Wandersong

About

"Wandersong" is a single-player Fantasy Real Time Strategy game with an interesting plot, good mechanics, and sensational graphics. As a singing bard, players interact with the world using music, solving puzzles and meeting 150+ characters. With exceptional music, wholesome story, and accessible design, it provides 10-12 hours of whimsical adventure, despite being quite buggy and requiring some grinding.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,072 reviews

story1.4k positive mentions

stability136 negative mentions

Wandersong features a heartwarming story that explores themes of friendship, hope, and the power of music, making it a touching experience.
The game has a charming art style and vibrant visuals that enhance the overall atmosphere, creating a delightful world to explore.
The unique singing mechanic allows players to interact with the environment in creative ways, keeping the gameplay fresh and engaging throughout.

The platforming mechanics can be clunky and imprecise at times, leading to frustration during certain sections of the game.
Some players may find the pacing slow, particularly in the early acts, which could detract from the overall experience.
There are occasional bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as issues with resolution settings and character movement.

story
3,092 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The story of *Wandersong* is widely praised for its heartwarming and whimsical narrative, focusing on a bard's quest to save the world through music and friendship. Players appreciate the emotional depth, charming characters, and clever twists that elevate the seemingly simple plot, making it resonate on a personal level. While some reviewers noted pacing issues and a lack of challenge in gameplay, the overall consensus is that the story is engaging, uplifting, and a standout feature of the game, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “This is a masterpiece of a story that should be played by all.”
- “The heartfelt music and story genuinely feels like a breath of fresh air.”
- “Wandersong is a very charming game with a heavy focus on its story and dialogue, it is full of extremely charming characters and it asks you this: what if you weren't the hero?”
- “The story got a bit too bloated for me to enjoy.”
- “Everything else is secondary to the story they wanted to tell; which means that the controls are sometimes clunky, the experience is linear and certain 'puzzle' aspects are contrived.”
- “I think the issue is that wandersong's story quickly gets very bloated and a bit too hung up on certain story beats, and the missing balance between story and gameplay accentuates that further.”
music
2,664 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
57%
1%
The music in *Wandersong* is widely praised for its charm and emotional depth, with many players highlighting the beautiful soundtrack that enhances the game's whimsical storytelling. While the gameplay mechanics involve singing and using a song wheel to solve puzzles, some players noted that the singing elements can feel simplistic or disconnected from the overall musical experience. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke feelings through music, making it a memorable and heartwarming adventure.
- “The heartfelt music and story genuinely feels like a breath of fresh air.”
- “The music and the writing shine the brightest.”
- “The music is fantastic throughout, but the songs in act 5 solidify the soundtrack as one of the most enjoyable and memorable as of late.”
- “Here's the problem - this game is about music but it isn't musical.”
- “The platforming and music segments are very underwhelming, on top of the tedious fetch quests in each act.”
- “But my biggest issue with wandersong is that, for a music game, the majority of the songs / musical parts were not super bangers.”
gameplay
1,946 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The gameplay of *Wandersong* is characterized by its unique singing mechanic, which allows players to interact with the environment and solve puzzles in creative ways. While the gameplay is generally simple and forgiving, it introduces new mechanics throughout the game to keep the experience fresh, though some players find it repetitive and lacking in depth. Overall, the charming art style, engaging story, and innovative use of music as a core gameplay element contribute to a delightful experience, despite some technical issues and clunky controls.
- “The gameplay is interesting, the characters are fun, the art is beautiful, and the achievement system is hilarious.”
- “Never has a game mesmerized me with how it's able to find new ways to utilize its extremely simplistic gameplay mechanic in new and engaging ways again and again.”
- “The story is masterfully delivered in a very creative way, and the gameplay always had something new to show - it never became dull or predictable.”
- “The controls are clunky and the singing mechanic wears its welcome out quickly.”
- “But the gameplay is boring and not fun.”
- “The mechanics are so shallow and add next-to-nothing to the experience and so much of your time is wasted by gameplay sections you just wish you could skip to see more story.”
emotional
1,458 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Wandersong" is overwhelmingly positive, with players frequently describing it as a deeply heartwarming and touching experience. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears of joy or sadness, particularly during pivotal moments in the story. The charming characters, engaging narrative, and beautiful soundtrack contribute to an emotional journey that resonates with players, making it a standout title for those seeking a wholesome and uplifting gaming experience.
- “The heartfelt music and story genuinely feels like a breath of fresh air.”
- “I love everyone in the game; the slow but steady befriending between the protagonists is just kind of heartwarming, maybe mostly to me, because I can see myself in both of them.”
- “The finale had me sobbing for like 10 minutes straight, and it's a game that is both fun, an emotional bumpy ride, and beautifully written.”
