Yesterday Origins

Repetitiveness, occasional frustrating puzzles and a couple of technical hitches may put you off Yesterday Origin, but if you persevere you will find an enjoyable, conspiracy thriller.

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"Yesterday Origins" is a thrilling adventure game that explores the story of John Yesterday, an immortal man who has lived for centuries and has seen it all. Players will uncover the origins of John's immortality, navigate through various eras of history, and unravel a conspiracy that spans across time. Featuring complex puzzles and a rich narrative, the game provides an engaging and satisfying experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 147 reviews

story72 positive mentions

stability6 negative mentions

Engaging and intricate story with unexpected twists that keep players invested.
Beautiful graphics and art style that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
Strong voice acting and character development, particularly with the main characters John and Pauline.

Clunky controls and user interface that can frustrate players, especially with mouse interactions.
Numerous bugs and technical issues, including crashes and overlapping audio, detracting from the experience.
Some puzzles are overly obscure or require specific sequences that can lead to unnecessary trial and error.

story
129 mentions
56 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, engaging twists, and strong character development, particularly in its exploration of dark themes and complex narratives. Many reviewers highlight the seamless integration of storytelling with gameplay, although some note that the execution can be hindered by gameplay mechanics and bugs. Overall, the narrative is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling experience for fans of point-and-click adventure games.
- “The big stand-out with this game (and most of Pendulo Studios' games in general) is the story.”
- “They always knock the story out of the park, and without spoiling anything, the twists and plot reveals in this game are second-to-none.”
- “The game's core strength lies in its storytelling.”
- “The story felt a little lackluster.”
- “Much, however, is left unanswered in the storyline, which (hopefully) hints at a third game?”
- “Admittedly, the plot does not offer huge surprises, as most of it is predictable.”
gameplay
35 mentions
29 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is a blend of classic point-and-click mechanics with some unique artistic interactions, but it suffers from clunky controls and occasional obscure puzzle solutions. While many players appreciate the integration of story and gameplay, the mechanics can feel awkward, especially when using a mouse and keyboard, leading to frustration. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a mixed bag, with some enjoying its fresh approach while others find it flawed and in need of refinement.
- “Great story and gameplay.”
- “Yesterday Origins blends point-and-click gameplay with dark, supernatural themes.”
- “The gameplay is point & click, but with nice graphics and more flexibility than most.”
- “The gameplay is a mixed bag.”
- “It relies on classic point-and-click mechanics and while the puzzles are seamlessly integrated into the story, they occasionally suffer from obscure solutions.”
- “Numerous bugs and irregularities plagued the gameplay from start to finish, ruining what's supposed to be an immersive experience.”
graphics
30 mentions
60 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their beautiful art style, vibrant colors, and detailed animations, often described as resembling a hand-drawn comic book. While some players noted minor issues and bugs, the overall visual presentation is considered solid and enhances the storytelling experience. Despite a few mixed opinions, the graphics are generally regarded as a highlight of the game, contributing to its immersive atmosphere.
- “The graphics are beautiful, even at low settings.”
- “Gorgeous looking and colorful hand-drawn comic book style background artwork and character models.”
- “Graphics and storyline are very well done and gave me hours of enjoyable gameplay!”
- “Several sound and graphic bugs still make it unplayable.”
- “The inquisition is out to get you for some reason, and beyond you controlling your character in-game, most of the game's graphics are almost still pictures.”
- “Production - good graphics, decent although not exceptional soundtrack.”
music
20 mentions
55 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the dark atmosphere and complement the visuals. However, a recurring bug causes overlapping tracks when switching characters, which detracts from the experience. While some players find the soundtrack great, others describe it as dull or tolerable, indicating a mixed reception overall.
- “On the bright side, the game has a beautiful art style, and the music perfectly matches the dark atmosphere.”
- “I like the music, sounds, and speech they used in this game, and the graphics are a marvel as well.”
- “Fantastic work, the soundtrack is great as well.”
- “Unfortunately, a bug causes the music from one character's universe, after switching to another character, to sometimes continue playing, leading to two separate music tracks playing concurrently.”
- “However, disable in-game music, and you lose music in cut scenes, and there are some cut scenes that only play music (no spoken lines).”
- “Music is dull.”
humor
7 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Overall, the humor in the game is appreciated for its light-heartedness and memorable characters, with many players favoring a comedic tone over darker themes. While some reviews note a successful blend of humor with a darker narrative, others feel that this combination can lead to a less engaging experience. The dialogue is often highlighted as particularly funny, contributing to an exciting and interesting story.
- “Decent story, good humor - worth a playthrough.”
- “+ some memorable characters with funny dialogue”
- “That's hilarious!”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with users reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and issues with cut scenes and controls. Many recommend purchasing it only on sale due to its short length and persistent technical problems. Overall, the experience is marred by these stability issues, detracting from gameplay enjoyment.
- “Buggy and crashy.”
- “I suggest buying it on sale, as it is short and, as I said, can be buggy.”
- “The cons are the abysmal point-and-click mouse controls and the buggy cut scenes.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some mechanics and graphics have been improved, users report poor performance on Mac systems, with issues like sluggishness and tedious scrolling during inspections. Many feel that further optimization is needed for a smoother experience.
- “The mechanics have been optimized, enhancing the graphics and animations significantly.”
- “The optimization of the game has greatly improved the overall performance and user experience.”
- “The mechanics got optimized, but the graphics and animations either didn't improve or got worse.”
- “Poorly optimized for Mac; it doesn't run very smoothly at times, and scrolling while inspecting is tedious.”
- “They should've optimized it more.”
emotional
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with a recurring bug in chapter three that causes overlapping background music, detracting from the emotional experience and sense of adventure in the game. This technical issue significantly impacts the overall emotional engagement, leaving players feeling overwhelmed and disconnected.
- “The game beautifully captures the essence of loss and nostalgia, making every moment feel deeply personal.”
- “The characters' struggles resonate on a profound level, evoking a range of emotions that linger long after the game ends.”
- “Each decision feels weighty, as the narrative intricately weaves together themes of love, sacrifice, and redemption.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its beautiful art style and music that effectively complement the dark themes, enhancing the storytelling and character development.
- “On the bright side, the game has a beautiful art style, and the music perfectly matches the dark atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere created by the art enriches the great story behind yesterday's character.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and challenging, particularly when aiming for achievements, as it requires attention to detail and can lead to missed objectives. Additionally, technical issues on Mac can hinder the experience, making tasks like scrolling during inspections feel cumbersome.
- “Those wanting the achievements will find it pretty difficult as there are a lot of tedious things to do, and it is very easy to miss something very small (as I apparently did a few times). The speed run can be done after you play once, as you have a better idea of what to do.”
- “- Poorly optimized for Mac; it doesn't run very smoothly at times, and scrolling while inspecting is tedious.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development primarily revolves around the protagonist, John, with limited exploration of other characters, such as Pauline, whose backstory is revealed through brief interactions. Overall, the development is considered underwhelming, lacking depth and engagement.
- “Since the game's story is centered on John, most character development is focused on him, but we do get snippets of information about Pauline's past too, mainly through the introduction of friends she made earlier in her life.”
- “Character development is also very underwhelming.”