When The Past Was Around

When The Past Was Around - Prologue Game Cover

About

When The Past Was Around - Prologue is a single player action game. It was developed by Mojiken and was released on November 4, 2019. It received very positive reviews from players.

When the Past Was Around - Prologue is a poetic, puzzle-platformer adventure game. Players help Eda, a young woman, as she reflects on her past and searches for the meaning of her lost love. The game features a unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack, evoking a sense of nostalgia as players uncover Eda's story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

When The Past Was Around - Prologue screenshot

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 255 reviews

music64 positive mentions

monetization12 negative mentions

The game features beautiful hand-drawn art and a soothing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The puzzles are simple yet engaging, making it accessible for players looking for a relaxing gameplay experience.
The prologue effectively sets up an emotional narrative that leaves players wanting to explore more in the full game.

The gameplay is very short, taking only about 10-15 minutes to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
Many players found the puzzles to be overly simplistic and lacking in challenge, which could lead to a less satisfying experience.
The music, while initially pleasant, can become repetitive and annoying over time, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

music
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
40%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the emotional storytelling, with many players finding it soothing and integral to the experience. However, some users noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive and loud, detracting from gameplay, especially due to the lack of volume control options. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's atmosphere, its repetitiveness and volume issues have drawn mixed reactions from players.
- “The art style and music are both beautiful!”
- “A beautiful story accompanied by great music with a classical feel and hand-drawn sketches.”
- “The music is soothing and nice, the puzzles are pretty simple, but the game itself is short, so the full one might have more complicated ones and the story, despite no one uttering a word, is interesting.”
- “Music doesn't change much and drones on.”
- “The only serious issue is the music getting a little bit annoying quite fast, as it feels way too repetitive.”
- “The music is really annoying after the first one or two minutes; the gameplay itself is easy and boring.”
story
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
54%
4%
The story in "When the Past Was Around" is characterized by its emotional depth and poetic simplicity, exploring themes of love, loss, and growth through a visually stunning and musically rich point-and-click format. While the prologue offers a brief glimpse into the narrative, it leaves players intrigued and eager for more, with many praising its artistic presentation and the way it conveys complex emotions without words. However, some critiques highlight a perceived lack of depth in the story and puzzles, suggesting that the full game may need to enhance these elements to fully realize its potential.
- “The story is a masterpiece of Mojiken's experimental storytelling style and is perfectly interwoven and told through gameplay, visuals, music, and sound effects.”
- “A charming silent point-and-click game, with beautiful art, wonderfully peaceful music, and an encapsulating prologue story.”
- “The prologue drew me into the story straight away and had me wondering about the past every step of the way.”
- “The plot was supposed to be romantic and deep, but was just hokey and cringey.”
- “The story is confusing to say the least and very shallow.”
- “It is a demo, yet a demo comprised of three lousy puzzles which took me all but eleven minutes to beat, all while the story bored me and the music drove me mad.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
35%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful and charming art style, which enhances the overall atmosphere and storytelling. Players appreciate the cozy and elegant visuals, often likening them to a comic or a work of art, complemented by a soothing soundtrack. While some reviewers noted the simplicity of the gameplay, the stunning graphics and aesthetic appeal remain a standout feature that captivates players.
- “The art style and music are both beautiful!”
- “The visuals are absolutely beautiful, to the point where it feels like you're playing a comic.”
- “Beautiful graphics with an unusual narrative style and pleasant music.”
- “Eh, very basic point and click but cute art style.”
- “For an 'aesthetic' point and click like this, it needs more work.”
- “The total game time is only about 15 minutes, but definitely worth spending more time to just appreciate the art style.”
gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
59%
11%
The gameplay is characterized by its simple and intuitive point-and-click mechanics, which seamlessly integrate puzzles into the narrative, enhancing the emotional storytelling experience. Players appreciate the charming art style and soothing soundtrack, although some express a desire for more complexity in the puzzles to match the game's artistic potential. Overall, the demo offers a delightful glimpse into a beautifully crafted world, leaving players eager for the full release.