- “Interesting gameplay to say the least, however not challenging at all, which, in combination with a rather boring story, made this a rather tedious journey.”
graphics
778 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The graphics of "Wandersong" are characterized by a charming, colorful art style reminiscent of paper cutouts, which many players find delightful and fitting for the game's whimsical tone. While some reviews note that the visuals can be simplistic or reminiscent of older flash games, the overall aesthetic is praised for its vibrancy and emotional resonance, enhancing the storytelling experience. However, a few players have reported graphical glitches and performance issues, particularly at higher resolutions, which can detract from the visual enjoyment.
- “The visuals are extremely charming and colorful, with everything done in the style of paper cut-outs, and each scene is bursting with color and visual splendor.”
- “The game's whimsical art style and vibrant color palette perfectly complement its lighthearted tone, creating a visually stunning experience that is as delightful to look at as it is to play.”
- “The visual design of Wandersong is a visual delight, embracing a vibrant and whimsical art style that feels like a living storybook.”
- “The game features somewhat lazy, simplistic 'retro' looking 2D graphics, of the type you normally expect to see in low effort flash/browser games and mobile apps.”
- “Considering this is being evaluated as a PC game, having the graphics phoned in like this isn't going to result in a high quality, visually impressive game that PC gamers are used to seeing.”
- “The graphics jitter, even on a computer that should be able to handle it, and sometimes the edge pixelation is bad.”
humor
532 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm, cleverness, and ability to evoke genuine laughter, often blending lighthearted moments with deeper emotional themes. Players appreciate the quirky characters, funny dialogue, and whimsical interactions that create a delightful experience, making it accessible and enjoyable for a broad audience. Overall, the game successfully balances silliness with heartfelt storytelling, resulting in a memorable and engaging comedic experience.
- “The writing is heartfelt and humorous, making you genuinely care about the fate of the bard and his friends.”
- “This game had me laughing out loud more times than I could count, and the emotional beats hit really hard.”
- “It's funny, sincere, clever, endearing, atmospheric, and charming.”
- “The humor is just a collection of overdone references and unfunny jokes, overshadowing any interesting gameplay.”
- “The game is filled with 5 parts overdone references and unfunny jokes for every 1 part of interesting gameplay.”
- “The humor relies too heavily on tired clichés and fails to deliver any genuine laughs, detracting from the overall experience.”
stability
136 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is frequently described as "buggy," with players encountering various glitches, visual issues, and occasional softlocks that can detract from the experience. While many reviewers note that these bugs are often not game-breaking and can be overlooked, they still affect gameplay and immersion, particularly in platforming sections. Overall, the stability of the game is a common point of criticism, with some players suggesting that it requires more polish and optimization.
- “This game would be really cute if it worked... it is super buggy and the mechanics don't work unless you are in a very low resolution in windowed mode.”
- “I really want to recommend this game but it's too buggy and the devs don't seem to respond or try to fix any of the game-breaking bugs many people seem to get.”
- “A pity the experience is so incredibly ruined by bugs, glitches and unoptimisations, almost to the point of being unfinishable (in the end, I had to download a beta version, and then constantly switch between that and the original depending on what bug I needed to bypass).”
character development
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the well-written dialogue and engaging interactions that bring characters to life. Many reviews highlight the surprising complexity of character arcs, particularly for the main and supporting characters, which adds layers to the overall narrative. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in character development for certain antagonists, the majority of feedback emphasizes the game's ability to evoke genuine feelings and relatability, making it a standout feature.
- “The character development is amazing; the main character is funny and quirky yet emotional and touching. The subjects this game talks about are relatable and hit very close to home, and I could literally go on and on about this game for hours.”
- “This game sneaks up on you in the best way—not with twists, but with just, continually layering on character development in natural ways, so you don't even notice when it got its hooks into you.”
- “Character development and story are very engaging, and it's the first game in several years that has made me smile and reignited my want to play games to their completion again.”
- “But here comes my first gripe with this game: later in the story, character development for the antagonist is completely thrown out the window for no reason, and there is another character who lied several times in the course of the story, but the bard still believes them without hesitation. So the last act of the game feels a bit rushed when it comes to writing.”
- “Character design is very uninspired (in general, I do not like the art of this game, but that's a matter of taste), especially the bard, the character you play for the majority of the game.”
- “While this does not lead to any huge character development, it paves the way for the development of now probably one of my favorite and most relatable video game characters ever.”
atmosphere
