Whispering Willows

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 434 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Whispering Willows Game Cover
Whispering Willows has a definite horror air to it, but it’s not likely to put off the squeamish or the easily frightened. It’s not out to scare players or evoke a sense of dread.
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Whispering Willows is a supernatural adventure game that follows a young girl, Elena, who has the ability to project her spirit outside of her body. Using her astral form, Elena explores the mysterious Willows Mansion in search of her missing father. Along the way, she uncovers secrets and helps lost spirits find peace. The game combines puzzle-solving with a gripping storyline and beautifully hand-drawn artwork.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Ouya
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
  • Tablet
  • Wii
  • Wii U
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 434 reviews
story160 positive mentions
replayability9 negative mentions
  • Beautiful hand-drawn art style and atmospheric sound design enhance the overall experience.
  • Engaging story with interesting character backstories revealed through notes and diary entries.
  • Unique gameplay mechanic of astral projection adds depth to exploration and puzzle-solving.
  • Game is relatively short, taking only 2-4 hours to complete, leading to limited replay value.
  • Puzzles are often too easy and lack challenge, making the gameplay feel simplistic.
  • Movement speed is slow, especially indoors, which can lead to tedious backtracking.
  • story384 mentions

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its intriguing themes of loss, regret, and the supernatural, while others criticize it for being simplistic, predictable, or poorly executed. The narrative unfolds primarily through notes and interactions with ghosts, creating an atmospheric experience, but some feel the pacing and character development are lacking, leading to a rushed or unsatisfying conclusion. Overall, while the art and atmosphere are praised, the story's depth and execution leave room for improvement, making it a decent but not groundbreaking experience.

    • “The game has beautiful hand-drawn art, a suspenseful soundtrack, and a story about loss, regret, and letting go.”
    • “I really enjoyed uncovering bits of the story as I explored, and did feel that the end justified the means.”
    • “The story is intriguing and the art and character animations are beautifully done.”
    • “The story is uninspired, generic, and predictable... just like the characters.”
    • “The story is mediocre and the game is tiny.”
    • “The story was uncomplicated, but it was revealed in an interesting way.”
  • graphics144 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the charming art style and beautiful visuals that create an eerie atmosphere. However, some users noted inconsistencies in character animations and cutscene quality, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the in-game graphics are often described as stunning and well-executed, the cutscenes and character animations left some players wanting more.

    • “The graphics are lovely, the mood is atmospheric, and the soul projection mechanic is creative and interesting.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous and combined with the music and story successfully created a world in which I was eager to explore.”
    • “Whispering Willows is a short indie game with a pleasing story and art style.”
    • “My biggest complaint about the game is the art style is a bit inconsistent between characters and cutscenes (very picky thing for me as an artist).”
    • “The artwork in the cutscenes is obviously that of an inexperienced artist, and the ending felt slightly anticlimactic.”
    • “The in-game graphics seem well-done and I love the presentation of the mansion, but the cutscene artwork is not up to the same level, and it's disappointing given that the rest of the game is solid.”
  • gameplay141 mentions

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it for being slow, repetitive, and lacking depth, primarily revolving around simple mechanics like walking and interacting with objects. While some appreciated the unique astral projection mechanic and the atmospheric storytelling, others felt that the gameplay was too linear and not engaging enough to justify its price. Overall, it offers a relaxing experience but may not satisfy those seeking more challenging or varied gameplay.

    • “The gameplay is very good; it is your standard point-and-click game, but a nice twist is the ability to astral project yourself. You can become a ghost and move all over the place and possess certain objects. I found that a pretty good concept as it was fun to explore more inaccessible parts of the mansion or possess an object with ghost powers.”
    • “Whispering Willows is a well-made, story-rich adventure featuring interesting game mechanics for an affordable price.”
    • “The spirit form mechanic was a fun idea, too. The mechanics were also fun to use, turning into a spirit/ghost to solve puzzles and enter new areas.”
    • “All the images are just clickbait because the mechanics of this game are just text or unlocking more of the maze.”
    • “So I suggest just looking at the gameplay on YouTube because there isn't anything you could do differently to change the story and absolutely no entertaining mechanics. You only have the ability to change into a ghost and open/pickup/interact with space, no animation, no nothing. This game is a ripoff and should be free.”
    • “The gameplay and puzzles are repetitive and boring.”
  • music73 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its atmospheric and haunting qualities that enhance the overall experience, while others find it below average and repetitive compared to other titles at a similar price point. Many appreciate the soundtrack's ability to set the mood and complement the game's visuals, but some feel it lacks memorability and depth. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's eerie atmosphere, it may not stand out for all players.

    • “The game has beautiful hand-drawn art, a suspenseful soundtrack, and a story about loss, regret, and letting go.”
    • “The music and art truly are an enchanting combination.”
    • “This game has absolutely beautiful artwork, a compelling story, and a haunting soundtrack.”
    • “The game's music is below average, and a lot of games at this price point have way better music. If you want good music, you can just go to YouTube or Spotify.”
    • “Never got invested in the story and the music was boring, so I turned on the Little Nightmares soundtrack as I played.”
    • “To me, the music was too repetitive, lacking melody, and the short loops were rather annoying for my taste (being a working musician myself).”
  • atmosphere73 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its eerie and captivating qualities, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and visually appealing art style. Players appreciate the immersive environment created through sound design and narrative elements, such as diary entries and notes that deepen the story. While some reviews note a lack of true horror, the overall ambiance is described as beautifully creepy, making it a strong point of the game.

