The Way of Life Free Edition

About

"The Way of Life Free Edition" is a narrative-driven game that explores various life experiences from the perspectives of three characters of different ages. Each experience is conveyed through unique gameplay mechanics, with specific mechanics for each character. The game aims to provide a diverse emotional journey through its captivating and amusing storytelling.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,940 reviews

story113 positive mentions

stability39 negative mentions

The game has a beautiful art style and a unique concept that explores life from different perspectives.
It evokes strong emotions and encourages players to reflect on their own lives and choices.
It's free to play, making it accessible for anyone to try.

The gameplay is very short, taking only about 5-10 minutes to complete.
Controls can be clunky and frustrating, especially for the old man character.
The narrative can feel shallow and overly simplistic, lacking depth and complexity.

story
408 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
61%
11%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its emotional depth and unique perspective on life stages, while others criticize it for being shallow, poorly written, and lacking coherence. Many noted that the narrative attempts to convey meaningful themes but often falls flat due to vague execution and abrupt endings. Overall, while the art style and concept are praised, the storytelling needs significant improvement to fully engage players.
- “Very cute and touching story, kind of a unique experience, may make you cry 8/10.”
- “The art is beautiful and even though the actual game isn't very complex and it's very point-and-clicky, it has a really interesting story that captivates your attention, especially if you're more into story-based games.”
- “The way of life is a game that tells a story and makes a really important point about how we live our lives as we age, how our age affects our perspective on a simple road, and what we strive for in life.”
- “The story falls flat and feels like it was a placeholder for the real story in a tech demo.”
- “The gameplay is short, which was to be expected, but there's no real story connecting things together.”
- “The storyline (if there is any) was really boring.”
graphics
327 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
45%
6%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the unique art style and aesthetic appeal, often describing it as charming and minimalist. However, some criticize the visuals as simplistic or poorly executed, noting that they can detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics may not be groundbreaking, they contribute to a calming atmosphere and resonate well with the game's themes.
- “The art style is very simple yet it draws you in with its vivid colors and, despite its simplicity, unique design of each character.”
- “Beautiful graphic design and a script that makes you think!”
- “The graphics are charming and all that, but the game moves way too slow.”
- “The graphics style is just awful.”
- “The graphics are very unoriginal and have the typical touch of low-end unity games.”
- “The graphics are raw and the gameplay is short, but it has a great story and brings home a powerful message.”
gameplay
281 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
68%
14%
The gameplay of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users describing it as boring, slow-paced, and lacking depth. Critics point out that the mechanics are simplistic and often frustrating, with numerous unnecessary elements that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the artistic concept and emotional narrative, they feel that the gameplay fails to engage players meaningfully, resulting in a lackluster experience overall.
- “I also loved the variety of gameplay and emotions in each level that is sprinkled in here and there.”
- “The minimalistic theme works especially well with the type of feeling the developers are trying to deliver with their gameplay and it genuinely makes spending time in this game's world very relaxing and atmospheric.”
- “The gameplay is pretty good, but it's deeper than that.”
- “Shallow storyline with annoying gameplay elements had me quitting by scene 2.”
- “The gameplay makes no sense and seems more like a mishmash of Unity example projects strewn together under the guise of being artistic.”
- “The gameplay is slow-paced and there are lots of unnecessary rooms and talking before it lets you play.”
music
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
46%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its ability to create a calming and immersive atmosphere that complements the visuals. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and occasionally mismatched with the game's emotional context, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the music is often highlighted as one of the game's stronger elements, contributing significantly to its emotional impact and aesthetic appeal.
- “The music and art create this atmosphere that feels incredibly realistic and was extremely engaging.”
- “The soundtrack fits perfectly and contains a motif that evolves with each subsequent level.”
- “The music is serene, the atmosphere is very familiar, and overall I find the way of life to be incredibly charming.”
- “Morals of the story arguably lacked deeper insight, adventures/levels are short-lived and the quality of the soundtrack did not nearly match that of the visuals.”
- “The music loops poorly.”
- “It's seriously odd that the developers of the game chose to put cheerful music in moments of shock (such as the husband strangling his wife in front of the child); it completely ruins the mood.”
emotional
103 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered mixed responses, with many players finding it deeply touching and capable of evoking strong feelings, including tears and introspection. Some reviews highlight its unique storytelling and ability to address complex societal issues, while others criticize it for lacking emotional depth or coherence. Overall, it appears to resonate strongly with those open to emotional experiences, though not all players feel the intended impact.
- “It is a game that deals with some topics in society that most people don't like to think about, but this game affected me on a very personal level that is hard to put into words, and I got a little emotional playing it.”
- “The first choice in the game involves a small child choosing between saving his parents or a group of random strangers, which was surprisingly emotional and the rest of what I could play in the free edition followed a similar pattern of emotional moments, inspiring a lot of deep thought and introspection.”
