Through the Woods

Through the Woods is a sad, haunting tale that manages to scare without being cheap or easy, and one of this year’s best horror games.

70%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, optimization

69% User Score Based on 790 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Through the Woods is a single player action adventure game with a horror theme. It was developed by Antagonist and was released on October 27, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Through the Woods is a third-person Norse horror adventure where you play as a mother searching for her missing son in a forest inspired by Norwegian folklore. The game features reactive narration, high-quality sound design, and a setting influenced by Norse mythology. Your goal is to find your son while uncovering the mysteries of the forest, using sound as a core mechanic to navigate the dark and scary environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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69%

Audience ScoreBased on 790 reviews

story247 positive mentions

stability46 negative mentions

The atmosphere is beautifully crafted, immersing players in a hauntingly beautiful Norwegian wilderness.
The incorporation of Norse mythology adds depth and intrigue to the story, making it engaging for fans of folklore.
The game features a compelling narrative that explores themes of loss and motherhood, resonating emotionally with players.

The voice acting is often criticized as being poor and lacking emotion, detracting from the overall experience.
Gameplay is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interaction, leading to a repetitive experience.
The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and graphical glitches, which can disrupt immersion.

story
591 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The story of "Through the Woods" centers on a mother's desperate search for her kidnapped son, intertwining themes of Norse mythology and personal tragedy. While many players appreciated the atmospheric storytelling and the incorporation of folklore, opinions on the execution varied; some found the narrative engaging and well-paced, while others criticized it for being shallow or poorly developed. Overall, the game is noted for its intriguing premise and emotional depth, though it suffers from pacing issues and a lack of character relatability.
- “The story is interesting and laden with Norse fairy tales and mythology.”
- “Through the Woods offers a captivating dive into Norwegian mythology, making its storyline one of the game's strong points.”
- “The atmosphere, story, and music are the game's strong points.”
- “The whole plot feels rushed, which makes it hard to care about anything that’s happening.”
- “Unfortunately, none of the characters you get to know are likable or compelling, and the ending contradicts and upends the story it was built upon.”
- “The story tries to tackle serious themes, but it does so clumsily.”
graphics
233 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
45%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting significant issues such as low-quality textures, rendering glitches, and stiff animations that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the atmospheric environments and certain visual designs, particularly those inspired by Nordic mythology, others criticize the dated graphics and performance problems, suggesting that they fall short of modern standards. Overall, the visuals are seen as a weak point, but they are occasionally redeemed by the game's engaging story and sound design.
- “The graphics are stunning and the sound effects add to the atmosphere and ambiance of the game, bringing even further immersion into the horror and beauty of Through the Woods.”
- “Great atmosphere, great story, and stunning visuals and sound.”
- “The graphics quality, especially for an indie game, is well beyond what I was expecting, and for such a good price too, you cannot go wrong.”
- “The visuals are a big problem: low-quality textures, empty environments, and some rendering effects that aren’t just bad, but straight-up broken.”
- “Some of the graphics should have stayed back in 2000; it just looks awful.”
- “The graphics/models were mediocre at best and it is very poorly optimized.”
atmosphere
161 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
28%
2%
The atmosphere in "Through the Woods" is widely praised for its immersive and eerie qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Norwegian folklore and horror. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke feelings of dread and tension through its sound design, visuals, and environmental storytelling, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and character design. Overall, the game is recommended for those seeking a captivating atmospheric experience, particularly in a dark setting.
- “But the atmosphere of the game is what gets under your skin; there were times when I was terrified, and I'm not easily scared.”
- “Through the Woods absolutely nails the atmosphere that a Norwegian horror game should have, providing a take on Norse mythology that is rich with dread and darkness.”
- “The atmosphere is amazing; I loved the noises and the visuals (when you could see them because of the darkness).”
- “Horror games need atmosphere, and this one never fully pulls you in.”
- “The game has a dense atmosphere, but for the most part, it's a walking simulator with very little to explore and a pace that is way too slow for this little content.”
