The August Before

About

The August Before is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Silly Little Games and was released on November 17, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

‎The August Before is a meditative narrative 3D puzzle about cleaning up, sorting out and packing up your life before moving on. Teenage love, first losses, and notes from friends are scattered in the corners: explore the details of the heroine's life, pack up the life you will take with you, and say goodbye - if you can. And remember - you can't take the past with you. Pack your li…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

story31 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

The game features stunning art and a beautiful, emotional story that resonates with players, particularly around themes of girlhood, friendship, and queer love.
Gameplay is satisfying and relaxing, with enjoyable puzzles that enhance the experience of tidying up and uncovering the narrative.
Many players found the game to be a cozy and heartwarming experience, making it a great choice for fans of narrative-driven and organization games.

The game is notably short, with many players expressing a desire for more content and feeling that the story ends abruptly.
There are numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, including issues with item interactions and progress not saving correctly.
Some players found certain puzzles unintuitive or frustrating, which detracted from the overall experience.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
52%
4%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of friendship, loss, and personal growth, conveyed through environmental storytelling as players clean and organize the rooms of three characters. While many players found the narrative engaging and emotionally resonant, some expressed a desire for a longer experience, noting that the story feels like it ends just as it becomes truly captivating. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, a heartwarming soundtrack, and a bittersweet narrative creates a cozy and immersive experience that resonates deeply with players.
- “The art is stunning, the story is gut-wrenching, and the soundtrack ties it together immaculately.”
- “The story is heart-wrenching, and it isn't hand-fed to you; you have to do the work of figuring it out for yourself.”
- “Rather than telling a story through dialogue or cutscenes, the game invites you to uncover one through association, memory, and the slow, deliberate act of sorting a life’s worth of belongings.”
- “I thought the story was just beginning when it came to an end; it's like the first quarter of a game.”
- “Sad it's so short; hope there are updates to extend the story.”
- “The lore of the main storyline is a little vague overall, but in my opinion, it doesn't affect the fact that the game is still fun to play.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players highlighting its ability to evoke deep feelings of loss, reflection, and the process of moving on. Through its gentle storytelling, tactile exploration, and relatable themes, the game resonates with players on a personal level, often leading to tears and a sense of connection to their own experiences. Its cozy aesthetic and supportive sound design further enhance the emotional journey, making it a heartfelt meditation on transition and belonging.
- “Replaying the game in full is a completely different emotional experience with the context of the three girls' individual perspectives, as is feeling the heartbreak with them in real time.”
- “The story is truly touching — it actually made me feel something.”
- “Very cozy and emotional game that encourages you to think and reflect on your feelings.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
47%
16%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, providing a relaxing and immersive experience. While many players appreciate the soothing soundtrack and its integration with the visuals, some note that it can be repetitive at times. Overall, the music effectively supports the game's emotional depth and storytelling, making it a standout feature.
- “The art is stunning, the story is gut-wrenching, and the soundtrack ties it together immaculately.”
- “The atmosphere and music pass the vibe check if you’re looking for something relaxing.”
- “Music and ambient sound support the atmosphere without overwhelming it, creating a calming backdrop that encourages focus and emotional presence.”
- “There are a few hidden QR codes that lead to YouTube videos, and those songs are beautiful too but sadly a little repetitive.”
- “- repetitive soundtrack”
- “Lovely game with environmental storytelling; while I don't feel confident to comment on the story that is presented, the melancholy bleeds through in the art style and the music.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their amazing art style, charming visuals, and emotional depth, which enhance the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the cozy aesthetic and intricate details, although some have reported issues with bugs and glitches. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals and music creates a captivating atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The aesthetic present is extremely real and serves as a wonderful visual storytelling device, especially combined with in-game music choices.”
- “The art style is gorgeous and adorable, and the details are incredible.”
- “This game is unique and aesthetic; however, there was some frustration when it came to bugs, glitches, and some of my progress being reset even after I had saved it.”
- “Visually, the game leans into a soft, almost cozy aesthetic without losing its emotional grounding.”
- “I personally liked how charming the visuals were.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
30%
30%
Gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics and emotional depth, offering a satisfying experience as players clean and organize spaces while uncovering a beautiful story. However, numerous bugs detract from the overall enjoyment, with some players feeling that these issues significantly hinder the gameplay experience. The variety in gameplay across different rooms adds to the enjoyment, allowing for unique interactions and tasks that evoke a range of emotions.
- “The story was beautiful, the gameplay was super fun, and I overall had such a wonderful time playing this game.”
- “The graphics, art style, and overall gameplay were all extremely fun to work with, and I had a lot of fun figuring out all the pieces to every puzzle and uncovering more and more of the story.”
- “Really satisfying gameplay – there’s genuine pleasure in seeing a room go from total mess to perfectly clean.”
- “It is a beautiful game and a great story from where I have gotten to, but there are various bugs to the point it ruins gameplay for me.”
- “The gameplay is absolutely ruined by the amount of bugs.”
- “Gameplay in every room is slightly different; for example, Beth's room is more about finding inspiration and doing artsy stuff, while Ivy's is more about fixing and crafting, doing things with your hands.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been a point of contention among users, with reports of various bugs and glitches that can occasionally disrupt gameplay, including issues with achievements not registering and progress resets. While some players experienced minor glitches that were manageable, others found the game-breaking bugs frustrating enough to impact their overall enjoyment. Despite these stability concerns, many still appreciate the game's unique style and express a willingness to play again.
- “With that said, I would be remiss to not mention that at the time of writing this, the game is pretty buggy in sometimes a game-breaking way.”
- “This game is unique and aesthetic; however, there was some frustration when it came to bugs, glitches, and some of my progress being reset even after I had saved it.”
- “I love the style of this game; sure, there were some things I got confused on, but figured it out. There are some glitches making you restart, but it was so far into the game that I would most likely play this game again.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy and relaxing qualities, enhanced by soothing music and ambient sounds that create a calming backdrop. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the emotional presence fostered by the environment, making it a great choice for fans of narrative-driven experiences. However, some users noted that the controls can be a bit messy at times, particularly when selecting objects.
- “Such a fun game with an incredible atmosphere!”
- “I loved the tidying; it has a cozy and relaxing atmosphere, but the controls were a bit messy at times, especially when selecting different objects.”
- “The atmosphere and music pass the vibe check if you’re looking for something relaxing.”
- “Music and ambient sound support the atmosphere without overwhelming it, creating a calming backdrop that encourages focus and emotional presence.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's replayability, with some enjoying multiple playthroughs, indicating that the experience remains engaging and rewarding upon revisiting.
- “I've played through the full game twice, and I really like the replayability of the game.”

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The August Before
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2h Median play time

2h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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