Recollection
- April 17, 2023
- Erkberg
- 5h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Recollection" is a serene walking simulator, encouraging players to appreciate the beauty of nature through hand-crafted, unique experiences. With two game modes, Natural and Fragile, players can discover magical wonders at their own pace or challenge themselves with delicate ecosystems. The game features an atmospheric silhouette artstyle and an emotional soundtrack, offering a short yet memorable experience of 1-2 hours, playable with various input methods.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- A lovely, peaceful, and well-designed short game that encourages players to appreciate the simple wonders of nature.
- The game features charming graphics and a soothing soundtrack, creating a relaxing atmosphere that many players find heartwarming.
- It delivers a profound message about environmental awareness and mindfulness, making it a meaningful experience for players.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around 30-45 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Some mini-games can be frustrating, especially in 'fragile mode', which may detract from the overall enjoyment for certain players.
- While the puzzles are generally easy, they may not provide enough challenge for those looking for more engaging gameplay.
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is a brief yet impactful exploration of nature's beauty and the environmental challenges posed by humanity, encouraging players to appreciate their surroundings. While some find the narrative too short, others appreciate the depth added by the "fragile" mode, which offers a different perspective on ecological preservation. Overall, the atmospheric art and music enhance the storytelling experience, making it a thought-provoking journey.
“A beautiful story about nature, ecology, and the destructive influence of humans.”
“Simultaneously, the hard or 'fragile' mode unlocks after beating the game and expands on the calmer normal mode to tell a different story about the importance of preserving the beauty of nature and taking an environmentalist stance before it's too late and we're forced to forget life's wonders.”
“I love the atmospheric art style, visual storytelling, and I was surprised at how effective it was at getting me to slow down and pay attention.”
“It is a very short story - walking game.”
“Huge flaws: the story and the duration; not even time to start it and it's already finished.”
“The story is cute and makes you think: yes, life around us is beautiful!”
- graphics11 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, minimalistic aesthetic and soothing ambiance, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the clean visuals and atmospheric art style, noting how they contribute to a calming and immersive environment. The integration of beautiful graphics with intuitive mini-games and a soothing soundtrack creates a delightful and engaging experience.
“Graphically lovely game.”
“The minigames and puzzles are varied and interesting and tie into the beautiful visuals and audio seamlessly.”
“I love the atmospheric art style, visual storytelling, and I was surprised at how effective it was at getting me to slow down and pay attention.”
“Easy controls (could go 100% with only a mouse) and business-vector like graphics.”
“Nonetheless, recollection is a very charming and soothing mindful game, ideal after a stressful day to put you in a chill mood with cozy graphics and sound.”
“The art style might remind you of Limbo at first sight, but in a much gentler mood.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its profound yet simple message about appreciating the wonders of everyday life, which resonates deeply with players, often evoking tears. Users find it heartwarming and impactful, noting its charitable contributions and the ability to create a more beautiful world through gameplay. The game offers a choice between wholesome and dramatic experiences, enhancing its emotional depth while providing satisfying mini-games that contribute to a meaningful goal.
“This game made me cry; it was so touching.”
“So well made, I cried... thank you for creating this game <3”
“It was very heartwarming to see this world slowly becoming more beautiful by your actions.”
- music8 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall experience and complementing the minimalistic visuals. Many players appreciate the calming ambience and catchy soundtrack, although some suggest that the music volume could be adjusted to better balance with sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's dreamy and contemplative vibe.
“I loved this game from start to end, the atmospheric music, the story, and how you get pulled in.”
“A collection of small, intuitive mini-games, blended with minimalistic visuals, soothing soundtrack, and a calming ambience propel you on your way forward to understanding how getting unstuck from our dreary daily loops to bond with nature can help us get a different, eye-opening perspective.”
“A charming little indie game with a contemplative, calm atmosphere and a catchy soundtrack.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay features two modes that offer a choice between a relaxed experience and a more challenging one, both of which are enjoyable. However, the minigames themselves are not particularly engaging, suggesting that players should not expect exceptional gameplay overall.
“Its two modes give the player a choice between wholesome and easy-going or more dramatic and challenging, and both are a lot of fun in terms of the gameplay.”
“My full review of this game where I go into detail about gameplay, narrative, and styling is available on [url=https://indie-hive.com/recollection/]Indie Hive[/url].”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its calming and immersive qualities, featuring beautiful music and art that enhance the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the contemplative nature of the game, which encourages them to slow down and engage deeply with its message. Overall, it is described as a charming indie title that effectively creates a serene and captivating environment.
“I loved this game from start to end; the atmospheric music, the story, and how you get pulled in.”
“It was super atmospheric, calm and relaxing, with a very beautiful message to discover at the end.”
“I love the atmospheric art style, visual storytelling, and I was surprised at how effective it was at getting me to slow down and pay attention.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its bug-free performance and affordability, making it a strong recommendation for players looking for a peaceful and relaxing experience.
“The game's bug-free performance and affordable price point make it an easy recommendation for anyone seeking a peaceful and relaxing experience.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game demonstrates excellent stability, particularly noted for its smooth performance on the Steam Deck.
“Runs great on Steam Deck, by the way!”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense action scenes.”
“I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
