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Torn Away

Torn Away, with its gut wrenching narrative and beautifully grim graphics, is the new gold standard for visual novel-based video games.
Torn Away Game Cover
88%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
replayability, stability
96% User Score Based on 111 reviews
Critic Score 76%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Torn Away Game Cover

About

Torn Away is a single player platformer game with drama and historical themes. It was developed by perelesoq and was released on September 29, 2023. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Torn Away" is an emotional interactive story that follows a 10-year-old girl, Asya, who escapes from a World War II labor camp and embarks on a journey home. The demo offers three types of gameplay: stealth platforming to evade soldiers, a first-person level to survive a snowstorm, and a point-and-click level for survival in an abandoned hut. Experience the hardships of war through the eyes of a child, striving to maintain humanity amidst tragedy.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
Torn Away screenshot
+15
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 111 reviews
story29 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • Torn Away features a profound and emotionally resonant story that effectively portrays the horrors of war from a child's perspective, making it a unique narrative experience.
  • The art style is visually striking and complements the game's themes, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling.
  • The game offers a variety of gameplay mechanics, including exploration, puzzle-solving, and mini-games, which keep the experience engaging and dynamic.
  • The gameplay can be frustrating at times, particularly with clunky controls and inconsistent autosave points, which may disrupt the flow of the experience.
  • Voice acting in the English version is often criticized as flat and insincere, detracting from the emotional impact of the story.
  • Some players found the platforming sections to be poorly executed, leading to moments of frustration that overshadow the narrative.
  • story
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is a poignant and immersive narrative centered around Asya, a young girl navigating the horrors of World War II as she seeks to reunite with her family. Players are drawn into a beautifully crafted world that combines emotional storytelling with striking visuals, creating a heartfelt experience that resonates deeply, despite its relatively short playtime of 3-4 hours. While some critiques mention the simplicity of the plot, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke empathy and reflection through its tragic yet beautifully told tale.

    • “A beautiful interactive story that does not shy away or take lightly the sadness caused by war.”
    • “The story is so touching and genuine, and it really makes you feel a deep connection to her experiences.”
    • “Torn Away is a very emotional, beautiful story about the hard times of World War II.”
    • “Asya’s story is sad, yes, but not powerful enough to be considered great.”
    • “The story is too plain for me and there are no ideas you can think a lot about in the game.”
    • “Even though the plot itself is not very sophisticated, I followed Asya's story with interest and it was very heart-touching.”
  • emotional
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Torn Away" is widely praised for its beautifully written and poignant narrative, which takes players on a heart-wrenching journey through the experiences of a young girl during World War II. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke deep feelings, often leading to tears, as it balances moments of beauty with profound sadness. The combination of touching storytelling, stunning visuals, and a genuine connection to the characters creates a memorable and impactful emotional experience.

    • “Torn Away is a poignant and emotionally resonant experience that left me deeply moved from start to finish.”
    • “Torn Away manages to strike a delicate balance between heart-wrenching moments and tender moments of beauty, creating an experience that is as thought-provoking as it is emotionally impactful.”
    • “The game 'Torn Away' conveys all these emotions and feelings through the inner world of a child, and this makes it special and heartfelt.”
  • graphics
    32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their unique and creative art styles, often described as hand-drawn or storybook-like, which enhance the emotional depth of the narrative. While some reviews note a low polygon count, the cel-shaded and stylized visuals effectively mask this limitation, creating an immersive experience. Overall, the combination of stunning visuals, captivating animations, and thoughtful design contributes significantly to the game's storytelling and emotional impact.

    • “The graphics are stunning, and the attention to detail in the game is impressive.”
    • “What makes the game feel truly special is its art style: while the levels are in 3D, everything is stylized as 2D art, making certain snapshots look straight out of a children’s book.”
    • “The animations are bland, the art style is very simplistic with a grain filter or some filter that makes it look like it's been drawn with crayons or something like that.”
    • “The art style is storybook-like, but also has this sort of bit crushed distortion effect around it, making it look almost like the art is struggling to hold itself together.”
    • “The quality of the visuals, the story, and its presentation is truly top-notch.”
  • gameplay
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in these narrative-focused games is often described as simple and not the main attraction, with many players prioritizing story and aesthetics over mechanics. While some titles feature engaging puzzles and exploration, they are generally categorized as walking simulators with limited variety, leading to mixed feelings about their gameplay depth. Overall, the gameplay is seen as accessible and enjoyable, complementing the rich narratives rather than overshadowing them.