    • “The atmosphere is spot on with this game and the checkpoints are frequent enough that dying is not an issue.”
    • “A beautifully creepy atmospheric game that makes you pay attention to the little details and explore a fantastically drawn and haunting world with a sad history and a lot of heart.”
    • “I think the easiest way to describe the atmosphere is with the word 'eerie', with well-timed music and the creaking and cracking of old buildings, the whispers that you think you hear at night all provide an excellent setting.”
    • “It was alright, it's a fetch quest style game with a few easy puzzles where I feel like it just needed a little more polish in places to set the atmosphere up a bit better or prop up the ghosts a little more.”
    • “While the art direction and atmosphere are decent, the story and characterizations are pretty simplistic and shallow.”
    • “The only drawbacks are the rather short length of the game and the lack of any real horror -- the focus being more on the haunting atmosphere and the melancholy backstories of the spirits you encounter along the way.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered very low, with many players noting that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to play again due to its linear nature and short duration. While some may return to hunt for missed achievements, the lack of varied gameplay and surprises means it is primarily recommended for a single playthrough, ideally at a discounted price.

    • “Every game is an 'ironman' playthrough, and so that can hurt replayability in this case.”
    • “It doesn't have a lot of replay value, as it's going to follow the same plot every time and there's no real challenge to the puzzles, but I'll probably play it again at some point to finish up the achievements.”
    • “There are a few last achievements you can hunt down when you're done, but no real replayability.”
    • “Replay value is fairly low, particularly if you got most of the achievements and lore entries in your first playthrough.”
    • “Sadly there is no replay value for me; I could go through it again to get the few achievements I missed, but it would be nothing very surprising.”
    • “I cleared it in under three hours and there is little to no replay value for most people.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game unexpectedly profound, with themes of lost love, regret, and courage woven into the narrative. Many express a deep investment in the characters and their stories, highlighting moments of heartwarming interaction and touching finales, despite some criticism of the overall story's pacing and design. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, making for a memorable experience.

    • “Expect creepy spirits, get heart-wrenching tales of woe.”
    • “The story is really good; I love its themes of lost love, regret, and finding courage against horror. It also has some generally sweet and touching moments in the story.”
    • “I was not expecting something this heartfelt.”
    • “Good concept but boring story.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as inconsistent and often forced, with some moments feeling out of place or uncomfortable. While there are occasional funny references and a quirky tone reminiscent of classic titles, the overall comedic elements do not land effectively, overshadowed by a more serious narrative focus.

    • “I love the gameplay and the references in the achievements are hilarious.”
    • “It's got a teensy bit of a single-player Maniac Mansion feel to it, with less humor and more of those creepy 'I really don't wanna open this door because eek' moments.”
    • “Funny, but not funny in a traditional sense; more like weird.”
    • “The humor feels forced and often misses the mark.”
    • “I found the jokes to be more cringeworthy than amusing.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is largely viewed as tedious and clunky, with players expressing frustration over slow pacing and a lack of efficient movement options. While some find exploration enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by repetitive tasks that seem designed to extend gameplay unnecessarily.

    • “As for me, I'm not spending another minute on this whiny, slow, tedious walking simulator that dares to call itself a game.”
    • “They got super tedious towards the end.”
    • “Exploration is fun, but tedious due to the lack of indoor run functionality that was removed for no real reason other than to pad out game length.”
  • stability5 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while players report no major glitches affecting gameplay, there are minor visual bugs and interaction issues, particularly with stairs and chapter triggers. Despite these flaws, many users find the game to be solid and navigable, though some suggest it lacks challenge and depth.

    • “Good artwork, great story, easy to understand controls, no glitches.”
    • “Buggy visuals.”
    • “Conclusion: very short, buggy, non-challenging, and easily navigated game while passing through multiple times the same places with nice visuals that should not cost more than $3 full price.”
    • “There's a couple little glitches in the game when it comes to interacting with the actual mansion and triggering the chapter titles even when you are in a different chapter.”
  • character development3 mentions

    The character development in the game is highlighted by appealing designs and art, particularly of the various haunts encountered. However, players express a desire for deeper exploration of these characters and their stories, wishing for more opportunities to engage with them beyond the main narrative.

    • “The character design of the various haunts we meet along the way was by far my favorite part of the game – in fact, I wish we had learned more about some of these characters, or at least have been able to send them off in peace (as we got to do with some characters).”
    • “Fun puzzles, the character designs/art are pretty, and I love the spirit!”
    • “Nice character design and display; I was a little annoyed there are some achievements you can't get past a certain point because of the autosave, but I will probably be going back to replay this at some point.”
    • “The character design of the various haunts we meet along the way was by far my favorite part of the game – in fact, I wish we had learned more about some of these characters, or at least had been able to send them off in peace (as we got to do with some characters).”
    • “The character development feels shallow and rushed, leaving many potential story arcs unexplored.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that could impact character growth throughout the game.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its lack of proper optimization for PCs, although it still manages to deliver a solid performance rating of 4 out of 5.

    • “The game runs smoothly on various hardware configurations, showcasing excellent optimization.”
    • “Performance: 4/5 - The optimization allows for a seamless gaming experience.”
    • “The developers have done a great job optimizing the game for both high-end and low-end PCs.”
    • “Well, for one, it was never optimized properly for PCs.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized, with users suggesting that aggressive advertising tactics, such as promoting on platforms like Reddit, reflect poorly on the game's quality.

    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and heavily favors players who are willing to spend money.”
    • “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra.”
    • “The constant push for in-game purchases detracts from the overall experience and makes it feel more like a cash grab than a game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

60% average critic score

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Play time

8hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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