THE LONGING

The Longing requires patience but is a surprisingly captivating and emotional game that it’s worth taking the time to connect to.

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In utter loneliness, miles below the surface, it is your task to... wait. For 400 days... in real-time.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,409 reviews

music260 positive mentions

grinding78 negative mentions

Unique concept that challenges players' patience and encourages introspection.
Beautiful hand-drawn art style and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the experience.
Engaging exploration with secrets to uncover and a charming main character, the Shade.

Extremely slow pacing can lead to frustration and boredom for some players.
Limited replayability as the game is designed to be played only once.
Some puzzles and interactions can be vague or unintuitive, requiring external guides.

music
572 mentions
45 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in "The Longing" is widely praised for its haunting and atmospheric qualities, effectively enhancing the game's themes of solitude and introspection. Many players appreciate the unique dungeon synth soundtrack, which complements the beautifully hand-drawn visuals and creates an immersive experience that encourages slow exploration. While some noted a desire for more musical variety, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and ambiance.
- “The hauntingly beautiful soundtrack perfectly captures the mood of the underground caverns, immersing you deeper into the world of the shade.”
- “The music is phenomenal and really sets the scene, it captures all the feelings and enhances the experience perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack goes all-in on evoking longing and loneliness, not through generic 'sad' music, but through vast and sombre compositions that emphasize the size and age of the cave, and the weight of the shade’s quest.”
- “The idea was pretty cool but should have offered more environments and more music because it gets really boring to see and hear the same picture and music for a long time just to discover something really small.”
- “I'm sure many people enjoyed the lackluster atmosphere, the church music soundtrack, the creepy but sad protagonist, but I just find it... depressing... and... slow... sorry...”
- “The music can get a little bit repetitive early game, but by the end it is unnoticeable.”
gameplay
522 mentions
24 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Longing" is characterized by its unique mechanic of waiting, where players must passively engage with the game over a span of 400 days. While the slow-paced and minimalistic interactions may not appeal to everyone, many players find the atmospheric art, music, and thematic depth rewarding, creating a meditative experience that emphasizes patience and exploration. However, some critiques highlight the gameplay's tediousness and lack of meaningful content, suggesting it may feel more like a time-killer than a traditional game.
- “What makes this game exceptional is its atmospheric and meditative gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is slow but so satisfying and unique.”
- “The tying of thematic with mechanics is just perfect, and makes me wonder why it took so long for a game like this to be made; making an idle game where waiting feels so natural to the context.”
- “The mechanics failed to maintain a balance between encouraging patience and inducing tedium; there isn't enough meaningful content to occupy the time it expects you to spend on it, and a gameplay loop that benefits from frequently ignoring the game made it hard to get emotionally invested.”
- “The gameplay is extremely slow and involves waiting for stuff to happen as a game mechanic.”
- “What little 'gameplay' there is, however, is extremely tedious because of the character's movement speed.”
story
390 mentions
33 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "The Longing" is described as a slow-paced, atmospheric experience that unfolds gradually through exploration and environmental storytelling, focusing on themes of loneliness and patience. Players engage with a melancholic narrative that offers multiple endings and encourages deep emotional connections with the protagonist, a shade waiting to awaken a king over 400 real-time days. While some find the story captivating and thought-provoking, others criticize its slow progression and minimal plot, suggesting it may not appeal to those seeking more traditional, action-driven narratives.
- “It feels more like living a story than playing a game.”
- “The longing is a unique point-and-click adventure game with an impressive art style that permeates all in the game, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack that fills the halls with solitude and mystery, and a story told very slowly, through exploration.”
- “The story, the visuals, the music, the atmosphere of the game are just a few of the aspects that make up for all of the longing's non-game aspects.”
- “Not because it ruins the story, but because once you realize how little there is to do, it becomes depressingly shallow and empty.”
- “However, I am very unlikely to replay it (theoretically you can't) because of the lack-luster story.”
- “Even the end-game story (which is the stuff you get for surviving the painful slog of walking around and clicking things for literally hours) is kinda boring and in my opinion totally not worth the time investment.”
graphics
376 mentions
