The Companion

About

The Companion is a single player open world simulation game with fantasy and drama themes. It was developed by Studio 46 and was released on May 13, 2021. It received neutral reviews from critics and mostly positive reviews from players.

"The Companion" is a narrative-driven game that follows the story of a Companion AI and its human companion on a journey through space. Players will make choices that affect the relationship between the two, with multiple endings available. Along the way, they'll encounter various challenges and moral dilemmas that will test the bond they've formed.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 82 reviews

story26 positive mentions

gameplay6 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
It offers a relaxing gameplay style, allowing players to explore at their own pace and enjoy the vibrant environments.
The story, while sometimes confusing, has moments of emotional depth and charm that resonate with players.

The narrative can be disjointed and hard to follow, leading to confusion about the plot and character motivations.
Gameplay can feel repetitive, with limited interaction and a lack of challenging elements.
Some technical issues, such as minor bugs and optimization problems, can detract from the overall experience.

story
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The game's story is often described as charming and poetic, with beautiful visuals and music enhancing the experience. However, many players find the narrative confusing and disjointed due to its nonlinear structure, which can make it difficult to follow. While some appreciate the emotional depth and exploration of themes, others feel that the story lacks engagement and coherence, leading to mixed reviews overall.
- “A charming little adventure game with an interesting story and booming aesthetics.”
- “The story told through memories is really poetic.”
- “Would definitely recommend for those looking for a casual story-driven exploration game with beautiful visuals and even more beautiful music.”
- “I really wanted this to be a positive review, but the story did not capture my interest at all, and I was already bored after the prologue.”
- “Gorgeous visuals and soundtrack, but the story is pretty bland, disjointed, and confusing (and this is coming from someone who often enjoys timeline fuckery).”
- “It's a shame that the game looks so amazing and has so much potential, but the story just doesn't deliver at all, because it drags down every other aspect for me.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
38%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many describing it as relaxing and fitting perfectly with the game's environments. Reviewers highlight the orchestral soundtrack as emotionally evocative, complementing the visuals and story, although some note that it can become repetitive. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm, making it a recommended feature for players seeking a soothing and immersive experience.
- “Wonderful orchestral music that goes very well with the worlds.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal and evoked a plethora of emotions.”
- “The companion is a gorgeous game, filled with a beautifully detailed world, gorgeous music that fits perfectly with each scenario, and a story that is heartbreaking but full of hope and leaving you wanting more with unanswered questions that could only be answered with a sequel.”
- “Another indie developer makes a 'game' with animals wandering around a dazzling environment, full of stunning over-saturated colors from a Unity asset shader in a non-interactive world of generic props and no gameplay with that same boring soft piano song that you already knew was going to be there before you started it!”
- “Breathtaking landscapes, otherworldly composed music, interesting story but you have to be prepared for the annoyingly long cutscenes.”
- “The music is also very relaxing.”
graphics
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
26%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals and charming aesthetics, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful animations and engaging art style. While the visuals are often described as captivating and immersive, some players noted that they cannot fully compensate for issues with the story and gameplay. Overall, the game's graphics are a standout feature, making it a recommended choice for those who appreciate visually appealing experiences.
- “Stunning aesthetics, I love all the animals and the characters; it's all so well animated.”
- “The visuals alone are enough to keep you engaged.”
- “The game is beautiful with compelling graphics and music.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
55%
30%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, focusing on collecting and activating story points, which some players find enjoyable despite its repetitive nature. While the visuals and music are praised, many reviewers note that the gameplay lacks challenge and depth, leading to a non-interactive experience that can feel monotonous. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience for those who appreciate exploration and aesthetics over complex mechanics.
- “Didn't really get the story but continued playing and it made more and more sense. Relaxing gameplay with a lovely OST and smooth color schemes. Not a challenging game at all, but sometimes it's just nice to run around in nature, just enjoying the view.”
- “I do recommend this game for the graphics, gameplay, and music.”
- “Gameplay is: find and activate a glowing thing on the ground highlighting an object that's a memory hook, triggering a memory event.”
- “Great visuals can't make up for a confusing story and repetitive gameplay.”
- “Another indie developer makes a 'game' with animals wandering around a dazzling environment, full of stunning over-saturated colors from a Unity asset shader in a non-interactive world of generic props and no gameplay with that same boring soft piano song that you already knew was going to be there before you started it!”
- “There isn't much in terms of gameplay either.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its soothing and calming qualities, providing players with a serene experience as they explore beautiful scenery, particularly highlighted in Act V. Fans of atmospheric games will find it especially appealing for its immersive environment.
- “Good catch for those looking for a soothing, calm atmospheric experience.”
- “I personally love atmospheric games like this, which allow you to roam and look at the beautiful scenery. Act V's area was my favorite.”
- “I personally love atmospheric games like this, which allow you to roam and look at the beautiful scenery. Act V's area was my favorite.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and humorous moments that enrich the narrative, emphasizing family dynamics and character development. Players are encouraged to engage deeply with the story, as relying solely on exploration may lead to missing significant achievements and emotional experiences. The beautifully crafted world and poignant music enhance the overall impact, creating a heartbreaking yet hopeful tale that leaves players yearning for more.
- “The companion is a gorgeous game, filled with a beautifully detailed world, gorgeous music that fits perfectly with each scenario, and a story that is heartbreaking but full of hope, leaving you wanting more with unanswered questions that could only be answered with a sequel.”
- “If you use the spirit guide rarely and rely on exploration, you might miss quite a few achievements, and also miss part of the story which has some quite funny, heartwarming, or just family moments to help you understand the dynamics presented in future levels.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game suffers from poor optimization, requiring a high-end PC to achieve visuals comparable to the trailers.
- “Be warned that the game is not very optimized, so you'll need a beefy PC to make it look like the trailers.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by funny, heart-warming, and family-oriented moments that enhance the narrative and player experience. However, players who focus solely on exploration and neglect the spirit guide may miss out on these comedic elements and important achievements.
- “If you use the spirit guide rarely and rely on exploration, you might miss quite a few achievements, and also miss part of the story which has some quite funny, heart-warming, or just family moments to help you understand the dynamic it is presented in future levels.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with users reporting only two glitches and one crash, all occurring towards the end of gameplay. The good graphics contribute positively to the overall experience, despite these minor issues.
- “The game has good graphics, but I experienced two glitches and one crash, all occurring at the end.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has limited replay value, leading some players to not revisit it, though many express enthusiasm for potential sequels and future projects from the studio.
- “Not much replay value, so I won't be revisiting it, but will most definitely be buying any sequel and following this studio to see what they make in the future (looks like they have another game 'A Forever Solitude' coming out soonish!)”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find certain grinding elements, like traveling to runes and 'visions', somewhat tedious; however, many feel that the overall length of the game makes this aspect more tolerable.
- “Some aspects of the game can be a bit tedious, such as running around to runes and to the 'visions'.”