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The Way Down

79%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, music
100% User Score Based on 30 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindows
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About

Walk the plains of The Way Down. Talk to the beings that inhabitant this world at its end. We forget how to die. Features: - Crunchy 3D art style. - Over 400 Choices. - Absurdist RPG "System". About the author: Samuel Leigh is a game developer, writer and adjunct professor based in New York.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
The Way Down screenshot
The Way Down screenshot
The Way Down screenshot

100%
Audience ScoreBased on 30 reviews
story6 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features a deep and gripping narrative that draws players into a complex web of characters and events.
  • The atmospheric art style and captivating soundtrack significantly enhance the storytelling and overall experience.
  • Engaging puzzles are thoughtfully designed and integrate seamlessly with the narrative, providing a rewarding gameplay experience.
  • The pacing of the game is slow, which may test the patience of players who prefer a quicker experience.
  • There is limited replay value, as once the story and puzzles are explored, there isn't much incentive to revisit the game.
  • Technical issues, such as bugs and performance hiccups, can disrupt gameplay and detract from the immersive experience.
  • story
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as gripping and intricately woven, featuring a complex web of characters and events that create an immersive experience enhanced by detailed environments and visuals. However, there are concerns about tone inconsistency, fluctuating between eerie, philosophical, and abstract elements, which may leave players without a clear understanding of the narrative. While the lore and backstory are well-developed, the lack of replayability due to limited additional content or alternative story paths is noted as a drawback.

    • “The game’s story is gripping and intricately woven, drawing you into a complex web of characters and events that keep you engaged throughout.”
    • “The detailed environments and mood-setting visuals create an immersive experience that enhances the storytelling.”
    • “The game presents a well-developed universe with intriguing lore and backstory, making the world feel alive and expansive.”
    • “Tone inconsistency: the description fluctuates between eerie, philosophical, and abstract without anchoring the reader to a concrete idea of what the story or gameplay entails.”
    • “Once you’ve explored the story and solved the puzzles, there isn’t much incentive to revisit the game.”
    • “Additional content or alternative story paths could improve replayability.”
  • gameplay
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay features thoughtfully designed puzzles that enhance depth, but the tone inconsistency and drawn-out narrative may challenge players seeking a faster pace. Some mechanics and narrative elements could overwhelm newcomers to the genre, potentially disrupting immersion and testing patience. Overall, while the gameplay offers engaging elements, its execution may not resonate with all players.

    • “They are thoughtfully designed and add a layer of depth to the gameplay.”
    • “The engaging puzzles add a layer of depth to the gameplay.”
    • “The narrative and gameplay can sometimes feel drawn out, which might test the patience of players who prefer a quicker pace.”
    • “The game’s mechanics and narrative depth might be overwhelming for some players, especially those new to this genre.”
    • “Tone inconsistency: the description fluctuates between eerie, philosophical, and abstract without anchoring the reader to a concrete idea of what the story or gameplay entails.”
  • music
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its captivating soundtrack, which perfectly complements the game's themes and enhances the overall atmosphere. Reviewers note that the well-crafted music and sound effects add significant depth to the narrative, contributing to an immersive experience.

    • “The soundtrack is captivating and complements the game’s themes perfectly.”
    • “The Way Down offers a deep and immersive narrative experience with its rich world-building, atmospheric art style, and captivating soundtrack.”
    • “The music and sound effects are well-crafted, adding depth to the narrative and enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The way down offers a deep and immersive narrative experience with its rich world-building, atmospheric art style, and captivating soundtrack.”
  • graphics
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are characterized by an atmospheric art style that significantly enhances its tone and storytelling. Detailed environments and mood-setting visuals create an immersive experience, contributing to the game's rich world-building and narrative depth. Overall, the art style is praised for its ability to draw players into the game's atmosphere.

    • “The detailed environments and mood-setting visuals create an immersive experience that enhances the storytelling.”
    • “The way down offers a deep and immersive narrative experience with its rich world-building, atmospheric art style, and captivating soundtrack.”
    • “The art style is atmospheric and contributes significantly to the game’s tone.”
  • replayability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is criticized for its limited replay value, with many users noting that the experience feels constrained and could benefit from additional content or alternative story paths to enhance replayability. The slow pacing further contributes to the perception of a lack of incentive to replay the game.

    • “I feel the replay value is somewhat limited.”
    • “Additional content or alternative story paths could improve replayability.”
    • “However, the slow pacing and limited replay value might affect the overall experience.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its atmospheric art style, which significantly enhances the overall tone and narrative experience. The well-crafted music and sound effects further contribute to the immersive world-building, creating a captivating and deep experience for players.

    • “The music and sound effects are well-crafted, adding depth to the narrative and enhancing the overall atmosphere.”
    • “The way down offers a deep and immersive narrative experience with its rich world-building, atmospheric art style, and captivating soundtrack.”
    • “The art style is atmospheric and contributes significantly to the game’s tone.”
  • humor
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted by moments of exaggerated excitement, such as a character flexing after a trade, which elicited genuine laughter from players. This comedic element adds a lighthearted touch to the gameplay experience.

    • “I busted out laughing.”
    • “I found it funny when the dude got excited about the trade and started flexing.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has been criticized for technical issues, including occasional bugs and performance hiccups, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “Personally, I encountered some technical issues, such as occasional bugs and performance hiccups.”
    • “I experienced frequent frame drops and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
    • “The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to stuttering and crashes that make it frustrating to play.”

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