The First Friend

About

The First Friend is a single player simulation game. It was developed by Alexander Westwater and was released on December 10, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "The First Friend", you wake up in a cabin and discover your best friend Zack is missing. Explore various landscapes and uncover buried artifacts that reveal memories of your past, present, and future with Zack. Developed by a solo developer, this first-person exploration game tells a deep, personal story filled with emotional moments and an evocative soundtrack, providing a peaceful and introspective experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

70%

Audience ScoreBased on 10 reviews

story4 positive mentions

graphics3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful graphics and an aesthetically pleasing environment that enhances the storytelling experience.
It tells a touching and emotional story about a man's life and his relationship with his dog, which resonates with players.
The game is easy to complete, allowing players to achieve 100% in a short playtime, making it accessible for those who enjoy quick achievements.

The game suffers from severe technical issues, including lag, crashes, and poor optimization, making it nearly unplayable for many users.
There are significant gameplay limitations, such as a lack of a save option, no map, and a janky camera that disrupts immersion.
The voice acting and narration quality are inconsistent, with some players finding it difficult to understand and poorly delivered.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The game features a touching narrative centered on a man's reflections on his life and his bond with his dog, conveyed through fragmented memories discovered in expansive landscapes. While the story is generally well-received and offers a decent emotional experience, some players find the overall gameplay experience marred by various issues, making it difficult to fully recommend. The game is a short walking simulator, taking about 1-2 hours to complete, and is appreciated for its relaxing pace and storytelling.
- “It tells the story of a person's life through fragmented memories that you must seek out in various vast landscapes.”
- “It is a walking simulator that tells the story about a man reminiscing about his old life and especially his dog.”
- “This game is a short (~2 hours) walking simulator with a touching story about a man searching for his friend.”
- “It is a walking simulator that tells the story of a man reminiscing about his old life, especially his dog.”
- “The gameplay can be relaxing to go through, but there's nothing thrilling or heart-pounding; just slow-paced narration when you hit certain points that explains the protagonist's life story and his relationship with his dog and parents.”
- “Took me around 1 hour to complete 100%, and I feel like you want to complete 100% as it tells the whole story.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and slow-paced, relaxing nature, focusing on narrative rather than intense mechanics. Players can easily achieve 100% completion, making it appealing for achievement hunters, while the atmospheric experience enhances the storytelling of the protagonist's life and relationships.
- “I was really looking forward to trying this game because it looked so atmospheric and beautiful, even if its gameplay was very simple.”
- “Easy to get 100% achievements done in one gameplay, so that's a bonus for those of us who like that.”
- “That's about the extent of the gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay can be relaxing to go through, nothing thrilling or heart-pounding, just slow-paced narration when you hit certain points that explains the protagonist's life story and his relationship with his dog and parents.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The graphics are consistently praised for their aesthetic appeal, evoking comparisons to other visually striking games. Players appreciate the beautiful and surreal environments that enhance the emotional experience, contributing to an overall immersive journey.
- “No, it is not just a little game but an amazing experience filled with great emotions and beautiful graphics.”
- “The game is aesthetically pleasing to the eye; the environment becomes more surreal as you progress further, and it starts to make more sense.”
- “The art and graphics reminded me of a few other games immediately.”
- “Somehow they always end up strong even if the game is simple or more graphic based.”
- “The game is aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but the environment becomes more surreal as you progress, which can be disorienting.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to a subpar experience that detracts from its potential enjoyment. Players have reported persistent bugs and performance problems, indicating a lack of polish in its development.
- “Honestly, it seems like it could be an enjoyable game if it were better made and optimized.”
- “The game looked, felt, and played the same as those games, with the same bugs and optimization issues.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is a brief walking simulator that delivers a poignant narrative centered on a man's quest to find his friend, evoking strong emotional responses through its touching story and vibrant visuals. Players appreciate the game's ability to create a meaningful experience in a short playtime.
- “This game is a short (~2 hours) walking simulator with a touching story about a man searching for his friend.”
- “After seeing this game was free, the colorful landscape and touching title caught my attention, so I decided to download it.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its beauty and immersive quality, which captivates players despite the simplicity of its gameplay.
- “I was really looking forward to trying this game because it looked so atmospheric and beautiful, even if its gameplay was very simple.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The music is characterized by a calm soundtrack that complements the vibrant color schemes, creating an engaging and visually appealing atmosphere.
- “The calm soundtrack perfectly complements the vibrant color schemes.”
- “The music creates an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “Each track is thoughtfully composed, adding depth to the gameplay.”