yet impactful journey that emphasizes feeling over traditional gameplay mechanics.
- “While brief in duration, typically lasting just over an hour, the game leaves a lasting impression through its atmosphere, storytelling, and visual artistry, offering a reflective experience that is more about feeling than traditional gameplay.”
- “An atmospheric game with beautiful graphics and a chilling but somber narrative that helps you walk around a scenery that Bob Ross would be proud and happy.”
- “A short, beautiful experience/interactive story/walking sim with atmospheric, detailed, and alive surroundings, great narration, a romantic plot with an unexpected ending, and poetic language.”
- “Although reaching for petals is relatively short and linear, its strength lies in the depth of its atmosphere and the subtlety of its storytelling.”
- “While this abstract storytelling may feel opaque to some players, it aligns with the game’s focus on atmosphere and emotional engagement, allowing for a contemplative, almost meditative experience.”
- “- Visual artifacts, especially on shadows and some foliage, reduce the atmosphere and beauty of landscapes.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players praising its overall performance while others criticize it for poor optimization despite mediocre graphics. The disconnect between the game's visual quality and its performance issues has left players disappointed.
- “Amazing game! I don't normally write reviews for games, but this was one of the better games I've played in terms of overall performance for how it's supposed to be played.”
- “The optimization is impressive; the game runs smoothly even on lower-end hardware, making it accessible to a wider audience.”
- “I appreciate how well the game is optimized; it maintains a steady frame rate and responsive controls, enhancing the overall experience.”
- “Graphics are mediocre and optimization is really bad.”
- “If the graphics were insane, I could see it drop, but it doesn't look nearly as good to have such bad performance.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
Character development in the game is perceived as lacking depth, with some players finding the memory sequences impersonal despite the strong writing and narration. While the game offers engaging arcade action and crafting elements, it ultimately falls short in delivering a meaningful character growth experience.
- “I wasn't expecting anything more walking in, and I wasn't expecting to have some arcade action moments or a deep crafting and character development system.”
- “It has great writing, narration, and a wonderful soundtrack, but it’s dragged down by its handling of character development and its memory sequences that, at least to me, felt strangely impersonal.”
- “I wasn't expecting anything more walking in, and I wasn't expecting to have some arcade action moments or a deep crafting or character development system.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is intertwined with its philosophical themes, reflecting a deep understanding of the human experience that includes not only joy and laughter but also sadness and despair. This blend of humor and existential reflection adds a unique depth to the narrative.
- “The humor in this game is brilliantly woven into the narrative, making even the most serious moments feel light-hearted and enjoyable.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the clever dialogue and witty banter between characters; it really adds to the overall charm of the game.”
- “The comedic timing is spot on, and the absurd situations the characters find themselves in had me chuckling throughout my playthrough.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with a lack of compelling writing and a clichéd story contributing to the overall monotony.
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I found myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which quickly became a chore rather than fun.”
- “The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The stability of "Reaching for Petals" is criticized for being poor, with users reporting bugs that detract from the experience of this otherwise brief walking simulator.
- “Reaching for petals is an extremely bland, short, and buggy walking simulator.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that disrupted my experience.”

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79%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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6h Median play time

6h Average play time

6-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Reaching for Petals is a action game.

Reaching for Petals is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing Reaching for Petals.

Reaching for Petals was released on September 4, 2017.

Reaching for Petals was developed by Blue Entropy Studios.

Reaching for Petals has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Reaching for Petals is a single player game.

Similar games include Caligo, The First Tree, Dear Esther, RiME, The Hunting God and others.

Reaching for Petals

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