The Yawhg

About

The Yawhg is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with horror, fantasy and historical themes. It was developed by Emily Carroll and was released on February 27, 2014. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"The Yawhg" is a choose-your-own-adventure game where players prepare for the arrival of a ominous force, the Yawhg. Each action and decision made during the 14 days leading up to the Yawhg has consequences for the character's stats and the game's outcome. The game features multiple endings, encouraging replayability and different story paths.

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,011 reviews

story120 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and haunting soundtrack that enhance the storytelling experience.
High replayability with numerous branching paths and endings, making each playthrough unique.
Fun to play with friends, encouraging laughter and shared experiences during gameplay.

Extremely short gameplay, typically lasting only 10-15 minutes per session.
Limited set of events leads to repetition after a few playthroughs, diminishing long-term engagement.
No online multiplayer option, restricting play to local co-op only.

story
308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
60%
1%
The story of "The Yawhg" is a collaborative, choose-your-own-adventure experience that offers a unique narrative each time you play, enhanced by beautiful art and music. While the game is short and can feel repetitive after several playthroughs, it excels in creating engaging, whimsical, and sometimes dark storylines that resonate well with players, especially in a group setting. Many reviewers highlight the game's charm and replayability, making it a delightful option for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The yawhg is a quiet, contemplative story that doesn't take long to run through, but provides endless fun, especially with friends, on subsequent runs.”
- “A strong and compelling story, a unique and beautiful art style, and a hauntingly pretty soundtrack come together to create an incredible storytelling experience in the yawhg.”
- “The story is engaging even after multiple playthroughs, and some of the dialogue options are really hilarious!”
- “The story is just very strange; the idea is something to have fun with, and I do admit despite the same events happening, things always seem different.”
- “I felt no investment in the story or what happened at all.”
- “After only a few playthroughs, the whole story already repeats itself.”
music
224 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its haunting and melancholic qualities. While some players appreciate the soundtrack's emotional depth and fitting nature, others express frustration over its volume levels and repetitiveness. Overall, the combination of lovely music and charming art contributes significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience for many players.
- “The music is lovely, the art is charming, and there are so many paths to take.”
- “Genuinely one of my favorite games ever, the music and art is so beautiful and fitting and I enjoy every bit of it.”
- “The art style and the music make this game feel like home.”
- “This game is pretty fun, but it really needs a volume setting because the music level literally hurts my ears!”
- “Would love to review based on the concepts and gameplay, but the music is so loud I can't make it past the character screen.”
- “Be warned that there are no settings and it has fairly loud music for some reason.”
replayability
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
55%
8%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by its charming narrative, multiple outcomes, and the ability to play with friends, making it enjoyable in group settings. While many players appreciate the variety of experiences and the potential for experimentation, some note that the short playtime and recurring events can lead to diminished replay value over time. Despite these concerns, the game remains a popular choice for casual play, particularly when introducing it to new players.
- “This game is full of charm, wit, and replayability.”
- “A huge number of possible stories, which gives the game great replayability.”
- “The yawhg is an experience that can be experienced by yourself or with others, each game lasts about fifteen minutes and has a lot of replayability and different outcomes based on your choices.”
- “Certainly lacks depth, and I don't think there is much in the way of replayability, to be honest.”
- “And to add insult to injury, on playthrough 2 I see many of the same so-called random events that I saw in playthrough 1, all over again, which makes me realize there's practically zero variety of possible events and almost no replayability because by playthrough 3 I had milked it for every permutation it was possibly worth and the whole experience was over in 30 minutes.”
- “Not much replayability with the same people though; you just figure it all out too quickly and it loses the initial charm somewhat.”
graphics
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
33%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which effectively complements the storytelling and enhances the overall atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the charming visuals and haunting soundtrack, noting that they create a cozy yet melancholic experience. While the graphics are simple, they are described as fitting and appealing, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and replayability.
- “The artwork is very beautiful and creates the perfect atmosphere for this world.”
- “The art style is beautifully drawn out and the outcomes in this game are seemingly endless.”
- “The graphics are charming, as is the story.”
- “It's mostly a text-based game with graphics to supplement it.”
- “While I love the artwork and scenarios that occurred, I can't help but feel this really should have just been a series of webcomics rather than a video game.”
- “And to add insult to injury on playthrough 2 I see many of the same so-called random events that I saw in playthrough 1, all over again, which makes me realize there's practically zero variety of possible events and almost no replayability because by playthrough 3 I had milked it for every permutation it was possibly worth and the whole experience was over in 30 minutes... the aesthetic is glorious, but the price is steep for what it is.”
gameplay
