The Yawhg

About

The Yawhg is a single player and multiplayer casual 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 one-to-four-player choose-your-own-adventure game that randomizes a unique story every time you play. The evil Yawhg is returning. How will the town's locals lead their lives in the meanwhile, and what will they do when the dreaded Yawhg finally arrives? The fate of a community hinges on the characters' actions, and the decisions of their players.

Skip User Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,342 reviews

story170 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Beautiful and unique art style by Emily Carroll paired with a haunting and soothing soundtrack sets a captivating atmosphere.
Highly replayable narrative-driven experience with numerous story paths, random events, and multiple unique endings influenced by player choices and stats.
Great multiplayer party game that thrives in local co-op mode, encouraging group storytelling, humor, and shared emotional moments.

Extremely short gameplay duration with each session lasting about 10-30 minutes, leading to players quickly exhausting new content and encountering repetitive events.
Lack of modern quality-of-life features including no options menu, no volume or resolution controls, no windowed mode, and crashing issues when alt-tabbing or adjusting settings.
Limited online functionality, restricting multiplayer to local hot-seat only, making it less accessible for remote play.

story
462 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
62%
1%
The story in "The Yawhg" is a brief but compelling interactive narrative with a unique, whimsical, and sometimes melancholy tone that unfolds through player choices across multiple characters. While the storytelling is highly praised for its art, music, and humor, it is often noted as short and somewhat repetitive after multiple playthroughs, yet it excels as a collaborative, replayable experience best enjoyed with friends. Overall, it delivers an engaging and charming choose-your-own-adventure style that rewards curiosity and social interaction despite its simplicity and limited depth.
- “The Yawhg is a strikingly original blend of narrative experimentation and interactive storytelling that turns the concept of fate into a playful yet melancholic experience.”
- “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 Yawhg presents a rich and satisfying game, beautiful in looks and story.”
- “Just not enough in there to be called a game, and the story is 5 minutes long top.”
- “- one playthrough takes you 5-10min and if you play another game you immediately start to see the same options or story outcomes, there are way too few choices”
- “- your characters story doesnt matter since the game is only 8mins long, actions are more stat-ups than creating a story & the story is basically the same every time”
music
328 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in this game is widely praised for its haunting, beautiful, and atmospheric soundtrack that perfectly complements the art and storytelling. Composed mainly by Ryan Roth and Halina Heron, it blends relaxing, melancholic, and folk elements to create an immersive and emotive experience, although some note the limited variety and lack of volume controls. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight that enhances the game's mood and replayability.
- “Complementing the visuals is a haunting soundtrack by Ryan Roth and Halina Heron that flows between wistful melodies and uneasy tension.”
- “The music and sound design create an atmosphere that feels simultaneously comforting and foreboding, perfectly matching the sense of calm before an inevitable storm.”
- “My love for the music and the art style has never changed; it holds a special place in my heart.”
- “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.”
graphics
155 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
35%
2%
The graphics of The Yawhg are widely praised for their unique, whimsical, and haunting art style by Emily Carroll, which beautifully complements the game's fairy-tale and gothic atmosphere. The visuals, combined with a fitting, often melancholic soundtrack, create a charming and immersive aesthetic that significantly enhances the storytelling experience. While the graphics are simple and stylized rather than high-budget, they are considered a standout feature that draws players back despite the game's short length.
- “An oldie but a goodie, The Yawhg is a gorgeous romp through a fantasy world absolutely oozing whimsy and mystery thanks to Emily Carroll's unique and captivating art style.”
- “Visually, The Yawhg is defined by Emily Carroll’s distinctive art style, which merges fairy-tale whimsy with gothic eeriness.”
- “Based on the glorious artwork of Emily Carroll, this game offers a make-your-own adventure type with some interesting variety in gameplay and character choice.”
- “Basic gameplay and simple visuals, a step up for a digital board game.”
- “This is a choose your own adventure book that happens to include graphics and music (1 song that plays forever....)”
- “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.”
replayability
151 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The game offers significant replayability through multiple paths, randomized events, and varied character outcomes, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging, especially when played with friends. However, many note the game's short length and eventual event repetition reduce long-term replay value, with replayability often maxing out after several playthroughs. Overall, it is best enjoyed as a short, repeatable experience that shines in social or group settings but may feel limited solo after fully exploring its content.
- “It is the most re-playable game I've ever experienced and easily makes my top three best games of all time.”
- “There are endless combinations of outcomes making for tonnes of replayability.”
- “Events are randomized to give the game more replay value, but they also interconnect with each other in surprising and delightful ways, so you're likely to see something new even on your tenth time through the game.”
- “However, the game is too short, and the replay value is a bit lacking.”
- “I don't dislike this game by any means but I unfortunately don't think it's worth the cost. There's a crumb of replayability and it just falls so flat.”
- “So in other words the game has no replay value whatsoever and in the end for a game that costs $10 that's unacceptable.”
gameplay
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
78%
4%