- “Even the atmosphere was very, very far away from what I was expecting from it.”
gameplay
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
77%
11%
The gameplay in "Through the Woods" is primarily a walking simulator with minimal interaction, focusing on exploration and narrative rather than challenge or complexity. While the atmosphere and story rooted in Norse mythology are praised, many players find the mechanics simplistic and occasionally frustrating, with issues like clunky controls and lack of engaging gameplay elements. Overall, the experience can be compelling for those who appreciate story-driven horror, but it may disappoint players seeking more dynamic gameplay.
- “Gameplay is simple and sometimes rough around the edges, but if you approach it as a slow, story-driven horror with a strong sense of place, it can be a compelling and memorable journey.”
- “The gameplay is good; it's mostly a walking simulator with some light stealth mechanics and one or two instances where you have to repel an enemy with your flashlight.”
- “The main gameplay revolves around just trying not to die to all kinds of Nordic folklore and can be pretty damn suspenseful and downright scary at times, but I wouldn't label it a horror game.”
- “Gameplay-wise, it's more of a walking simulator, with minimal interaction or challenge.”
- “While the mechanics are straightforward, they lack depth and may not hold the attention of players looking for a more engaging experience.”
- “The gameplay is confusing and dull, and the story/dialogue is weak melodrama.”
music
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The music in the game is widely praised for its emotional precision and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers noting its effectiveness in creating tension and immersion. While some found the soundtrack sparse, it was often described as beautiful and fitting, complementing the game's Nordic mythology and eerie environments. Overall, the music is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, contributing significantly to the storytelling and ambiance.
- “The music is absolutely fantastic.”
- “The atmosphere, story, and music are the game's strong points.”
- “From the menu music, in-game soundtracks (Myrkstad is incredible) to the scary horror moments where music builds tension in an already creepy environment, no complaints here.”
- “However, there were also moments when I was confused and just listening to how the music changed unlocked the puzzle-- those were more rare, but kind of magical.”
- “Perhaps if the music and sound effects were more evocative of a terrifying situation, it would have worked better, but the music and dark scenery didn't come together for me to give an effective horror mood while playing.”
- “Oh, and the soundtrack is wholly forgettable.”
stability
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs and graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. Common issues include visual errors, game freezes, and inconsistent AI behavior, leading to frustration for many users. While some players found the game playable despite these problems, the consensus is that the stability issues are a major drawback.
- “It's a buggy and janky mess.”
- “Unfortunately, the game is poorly optimized, the voice acting is stiff, the controls feel clunky, and the game repeatedly crashes about 3 hours into it. My basic troubleshooting was not able to fix that.”
- “The premise seemed really promising, but the number of graphical glitches I encountered was so bad that I couldn't see well enough to play the game.”
optimization
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
35%
54%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with players reporting frequent frame drops, stuttering, and crashes across various systems, including high-end setups. Many noted that the graphics and performance are subpar, leading to a frustrating experience despite some appreciation for the story and atmosphere. Overall, significant optimization improvements are needed to enhance gameplay stability and visual quality.
- “Technically, this game could do with some optimizations.”
- “Good game, not as optimized as I would have hoped.”
- “It should be noted that I had no performance issues with the game, but some people might.”
- “Unfortunately, it is terribly optimized as others have mentioned, although I was still able to play it on my Steam Deck without crashes; just frame drops and some artifacting at a couple points in the game.”
- “The optimization is quite bad and there are near constant FPS crashes and stuttering, but the game is slow-paced enough to where they aren't a huge deal.”
- “It runs like shit, it looks like shit, voice acting is complete shit, it flickers constantly and will destroy your eyeballs if you can't hit 60 FPS minimum, which you probably won't since its optimization is total absolute shit.”
emotional
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
13%
The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the touching story of a mother searching for her son, enriched by folklore elements and sparse yet impactful music. However, criticisms arise regarding the protagonist's lack of emotional depth and the voice acting, which detracts from the intended emotional weight, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the narrative. Overall, while the game has the potential for a profound emotional experience, execution issues hinder its effectiveness for many players.
