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The Book of Distance

The Book of Distance Game Cover
95%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
atmosphere
95% User Score Based on 127 reviews

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The Book of Distance Game Cover

About

The Book of Distance is a single player action game. It was developed by National Film Board of Canada and was released on October 8, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

The Book of Distance blends techniques from mechanical sculpture, film, and stage to redefine personal storytelling in virtual reality. Family archives add a haunting layer of realism. 2D and 3D hand-crafted sets reminiscent of Japanese woodblock prints, evocative character design, and seamless choreography combine with surprising moments of interaction to gently whisk us across the ocean and thro…

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The Book of Distance screenshot
The Book of Distance screenshot
The Book of Distance screenshot
The Book of Distance screenshot
The Book of Distance screenshot
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95%
Audience ScoreBased on 127 reviews
story39 positive mentions
atmosphere2 negative mentions
  • The Book of Distance is a beautifully told and emotional story that effectively uses VR to enhance its impact, making it a powerful and immersive experience.
  • The interactive elements, while limited, are well-integrated into the narrative, allowing players to engage with the story in a meaningful way.
  • This experience serves as an important historical reminder, shedding light on the injustices faced by Japanese Canadians during WWII, and is highly recommended for its educational value.
  • Some users experienced technical issues, such as glitches and difficulties with interactions, which detracted from the overall experience.
  • The experience is relatively short, lasting around 30 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • While the storytelling is impactful, some felt that the imagery and narration could be overly dramatic or embellished, potentially undermining the seriousness of the subject matter.
  • story
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a deeply moving and personal narrative centered on the experiences of a Japanese Canadian family during WWII, effectively utilizing VR to enhance emotional engagement. Reviewers praised its beautiful storytelling, immersive visuals, and the way it evokes empathy, making it a standout example of interactive documentary storytelling. While some noted minor technical issues, the overall consensus is that it is a powerful and important story that resonates long after the experience.

    • “Using gorgeous animation and skillful storytelling, the author projects our 21st century minds into the experiences of his family members during the internment of Canadians of Japanese ancestry during WWII.”
    • “The book of distance is a beautifully told story that left me sitting on the floor in contemplation and tears.”
    • “Moving, touching, and an incredible story, all of the elements come together here to create something wholly unique and original.”
    • “If you are looking for an intense storyline/adventure, then this is not a game for you.”
    • “Regardless of how well done the narrative, story, and presentation might be, this has been erroneously published on Steam in the games section instead of the software section.”
    • “Keep in mind that this story is a sad one.”
  • emotional
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many users describing it as a beautiful and touching tribute that evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears. The immersive VR experience enhances the storytelling, making it both educational and deeply personal, as it explores themes of family, history, and injustice. Overall, players find it to be a heartfelt and impactful narrative that resonates on multiple levels.

    • “A beautiful and touching tribute to the author's grandfather and other ancestors.”
    • “Incredibly beautiful, emotional, and well-told memorial.”
    • “An engaging, emotional experience that asks universal questions while telling a deeply personal story.”
  • graphics
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are widely praised for their beautiful, vibrant, and crisp visuals, complemented by a well-executed art style that enhances the storytelling. While some users note a limited interaction, the overall presentation, including lighting and audio, creates an immersive experience that effectively conveys emotional narratives. Despite some critiques regarding the cartoony depictions, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, contributing to its artistic and narrative depth.

    • “The graphics were very beautiful, vibrant, and crisp.”
    • “This is immersive theater at its finest with good looking stylized visuals, emotional story, and player interactions interwoven into the narrative.”
    • “I loved the art style chosen for this experience.”
    • “Always a bit undercut by the cartoony depictions of internment and 1930s Japan; the mix of audio, softened visuals, hard facts, and personal tales still work as a whole though.”
  • music
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is highly praised, complementing the visuals and art style while enhancing the storytelling experience.

    • “The visuals, art style, music, and storytelling are all on point.”
    • “The soundtrack perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “Each track is beautifully composed, making every moment in the game feel immersive.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating environments and emotional impact, despite some stiffness in character animations. Many players find the ambient elements to be particularly moving, creating a strong initial impression that resonates deeply.

    • “The first 3 minutes of playing this game captured my attention with its atmosphere, and it made me tear up because of the ambient.”
    • “The character animations are a little stiff, but the environments and overall atmosphere are very well done.”
    • “The first 3 minutes when I played this, the atmosphere just captured my attention and it made me tear up because of the ambient.”
  • gameplay
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its excellent execution, with well-designed mechanics, pacing, and lighting, despite the simplicity of the graphics.

    • “Even with the simple graphics, everything is so well executed; from lighting, mechanics, pacing, everything.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Book of Distance is a action game.

The Book of Distance is available on PC and Windows.

The Book of Distance was released on October 8, 2020.

The Book of Distance was developed by National Film Board of Canada.

The Book of Distance has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its atmosphere.

The Book of Distance is a single player game.

Similar games include What Remains of Edith Finch, Rakuen, and Roger, Allumette, Wednesdays and others.