Windlands

Windlands is a rarity at this point; an actual game, surrounded by a slew of “interactive stories” and “experiences” that make up the rest of PSVR’s undeniably impressive launch line-up.

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Windlands is a single-player, non-violent role-playing game focused on exploration and grappling hook movement, offering amazing game mechanics, fabulous graphics, and a phenomenal soundtrack. Designed primarily for Virtual Reality, it features expansive levels, optional challenges, and collectibles. The game provides a calm, pressure-free experience suitable for all skill levels, with leaderboards for speed runs, and easy, normal, and hard modes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 746 reviews

gameplay54 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and exhilarating experience of swinging through a beautifully designed world, reminiscent of being Spider-Man.
The mechanics, once mastered, provide a satisfying sense of freedom and exploration, allowing players to creatively navigate the environment.
The visuals and soundtrack create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall gameplay experience.

The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, particularly during platforming sections, leading to frustration and difficulty in progressing.
Many players experience motion sickness due to the game's locomotion mechanics, making it less accessible for those sensitive to VR-induced nausea.
The game lacks a clear tutorial or guidance, which can leave players confused about objectives and how to effectively use the grappling mechanics.

gameplay
185 mentions
29 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its innovative grappling hook mechanics, which many players find enjoyable and reminiscent of titles like "Spider-Man" and "Attack on Titan." However, opinions are divided; while some praise the fun and immersive swinging and parkour elements, others criticize the controls as clunky and the overall gameplay as shallow or repetitive. The level design is often highlighted as a strong point, but the mechanics can be frustrating for some, leading to a mixed reception regarding the game's depth and value for its price.
- “I love everything about this game; the controls and grapple mechanics are phenomenal if you are using mouse and keyboard. The environment/level design is phenomenal, and the story/world/universe absolutely blew me away within the first 2 minutes.”
- “The gameplay is brilliant - it is so much fun swinging around and flying through the air; it's the closest you'll ever feel to being Spider-Man!”
- “Once you get used to the swinging mechanic, moving through the levels is pure joy, whether swinging like Spider-Man between trees or flinging yourself high into the sky to make that next platform.”
- “Coming from other VR titles with grapple, parkour, and movement-focused mechanics, this game is pretty disappointing even for $2 in 2022.”
- “The mechanics feel terrible; you can only hook onto leaves, which limits your mobility, and the control is so slippery that you have to frequently retry easy stuff because you had to jump to somewhere that you couldn't use the hooks.”
- “The gameplay mechanic needs a lot of work.”
graphics
82 mentions
49 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally described as simple yet aesthetically pleasing, with a charming cartoon style that enhances the overall experience. While some players find the visuals dated or basic, many appreciate the vibrant art style and how it complements the gameplay, particularly in a VR setting. Overall, the graphics are considered adequate for the game's mechanics, contributing to a sense of scale and immersion despite not being cutting-edge.
- “I love the art style, the music, the just-right movement physics, all of it.”
- “Beautiful visuals, calming soundtrack, great feelings.”
- “The overall feel of the game is one of wonder and the graphical styling of the game, whilst simplistic, creates awe-inspiring views during your swinging adventures.”
- “It's an old game with dated graphics.”
- “The visuals could benefit from improvement; they are pretty primitive and there's one effect that I dislike (the bloom is too saturated), but they work well enough.”
- “The graphics are simple, sure, but the gameplay is challenging and totally immersive with a VR setup.”
story
56 mentions
23 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered minimal and often described as lacking depth, with many players noting that it serves primarily as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a central focus. While some appreciate the subtle world-building and lore revealed through collectibles, others find the narrative to be confusing or non-existent, leading to a mixed reception regarding its effectiveness. Overall, the game is more about exploration and mechanics than a compelling storyline.
- “I love everything about this game, the controls and grapple mechanics are phenomenal if you are using mouse and keyboard, the environment/level design is phenomenal, the story/world/universe absolutely blew me away within the first 2 minutes.”
- “There’s some interesting story lore that is narrated to you which adds some depth to the world.”
- “The levels are really well made so that you build up your platforming/swinging skills as you go, and the style of storytelling is both beautiful and subtle, so that you feel like you are discovering the lore of the world on your own as you progress.”
- “Ultimately, the game isn't about the blue things or the heavily lathered and honestly quite dull story: it's about swinging.”
- “You get a large exposition dump at the start, and many more dumps later you'll realize that there's no natural story progression or characters; it's someone's world-building diary broken into pieces and scattered across the game.”
- “The story is basically non-existent and the world is ugly, though I can't fault that seeing that it is an indie game.”
music
54 mentions
54 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful, calming, and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience of exploration and movement. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement the vibrant environments, with some noting its whimsical and enchanting nature. However, a few users have pointed out similarities to other game soundtracks, particularly the Trine series, suggesting a lack of originality in some compositions.
- “The soundtrack is calming and it's fun to explore the world and swing about.”
- “The music complements the vibrant atmosphere, and while it can be challenging at times, the overall feel is more relaxed.”
- “The music really adds a lot to the experience as well, and it changes as you get farther in each map.”
- “The music is alright.”
- “The music is calming, although you could play any music to this game.”
- “The gameplay is good, could use some more music though...”
atmosphere
