"Year Walk" is a first-person adventure game that explores the Swedish phenomena of year walking. It combines 2D and 3D elements to create a unique experience, blending reality with the supernatural. Players attempt to catch a glimpse of the future through this eerie and atmospheric journey.
Beautiful artwork and haunting atmosphere that immerses players in a snowy forest setting.
Engaging story based on Swedish folklore, with intriguing puzzles that encourage exploration and note-taking.
Unique gameplay mechanics that blend point-and-click with a first-person perspective, creating a captivating experience.
Very short gameplay, typically completed in 1-2 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some puzzles can be obscure or frustrating, requiring hints or guides to progress.
Navigation can be cumbersome, as movement is limited to specific paths, making it easy to get lost.
story
1,300 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The story of "Year Walk" is deeply rooted in Swedish folklore, offering a haunting and immersive narrative that unfolds through exploration and puzzle-solving. Players are encouraged to engage with the lore via an in-game encyclopedia and journal entries, which enhance the experience and reveal deeper layers of the plot upon multiple playthroughs. While some find the story's execution to be cryptic or sparse, many appreciate its atmospheric depth and emotional resonance, making it a compelling journey for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
“The storytelling is deeply layered and the depiction of Swedish folklore is delivered in a stylish package.”
“The art, music, and story are so good; it really captures that eerie folktale feeling.”
“Year walk helps the figures from Swedish folklore stick in your mind through effective integration, striking designs, and the unease they and your adventure inspire while still entertaining through well-designed mind puzzles and a surprisingly good story once you’ve reached the true end of your walk.”
“But wow, the tedious map, the vague, nearly non-existent story, needing to hold items with the mouse and drag them around.”
“The story was lost in there and it would have been nice to see more of it uncovered as you played.”
“The story was too sparse for me as well, and conveyed in such disjointed pieces I needed Wikipedia to actually explain it.”
atmosphere
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The atmosphere of "Year Walk" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, combining beautiful visuals, eerie sound design, and a deep connection to Scandinavian folklore. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to create a sense of unease and intrigue, often describing it as both creepy and captivating, though some feel that the inclusion of jump scares detracts from its otherwise subtle horror. Overall, the game is celebrated for its rich atmospheric experience, making it a must-play for fans of atmospheric horror and puzzle games.
“The atmosphere is amazing!”
“Year walk is an unsung piece of cultural esoterica that thrives on atmosphere, wonderfully realized and gorgeous to boot.”
“The atmosphere in year walk makes it shine, weighing down on your shoulders like heavy Swedish snow.”
“I expected jumpscares, an atmosphere that would put genuine fear in my bones as I walked through that snowy forest.”
“I feel the jumpscares detracted from the experience of the otherwise slower, darker, brooding atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere was so eerie and unsettling.”
graphics
696 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The graphics of "Year Walk" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning and unique art style, which combines elements of two-dimensional, paper-like visuals with a haunting atmosphere that effectively conveys the game's themes of Scandinavian folklore. Players appreciate the beautiful artwork and immersive sound design, noting how they enhance the overall experience, despite some criticism regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the visuals are described as captivating, eerie, and integral to the game's storytelling, making it a standout feature for many reviewers.
“Astonished art style and amazing atmosphere!”
“The art style is two-dimensional and gives a sort of paper vibe but is stunning and beautiful at that.”
“The graphics are fantastic, the soundtrack is great, I loved the story and the folklore aspect.”
“There isn't much positive to say about this game, except for the visuals.”
“The artwork has potential, but at the moment it is just boring and does nothing new or scary.”
“Yes, this game is just fancy graphics and simple point and click.”
music
546 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The music in "Year Walk" is widely praised for its haunting and immersive quality, effectively enhancing the game's eerie atmosphere and complementing its stunning visuals. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke emotions, with many describing it as beautiful, chilling, and perfectly synchronized with the gameplay. Overall, the combination of the soundtrack and art style creates a captivating experience that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
“The soundtrack is phenomenal and the art is elegant with a side of creepy; a great game all round.”
“The music and atmosphere are phenomenal and that's why I'm recommending this game.”
“The music is haunting, nothing is predictable, and the setting is mesmerizing.”
“Genuinely my only critiques are a) I want more 2) there's no volume control and the music gets really loud in some spots and iii) if you are hard of hearing or tone deaf there is a section of the game you just would not be able to play.”
“However, most of the game is very quiet, with little to no music in many sections (though what music is there is quite well done), and only the eerily realistic sound of footsteps crunching in the thick snow will accompany you.”
