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Valley

Sonic the Hedgehog and Bioshock had a lovechild and named it Valley, a sleeper hit that deserves your attention.
Valley Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
replayability, stability
91% User Score Based on 4,236 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Mac OSPlaystation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation
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Valley Game Cover

About

Valley is a single player arcade platformer game with thriller and science fiction themes. It was developed by Blue Isle Studios and was released on August 24, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Explore the vast and beautiful world of Valley using the power of the L.E.A.F. suit: a fierce exoskeleton that grants exceptional speed and agility along with the phenomenal ability to manipulate the life and death of all living things.

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Valley screenshot
Valley screenshot
Valley screenshot
Valley screenshot
Valley screenshot
Valley screenshot
Valley screenshot
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,236 reviews
story1.4k positive mentions
replayability28 negative mentions
  • Beautiful graphics and environments that create an immersive experience.
  • Engaging story told through audio logs and notes, with interesting lore.
  • Fun movement mechanics with the L.E.A.F. suit, providing a sense of speed and agility.
  • Short gameplay length, typically around 3-5 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and can feel tacked on, detracting from the exploration experience.
  • The save system is frustrating, as it only saves at the beginning of levels, leading to potential loss of progress.
  • story
    3,003 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Valley" is a blend of environmental themes and personal discovery, primarily conveyed through audio logs and notes scattered throughout the game. While some players found the narrative engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay, others criticized it for being predictable and lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with a simple yet intriguing storyline that encourages exploration and emotional connection to the environment.

    • “A surprisingly interesting story told through a game whose mechanics are incredibly simple, but somehow perfectly sufficient.”
    • “The story is so catchy that despite being so linear, it still makes you want to keep going to know more, and even if you already do, it is nice just to ponder over it.”
    • “The story is compelling, delivered through audio files that play at certain points and additional notes that can be found throughout the valley.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is repetitive and the story is a bit lacking.”
    • “Hire a better writer or something because the story/lore is a main focus of this, but it's really, really boring.”
    • “The story is incredibly bland to the point where it feels like it was tacked on after the game developed.”
  • gameplay
    1,800 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Valley" is characterized by its fluid movement mechanics, primarily focused on parkour and exploration, which provide a satisfying sense of speed and agility. Players can engage with a unique life and death mechanic that ties into the environment, although some feel it is underutilized. While the game offers a visually stunning experience and enjoyable mechanics, it is relatively short, with many players completing it in about 4-6 hours, leading to mixed feelings about its overall depth and replayability.

    • “The gameplay is incredibly fun, always wondering what you could do.”
    • “It's incredible how easy the gameplay is but managed to do it so engaging, encouraging and rewarding exploration.”
    • “The mechanics are simple and friendly in its premise, encapsulating the contagious satisfaction of exploring immersive scenarios using smooth traversal mechanics.”
    • “Half an hour of gameplay to the bin, because why would a game have a rational saving system...”
    • “The gameplay is very easy (maybe a little too easy?) and the story is pretty cool.”
    • “The gameplay is simplistic, but in a way that allows the player to really take in the deep story of the game and still enjoy viper lining and sprinting around.”
  • music
    1,312 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players noting its emotional depth and atmospheric qualities. The soundtrack is often described as a perfect accompaniment to the stunning visuals and gameplay, creating a captivating and immersive environment. However, some users have pointed out issues with volume levels and occasional music glitches, which can detract from the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features of the game, elevating both the narrative and gameplay.

    • “The most beautiful soundtrack, storytelling & visuals in a game I haven't seen in a while now given how old this game is!!”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal.”
    • “The music is absolutely amazing too.”
    • “Some music tracks are loud to the point of blasting out eardrums, while others are relatively normal.”
    • “The soundtrack is uninspired and doesn't support the game much.”
    • “The music selection and audio mixing in this game are all over the place.”
  • graphics
    1,030 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beauty and attention to detail, with many reviewers highlighting the stunning visuals and immersive environments that enhance the overall experience. While some noted that certain textures appear dated or low-resolution, the overall aesthetic and art style were praised for creating a captivating atmosphere. Despite minor performance issues on lower-end systems, the game's graphics are considered one of its strongest features, making it a visually impressive title, especially for an indie game.

