Sumatra: Fate of Yandi

About

"Sumatra: Fate of Yandi" is a narrative-driven adventure game that follows the story of Yandi, a plantation worker in 1904 Sumatra. After a mysterious earthquake, Yandi's village is destroyed and he sets out on a journey to uncover the truth behind the disaster. Along the way, he will encounter dangerous wildlife, navigate treacherous environments and uncover a conspiracy that threatens the entire region. The game features a rich and immersive storyline, puzzles, and survival elements.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

+15

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 224 reviews

story84 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Beautiful graphics that evoke a strong sense of place and atmosphere.
Engaging story with a strong environmental message and well-crafted characters.
Puzzles are logical and well-designed, providing a satisfying challenge without being frustrating.

The game is relatively short, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some secondary characters feel generic and lack depth.
The ending is abrupt and may feel rushed, leaving some plot threads unresolved.

story
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
3%
The story of "Sumatra: Fate of Yandi" is generally well-received, praised for its engaging narrative and unique setting that explores themes of environmentalism and cultural elements. While some reviewers noted that the story can feel abrupt or predictable, many appreciated its depth, character development, and the balance of humor and drama. Overall, the game is recognized for its compelling storytelling, supported by enjoyable puzzles and appealing visuals.
- “From the beautifully illustrated characters and landscapes to the sweet, funny, and at times sombre dialogue of the characters, I think the team really portrayed the jungle and the importance of nature really well through a gripping story.”
- “Thanks to a gripping story, an adorable cast of characters and puzzles with just the right amount of difficulty to keep you engaged but not frustrated, this is one of the best adventures I've played in a long time.”
- “The story is quite interesting, intriguing, and touches upon subjects like deforestation and its effect on wildlife, problems of tribal people and more, all packed into a compact game of about 6 hours.”
- “The story is pretty linear and on the short side, and the puzzle is easy enough to figure out without rocket science.”
- “I appreciate the story's intention, but sadly I found it as blunt as the cover art suggests.”
- “Yet, the last part of the game gets too easy with only few scattered puzzles while the story escalates too fast.”
graphics
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
56%
6%
The game features charming pixel graphics with a nostalgic 90s aesthetic, reminiscent of early Sierra titles, which effectively convey the characters and environments without overwhelming detail. While some players noted a preference for a more vibrant color palette and sharper visuals, the overall art style is praised for its simplicity and ability to create an atmospheric experience. The graphics complement the engaging story and puzzles, making it a recommended choice for fans of classic point-and-click adventures.
- “Art style is retro, but clean enough that you can get a feel for the different characters and the environment without everything becoming a mess of pixels.”
- “There's very little bad to be said about the graphics and the game does a good job in bringing a certain atmosphere of solitude in the jungle.”
- “What makes this game a must-play is the graphics and sound.”
- “I would have preferred the graphics to be more vivid, since the color palette is rather dull, but it was not a deal-breaker.”
- “A few minor knocks...the graphics in some spots could be sharper and some more details would have been nice (though I understand it might conflict against the tone) but despite that, it's really a great adventure game when you are in the mood for something quieter.”
- “Early-Sierra style retro graphics, like Space Quest 2 except you're on Earth, not an alien planet.”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many reviewers praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and complement the retro aesthetic. While some found it not as immersive as desired, the soundtrack effectively captures the essence of exploring a jungle, featuring charming tracks that contribute to the overall experience. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, adding to the game's appeal despite some critiques regarding its depth and replay value.
- “Such a unique setting with great music and gorgeous pixel art of the wildlife.”
- “The high point is how the game captures the feeling of exploring a jungle with excellent alternating use of music, silence, and nature sounds, and lovely pixel-art animated animal close-ups.”
- “Good story, good art and animation, good music.”
- “Music/sound is not outstanding but doesn't detract from the game.”
- “To be fair, a few charming details do remain in memory - the 'sun bear' and 'romantic' theme music, the scared orangutan, Kevin - but you can't miss those and there is no reward for exploration nor reason to replay.”
- “It's an ok play experience - the visuals, story, sound, objectives, and music - it's all ok (though the end feels a bit abrupt).”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
88%
13%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its well-designed world, which captures a genuine local feel within majestic jungle settings, creating a sense of solitude and adventure. The charming graphics and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the experience, while the integration of puzzles and responsive controls contribute to an engaging and immersive environment. Overall, it is recommended for fans of the point-and-click genre for its captivating and fable-like ambiance.
- “There's very little bad to be said about the graphics and the game does a good job in bringing a certain atmosphere of solitude in the jungle.”
- “It's well crafted, the atmosphere is great, and I can recommend it to any point and click fan.”
- “Great puzzles, integrated with the story; great pace, great atmospheric setting, gives you a real sense of adventure; not linear; not too verbose; not too easy; the amount of animation is impressive.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
58%
25%
The gameplay is described as decent, featuring old-school mechanics and a story that complements it. Players may encounter issues with unreasonable design and a lack of auto-save, which can lead to lost progress if resolution settings are altered. However, the game improves significantly towards the end, providing an enjoyable experience despite its short length.
- “Otherwise, you would be constantly facing unreasonable gameplay design.”
- “You ought to enjoy your perhaps a bit short time with the game, especially towards the latter end of it since once it picks up the pace, it reaches its very best.”
- “Otherwise you would be constantly facing unreasonable gameplay design.”
- “Mechanics are very old school.”
- “It's a decent story with decent gameplay.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotionally impactful storyline, featuring heartbreaking events that resonate deeply with players, akin to a good movie. Set in the jungles of Sumatra, it explores the lives of two underpaid loggers, creating a wholesome experience that fosters a strong connection to the characters, particularly through its well-researched cultural elements. Overall, players find the emotional depth and narrative engagement to be a standout aspect of the game.
- “Great storyline and heartbreaking events... I'm not giving you spoilers; you will understand when you see it.”
- “A tight and surprisingly emotional game about two underpaid, overworked forest loggers lost in the jungles of Sumatra.”
- “I would say this had as much emotional impact as a good movie.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious, requiring significant time investment and often involving repetitive tasks like walking long distances and engaging in a monotonous rock-paper-scissors game. While some appreciate the sense of exploration it offers, many feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment and can be mentally exhausting.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “I pity them as they will have to go through a mind-numbingly tedious rock-paper-scissors game that will destroy their psyche like nothing else can.”
- “While there are quite minimal objects to interact with, some might find it tedious to mill about with all the walking to be done getting from point A to point B; however, it does bring a genuine feel of exploration.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by sweet and occasionally somber dialogue that effectively captures the essence of the jungle and nature's importance. While it may not be particularly clever or laugh-out-loud funny, the dialogue feels realistic and relatable within the context of a pick-your-dialogue adventure game, contributing to a charming narrative experience.
- “From the beautifully illustrated characters and landscapes (which can be even trickier to capture when it comes to pixel games) to the sweet, funny, and at times sombre dialogue of the characters, I think the team really portrayed the jungle and the importance of nature really well through a gripping story.”
- “It's not super clever or super funny, but I did not find lines that egregiously felt unrealistic for people to say (considering the limitations of a pick-your-dialogue adventure game versus realistic conversation) and I like the main character - he's somewhat plain, but he's a nice and resourceful guy without being a hero or supernaturally capable in any sense.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting no bugs or glitches, leading to strong recommendations.