- “The point-and-click adventure mechanics are simple and intuitive, and the puzzles are beautifully integrated into the narrative.”
- “Absolutely in love with the sort of intimacy conveyed by the gameplay and art.”
- “The demo, though quite short, was more than enough to ensure the player of what a beautiful art, music, story, and gameplay overall is awaiting them.”
- “The gameplay was very simple; however, unless the full title has more complex puzzles or a stronger narrative aspect, I'm not sure how great this game can be.”
- “Overall, I'm looking forward to it. I imagine the final product will be something more on the casual side, both story and gameplay, but I hope they consider adding some complexity to the puzzles, because with this beautiful art style, the game does have the potential to deliver more than it does in this prologue.”
- “When the past was around (prologue) is the prologue chapter of an upcoming point-and-click game by Mojiken Studio. Gameplay-wise, it has a very similar sense of 'ransack the screen looking for things to use on other things to reveal the password which unlocks more things to use on other things.'”
monetization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of "When the Past Was Around" has been criticized for being misleading, as it presents itself as a game while functioning primarily as an advertisement for a product that costs $8. Reviewers argue that this approach is harmful to gamers, as it clutters the market with non-full games and misrepresents the product, ultimately detracting from the visibility of legitimate titles. The consensus is that players deserve better than to engage with what is essentially advertising disguised as a game.
- “We must instead review this for what it is... an advertisement.”
- “The purpose of this advertisement is to get you to shell out a whopping $8 USD on buying 'When the Past Was Around', and I don't recommend you do that either.”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartbreaking yet gentle storytelling, complemented by stunning visuals and a beautiful soundtrack. Players appreciate the game's ability to convey deep feelings through simple gameplay mechanics and a touching narrative, often reflecting on themes of loss and nostalgia. Overall, it is described as a short, sweet, and heartwarming experience that resonates deeply with players.
- “Immediately heartbreaking and heartwrenching in an understated, soft, gentle but devastating way.”
- “A beautiful, heartfelt game with no words.”
- “Really pretty graphics, some puzzles, beautiful soundtrack (also there's a piano, I spent a few minutes playing on it to fit with the music :)) and a touching story of maybe a dead father who played on a violin?”
atmosphere
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
The atmosphere of "When the Past Was Around" is consistently praised for its gentle and calming qualities, enhanced by beautiful art and soothing music. Reviewers note its emotional depth, likening it to other atmospheric games like "Gris" and "Gorogoa," and appreciate how the music contributes significantly to the overall experience, creating a cozy and immersive environment.
- “When the Past Was Around - Prologue had such a gentle atmosphere and art style that it convinced me to purchase the full game.”
- “A point and click adventure with a cozy and calm atmosphere and a beautiful art style.”
- “The music was calming and really added to the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- “It was the music that created the atmosphere, and it feels like I have read the first chapter of a book through seeing images and hearing music.”
- “Looks really nice, similar to Rusty Lake type games but with a more emotional atmosphere.”

Skip Game Offers

Buy When The Past Was Around - Prologue

When The Past Was Around - Prologue
See offer on Steam

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like When The Past Was Around - Prologue

88%1.4kreviews

2020

Casual Action Adventure

+15

89%2.9kreviews

Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery

2021

Casual Puzzle

+12

79%691reviews

LUNA The Shadow Dust

2020

Casual Role Playing

90%8.9kreviews

Gorogoa

2017

Casual Action Adventure

+18

78%832reviews

Old Man's Journey

2017

Casual Action Adventure

+12

More games like When The Past Was Around - Prologue

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

When The Past Was Around - Prologue is a action game.

When The Past Was Around - Prologue is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, Windows and others.

When The Past Was Around - Prologue was released on November 4, 2019.

When The Past Was Around - Prologue was developed by Mojiken.

When The Past Was Around - Prologue has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its monetization.

When The Past Was Around - Prologue is a single player game.

Similar games include When the Past Was Around, Behind the Frame: The Finest Scenery, LUNA The Shadow Dust, Gorogoa, Old Man's Journey and others.

When The Past Was Around - Prologue

Platforms

About

Buy When The Past Was Around - Prologue