We. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe
- May 1, 2023
- Act Zero
Get on SteamWe. The Refugees: Ticket to Europe is an interactive fiction adventure game about refugees, set in contemporary Europe and North Africa. Illustrated with dreamlike comic-book graphics. Inspired by true events - the creators actually visited a refugee camp, interviewed dozens of refugees and made their stories the foundation of the game.
Reviews
- The game features exceptional writing and storytelling, providing a complex and engaging narrative that encourages players to reflect on the refugee crisis.
- Players can experience multiple story paths and meaningful choices, enhancing replayability and making each playthrough feel unique.
- The visuals are lovely, and the game successfully blends educational content with entertainment, offering a nuanced perspective on a sensitive topic.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and design flaws, which can break immersion and lead to frustrating experiences for players.
- Some players found the protagonist's perspective problematic, feeling that it oversimplifies or misrepresents the experiences of refugees.
- There are significant spelling and localization issues that detract from the overall quality of the writing and gameplay experience.
- story27 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is intricately woven with branching paths that create a complex and engaging narrative, often reflecting on the uncomfortable realities of the refugee experience through the lens of a European protagonist. While some players appreciate the depth and emotional impact of the storytelling, others critique the perspective and representation of marginalized voices. Overall, the writing is praised for its detail and ability to evoke empathy, making it a standout interactive novel with significant replayability.
“The story branches then weaves back in, the writing is constantly engaging, and the art is lovely.”
“This game provides an excellent story with abundant research and details, along with great visual materials and music.”
“The story choices seem incredibly complex, often branching off into long, detailed substories from seemingly inconsequential decisions, all forming an intricate network of factors that influence the main story down the line.”
“I felt somewhat uncomfortable with the story of African, Arab, and West Asian refugees being told through the lens of a white European, but admittedly as a westerner that did help orient me. To the credit of the game, the protagonist's inner thoughts are capable of reflecting that same discomfort if one so chooses.”
“I thought that the protagonist was kind of an asshole for cosplaying as a refugee in order to write a story, while the people around him were there because they had (almost) no other options.”
“This isn't a romanticized one-sided story, and you may find parts of it uncomfortable no matter what end of the political spectrum you're on.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are praised for their outstanding quality, with many users highlighting the beautiful 2D illustrations and eye-pleasing animations. While some aspects may feel unpolished, the visuals effectively complement the game's themes and enhance the overall experience. The combination of gorgeous artwork and engaging character design contributes to a captivating atmosphere.
“The visuals are truly outstanding, and I would love to have an album showcasing the illustrations.”
“Providing you a view that not everyone is dealt with the same cards, coupled with gorgeous artwork and depressing, yet fleshed-out characters.”
“The game features incredibly lovely 2D graphics that strike the ideal tone between being educational and entertaining.”
“The 2D graphics are decent, but most other aspects are unpolished.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay offers a unique perspective as players assume the role of a journalist, requiring them to sift through facts and make choices about what to include in their book. This mechanic effectively encourages curiosity and emotional engagement, although some players may find themselves focusing more on personal reflection than on exploring the lives of others. Overall, the experience blends adventure with introspection, creating a distinctive gameplay dynamic.
“Since you play as a journalist, part of the gameplay is to digest the facts as you go, choosing what will and won't make it into your book at the end.”
“My time is elevated (I was letting this run on the deck), but even while behaving, I feel like I've spent hours of gameplay studiously avoiding learning about anyone else's lives or desires, while getting in touch with my own emotions and having an unusual bit of adventure travel.”
“However, after a few chapters, I realized that this perspective offers a rare opportunity to encourage (and reward) players' curiosity through gameplay mechanics.”
“My time is elevated (I was letting this run on the deck), but even behaving, I feel like I've spent hours of gameplay studiously avoiding learning about anyone else's lives or desires, while getting in touch with my own emotions and having an unusual bit of adventure travel.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its numerous story paths and meaningful choices, encouraging players to explore different endings and approaches. While fans of text-heavy games will appreciate its value, others may want to wait for a sale.
“Because there are numerous story paths and meaningful choices, the game is highly replayable.”
“With the choices and endings that add to replayability, I'm fine with its price. However, if you're not super into text-heavy games, wait for a sale.”
“The developer certainly delivers on the promise of replayability, as I will definitely play the game more than once just to see how some of the other story branches and approaches turn out.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its unexpected focus on culinary descriptions, which adds a unique charm to the character's narrative. While some players noted immersion-breaking bugs and amusingly poor spelling mistakes, these elements contributed to a lighthearted and entertaining experience.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the touch of humor, particularly the unexpected focus on cuisine descriptions, which turned out to be a great share of my character's final book.”
“Aside from annoying (not necessarily game-breaking, but definitely immersion-breaking) bugs, there are also some really, erm, ridiculous spelling mistakes that are so hilariously bad they're good.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its appropriate accompaniment that enhances the storytelling experience, complementing the deep inner monologues and visually appealing graphics. Overall, it contributes significantly to the immersive atmosphere of the game.
“This game provides an excellent story with abundant research and details, along with great visual materials and music.”
“Excellent interactive literature, deep inner monologues, appropriate musical accompaniment, eye-pleasing graphics, and animation.”