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and vibrant environments that enhance the overall experience. However, some players note a decline in atmospheric quality over time, citing repetitive maps and a lack of engaging story elements. While the atmosphere can be both calming and exhilarating, it also risks becoming monotonous for some players.
- “Not only is the movement a crazy wow factor, but it also has nice atmosphere and a bit of a story in it too.”
- “With a pleasant soundtrack and an amazing atmosphere, this is definitely a good balance of fun and relaxing gameplay.”
- “I love the atmosphere of the game: the music and the environment makes for an awesome feeling.”
- “I feel the overall atmosphere of the game has degraded over time.”
- “The atmosphere also gets depressing after a while since the maps are just so repetitive.”
- “I find myself frustrated with the poor controls and general polish, and totally lacking a reason to care at all due to the complete lack of story, atmosphere, or general world believability.”
optimization
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization receives mixed reviews; while some players praise its smooth performance and compatibility with lower-end hardware, others report issues with controls and performance on specific VR systems like the Vive. Many users express hope for further optimization in future updates to enhance the experience.
- “The game engine is very optimized and runs butter smooth FPS even on my modest R9 270.”
- “Performance is good as you'd expect for a game that looks like it's ported for the Quest, and this is a very good thing as this is the game that gave me VR legs.”
- “Very good game, atmosphere is great, music is great, performance is incredibly smooth; jump and run can be challenging at times but that's a good thing.”
- “Bad performance for its simplicity.”
- “This game is not optimized for the Vive; the controls are poor, and I don't want to play it with a gamepad.”
- “Hopefully this gets further optimized in the coming months.”
replayability
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered high due to its numerous skill-based challenges, multiple paths to objectives, and engaging time trials that encourage competition. While some players find it offers medium replay value, many appreciate the unique experiences and immersive gameplay that invite repeated playthroughs.
- “One thing I really like about it is that it has a lot of replayability because there are lots of skill-based challenges (not central to completing the game) that aren't easily accomplished until you've really mastered the physics.”
- “There are numerous paths you can take to get to your objective, making replayability fun.”
- “Replay value is high because of the openness on how you traverse its levels and because of its high fun factor and engagement/immersiveness, with a great sense of scale.”
- “Medium replay value, relaxing.”
- “I really look forward to more time trials, and being able to compare times (competition... the ultimate in replay value...).”
- “Replay value is high because of the openness in how you traverse its levels and because of its high fun factor and engagement/immersiveness, with a great sense of scale.”
emotional
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players feeling frustration due to awkward movement mechanics that can lead to nausea, while others are drawn in by the beautiful landscapes and tempting challenges. Despite the initial negative experiences, there is a sense of satisfaction once players adapt to the controls, highlighting a complex emotional journey from discomfort to enjoyment.
- “After a few jumps, I just can't stand it anymore, and guess what: I could just be happy never touching Windlands again if those damned landscapes weren't so pretty and the challenges not so tempting.”
- “This is the first and only Vive game I've played that made me feel sick.”
- “The controls are a nightmare; the mouse was shaking, using the hooks is difficult, and it legitimately made me feel sick from all the movement.”
- “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the narrative to be dull, lacking the depth needed to connect with the characters.”
- “The emotional impact was nonexistent; I felt detached from the entire experience.”
stability
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed; while some users report solid controls and good performance on lower-end hardware, others experience issues with V-sync and describe the game as buggy and unfinished. Overall, there are significant concerns about its stability, leading to recommendations against purchasing it.
- “No glitches; controls feel extremely solid.”
- “Runs great on subpar hardware too (I'm using a GTX 950 and have no issues with framerate).”
- “For $20, do not buy this game; it's buggy, unfinished, and not a good use of your hard-earned cash.”
- “Looks like a buggy port to me.”
- “V-sync is buggy; my brain was spinning while I was playing this game.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is primarily derived from the chaotic and clumsy interactions between players, leading to hilarious moments as they struggle to maintain balance and avoid falling. Many players find it particularly entertaining to play with friends, as the absurdity of the gameplay creates a lighthearted and fun atmosphere, despite some criticism regarding specific level design. Overall, the game's comedic elements shine through in its multiplayer experience, making it a source of laughter and enjoyment.
- “It's hilarious to play with friends and watch each other stumble around and try to keep their balance, as the game does its best to knock you down.”
- “It's hilarious watching people nearly fall over when they 'land'.”
- “It may make your stomach feel funny and throw your balance off, but it also gives you a rush you probably haven't felt in a video game before.”
grinding
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring extensive exploration to locate missed items, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and pace of the experience.
- “Other than that, it's basically impossible without grinding hours into fine-tooth combing through a level just to attempt to find one of the tablets you missed.”
- “Once the wow factor fades and you genuinely try to get through the game, it becomes tedious.”
- “It seems to make the experience more tedious than fast and fun like the demo.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy in this game has been criticized for not effectively integrating advertising or broken controls as a feature, unlike other titles that successfully use this approach.
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as it prioritizes profit over player experience.”
- “I can't believe how many ads pop up during gameplay; it completely ruins the immersion.”
- “The in-game purchases are overpriced and offer little value, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending a fortune.”