Wandersong

About

In "Wandersong," you play as a bard on a quest to learn the Earthsong, a melody said to prevent the universe's end. Using singing as a means of interaction, you'll unlock secrets, solve puzzles, and form bonds with a diverse cast of characters. As a walking musical instrument, your tunes will affect various objects and creatures, creating a unique and harmonious adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,036 reviews

story720 positive mentions

stability68 negative mentions

Wandersong features a heartwarming story that explores themes of friendship, courage, and the power of music, delivering a truly memorable and emotional experience.
The game has a charming art style and vibrant color palette that perfectly complement its lighthearted tone, creating a visually stunning experience.
The singing mechanic is innovative and versatile, allowing players to interact with the environment in creative ways, making the gameplay engaging and enjoyable.

The platforming sections can be frustrating due to imprecise controls and occasional glitches, which may detract from the overall experience.
Some players may find the pacing slow, especially in the early acts, which could lead to moments of boredom.
The game lacks significant challenge, which might not appeal to players looking for a more difficult gameplay experience.

story
1,546 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
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 positivity. Players appreciate the depth of character development, emotional twists, and the game's ability to tackle themes of hope and friendship while maintaining a lighthearted tone. Despite some pacing issues and a simplistic gameplay structure, the engaging storytelling and charming characters create a memorable experience that resonates with many 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 is a bit 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.”
- “The story takes a while to get going, but once it does, by golly does it speed off like a train; by chapter 2, I was heavily invested in the character progression and development.”
music
1,332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
1%
The music in *Wandersong* is widely praised for its emotional depth and charm, with many players highlighting the beautiful soundtrack that enhances the game's whimsical narrative. While the gameplay mechanics revolve around singing and music, some reviewers noted that the singing itself can feel disconnected from the background music, leading to mixed feelings about the overall musical experience. Despite this, the game's ability to evoke strong emotions through its music and storytelling has resonated with many players, 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.”
- “For an entire game about singing and music, there sure are about 3 music tracks and then a lot of tracks which are disparate sound effects with no discernable melody or tempo.”
gameplay
973 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
4%
The gameplay of "Wandersong" is characterized by its unique singing mechanic, which is creatively integrated into various puzzles and interactions throughout the game. While the mechanics are generally simple and forgiving, they are consistently refreshed with new applications, keeping the experience engaging despite some players finding it repetitive or lacking in challenge. Overall, the gameplay serves as a delightful complement to the game's heartwarming story and charming visuals, making it a memorable experience for those who appreciate narrative-driven adventures.
- “The gameplay is interesting, the characters are fun, the art is beautiful, and the achievement system is hilarious.”
- “The gameplay, despite being linear, has a creative flair to it that makes it feel simple but engaging.”
- “The singing mechanic is well thought out and expanded upon throughout the game.”
- “The gameplay is relatively simple and won't blow you out of the water.”
- “But the gameplay is boring and not fun.”
- “The gameplay can drag a bit at times, and there's funnier games, but this may be the most... hopeful?”
emotional
729 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Wandersong" is overwhelmingly positive, with players praising its heartfelt storytelling, charming characters, and the ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to deep sadness. Many reviewers noted that the game made them cry multiple times, particularly during poignant moments that highlight themes of friendship, hope, and the power of music. Overall, it is celebrated as a uniquely touching experience that resonates deeply with players, making it one of the most heartwarming games they have encountered.
- “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, that had me talking to every character several times over just to check what they had to say.”
- “Through Wandersong's use of immersion, well-thought-out characters, and its extremely touching, inspiring, and overall moving story, this game has proven without a doubt to earn a spot on my top tier list of games.”
- “Interesting gameplay to say the least; however, it is not challenging at all. This, combined with a rather boring story, made for a tedious journey.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters felt shallow and unconvincing, leaving me disconnected from the story.”
- “I expected a gripping narrative, but the emotional moments fell flat and failed to resonate with me.”
graphics
389 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
2%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, colorful art style reminiscent of paper cut-outs, 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 creativity and emotional resonance, enhancing the storytelling experience. However, a few players have reported graphical glitches and performance issues, which can detract from the otherwise enchanting visual presentation.
- “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 can be a little shonky and the gameplay and puzzles are very simple, but the characters and storytelling negate all of that.”
humor
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
1%
