The Edgelands
- May 8, 2017
- Marshlight Software
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Edgelands" is a single-player Interactive Fiction game with a good story and marvelous atmosphere. Explore an uncanny rustic twilight landscape, where rural landmarks overlap with otherworldly occurrences, creating a dream-like blend of the ordinary and the supernatural. With striking visuals, a killer soundtrack, and an evocative electronic soundscape that adapts to your actions, the game provides a sedate and eerie experience, focusing on exploration and atmosphere. Funded by Fundbetter, the initiative set up by Failbetter Games, "The Edgelands" offers a unique and memorable adventure.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features a captivating atmosphere with beautiful stylized art and a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The puzzles, while simple, are intuitive and contribute to the dreamlike and eerie feeling of the game.
- It offers a unique, surreal world that encourages exploration and contemplation, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy atmospheric storytelling.
- The walking speed is slow, which can be frustrating, especially when backtracking or navigating through the environment.
- There is a lack of a substantial plot, making the gameplay feel more like a series of tasks rather than a cohesive story.
- The game does not allow saving mid-chapter, which can be inconvenient for players looking to play in shorter sessions.
- story26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story in "The Edgelands" is minimal and lacks a cohesive plot, often described as an interactive experience with hints of a dystopian backdrop. While the atmosphere, writing, and visuals are praised, many players feel that the narrative does not engage them enough to invest in the characters or events, resulting in a journey that feels more like a series of disconnected tasks rather than a compelling story. Overall, it appeals to those who enjoy exploration and ambiance over a structured narrative.
“I think the edgelands is best described as an interactive story, and in many aspects it's similar to Kentucky Route Zero -- a psychedelic journey in a reality that used to be our reality but then made some strange choices in its life.”
“The setting, the mysterious places and creatures, the writing, the graphics, and the animations really come together to produce what I think is one of the best short interactive story games.”
“I recommend this game more for atmosphere and story than for the puzzles or play time.”
“There isn't much of a plot to speak of in the edgelands.”
“There's not much of a story for you to invest yourself in the character or what's going on.”
“It feels like a point A to point B interactive story without much of a plot nor variation in between.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is consistently praised for its eerie, creepy-cute charm, enhanced by stylized art and haunting music that creates a folkloric yet dystopian world. Many reviewers recommend it primarily for its atmospheric qualities and storytelling, although some note that the gameplay can become predictable and less engaging over time. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a key strength, making it a memorable experience despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“An eerie interactive fiction game with lovely stylised art, enhanced by weird, atmospheric music that will bore itself into your mind.”
“The puzzles are strange but intuitive, which just adds to the atmospheric feeling of the world, which is both folkloric and dystopian.”
“I really liked this game, the atmosphere at times reminded me of Alice when she's lost in the forest.”
“I really liked this game; the atmosphere at times reminded me of Alice when she's lost in the forest.”
“I would recommend it for the atmosphere and story, but not for the price it's listed for currently.”
“I still really like the atmosphere and artwork, but the rest of the game quickly became bland and predictable.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a stylized aesthetic reminiscent of pixel art, blending higher-resolution shapes with lower-resolution background elements to create a unique visual experience. While the artwork and atmosphere are praised for their surreal and creepy qualities, some players feel that the visuals alone are not enough to sustain interest, as the gameplay can become repetitive and predictable. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's ambiance but may not fully compensate for its narrative shortcomings.
“The setting, the mysterious places and creatures, the writing, the graphics, and the animations really come together to produce what I think is one of the best short interactive story games.”
“The visuals and sound seem to go well together to produce surreal and creepy environments.”
“I still really like the atmosphere and artwork, but the rest of the game quickly became bland and predictable.”
“The visuals and sound seem to go well together to produce surreal/creepy environments.”
“Te's stylized graphics are somewhat similar to pixel art, mixing higher-resolution stylized shapes with some lower-resolution elements in the backgrounds.”
- music10 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and eerie qualities, effectively complementing the stylized visuals and enhancing the overall gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the superb use of electronic music, others find the sounds peculiar, leading to mixed reactions. Overall, the soundtrack is noted as a standout feature that deeply immerses players in the game's ambiance.
“The soundtrack really works with what's happening on screen, making for a nice overall gameplay.”
“I can easily imagine the reactions to the game's soundtrack varying from 'superb use of electronic music' to 'why does it make those strange sounds at me?'”
“An eerie interactive fiction game with lovely stylised art, enhanced by weird, atmospheric music that will bore itself into your mind.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Edgelands" is characterized by a relaxed and unpressured exploration of its compelling world, appealing to players who enjoy leisurely wandering rather than facing significant challenges. Early impressions suggest a low difficulty level, though this may change as players progress further into the game.
“Those who take pleasure in meandering about in compelling worlds, without feeling pressured by gameplay or story, should find the edgelands a worthwhile experience.”
“So far, it doesn't feel particularly challenging but rather has a relaxed feel to the gameplay - but I haven't gotten too far in the game yet, so that may not always be true.”
“So far it doesn't feel particularly challenging but rather has a relaxed feel to the gameplay - but I haven't gotten too far in the game yet so that may not always be true.”