“Having the music cut out when you have to do something as simple as opening a map... that's bad.”
gameplay
332 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The gameplay of "Year Walk" is characterized by its simplicity and reliance on point-and-click mechanics, which some players found engaging while others deemed it lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the clever puzzles and atmospheric storytelling, but also note that the mechanics can be confusing and the overall experience is relatively short, averaging around 1.5 to 3 hours. While the art and sound design received praise, the gameplay itself often felt minimal and at times frustrating, leading to mixed opinions on its overall effectiveness.
“The gameplay is very simple, but the puzzles are clever (with just the right clues), and the atmosphere, artwork, and story are truly remarkable.”
“Story is extremely rich, gameplay is fluid and beautiful, the soundtrack is eerily haunting, and the puzzles are wonderfully balanced.”
“The gameplay and story are tight, compact, simple, and always enjoyable to experience.”
“I don't recommend it if you expect a game with a lot of engagement and hours of gameplay.”
“Thematically this is pretty good and some work went into the art style which is all fine, but ultimately this needs to be reviewed as a game and the gameplay just isn't there to make this compelling or engaging.”
“Mechanically such a struggle that I gave up after an hour or so; I have no idea what can be clicked or dragged or interacted with in some other way.”
replayability
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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Overall, the game has limited replayability, primarily due to its short duration and scripted nature, which diminishes the experience after the first playthrough. While some players appreciate the opportunity to explore hidden secrets or alternative endings, many agree that the game is best enjoyed once or twice, often for the sake of sharing it with friends rather than for personal replay. Despite its artistic merits, most reviews suggest that the game lacks substantial replay value, making it a "one and done" experience for many players.
“Most of the replay value for me lies in making my friends play it, which is like reliving it for the first time again in a strange way.”
“It isn't a particularly long game, but for what it lacks in playtime, it makes up for in secrets; its replay value is extremely high, as replaying is in fact essential to seeing the whole story play out.”
“Designed for maximum replayability, this game draws you in with its mysterious plotline and the depth of its story.”
“There is virtually no replayability, but I'm fine with that since the game was cheap and I enjoyed it when I played it.”
“I would say that $6 is a bit much for how short it is; not much replay value, probably a one and done for most people.”
“Sadly, it's really only replayable once or twice to get the whole plot figured out (because there is a twist at the end), and it's not hard to get all the achievements in those one or two playthroughs either.”
grinding
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Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often citing convoluted mechanics and unresponsive controls that detract from the experience. While some appreciate the art style and thematic elements, many feel that the puzzles are either overly simplistic or unnecessarily complex, leading to a lack of rewarding gameplay. The traversal and backtracking through the game world are frequently described as cumbersome, contributing to an overall sense of annoyance rather than engagement.
“Even with a guide, I found traversing the world very tedious and frustrating.”
“Too bad it’s an utter chore to play even with its short run time; the puzzles are garbage and are either obtuse or tedious busywork.”
“That tediousness mostly stems from the way the world is constructed, making it difficult to remember where to find anything that isn't a major landmark.”
emotional
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The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its poignant storytelling and atmospheric depth, with many players describing it as a heartbreaking love letter that effectively pulls at their heartstrings. The integration of folklore elements and a unique visual style enhances the emotional experience, although some players felt disconnected due to character development or challenging puzzles. Overall, the game is noted for its ability to evoke strong feelings, leaving players both touched and emotionally drained.
“It's not a murder story, but a heart-breaking love letter.”
“The story is very poignant and emotionally striking.”
“It's beautiful and sad and scary, and I got way more emotionally invested than I expected to.”
humor
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The humor in the game is described as a mix of absurdity and silliness, with players finding enjoyment in the ridiculous scenarios and puzzles, such as navigating by the light of dead fetuses. While some moments are intended to be scary, they often veer into the realm of comedy, leading to a unique experience that may not resonate with all players. Overall, the humor is appreciated by a select audience, contributing to the game's charm despite its unconventional approach.
“It was a lot of fun trying to figure out exactly what was going on, and I had a good time with (most) of the puzzles, but sometimes the things happening were so ridiculous (finding your way to a ladder by the light of 4 dead fetuses?) that it stopped being scary and started being funny instead.”
“I played 3 hours and went through it 3-4 times for some funny achievements.”
“The art is beautiful and the puzzles are funny and scary at the same time.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
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The game features appealing graphics, but players have reported encountering various bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many still find the game enjoyable.
“The game offers some nice graphics, although there are some ugly glitches here and there.”
“Bugs and glitches are a recurring issue.”
“The game has potential, but the stability is marred by frequent bugs and glitches.”
character development
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Many users appreciate the game's plot, character designs, and overall aesthetics but express a desire for deeper story and character development to enhance their experience.
“I really enjoyed the plot, character designs, and ambiance of this game, and the overall aesthetics.”
“I think I would have enjoyed it more if there had been more story and character development.”