    • “The graphics are stunning and the game play is relaxed and fun.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, the music is beautiful, the story is interesting, and the gameplay is fun.”
    • “Valley is an exceptional game with stunning visuals, beautifully crafted environments, and a great soundtrack.”
    • “I think it all comes down to the generic feel of the visuals, which does very little to distinguish the valley from other Unreal Engine games.”
    • “The graphics are very outdated, locked to 60 or 90fps, and the old Unity engine can bring a 4090 to its knees, but if you try to ignore that and let the world immerse you, you'll have great fun.”
    • “The graphics look worse than what the trailers/pictures show, mainly because there are lots of very dark areas.”
  • atmosphere
    304 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its breathtaking visuals, immersive sound design, and evocative music, creating a captivating blend of beauty, mystery, and tension. Players appreciate the varied environments that enhance exploration, with some areas evoking feelings of nostalgia and others instilling a sense of unease. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively drawing players into its unique world and narrative.

    • “The environments are surprisingly beautiful and varied enough to avoid becoming repetitive until the end of the game, and they are permeated by a varied atmosphere, ranging from ludic and contemplative freedom to mystery, melancholy, and apprehension.”
    • “The atmosphere is beautiful, with surreal waterfalls, luscious terrain, and those magical energy orbs scattered everywhere.”
    • “The game does a terrific job of building out the atmosphere based on visuals and story alone, but the fantastic and timely soundtrack really pulls everything together, giving it a sense of wonder and, at times, a sense of terror.”
    • “I mean, I get setting up the atmosphere or whatever, but since there is not much of any other sounds, it just gets boring to listen to only your own footsteps for long periods of time...”
    • “A boring slog with lame gameplay and lame atmosphere.”
    • “There's so little to do in these areas, and there's no reason to absorb the atmosphere.”
  • replayability
    124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting a lack of substantial replay value after the initial playthrough. While some enjoy revisiting areas for collectibles and achievements, others find the experience too linear and short, leading to minimal incentive for multiple runs. Despite its enjoyable mechanics and atmosphere, the consensus leans towards limited replayability, making it more suitable for those who appreciate exploration rather than those seeking extensive replay options.

    • “The game is pretty replayable; replaying it might even give you more fun than your first playthrough.”
    • “Being able to run through the areas again using the travel feature has actually been really enjoyable and absolutely helps with its replay value!”
    • “Overall, I loved this game more than anything I played. It is short, but there is quite a bit of replayability with the medallions and acorn doors, and I just know I've missed loads of content and boxes in the game, so I'll definitely be replaying a few times not only for that, but just for the atmospherics of this game.”
    • “And the biggest con is in lack of replayability - all features you will know after first play.”
    • “There is not a whole lot of replay value, so buy on sale.”
    • “The harshest critique I could lay against it is the limited replayability because of the linear progression.”
  • stability
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly in the interface and during specific gameplay scenarios, such as dying or exploring hidden areas. While some users experienced minor issues that did not significantly detract from their enjoyment, others found the glitches frustrating enough to impact their overall experience. On a positive note, the game runs well on Linux, and several players noted that despite the bugs, the gameplay remains enjoyable and engaging.

    • “Runs great on Linux, so extra points for that!”
    • “Also runs great on Linux, thanks to the developers for bringing this jewel to us Linux users!”
    • “Technically, the game runs great and looks beautiful.”
    • “The 'Plant of Heartbeat' achievement is buggy; after you reach the reactor, don't turn the game off if you want to take a break. Continue for 2 more minutes until you acquire the Lifeseed - otherwise, the game will skip that point on the next run, and you will need to do a second playthrough to get it.”
    • “When you die, the game glitches horribly. I am going to recommend the game, but be forewarned, the glitches when dying might drive you to stop playing.”
    • “This game runs very poorly... when you turn your camera view, it glitches and my game quits.”
  • optimization
    63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues, including stuttering and frame rate drops, even on high-end systems. While many appreciate the beautiful visuals and engaging narrative, they note that the optimization could be improved, particularly in demanding environments. Overall, while some players report smooth performance, others find it lacking, especially when using higher graphical settings.

    • “The environments look amazing and render well even on weaker systems while keeping fluid performance, all while featuring a really gripping narrative.”
    • “The game is well-optimized, so taking off at high speeds never caused any stuttering or hitching, which is all-important in a game like this.”
    • “Positives: stunningly well-created world with beautiful scenery, excellent graphics (tested on highest settings), great soundtrack, well-optimized game, the l.e.a.f.”
    • “I did run into some minor performance issues, especially when I enabled anti-aliasing (AA), which is disappointing considering the age of the game and that I’m running well above recommended specs with a 2070 Super, R7 2700X, and 32GB RAM.”
    • “Almost jokingly bad optimization for a game that has nothing more to offer other than pretty visuals and half-wit puzzle mechanics.”
    • “Very poor performance at 1440p on my GTX 1080 and i7 8700K; this is the first game that I can't run at decent FPS on Steam.”
  • emotional
    58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players noting its touching story, beautiful visuals, and evocative soundtrack that enhance the overall experience. While some found the narrative compelling and heartwarming, others felt it lacked depth or impact in certain moments. Overall, the game successfully creates an emotional journey that resonates with players, often leaving them feeling invested and reflective.