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
82%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and minimalism, often revolving around making choices that influence the narrative rather than engaging in complex mechanics. While some players appreciate the quick, interactive sessions and replayability, many criticize the lack of depth and the repetitive nature of the gameplay, leading to a perception that it may not justify its price. Overall, the game is best enjoyed in a social setting, where its straightforward mechanics can facilitate fun and laughter among friends.
- “It is clear proof that even with simple mechanics you can build a great game experience.”
- “The gameplay is there to simply give the player choice, immersing them in the story that the game crafts and presents, and in that regard it succeeds.”
- “The relatively simple mechanics and in-depth stories make this a great game to play at a dinner party or other smaller event.”
- “Gameplay consists solely of a short collection of binary choices that offer no real risk or reward for the player.”
- “The gameplay is incredibly simple, just having you choose where to go on a map, and what activity to do there.”
- “The gameplay in the yawhg is incredibly minimal, with the only real player input being what actions the characters take during the six-week in-game cycle.”
humor
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "The Yawhg" is characterized by a clever blend of dark, quirky, and sometimes poignant elements, creating a unique atmosphere that balances laughter with moments of existential dread. Players appreciate the game's witty dialogue and the amusing outcomes of their choices, especially when played with friends, which enhances the experience through shared reactions to the unexpected twists. Overall, the game is described as charming and engaging, with a replayable nature that keeps the humor fresh and entertaining.
- “A little bit of humor, a little bit of eldritch horror, a lot of heart, and a sprinkle of existential dread make for a very delicious game.”
- “The writing is great; it can be very funny or disturbing at times.”
- “The random events throughout the game provide witty, at times completely unexpected moments, and simply hilarious moments.”
atmosphere
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
78%
9%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful artwork, engaging soundtrack, and a blend of cozy yet eerie elements that enhance the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the nostalgic and immersive qualities, noting that the music and visuals work harmoniously to create a captivating environment that encourages replayability. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “It has such a lovely atmosphere, delightful stories, and a fun sense of dread.”
- “The artwork is very beautiful and creates the perfect atmosphere for this world.”
- “The music provides a relaxing atmosphere without taking away from the tension of the game, and with so many different endings, it's easy to get a few hours of playtime without it becoming stale.”
- “The atmosphere makes it worth it alone.”
- “So generally, The Yawhg seems to be a simplified (and short) version of D&D which implements a more story-driven atmosphere.”
- “I'd really like to see more atmosphere-dependent games like this one - interactivity can have such a special effect on stories, which books and movies will never achieve.”
emotional
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, offering a blend of heartwarming and devastating experiences through its choice-based narrative. Players find the enchanting music and beautiful art enhance the emotional impact, making each short playthrough leave a lasting impression. While it evokes a range of feelings, from joy to contemplation, some note its limited replayability despite the profound emotional engagement it provides.
- “Emotionally captivating, devastating, beautiful.”
- “The music is heartfelt, and the storylines feel involving, despite this being a relatively short game.”
- “A beautiful and amazing game that is just so touching and emotional due to the overall unique style and design of the game and the feeling the game creates that this is a must-play game for adventure and story-loving game fans.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extensive and potentially tedious, requiring significant time investment, with some noting it can feel isolating. While the experience may yield new discoveries, those accustomed to more traditional grinding mechanics may want to reconsider their choice to engage with this title.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “After 30-40 playthroughs in a row, it may get tedious, but even then you can still find stuff you've never seen.”
- “Just remember that this is not a typical gaming experience, and gamers who prefer more standard grinding, number crunching, or tactics-style games might want to give this a pass.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is influenced by player decisions and unpredictable events that can either aid or obstruct progress. However, some players feel that the post-disaster events lack depth, leaving them wanting more substantial growth opportunities for their characters.
- “You basically try to make decisions on what to do with your life to prepare for the looming disaster, but unpredictable events occur along the way that can help you a lot or hinder your character development.”
- “I expected more events after 'the yawhg' to justify the supposed character development.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report stability issues, particularly with screen glitches that appear to be specific to the game, as other newer titles on Steam run without problems.
- “My screen just glitches out now, and it seems like a problem with the game since newer Steam games work just fine.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's optimization is criticized for providing minimal payoff or feedback after completion, leaving players feeling unsatisfied and questioning their overall experience.
- “Once you finish the game, it offers you little payoff or feedback about your performance, leaving you asking yourself what just happened.”
- “The optimization feels lacking, as the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even on high-end systems.”
- “There are numerous bugs and glitches that disrupt the gameplay experience, making it frustrating to progress.”