The Wake: Mourning Father, Mourning Mother

About

"The Wake: Mourning Father, Mourning Mother" is a narrative-driven game and the final installment in Somi's "Guilt Trilogy," following "Replica" and "Legal Dungeon." Players attend a three-day funeral and delve into the psyche of a man examining his family's generational curse through a simple substitution cipher. The game explores the roots of guilt, memories, and emotions, as players uncover the contradictions that define the protagonist's life.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

The Wake: Mourning Father, Mourning Mother screenshot

60%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

story6 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The story is deeply personal and emotionally engaging, leaving a lasting impression.
The background music is beautiful and enhances the overall experience.
The gameplay mechanics, while challenging, can be enjoyable once understood.

The puzzle mechanics are often confusing and unintuitive, leading to frustration.
The interface has readability issues, particularly with text being cut off and difficult to follow.
The game feels more like a reading experience than a traditional game, with minimal impactful gameplay.

story
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
61%
13%
The game's story is described as deeply personal and relatable, focusing on themes of family disconnection and childhood struggles, though it has been criticized for its familiarity and simplicity. While some players found the narrative engaging and beautifully complemented by the music, others felt it was overshadowed by a lackluster puzzle-solving experience. Overall, the story is seen as the main draw of the game, particularly for those in a reflective mood about family dynamics.
- “Thankfully, the story kept me intrigued until the end, and the short length feels just right for me.”
- “A deeply personal story about a disjointed family reconnecting over a funeral, told in broken puzzle bits and literary pieces.”
- “All in all, it's really the story that should be the focus if you're interested in picking this up; if you're in a melancholic mood about family, I say get this game.”
- “The puzzle-solving process was way too simple and a bit rough, which made it feel more like a bland short story than a puzzle game.”
- “Irresponsible father who leaves his family behind, childhood poverty, a half-forced awkward family meeting that comes as a form of the funeral of a family member, this stereotypical story has been told before hundreds of times from the mouths and pens of others.”
- “The story was a bore, weighed down with daddy issues.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay features intriguing mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, but many players find the puzzles confusing and difficult to navigate, often requiring external guides. While some enjoy the trial-and-error approach and the integration of story, others feel that the gameplay lacks engagement and can be tedious. Overall, the experience varies significantly among players, with a notable divide in enjoyment levels.
- “I've seen some people complain about the gameplay, but I think the cipher parts and discovering things with trial and error were enjoyable.”
- “By the midpoint though, I really started to grasp the mechanics and never needed to refer back to the guide for later levels.”
- “Love the puzzling gameplay and storyline.”
- “Gameplay mechanics and the puzzle solving were difficult.”
- “Gameplay, or the puzzles, are the boring part.”
- “The gameplay itself is not well performing for my taste.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and emotional resonance, particularly the piano compositions, which enhance the storytelling experience. However, some players noted that the background music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's charm and atmosphere.
- “The background music was beautiful.”
- “Great game, great story, fantastical music.”
- “I liked the relatable, down-to-earth story and the piano music!”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's graphics are praised for their aesthetic appeal, though the overall experience is marred by its simplistic gameplay and unengaging narrative.
- “Aesthetically, this game looks great.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game to be deeply emotional and engaging, with many expressing strong feelings, particularly during the impactful conclusion that ties the narrative together.
- “I cried at the very end, when all the dots connected.”
- “Very emotional and engaging game.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users express frustration with the monetization model, likening it to being forced to watch lengthy advertisements for every action taken, which detracts from the overall experience.
- “Imagine you're being forced to watch a 1-2 minute long advertisement every time you turn a page using your e-reader.”
- “The in-game purchases are so aggressive that it feels like the game is designed to squeeze every penny out of you.”
- “It's frustrating to see that progress is locked behind a paywall, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the game without spending money.”