49 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "The Longing" are widely praised for their unique hand-drawn art style, which creates a captivating and atmospheric experience that enhances the game's themes of solitude and exploration. Players appreciate the charming visuals and how they evoke nostalgia, reminiscent of children's book illustrations, while the accompanying haunting soundtrack further immerses them in the game's world. Overall, the combination of beautiful artwork and sound design contributes significantly to the game's emotional depth and aesthetic appeal.
- “The longing is a unique point and click adventure game with an impressive art style that permeates all in the game, accompanied by a haunting soundtrack that fills the halls with solitude and mystery, and a story told very slowly, through exploration.”
- “With its hand-drawn graphics, the kingdom's echoing caverns and towering halls exude an atmosphere that is haunting yet captivating.”
- “The art style is unique and beautiful, and I think the sound was done very well.”
- “To my mind, the graphics in this game were quirky, and suited the game, but didn't really make up for the lackluster story.”
- “The artwork is very pretty and there is a vast world to explore but it takes forever to do things and I spend most of my time waiting.”
- “:the longing: definitely won’t blow you away with its graphics, but it has its charm, and together with the ambient sounds, it generates a really nice atmosphere.”
atmosphere
294 mentions
69 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "The Longing" is widely praised for its haunting beauty, characterized by stunning hand-drawn graphics, a captivating dungeon synth soundtrack, and a sense of loneliness that permeates the gameplay. Players appreciate the game's meditative pace, which encourages exploration and reflection, creating a unique experience that lingers long after play. Overall, the combination of art, sound, and thematic depth results in an immersive and emotionally resonant atmosphere that many find both calming and thought-provoking.
- “The longing creates an incredible atmosphere and promises to be intriguing and thought-provoking for those with the patience to really engage with it.”
- “With its hand-drawn graphics, the kingdom's echoing caverns and towering halls exude an atmosphere that is haunting yet captivating.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing, generated by a combination of the sound, graphics and some lovely snippets of our shade's thoughts - and there are lots of secrets to discover in the underground kingdom.”
- “The atmosphere is gritty, strange and always at least slightly unsettling.”
- “Eerie and lonely atmosphere is very haunting.”
- “It kinda destroyed the whole 'there is nothing to achieve, I can spend weeks just reading and sometimes going for a walk, I have so much time' atmosphere for me.”
emotional
177 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is described as a deeply emotional experience that fosters strong attachments to its characters, particularly the shade, leading players on a poignant journey through themes of loneliness, hope, and mortality. While many players found the emotional depth and artistic presentation profoundly impactful, some noted that the slow pacing and mechanics could hinder emotional investment for those seeking more traditional gameplay. Overall, it is recommended for those open to a reflective and melancholic gaming experience, though it may not appeal to everyone.
- “This is less of a game than it is an emotional experience - I have never gotten so attached to a game character as I did to my little shade (whom I named Charlie), nor have I been this emotionally invested in a game before.”
- “Building an emotional connection to the shade and watching his journey through the 400 days is an experience I will treasure for life.”
- “I found this game to be incredibly emotionally impactful, maybe even the most memorable gaming experience I've ever had.”
grinding
88 mentions
2 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
89 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and slow, often requiring players to backtrack and manually navigate the environment, which can feel isolating and monotonous. While some players appreciate the game's atmosphere and find the slow pace rewarding, many express frustration with the time-consuming tasks and the need for significant commitment to progress. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major hurdle that may deter those seeking more immediate gratification in gameplay.
- “It involves some waiting, but it's really not tedious.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It’s tedious, slow, it has you backtrack a lot, it’s isolating and lonesome.”
- “Once most of the map is discovered, it becomes tedious executing tasks, as the shade has one very slow place; while the intent is for the player to jump in and out of the game, there comes a point where it is ridiculous having to launch, spend 5 or 10 minutes setting up the task and logging out, only to log back in later to move on to the next step.”
- “I do recommend the game but with a warning, it is extremely tedious and requires you to commit if you want to beat this game.”
humor
40 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a blend of dark, surreal, and philosophical elements, often evoking a sense of irony and melancholy. Players appreciate the quirky dialogue and the protagonist's humorous commentary, which adds depth to the otherwise idle gameplay. While some find the humor to be a refreshing contrast to the game's somber themes, others caution that it may not resonate with everyone, especially if one is not in the right mindset.
