- April 13, 2017
- Jason Godbey
- 1h median play time
The Search
For an hour-long experience, the main thing I took away from The Search were cheap puzzle mechanics and quotes by American lecturer Joseph Campbell. If the game’s main themes were not as openly sermonising, then I could see the narrative being less tedious and players would get more out of it. But sadly, the extent of the story would have been much better suited as an essay, short film, or poem.
Platforms
About
The Search is a single player casual simulation game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Jason Godbey and was released on April 13, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.
Embark on a journey of discovery and inspiration in The Search - a story-driven puzzle-adventure set in a mysterious world where art comes to life!











- Beautiful and atmospheric visuals with impressive artistic design and soothing soundtrack.
- Relaxing and contemplative experience focused on introspection, creativity, and personal growth.
- Easy and accessible puzzle mechanics with a thoughtful integration of art and symbolism.
- Very short gameplay duration, often completed within an hour, limiting depth and replayability.
- Repetitive and simplistic puzzles with little variety or challenge.
- Navigation and controls are clunky and unintuitive, disrupting immersion and exploration.
story
161 mentions Positive Neutral NegativeThe story is a short, philosophical, and interpretive narrative centered on an artist’s journey of self-discovery, conveyed largely through environmental storytelling, symbolic notes, and reflective narration. While some players appreciate its thoughtful, poetic approach and emotional depth, many find it vague, preachy, overly simplistic, or lacking in engaging plot and character development. Overall, it appeals mostly to those who enjoy contemplative, art-driven experiences rather than traditional, plot-heavy storytelling.
“While its scope is relatively modest, its commitment to storytelling through environment and symbolism allows it to leave a lasting impression on those willing to embrace its unconventional approach.”
“The story is about finding your own path in life, especially a path of creativity and true self-expression, while navigating the many pitfalls in life and all the false imagery it may offer.”
“The 'story' is about the player (an unnamed female artist) finding herself in a series of environments and learning about the creative process through notes and puzzles.”
“The puzzles are extremely easy and quickly solved, and the story feels barebones, delivered in small bits of random philosophical jargon.”
“The storytelling of this game is just bad, the game has this art creation theme and apparently you control a character which already has a personality, although never presented to you. Through the game you will read phrases that should make you think about, but that's not a problem!”
“The story is exceedingly boring and the dialogue has no impact on the game other than to have something to garnish with quotes lifted out of someone's high school philosophy homework.”
The Search
For an hour-long experience, the main thing I took away from The Search were cheap puzzle mechanics and quotes by American lecturer Joseph Campbell. If the game’s main themes were not as openly sermonising, then I could see the narrative being less tedious and players would get more out of it. But sadly, the extent of the story would have been much better suited as an essay, short film, or poem.
45%The Search Review – Dream Journals
81%
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Search is a casual simulation game with mystery theme.
The Search is available on PC and Windows.
The main story can be completed in around 1 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 1 hours to finish. On average players spend around 2 hours playing The Search.
The Search was released on April 13, 2017.
The Search was developed by Jason Godbey.
The Search has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked The Search for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.
The Search is a single player game.
Similar games include Call of the Sea, Lilly Looking Through, The Witness, A Wolf in Autumn, The Tiny Bang Story and others.