The gameplay of this game is notably simple and minimalistic, centered around making choices that influence character stats and story outcomes within short, replayable sessions. While its mechanics lack depth and can feel repetitive or shallow, the game compensates with engaging storytelling, charming art, and a unique atmosphere, making it especially enjoyable in multiplayer or casual settings. However, some players find the brief duration and simplicity insufficient for the price or desire more interactive gameplay elements.
- “Its mechanics are simple, its art stylized, and its tone playful, but beneath the surface lies a haunting meditation on community, survival, and the fragile beauty of choice.”
- “The gameplay is friendly for casual players while also offering depth for folks who want to explore specific routes or outcomes.”
- “The gameplay and themes of this game are in perfect harmony and it makes for a memorable experience.”
- “Gameplay is a monotonous grind of choosing a location at which to get a stat boost, having a random stat change happen from a random event, and then repeating until you're eventually told the village has been destroyed.”
- “Insanely short and repetitive, not enough gameplay to justify the $10 I spent.”
- “There's no actual gameplay involved, just some decisions to make, and by the way the days evolved I'm guessing the replay value is almost none.”
humor
109 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is praised for its clever, darkly whimsical blend of absurdity and poignancy, creating moments that are both hilarious and emotionally impactful. Best enjoyed in multiplayer, it fosters laughter and lively interaction as players share in the unpredictable, often twisted storytelling outcomes. Overall, the humor strikes a unique balance between funny, somber, and eerie tones, enhancing its replayability and social appeal.
- “The game thrives in multiplayer mode, where up to four people share the same unfolding story, laughing, debating, or groaning at the absurdity of their characters’ lives.”
- “The humor veers from whimsical to grim, and the tone oscillates between absurd and sincere, maintaining a delicate balance that few narrative games manage to achieve.”
- “The randomly generated events provide witty, at times completely unexpected (and being genuinely surprised is something I very rarely experience in games) and simply hilarious moments.”
atmosphere
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
26%
The game excels in crafting a unique, immersive atmosphere through its beautiful art style, moody and fitting soundtrack, and cohesive storytelling. The blend of cozy yet eerie, comforting yet foreboding elements creates a memorable emotional experience that enhances replayability. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that deeply engages players and complements the game's narrative and aesthetic.
- “The music and sound design create an atmosphere that feels simultaneously comforting and foreboding, perfectly matching the sense of calm before an inevitable storm.”
- “The mix of medieval atmosphere, seemingly random supernatural violence, and the impending doom of the mysterious Yawhg makes this game one of my favorites.”
- “The Yawhg is a mostly story-based game but its drawings have a beautiful style with lovely colours and together with its soundtrack, they create the perfect atmosphere for the tale of the seven days of some townies before the Yawhg comes to destroy it.”
emotional
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a deeply emotional experience through its minimalist presentation, combining heartwarming and heartbreaking moments with haunting music and captivating storytelling. Its short playtime packs powerful emotional impact, often leaving players contemplative and touched, especially in multiplayer where shared narrative enhances the connection. While some note limited replayability and desire for more depth, the game remains a uniquely charming and heartfelt journey that resonates strongly with players.
- “What begins as a lighthearted round of weekly decisions quickly becomes a surprisingly emotional reflection on how people react when they know that everything they love might soon end.”
- “The minimal presentation works to the game’s advantage: rather than overwhelming players with effects or spectacle, it allows the mood, art, and words to carry emotional weight.”
- “Like you could categorize it as a visual novel or something, but that isn't what's good about it... what's good is a single run takes about 10 minutes but leaves me emotional and contemplative every time.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
88%
Grinding in this game can quickly become tedious and repetitive, especially after extended play sessions, though some players still find new content over time. It differs from typical RPGs by offering a shorter, less exploration-heavy experience, so those seeking traditional long-term grinding and complex strategies may find it unsatisfying. Overall, grinding here is more minimal and serves a unique, less conventional RPG style.
- “But after 10 minutes, it became tedious.”
- “We kept grinding for another 20 minutes, becoming more and more bored at the repetitive pattern, lightly joking to each other, trying to keep ourselves invested in this.”
- “A playthrough lasts only 30 minutes but still manages to feel long and tedious.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The game's optimization is lacking, with minimal settings and basic performance tuning. While the core gameplay is enjoyable, the lack of meaningful feedback and post-game content reduces overall engagement. Additionally, character roles and stats influence town rebuilding, but this aspect feels underdeveloped.
- “How the developer made this game without settings, basic optimization, and the idea and meat of the game is fun, but everything around it is garbage.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is somewhat limited, with players encountering unpredictable events that impact growth, but many feel it falls flat overall. While the character designs and art are praised, the narrative and progression lack depth and additional content, especially after major events, leaving players wanting more meaningful development.
- “The character designs and art are absolutely beautiful, and I'd love to see them in another game, comic, or cartoon, as the current game offers limited development.”
- “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 with screen glitches occurring during gameplay, suggesting the problem is specific to the game rather than their system or platform.
- “My screen just glitches out now and it seems like a problem of the game since newer Steam games work just fine.”