- “The forest feels oppressive and mysterious, the folklore elements are interesting, and the emotional core of a parent searching for their child adds weight to the experience.”
- “Not since the Silent Hill series has a game moved me so emotionally.”
- “The story is about a mother looking to save her son, within a contemporary setting that blends into another world of dark fantasy, that reminisces to me of the Guillermo del Toro film, Pan's Labyrinth, and is an emotional tale.”
- “The story was less than stellar; while I initially listed it as a pro, I found it to be pretty boring overall.”
- “I expected a deep emotional experience, but the narrative fell flat and failed to engage me.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and didn't resonate with me at all.”
replayability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
36%
43%
Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; while some players appreciate the potential for revisiting the game to discover collectibles and monsters, many others feel that once completed, the game lacks significant replay value. Several reviews highlight that the experience is enjoyable but short, leading to a consensus that it may not justify its price without a sale.
- “I liked it and it definitely has a replay value to it!”
- “I surely didn't discover all the monsters, which makes me want to revisit it in the future to try to encounter them all; it adds a little bit of replay value to the game.”
- “Well worth $20, with plenty of collectibles, story content, and replay value.”
- “There’s no replay value once finished.”
- “Besides finding all the collectibles, no replay value.”
- “The game has absolutely no replay value.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely unintentional, stemming from poor voice acting, immersion-breaking bugs, and a contrived story that often leads to laughter rather than fear. While some players found moments of genuine humor in the animations and dialogue, the overall comedic effect seems to arise from the game's shortcomings rather than intentional comedic design. Despite its flaws, the incorporation of Norwegian mythology and occasional scary elements provide a unique, if amusing, experience.
- “It was funny at first, then it got scary and actually interesting, but every time they started talking I could not hold my laughter in.”
- “It is so contrived and try-hard that it is hilarious.”
- “The creatures don't look that terrifying and many of the 'horror elements' actually made me laugh.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Character development in this game is generally criticized for being shallow and lacking depth, with some players noting that the limited timeframe of a single night hampers meaningful growth. While the atmosphere and graphics are praised, many feel that the characters do not evoke enough sympathy or complexity to engage players fully. Overall, the character design is considered visually appealing but fails to match the quality of the game's environments.
- “The story, setting, character development, and atmosphere make this a great game.”
- “At first, she evokes sympathy, but this wanes as we discover more about her and her past through encounters and triggered dialogue in a kind of reverse character development.”
- “Graphics and character design are high quality!”
- “Taking place over a single night (read: two hours of play), there's just not time to flesh out enough character development to make it feel natural.”
- “At first, she evokes sympathy but this wanes as we discover more about her and her past through encounters and triggered dialogue in a kind of reverse character development.”
- “The story lacks depth and sympathetic character development.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often feeling trapped in repetitive scenarios that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the exploration elements, many feel that the game devolves into a monotonous "jog simulator" that lacks engaging content.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Promising first twenty minutes that eventually settles into a tedious jog simulator.”
- “At multiple points, you're trapped in a tiny area while the game tediously explains things you should have picked up from context clues already.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy primarily revolves around in-game purchases, allowing players to buy various items or enhancements to enhance their gaming experience.
- “The in-game purchases feel exploitative and are a major turn-off for players.”
- “Monetization is overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
- “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience.”

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73%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

3-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Through the Woods is a action adventure game with horror theme.

Through the Woods is available on Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Through the Woods.

Through the Woods was released on October 27, 2016.

Through the Woods was developed by Antagonist.

Through the Woods has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Through the Woods is a single player game.

Similar games include The Shore, Unforgiving - A Northern Hymn, Lifeless Planet, The Beast Inside, Blair Witch and others.

Through the Woods

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