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Wanderlust

44%Game Brain Score
music, graphics
gameplay, optimization
44% User Score Based on 110 reviews

Platforms

PCPCWindowsWindowsLinuxLinuxMac OSMac OS
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About

"Wanderlust" is a first-person exploration and puzzle game set in the dreams of a substance-addicted man. The game aims to create a surreal, atmospheric experience, inspired by titles like "The Stanley Parable" and "Dear Esther," with a focus on exploration and sensory stimulation. The game is described as a "walking simulator," "indie," "casual story," "abstract," "mystery," "experimental," "interactive fiction," "horror," "psychological," "relaxing," and "fantasy" experience.

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Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot
Wanderlust screenshot

44%
Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews
music34 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a relaxing soundtrack, creating a calming atmosphere for players.
  • Wanderlust serves as a unique artistic experience, allowing players to explore surreal environments and appreciate the visuals.
  • Many players found the game enjoyable as a short walking simulator, perfect for taking screenshots and unwinding.
  • The game is extremely short, with many players completing it in under 20 minutes, leading to concerns about its value for the price.
  • Technical issues abound, including poor optimization, unresponsive controls, and numerous invisible walls that hinder exploration.
  • The only achievement requires the use of a third-party tool to unlock, which has frustrated many players and detracted from the overall experience.
  • music
    86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its relaxing and atmospheric qualities, particularly the lo-fi and steamwave tracks that enhance the visual experience. However, some users criticized the repetitiveness of the soundtrack and the inability to adjust the volume, which detracted from the overall experience. While the music is often described as good and fitting for a casual exploration game, several reviewers felt it was insufficient to elevate the game's otherwise lackluster gameplay and technical issues.

    • “It's a very relaxing experience with some beautiful background music and intriguing visuals.”
    • “Wanderlust is a game that fulfills the meaning of the word, you travel through various steamwave scenarios and with a lo-fi background music, which switches to every scene you visit.”
    • “First of all it is a game that encourages you to explore the most unusual worlds, which are a delight for the eyes (and for the desktop background) along with a music which will make you take off your imagination while you enjoy your travel.”
    • “If the business plan for a game is to compete with Spotify, which is free and has effectively unlimited music, all of which is better than the music here, it's failed before it even started.”
    • “It's just random assets cobbled together with background music, which you walk around aimlessly for 10 minutes before the game ends.”
    • “The music doesn't suit the worlds at all.”
  • graphics
    40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and variety, with some reviewers highlighting the intriguing art styles across different levels. However, many users report performance issues, including low frame rates and graphical glitches, particularly on higher-end hardware. Additionally, the lack of resolution options and graphics tweaks detracts from the overall experience, despite the appealing visuals and relaxing soundtrack.

    • “There's a good variety of environments, graphics and OST are on point.”
    • “I've been playing on a full HD projector and visuals were definitely amazing.”
    • “Beautiful graphics and the music selection suited the different places that were shown.”
    • “There's no option to change the resolution and no useful graphics tweaks.”
    • “In most regions, the graphics look way beyond mediocre and there are a couple of z-buffer problems in many places.”
    • “Numerous graphical glitches (there are intended glitches later on, but that's not what I'm referring to).”
  • gameplay
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay has been heavily criticized, receiving a score of 1/10, with reviewers noting a lack of interaction, narrative, and overall engagement. Players find the experience to be extremely short and unfulfilling, with some suggesting that even walking simulators offer more depth. Despite the visual appeal, many feel the game is overpriced for the minimal content it provides.

    • “Even walking sims like Dear Elise, while light on gameplay, are games that express a narrative, which you can only reveal by playing through the sim.”
    • “I'd say it's overpriced for what it is, but you have to admire the work and ethic that was shown right in the screenshots and gameplay.”
    • “Gameplay: 1/10”
    • “7GB for 20 minutes of gameplay?”
    • “I noticed on YouTube that the 'Wanderlust - Walkthrough Gameplay - First 10 Minutes' is only 3.28 minutes shorter than the complete playthrough.”
  • optimization
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is severely lacking, with users reporting poor performance even on high-end graphics cards like the GTX 1070. Players encounter bland, untextured environments that contribute to significant stuttering and overall frustrating gameplay experiences.

    • “Optimization, anyone?”
    • “You walk around bland, unoptimized, copy-pasted, often untextured environments looking for the exit.”
    • “The performance is abysmal.”
    • “As much as it gives me headaches walking through this simulation game, it's unoptimized in so many ways.”
  • story
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is largely criticized for its lack of engagement, with many players noting the absence of a narrative, vocals, or meaningful interaction. It is described as a walking simulator devoid of any compelling storyline or artistic expression, leading to a general disinterest among gamers. Overall, the narrative aspect fails to resonate, leaving players wanting more depth and connection.

    • “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “There's no story, no vocals, no interaction, no gameplay, not even an interesting artistic statement.”
    • “Walking simulator with no story or narration”
    • “Hardly a success story, gamers just weren't all that interested in the game.”
  • stability
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report experiencing numerous graphical glitches, particularly in city levels, which are attributed to the limitations of Nvidia's proprietary drivers for Linux. While some glitches are intentional, many others detract from the overall stability of the game.

    • “Numerous graphical glitches (there are intended glitches later on, but that's not what I'm referring to).”
    • “Graphic glitches (mainly noticeable in city level).”
    • “Shadow glitches (the same thing).”
  • atmosphere
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is described as a chill, dreamy, and visually appealing walking simulator, effectively complementing the background music. However, it is criticized for being short, technically flawed, and lacking in exploration or a truly relaxing ambiance due to odd music choices and visual effects, leading to perceptions of it being overpriced.

    • “A chill, dreamy, glowy walking simulator with nice atmospheres and levels to walk around in.”
    • “It's short, technically flawed, offers neither exploration nor a relaxing atmosphere due to some weird music choices and visual effects, and is outrageously overpriced.”
    • “It creates an atmosphere for the song playing in the background, but nothing more.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy has been criticized as exploitative, with users labeling the game's price of €6.99 as a scam, particularly in light of its marketing as a game.

    • “Advertising such a project as a game is reprehensible, but selling it for €6.99 is a scam.”

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