The Fernweh Saga: Book One

About

"The Fernweh Saga: Book One" is a single-player, mystery role-playing text-based game. After the death of your grandfather, you return to your eerie hometown following a tragic house fire in your past. As you reconnect with old friends and uncover dark mysteries, vivid nightmares begin to unfold. Can you find love and reveal the secrets of your hometown before it's too late?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 176 reviews

story78 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with a strong sense of mystery and atmosphere, drawing players in from the start.
Character development is well-executed, with unique personalities and relationships that feel organic and engaging.
The writing is detailed and immersive, enhancing the eerie and unsettling tone of the narrative.

The pacing can be slow, with some scenes feeling overly long and descriptions that may detract from the overall tension.
Many choices feel meaningless or lead to similar outcomes, which can frustrate players looking for impactful decision-making.
The romance elements are underdeveloped, with limited interactions and a slow build that may leave some players wanting more.

story
276 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
71%
1%
The story of "The Fernweh Saga: Book One" is characterized by a captivating blend of eerie atmosphere and intricate character development, immersing players in a world filled with mystery and emotional depth. While some reviewers appreciated the slow-burn narrative and the gradual unfolding of relationships, others criticized the pacing and the lack of clear plot progression, feeling that the story often meandered without significant advancement. Overall, the writing is praised for its quality, and the interactive elements enhance the experience, making it a compelling read for fans of the genre, despite some frustrations with the choices presented.
- “While there is definitely a strong sense of disquiet and uneasiness right from the beginning, I'll admit, there's also a very cozy aspect about this story for me; I know there's something dark lurking, but by the end of book one, Fernweh felt like home to me.”
- “I found the characters to be engaging, the story fascinating, and the writing exceptional.”
- “The writing is captivating, the slow-building horror, and the subtle hints throughout the story are amazingly well-written.”
- “At the point of reading chapter 7, I am halfway into the book, and I still can't say anything about the main plot that would stretch beyond the synopsis.”
- “Frankly, I don't even understand why I should have any particular feelings about the story that is still setting itself up halfway through the book, and I don't understand why I should care about the quartet of characters that just feels shoehorned into following every step of the main character simply because the word 'romance' is written on the carton.”
- “Where what story that exists here is wholly in the overemphasis of significant glances and pseudogothic atmosphere while not really telling the reader anything at all.”
atmosphere
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
46%
11%
The atmosphere in "The Fernweh Saga" is consistently praised for its evocative and unnerving qualities, effectively immersing players in a small-town setting filled with mystery and supernatural elements. Reviewers highlight the author's skill in creating a sense of creeping dread and suspense, making the environment feel alive and integral to the storytelling. Overall, the atmospheric writing enhances the experience, inviting players to engage deeply with the narrative and its vibrant characters.
- “The atmosphere of suspense and mystery is what makes the perfect thriller, and TFS does it very effectively.”
- “There was a lot of evocative prose that built a satisfying atmosphere of both a homecoming to an anywhere, America sort of town and quiet, creeping dread - before it all boils over.”
- “What a great story -- creepy and atmospheric, and full of interesting characters.”
- “Where what story that exists here is wholly in the overemphasis of significant glances and pseudogothic atmosphere while not really telling the reader anything at all.”
- “Book 1 is an introduction to the world of Fernweh: the (small, remote) town, the characters, the… unnerving disquiet in the atmosphere.”
- “I feel like there is purpose and logic to each instance that adds to the atmosphere like my character is returning to this small town and getting re-acclimated.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The game boasts high replayability, with players noting the extensive variety of routes and choices that lead to new discoveries and perspectives on the story and characters. Many users have invested significant hours into the game, often feeling they have yet to uncover all its secrets, and appreciate the well-crafted romance options that cater to diverse player preferences. Overall, the combination of a compelling narrative and multiple playthrough possibilities makes replaying the game a rewarding experience.
- “There is definite replayability in this story; I’ve personally gone through all the routes at least once and discovered new things every time.”
- “Replayability of TFS is incredible; I've played over a hundred hours and I still think I may have missed something.”
- “Again, with the amount of choices and all the various routes they can take you, there’s a ton of replay value overall—especially for the price you pay.”
- “This gives the game its replayability: as you explore different ways to play the main character and the different romance routes, you gain not only route-specific content and new perspectives on the characters and central mysteries, but crucially you experience a different story.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the comedic achievements and the protagonist's tendency to crack jokes, even in inappropriate situations. The ability to choose different character personalities allows for varied comedic styles, from dark humor to sweet and considerate quips, enhancing the overall experience and engagement with the narrative.
- “Additionally, some of the achievements were fun and literally made me crack up laughing.”
- “He mostly cracks jokes or can be found laughing at them, even in an inappropriate situation.”
- “I'm playing a jokester currently, who uses quips and humor to deal with his trauma and the unease of coming back to town, but I can easily see other personalities and nuances within them from the choices.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The gameplay of Fernweh: b1 is characterized by interactive storytelling, where players are presented with choices that significantly influence the narrative's direction and outcome. Similar to other games in the genre, it incorporates mechanics like stats checks and puzzle-solving, allowing for both direct and subtle shaping of the story. Fans of interactive fiction and visual novels will find familiar gameplay elements that enhance the immersive experience.
- “If you are a fan of interactive fiction games like Heart of the House or the visual novel Scarlet Hollow, I'd say it gave me similar vibes in its story and gameplay (there are some stat checks).”
- “Fernweh: B1 has the same gameplay mechanics as the rest of the Choice of Games: there's a situation, you're given a set of choices, and the story progresses and branches depending on your choices.”
- “Fernweh: b1 has the same gameplay mechanics as the rest of the Cog games: there's a situation, you're given a set of choices, and the story progresses and branches depending on your choices.”
- “Some interactive fiction games allow you to control the mechanics, direct the plot, and choose how to solve or fail to solve the puzzle; others do it more subtly, allowing you to shape the narrative in unique ways that resonate through the work and change the type of story that's being told.”
- “If you are a fan of interactive fiction games like Heart of the House or the visual novel Scarlet Hollow, I’d say it gave me similar vibes in its story and gameplay (there are some stat checks).”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the deep connections players form with the characters, whose supportive relationships provide a poignant contrast to the overall anxious atmosphere. Players express that the experience evokes a range of feelings, making it stand out among other interactive fiction, and the anticipation of creators sharing their projects adds to the emotional weight of the experience.
- “I enjoyed building friendships with these characters; the way they support the main character is really touching. It creates a nice contrast with the overall anxious mood of the book.”
- “[The Fernweh Saga] made me feel so many things I never felt while reading other interactive fiction; it was so good!”
- “I follow many indie creators, so when their projects are finally presented to the public, it's such an emotional moment.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The graphics in the game are minimal, yet they effectively contribute to an overall sense of terror and unease, enhancing the player's emotional experience despite the lack of graphic content.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the book is perceived as stagnant, with reviewers noting that the author’s predetermined series length appears to limit the growth and evolution of relationships among characters. This has led to a feeling of artificiality in character interactions, reminiscent of the "Wayhaven syndrome."
- “The book felt like it was suffering a bit from Wayhaven syndrome, where character development becomes stagnant because the author has decided how many books there are going to be in the series and is adjusting character relationships to fit that schedule.”