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming, colorful, and inviting qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that integrates seamlessly with the gameplay. Players appreciate the minimalistic art style and expressive character design, which contribute to a whimsical and emotional experience. Overall, the game creates a relaxing and engaging environment that resonates with a diverse audience, making it a standout feature of the gameplay.
- “The game's colorful world and expressive character design create an atmosphere that's both charming and enchanting.”
- “This is a game brimming with atmosphere; the work that went into all the music is phenomenal, and the innovative ideas behind the various challenges and how everything fits together is impressive.”
- “The atmosphere, the dialogue, and the small character interactions that really make you fall in love with the characters really make this game shine.”
- “The game focuses quite a lot on setting atmosphere, so the gameplay isn't particularly deep.”
- “This is the first game I'll ever rate without playing the whole game; it's extremely charming with an atmosphere that can be extremely emotional at times.”
- “Unlike most games, this one doesn't use music as a tool for the atmosphere or to set a mood; this game is music.”
optimization
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
74%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering and rendering lag, particularly on higher refresh rate monitors. While some users report no significant problems, others have noted that the game's engine struggles with certain hardware configurations, leading to frustrating gameplay, especially during platforming sections. Overall, while the game is praised for its design and mechanics, optimization concerns detract from the experience for a portion of the player base.
- “Graphics, sound design, UI/UX, controls, performance, accessibility, not having NPCs repeat themselves - everything is exemplary.”
- “I am happy to have played the game and gone on this journey, but if the dev could make the platforming less infuriating, plug the memory leak and throw in some optimizations, I'd be delighted to give this game the 9/10 it comes close to earning.”
- “Inspired puzzle mechanics keep the sparse platforming sections fresh, which is nice because they can be a little frustrating depending on your system's performance.”
- “Performance is a little dodgy given the fidelity, and the resolution of the game can strangely vary when switching between windows; various other bugs like this occur intermittently (nothing game breaking).”
- “I have terrible performance problems (the problem is definitely not my PC) while my CPU is at 1% usage and some of the bird jumps are just impossible.”
- “This thing exists because, by the devs' own admission, their 'very optimized engine' (their words in their FAQ) doesn't work on 144Hz monitors, resulting in the platforming sections being harder, or downright impossible, until you tweak the settings to make them work.”
grinding
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
2%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many sections of platforming and fetch quests feeling overly long and lacking challenge. While some appreciate the story and charm, the repetitive gameplay often detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a slog at times. Despite its interesting mechanics, the game struggles with pacing and engagement, leading to a mixed reception regarding its grinding elements.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The gameplay can be lacking at points with a lot of the puzzles being fairly obvious and the singing does get a bit tedious at some points, but the charm of this game alone makes it worthy of a recommendation.”
- “I enjoyed the game and the idea behind the signature mechanic, but in practice the game felt over-long and tedious to play more than it was fun.”
- “Like the style and story but it's tedious in terms of gameplay; I found it very dull and a slog to get through.”
replayability
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
50%
31%
Overall, "Wandersong" is noted for its limited replayability, as players often find little incentive to replay the game after completing the main story due to its linear structure and unchanged gameplay experience. However, many reviewers express a desire to revisit the game for its compelling story and engaging characters, likening it to reconnecting with old friends. While the replay value is low compared to other titles, the enjoyable mechanics and easter eggs provide some incentive for players to return.
- “Its linear status might make you think there's not much replay value, but a beautiful story like this is worth experiencing more than once.”
- “The variety in the gameplay and mechanics for each act makes up for the lack in difficulty; I still enjoyed playing the game very much, and there were plenty of easter eggs and different choices you could make to give the game replay value.”
- “The real question is of replayability, which I can honestly say that I feel like the story of this game is so compelling and the mechanics are simply so fun that I would love to go play this game again.”
- “Limited replayability: once players have completed the main story, there may be limited incentive to replay Wandersong, as the gameplay experience remains largely unchanged.”
- “The only problem I have with this game is the relatively short story and basically no replayability.”
- “The only downside to the game is that it has little replayability compared to other titles you can find today, but it makes up for that with an outstanding story and relatable characters.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that prioritize profit over quality, leading to a perception of it being a platform for "shovelware" and cash grabs.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”

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88%Critics’ scoreBased on 8 critic reviews

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10h Median play time

9h Average play time

9h Main story

12h Completionist

8-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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Wandersong Review - Saving the World, One Music Note at a Time

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