    • “Gameplay-wise, Torn Away offers a blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and narrative choices that keep the experience engaging from start to finish.”
    • “With its profound themes, breathtaking visuals, and engaging gameplay, it's an unforgettable journey that will stay with you long after the credits roll.”
    • “The gameplay is challenging but not frustrating, and it keeps you engaged from start to finish.”
    • “The game is good as an anti-war drama, but lacking variety of gameplay elements.”
    • “The gameplay, on the other hand, is what holds this game back.”
    • “Mechanics: it doesn’t have much in mechanics, it's mostly a walking simulator with some puzzles.”
  • music
    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the music in the game has received a positive reception, with many reviewers praising its emotional depth and quality. The soundtrack is described as outstanding, blending elements reminiscent of favorite movie scores, while the voice acting and sound design also contribute significantly to the immersive atmosphere. Some users noted that the music enhances the storytelling, particularly in conveying the game's tragic themes.

    • “The soundtrack is outstanding.”
    • “It's like a blend of your favorite movie soundtracks, which adds a whole new level of emotion to the game.”
    • “The magnificent musical accompaniment immerses you even more into the tragic story and the atmosphere of Asi's difficult childhood.”
    • “The music is just okay.”
    • “The quality of voice acting for both Polish and German characters is impressive, as is the melodic and piano-heavy soundtrack.”
    • “Maybe it's because I'm very keen on visuals and music in films, games, TV series, and anime.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game is rated positively, with users reporting no performance issues on desktop PCs. There is a suggestion that larger studios could benefit from the optimization practices of indie developers.

    • “Performance: no issues with performance on my desktop PC.”
    • “Aaa studios should learn story writing and game optimization from indie studios.”
    • “AAA studios should learn story writing and game optimization from indie studios.”
  • atmosphere
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive narrative set against the backdrop of WWII, characterized by a stark contrast between a small protagonist and a vast, violent world. The combination of high-quality music, effective game design, and a seamless 2D to 3D transition enhances the emotional depth of the story, particularly highlighting the protagonist's tragic childhood. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating and impactful.

    • “Atmospheric narrative adventure focused on the story of a small person in a huge world full of violence and inhumanity during WWII.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and game design are of a high standard, and I particularly appreciated the 2D to 3D transition.”
    • “The magnificent musical accompaniment immerses you even more into the tragic story and enhances the atmosphere of Asi's difficult childhood.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game can be completed in a day, but it offers potential replayability, particularly when played with others, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “You can complete this in a day if you rush through, but there's significant potential for replay value.”
    • “One of the key aspects of replayability is the need to play this game with or around more people so they can share in the experience.”
    • “You can complete this in a day if you rush through, but there's some potential for replay value.”
    • “The only form of replay value comes from the need to play this game with others so they can share in the experience.”
  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report experiencing stability issues, including glitches that require resets, such as getting stuck mid-animation when attempting to interact with objects, which can hinder gameplay.

    • “I had to reset a couple of times due to glitches, like when I had to hop on a box to board a train car, but I got stuck mid-animation and fell off the box, making it impossible to jump again.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it frustrating to progress through levels.”
    • “I experienced several instances where the game froze, forcing me to restart my console.”
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76%Critics’ scoreBased on 6 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Torn Away is a platformer game with drama and historical themes.

Torn Away is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 4 and others.

Torn Away was released on September 29, 2023.

Torn Away was developed by perelesoq.

Torn Away has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Torn Away is a single player game.

Similar games include That Dragon, Cancer, What Remains of Edith Finch, INMOST, Valiant Hearts: The Great War, 11-11 Memories Retold and others.