- “It's a relaxing little idle game, with a bit of surrealist humor (and a small amount of horror) that you'd expect from people influenced by Eastern European cartoons.”
- “Your 'shade' character regularly shares their thoughts, helping break up the time and add some humor when you hit a dead end.”
- “Yes, there are puzzles, achievements, and exploration, but they all serve a more profound purpose within the plot, which manages to be genuinely funny and moving at times.”
replayability
28 mentions
11 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that it lacks substantial content to warrant multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the option to explore different endings, the experience is often described as a one-time journey, with limited incentive to replay once completed. A few players find enjoyment in the game's atmosphere and exploration, but this does not significantly enhance its replay value.
- “The spiderweb games I play are totally replayable (even with the retro graphic style), and (especially the earlier ones) are sufficiently non-linear to make each game different.”
- “Very fun to explore and find new objects to decorate your home, and replayability is as simple as having the game run in the background while you do literally anything else.”
- “The Myst series were more expensive and not really replayable, but the sheer amount of playing time finishing any one title makes them worth the money, especially with the gorgeous graphics.”
- “In terms of replayability, there simply isn't any, unless you really want to get all the different endings.”
- “I haven't beaten it yet, but from what I can tell so far, there isn't much replay value despite having several different endings.”
- “It has about no replay value, and yet I miss the world already.”
optimization
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
88 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is noted to be relatively straightforward, allowing players to complete it quickly, even without prior knowledge. However, its value as a piece of performance art is emphasized, suggesting that while the gameplay can be optimized, the artistic experience remains significant.
- “For an idle game, I feel like it can be optimized and completed rather quickly, even playing it blind like myself.”
stability
8 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game experiences significant stability issues, including frequent freezes and bugs related to changing the aspect ratio, which can disrupt the user interface. Players have reported that the game sometimes forgets progress, particularly after extended periods, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, these stability problems detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The game freezes when I try to wake up the king after 400 days.”
- “Changing the aspect ratio is buggy as hell and I've managed to get the UI to cover part of the dialogue box.”
- “It kind of freezes up and the game forgets about the time that you spend in it when the window is broken.”
character development
8 mentions
25 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and expressiveness, particularly through the player character, the shade, whose design evokes strong emotional connections. Players appreciate the necessity of undergoing character growth to experience meaningful change, highlighting the game's literary quality that intertwines world-building and relationship development. Overall, the combination of artwork, atmosphere, and existential themes enhances the character development experience.
- “I loved how we were forced to go through character development in order to change.”
- “Both of these games have the very literary quality of having to wait for the payoff, in exchange for substantial world building, character development, and relationship development between the reader and the text.”
- “The character design of the player character, the shade, feels so perfectly expressive that I’m confident there’s an alternate universe where he breaks out as a sort of emo Hello Kitty.”
- “The artwork, the atmosphere, the mystery, character design, and the existentialism the story provides you with is really something.”
monetization
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The monetization approach in this game is generally viewed positively, as it prioritizes storytelling over traditional microtransactions, which are often criticized for exploiting player impatience. While some praise the artwork, the overall sentiment reflects a desire for more integrity in a genre frequently marred by exploitative practices.
- “With some minor praise towards the artwork and the fact that it gave me faith in a genre riddled with monetization and laziness.”
- “This game offers a refreshing approach to monetization, focusing on engaging gameplay rather than pushing for constant microtransactions.”
- “We will do anything to not wait, to not be bored, so much so that sleazy game developers use the tactic of making players wait in an effort to get us to shell out cash for microtransactions.”
- “With some minor praise towards the artwork, it still gave me faith in a genre riddled with monetization and laziness.”
- “The difference is instead of microtransactions and hitting that dopamine spike when you click some big number or roll that rare loot, it's story-based.”