The Witness

The depth of organic interaction, witnessing the world melt seamlessly into itself, makes for a near perfect experience.

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The Witness is a first-person puzzle adventure game set on a mysterious, abandoned island. players explore the island and solve puzzles to uncover its secrets. With over 500 puzzles, the game offers a challenging and immersive experience that tests player's problem-solving skills and creativity.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 7,782 reviews

gameplay246 positive mentions

story218 negative mentions

Beautiful and immersive environment that enhances the puzzle-solving experience.
Clever and challenging puzzles that encourage critical thinking and exploration.
Unique approach to teaching mechanics through gameplay rather than tutorials.

Lack of clear direction and guidance can lead to frustration and confusion.
Some puzzles rely on audio or color cues, making them inaccessible for players with certain disabilities.
The ending is underwhelming and does not provide a satisfying conclusion to the journey.

gameplay
1,418 mentions
17 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "The Witness" is centered around a single mechanic of drawing lines to solve puzzles, which is expanded upon through various unique mechanics introduced in different areas of the game. Players appreciate the game's ability to teach these mechanics organically without explicit instructions, leading to satisfying "aha" moments as they progress. However, some reviewers find the gameplay repetitive and frustrating, particularly when encountering puzzles that require knowledge of mechanics not yet learned, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “The further you go, the more you realize how the game’s mechanics compose a brilliant system that rewards careful observation and persistent curiosity.”
- “The game does a great job teaching you its mechanics, not by explaining them to you, but by letting you experiment on less complex puzzles to rule out what works and what doesn't.”
- “The way the game teaches you its mechanics through carefully crafted puzzles and without a word of tutorial is simply stunning.”
- “Started out well but after realizing all the puzzles were variations of the same mechanic, I started to lose interest.”
- “But in terms of gameplay, it appears to be incredibly thin.”
- “The gameplay is a slog.”
story
1,218 mentions
13 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
18 % negative mentions
The story in "The Witness" is largely criticized for its minimalism and lack of coherence, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of a traditional narrative. Instead, the game offers a collection of philosophical quotes and audio logs that players can piece together, but these often feel disconnected and pretentious rather than meaningful. While some appreciate the environmental storytelling and the opportunity for personal interpretation, the overall consensus is that the game lacks a compelling story to drive the player forward, making it more of a puzzle-solving experience than a narrative-driven adventure.
- “The witness features beautiful visuals, clever and surprising puzzles, implicit storytelling and will keep you busy for at least 15 hours, possibly quite more if you want to discover every secret this island has to offer.”
- “The story is subtle but an amazing path of discovery with some of the most satisfying puzzles I've ever solved.”
- “The game is filled with beauty, some of it lies in its secrets, some in its art style and its story.”
- “Zero story development whatsoever.”
- “The game's 'story' is somewhat lacking, requiring an immense effort on the player to make it pretty far into the game and also decipher it from its clues just for a pretty underwhelming reveal.”
- “There's no storyline, nothing to motivate you to do these puzzles, that aren't even fun.”
graphics
834 mentions
61 % positive mentions
37 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning beauty and artistic design, often described as a blend of minimalist and vibrant aesthetics that create an immersive atmosphere. Players appreciate the unique art style, which enhances the exploration experience, although some have noted issues with performance and a lack of detailed graphical options. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal despite criticisms regarding gameplay depth.
- “More than a game, it's 'artwork' at its finest.”
- “The architecture, the unique artistic visuals and colors, and even the extremely well-crafted sound design work together to gently nudge you towards understanding without ever spelling it out.”
- “From the very first moments, as you step onto the mysterious and beautifully crafted island, the game captivates with its stunning aesthetics and meticulously designed structure.”
- “Boring, samey puzzles, non-sensical and overly pretentious story and bland visuals.”
- “The graphics are basic and dated.”
- “Very boring, graphics are just there to trick you into thinking there is more to the game than there is, and much too overpriced for the small amount of content.”
atmosphere
294 mentions
65 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beauty, serenity, and immersive quality, often described as both calming and mysterious. Players appreciate the distinct visual and auditory elements that create a unique environment for exploration and puzzle-solving, reminiscent of classic titles like Myst and Portal. However, some critiques mention that the lack of music and narrative can lead to feelings of isolation or monotony, despite the overall enchanting experience.
- “The beautiful environment and serene soundscape create a hypnotic atmosphere for exploring and solving puzzles.”
- “The atmosphere of the game makes it relaxing to play but also really entertaining.”
- “The atmosphere is gorgeous, maybe one of the prettiest games I've played, it's very immersive.”
- “I expected a rich ambient sound design to go with the lush visuals to set the atmosphere for puzzle solving but got almost complete silence.”
- “There is no atmosphere, tone, or story.”
- “It's visually well-presented and the atmosphere is... well, kind of non-existent.”
music
284 mentions
15 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's music aspect has received mixed reviews, with many players noting the absence of a traditional soundtrack. While some appreciate the serene ambiance created by environmental sounds, others find the lack of music to be a significant drawback, leading to feelings of emptiness and frustration during gameplay. Overall, the minimalist approach to music is seen as a design choice that enhances focus on puzzles, but it may not appeal to those who prefer a more immersive auditory experience.
- “The ambient soundtrack adds another layer of immersion, whisking you away on an introspective journey as you unravel the island's secrets.”
- “The sound design is also noteworthy, with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack that adds to the atmosphere of the game.”
- “The game's beautiful visuals and haunting soundtrack create a truly immersive experience.”
- “The game lacks any music, which does get on my nerves because solving puzzles on end does get grating and some form of ambience may have helped.”
- “There is no music in the game, just background noise and other kinds of environmental types of audio.”
- “The lack of a soundtrack bothered me greatly.”
grinding