The humor in this game is widely praised for its cleverness and charm, blending silly, heartfelt moments with genuinely funny dialogue and character interactions. Players appreciate the light-hearted tone, quirky characters, and the ability to evoke laughter while also addressing deeper themes, making it a delightful experience overall. Many reviews highlight the game's unique approach to humor, with memorable achievements and amusing mechanics that enhance the enjoyment of the narrative.
- “The characters are well made, funny, relatable, realistic, and just all around amazing.”
- “The writing is heartfelt and humorous, making you genuinely care about the fate of the bard and his friends.”
- “It's funny, sincere, clever, endearing, atmospheric, and charming.”
- “The humor feels forced, with five overdone references and unfunny jokes for every one part of interesting gameplay.”
- “The jokes fall flat and often feel like they were written by someone who doesn't understand what makes humor work.”
- “Instead of clever wit, the game relies on tired clichés and predictable punchlines that fail to elicit any real laughter.”
stability
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is frequently described as buggy, with various minor glitches and performance issues that can detract from the overall experience, particularly in platforming sections. While many players find these bugs annoying, they often do not consider them game-breaking, and some even view them as humorous or charming. Overall, the stability of the game is a notable concern, but it does not overshadow the enjoyment derived from its unique gameplay and storytelling.
- “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 unoptimizations, 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
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the well-written dialogue and charming character designs that enhance the storytelling. Many reviews highlight the surprising complexity of character arcs, particularly for the main and supporting characters, which contribute to a heartfelt and engaging narrative experience. While some critiques mention inconsistencies in character development for certain antagonists, the overall consensus is that the game excels in creating relatable and memorable characters that resonate with players.
- “The character development is excellent -- the bard really is a human, with a full gamut of emotions.”
- “I didn't expect to care this much about all the characters, but the game really takes its time for some quality character development.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “I didn't like the character designs, but the way characters expressed themselves helped bring them to life.”
atmosphere
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
7%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its charming, colorful, and inviting qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack that complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the minimalistic yet expressive art style, which creates a unique and emotional experience, making the game feel alive and relatable. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and character interactions contributes to a delightful and immersive atmosphere that resonates with many players.
- “The game's colorful world and expressive character design create an atmosphere that's both charming and enchanting.”
- “This is an absolutely lovely and amazing game with a fantastic atmosphere.”
- “Its artistic world made of simple geometrical shapes and vivid colors offers a peculiar, eerie atmosphere.”
- “The game focuses quite a lot on setting atmosphere, so the gameplay isn't particularly deep.”
- “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
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
67%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing performance issues such as stuttering, rendering lag, and inconsistent resolution when switching windows. While some users report no performance problems, others have noted that the game struggles on higher refresh rate monitors, making certain platforming sections frustratingly difficult. Overall, while the game is praised for its design and mechanics, significant optimization improvements are needed to enhance the gameplay experience.
- “If you have performance issues, set your monitor refresh rate to 60hz.”
- “If there is any complaint to muster about wandersong given what it is, it's to note some optimization issues that can affect gameplay.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Unfortunately unplayable due to stuttering/rendering lag.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
95%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, with many sections feeling overly long and lacking challenge. While some appreciate the story and charm, the repetitive platforming and fetch quests detract from the overall enjoyment, making the gameplay feel like a slog at times. Despite its interesting mechanics, the game often overstays its welcome, leading to a mixed reception regarding its pacing and engagement.
- “Grinding in this game feels rewarding and keeps me engaged for hours.”
- “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
- “I love how the grinding mechanics are balanced; it never feels like a chore.”
- “In equal parts, I dreaded going through several tedious sections of janky platforming.”
- “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
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
50%
31%
Overall, "Wandersong" is noted for its limited replayability, as players often find little incentive to replay the main story due to its linear nature. However, many reviewers express a desire to revisit the game for its compelling narrative and enjoyable character interactions, likening the experience to reconnecting with old friends. While the game lacks traditional replay value, its engaging story and charming mechanics encourage occasional returns.
- “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
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that Gamemaker Studio is often associated with the creation of low-effort, retro-style games that are perceived as cash grabs, suggesting a negative view of its monetization practices.
- “Gamemaker Studio is most commonly used to make retro pixel shovelware and cash grabs.”