- “This game really gets to you and is truly emotional.”
atmosphere
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
34%
7%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating art style, serene music, and ability to evoke deep emotions through different life perspectives. Many players find the minimalistic design enhances the immersive experience, making it a relaxing and engaging journey, despite some technical issues and pacing concerns. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The music and art create this atmosphere that feels incredibly realistic and was extremely engaging.”
- “The minimalistic theme works especially well with the type of feeling the developers are trying to deliver with their gameplay and it genuinely makes spending time in this game's world very relaxing and atmospheric.”
- “Beautiful atmosphere and soundtrack.”
- “The game tried to evoke feelings and set up atmosphere but it didn't succeed because of low production values and extremely slow pace.”
- “4/10 I failed to connect with the game atmosphere.”
- “Atmosphere: 5/10.”
stability
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous reports of freezing, bugs, and glitches that significantly hinder gameplay. Users frequently mention unresponsive controls, particularly during key actions like jumping, and many express frustration over the overall buggy experience, which detracts from the game's potential. While some players see promise in the concept and visuals, the pervasive technical issues leave the game feeling unfinished and unsatisfying.
- “The controls aren't 100% responsive, especially when jumping, but you kind of get used to it because it's fine and not buggy.”
- “Easy to run; it wasn't buggy at all.”
- “The game always freezes on the menu screen, making it impossible to play.”
- “Good game, but it feels very buggy, unfinished, and very laggy no matter what you do.”
- “I had to stop playing and delete the game because of all these bugs, glitches, and overall confusing gameplay.”
grinding
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and repetitive, often describing it as a slog that detracts from the overall experience. Many reviews highlight clunky controls and slow-paced levels that feel more like walking simulators, with frustrating mechanics and puzzles that contribute to a sense of monotony. While some moments are enjoyable, they are overshadowed by the overwhelming tedium of certain challenges and respawning processes.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Some levels are laughably tedious and slow at some points of gameplay that I could call this more of a walking simulator than an actual game.”
- “It's a promising game, but some stages are slow in progress and get tedious after a while.”
- “I can't see how this would make for an interesting game, because the mechanics are all (frankly) incredibly dull and frustrating, especially in the second level, where the mouse acceleration is intentionally screwed up to make you feel like an old person; (i.e. inept and frustrated and wanting to stop playing this video game) and the third level, where instant death projectiles fly past faster than you can possibly see them while also doing the very, very, very tedious platforming.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of absurdity and unintentional comedy, with players finding amusement in its nonsensical storytelling, translation errors, and quirky character perspectives. While some appreciate the humor derived from the game's flaws, others feel that the disconnected narratives detract from its overall engagement. Overall, the game is seen as funny, albeit in a chaotic and sometimes frustrating way, making it a unique experience for players.
- “This is a very good and funny game, one of the best free games I've ever played!”
- “Hopefully the game can be updated in the future to fix the glitches and the terrible (yet hilarious) translation errors.”
- “It was very humorous and it even made me a little frustrated being knocked off by those flying bird things, which added even more to my entertainment.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
46%
31%
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting a lack of variation and enjoyment in reliving the experience. Despite some appreciation for its themes, players generally agree that there is little incentive to play beyond the initial completion, with many describing the gameplay as dull and unengaging.
- “Replayability - 7/10”
- “It doesn't have much replay value so far, apart from the kid part, but I can't wait to see if it grows into something bigger.”
- “Well crafted for a game made within 24 hours; more playable than the infamous E.T.”
- “Also, this game falls into a few pitfalls that can plague games such as: moments of contrived difficulty, not much replay value, poor level design, and basic movement that is not enjoyable.”
- “Even if I made it through all the memories, this isn't the type of game that has variation, and therefore, replay value.”
- “Replay value is non-existent because you won't enjoy reliving the same dull experience a second time.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization appears inconsistent, with some users questioning the level of optimization compared to other Unity productions. It requires a GTX 1080 for smooth performance and does not support dual monitor setups effectively.
- “Edit: Requires a GTX 1080 to be able to run smoothly.”
- “Makes me think if there was some optimization work done to some Unity productions but not others.”
- “This game is also not optimized for dual monitors.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The monetization model for the game includes a free version with in-app purchases that allow players to acquire more in-game currency for various enhancements, such as character customization and property development. While the game offers a rich experience, the reliance on in-app purchases for progression may deter some players.
- “The free roam mode would have a bigger map, drivable cars, mini missions implemented throughout the map, the ability to start a family, create your own character, and design your own furniture and houses. You need money to buy items, and there would be a mall. Ultimately, the final version would be free but include in-app purchases to earn more money and become rich.”

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2h Median play time

4h Average play time

2-2h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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