206 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is predominantly characterized by tedious and repetitive puzzle-solving, which can lead to frustration and boredom over time. While some players appreciate the challenge and complexity of the puzzles, many find the sheer volume and similarity of tasks overwhelming, resulting in a lack of engagement and enjoyment. Overall, the experience is often described as a grind, with players feeling that the game does not respect their time or provide sufficient rewards for their efforts.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Medium level of grinding.”
- “Though a lot of effort has gone into making the puzzles fair, it does not follow that solutions are not tedious.”
- “The sheer number of variations on the same puzzle becomes overwhelming and tedious, and the moments of enlightenment are no longer enough to keep up with the quantity of puzzles.”
- “You essentially just wander around solving the same puzzles to open doors, and it can get very tedious and boring really quick.”
- “The puzzles are tedious, in many cases the solution is placed entirely outside of the player's frame of reference, and the reward for completing a devious challenge never feels personal or particularly rewarding.”
emotional
66 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game "The Witness" are highly varied, with players expressing feelings ranging from frustration and confusion to awe and enlightenment. Many found the puzzles both challenging and rewarding, leading to moments of triumph and self-reflection, while others criticized the game for its perceived emotional coldness and lack of narrative depth. Overall, the game elicits a complex mix of emotions, including joy, frustration, and a sense of discovery, but also leaves some players feeling underwhelmed or disconnected.
- “I get emotional thinking about how amazing this game is.”
- “Well, I have to say this game made me cry out of wonder and awe at the ending.”
- “Not only is it fun to complete the puzzles, but it also contains thought-provoking and touching audio and video hidden throughout.”
humor
54 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is often described as clever and self-aware, with players enjoying moments of laughter from unexpected puzzle solutions and environmental details. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain design choices feeling more frustrating than funny, many appreciated the game's ability to elicit genuine amusement through its quirky mechanics and subtle jokes. Overall, the humor adds a layer of enjoyment, though it may not reach the heights of classics like Portal.
- “I found myself laughing sometimes when I realized what clever tricks the developers had led me to discover all on my own!”
- “I often find myself laughing out loud with some of the twists in the puzzles.”
- “The narrative of the game is diminished in value next to the realization that it was laughing at me the whole time.”
replayability
40 mentions
25 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it surprisingly high due to the depth and variety of puzzles, while others feel it lacks value after the initial playthrough. Many agree that the challenging nature of the puzzles means players are likely to forget solutions over time, allowing for enjoyable revisits, but the overall sentiment leans towards limited replayability typical of the puzzle genre.
- “I've played it like an addiction the last two weeks and there's so much extra content and add-on puzzles; this game has a surprising amount of depth and replayability.”
- “One of the best puzzle games in existence, and it has great replay value. I forgot most of the puzzles after a year or two, so it was just as pleasant, if not more, to revisit after a while.”
- “There is so much replayability because of the insane number of puzzles.”
- “Not really any replay value though which is unfortunate, wish I could play this game for the first time again.”
- “The only thing wrong with the game is that its nature utterly removes any replay value it might have had.”
- “The only real problem with this game could be that there isn't much in the way of replayability.”
optimization
18 mentions
22 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and lack of bugs, while others report significant issues, particularly on older hardware. Many users note that the graphics optimization is lacking, leading to low frame rates and rough visuals, especially on Mac systems. Overall, while the game is well-crafted in terms of puzzles and design, its performance can be inconsistent, particularly for those with less powerful setups.
- “It is very well optimized, has zero bugs (in the 60+ hours that I played).”
- “Nonetheless, because the game is so skillfully crafted with smooth, high-quality interface performance, I recommend it if you enjoy solving a multitude of maze puzzles.”
- “Insofar as objective criteria exist for judging the quality of a video game, the game runs smoothly, the team has been timely about patching bugs, the visuals (gorgeous and stylized) and audio (understated and lacking music) are expertly executed, and the design of the world and puzzles is meticulous (and ambitious).”
- “Long story short, I lost interest in this game almost immediately after purchase because of the repetitive puzzle mechanic and the poor performance on Mac.”
- “It ran The Talos Principle just fine, and The Witness was also playable, but the framerate was often annoyingly low and the graphics looked rather rough, giving the feel of a rather poorly optimized game.”
- “Graphics are pretty, but optimization is rather poor.”
stability
11 mentions
18 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs and freezing issues, while others praise its polish and lack of game-breaking glitches. While a few players encountered minor visual glitches, many found the game to be largely stable and enjoyable, indicating a divide in user experiences. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary widely, with some players experiencing frustrating technical problems and others enjoying a smooth gameplay experience.
- “Riddles make sense and the game was bug-free.”
- “The game is incredibly polished, with beautiful watercolor graphics and literally no glitches.”
- “Game is buggy, won't load after playing for a total of 36 hours.”
- “In the last area of the game, you need to solve puzzles that are easy to solve by themselves, but which have visual glitches or other 'features' that do not make it harder to solve the puzzle, but make it harder to enter the solution.”
- “Instantly freezes my computer.”
monetization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for being unimpactful, with some suggesting it could function equally well as a low-cost or free-to-play title with ads. Players feel that the game's enticing visuals and advertising do not translate into meaningful content, and there is speculation that a free version with in-game purchases for solutions could be more profitable.
- “The monetization model is fair and allows players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers cosmetic items for purchase, which enhances the experience without affecting gameplay balance.”
- “They could be a $5 game or a free mobile game with ads, and it wouldn't have changed anything.”
- “The witness lures you in with its advertising and colorful visuals, only to give you nothing meaningful.”
- “The upcoming iOS version of this game will earn more if offered for free with in-game purchases for solutions.”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely criticized, with many users expressing disappointment in the lack of meaningful plot progression and character growth.