    • “This game is beautifully made and you quickly develop an emotional connection to the game.”
    • “Valley is an emotional journey through a great flourishing wilderness ravaged by war and human conflict.”
    • “The story is very endearing and heart touching and is quite relevant to today: the pursuit of technology at all costs.”
    • “Exhilarating gameplay in a pretty world weighed down by a boring story.”
    • “Sorry, but I wasn't able to play it for more than 20 minutes: lags and a boring story.”
  • grinding
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many collectibles and upgrades requiring excessive backtracking and exploration that detracts from the game's fluidity. While some appreciate the challenge, the repetitive nature of certain tasks and the lack of engaging content in many areas lead to a sense of boredom. The game may appeal to those who enjoy grinding, but many reviewers suggest it can feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable experience.

    • “It can be a little challenging but it's not tedious.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Collectibles are tedious and not worth it - they take the fluidity out of the game.”
    • “The main problem I had with Valley is that the exploration feels tedious, because the outdoor levels are spaciously designed, but most of the nooks and crannies I checked, hoping to find crates with collectibles, had absolutely nothing of interest.”
    • “A pretty game for sure, but you don't get to enjoy its biggest upside (the speed) nearly enough; instead, the game makes you go through tedious yet easy 'puzzles' to proceed further.”
  • humor
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted through amusing notes left by characters, playful sound effects, and the joy of gameplay that elicits genuine laughter. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone and clever writing, which adds depth to the experience without relying on typical comedic tropes. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with engaging mechanics, making it a delightful adventure.

    • “The more you look around, the more you discover about the people who came before you, their work, and even little humorous notes those people would write to themselves.”
    • “The first hour of the game I was just jumping and running around like a madman, while laughing like a little child.”
    • “I remember just running through an open field, and all of a sudden, this loud Celtic-like music starts blaring, and I actually burst out laughing because of how jarring it was.”
    • “Well, okay, I'll stop with the unfunny jokes and unnecessary shade-throwing and try again. Here we go:”
    • “The humor in this game feels forced and often falls flat, making it more cringeworthy than funny.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes are stale and the punchlines predictable.”
  • monetization
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with users expressing disappointment over misleading advertisements and a lack of visibility prior to discovery. While some players appreciate the game when discounted, they criticize the prevalence of microtransactions and overpriced content in the gaming industry, suggesting that these elements detract from the overall experience.

    • “So if this game is 25% to 75% off and you are looking for a new game and give zero quacks about multiplayer, gun skins, loot boxes, microtransactions or whatever the big names think you need so they can make a profit then get this game.”
    • “If you do care about multiplayer, gun skins, loot boxes, microtransactions then look on the bright side: it's almost the end of the year so the next installment of 'your favourite game 2018' shouldn't be far off.”
    • “The promises of the advertisement have not been fulfilled.”
    • “I don't like talking about money, but currently many companies make their games so overpriced or so filled with microtransactions that it is barely playable, even if the core game is not finished and polished enough.”
    • “If you do care about multiplayer, gun skins, loot boxes, microtransactions then look on the bright side: it's almost the end of the year so the next installment of 'your favorite game 2018' shouldn't be far off.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, reviews indicate a significant lack of character development in the game, with many players expressing disappointment over the absence of depth, struggles, or meaningful growth. While some praise the visuals and level progression, the consensus is that the narrative feels rushed and underdeveloped, leaving little to engage players on a character level.

    • “The end felt a bit rushed; I wanted a bit more character development, a bit more story.”
    • “Great visuals, good level progression, great character development.”
    • “Without spoiling anything, there is no twist, there is no mystery, there is no real discovery, there is no originality and there is very little in terms of character development.”
    • “Unfortunately, there was more or less no character development, as this ends up being quite a short, 'to the point' game.”
    • “The story is okay, but there is practically no character development or significant plot twists or anything to make it more interesting than what it is: a few notes and audio recordings which tell you why you're walking down the linear path.”
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71%Critics’ scoreBased on 17 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
9h Average play time
4-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 114 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Valley is a arcade platformer game with thriller and science fiction themes.

Valley is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Valley.

Valley was released on August 24, 2016.

Valley was developed by Blue Isle Studios.

Valley has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

Valley is a single player game.

Similar games include A Story About My Uncle, Lifeless Planet, AER Memories of Old, RiME, Ori and the Blind Forest and others.