Yomawari: Night Alone

76%
Game Brain Score Based on 742 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Yomawari: Night Alone Game Cover
Yomawari: Night Alone is a throwback to good old survival horror genre, spicing it up with emotional themes and ingenious mechanics to make for a definitive must-play for fans awaiting a game that will be remembered. A must-play.
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In "Yomawari: Night Alone," a young girl ventures into a dark and mysterious town to search for her missing sister and dog. As she navigates this unfamiliar world, she must avoid eerie spirits that stalk her every move. The girl's search for answers becomes a harrowing fight for survival in this atmospheric horror adventure game.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station Vita
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

76%
Audience ScoreBased on 742 reviews
story103 positive mentions
grinding21 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming art style that beautifully contrasts the horror elements, creating a unique atmosphere.
  • The sound design is excellent, with ambient noises and a heartbeat mechanic that heightens tension and immersion.
  • The story, while simple, effectively conveys themes of loss and childhood fears, making it emotionally impactful.
  • The game frequently crashes, leading to frustration and loss of progress due to a poorly implemented save system.
  • The gameplay can feel tedious and frustrating, with many trial-and-error moments that detract from the horror experience.
  • The controls can be clunky, especially when using a keyboard and mouse, making it difficult to navigate and evade enemies.
  • story281 mentions

    The game's story is generally described as simple yet engaging, revolving around a young girl's quest to find her missing dog and sister, infused with elements of Japanese folklore. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and atmosphere, others find the narrative lacking in complexity and direction, often relying on collectibles to flesh out the lore. Overall, the story is seen as a bittersweet coming-of-age tale that effectively complements the game's horror elements, despite its brevity and occasional gameplay frustrations.

    • “The story is so sad but sweet, I’m obsessed!!!!!!!!!!”
    • “The main story is told through the normal game progression, but at the same time several items scattered across the map offer the player a series of mini stories that contextualize the origin of most spirits and give a greater sense of immersion.”
    • “The story is quite dark and tragic though, tugging at your heartstrings immediately even in the tutorial.”
    • “Most frustrating piece of shit game I ever played, I regret spending money on it; the story doesn't make up for the frustrating gameplay.”
    • “The story is barebones, with the true story never really explained.”
    • “The story is kind of sparse in this one, so if you're looking for a good story, then you'll be disappointed.”
  • gameplay225 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by its simplicity and straightforward mechanics, focusing on exploration and evasion of spirits. However, many players find it frustrating due to clunky controls, trial-and-error elements, and poorly executed mechanics that can lead to frequent deaths and crashes. While the atmosphere and art style are praised, the overall execution of gameplay leaves much to be desired, often detracting from the experience.

    • “The gameplay is simple but straightforward, allowing the player to better appreciate the surrounding environments and details.”
    • “The gameplay revolves around navigating your way through the various streets and paths of your town, avoiding spirits and collecting things.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, tense, and makes you think on your feet because if you're too slow to react, then it's back to the last quicksave for you.”
    • “Controls don't work well, neither do the game's extremely limited mechanics.”
    • “It's a bummer because the environment and atmosphere is so incredibly well done that it's held back by tedium and frustrating gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay needs a lot of improvement or remove elements that you wouldn't actually use.”
  • graphics164 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique blend of cute and creepy aesthetics, creating a charming yet unsettling atmosphere that enhances the horror experience. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful hand-drawn art style and detailed environments, which effectively capture the game's emotional and eerie themes. However, some players note that while the visuals are impressive, they can be overshadowed by frustrating gameplay mechanics.

    • “The aesthetic of this game is beautiful; the ambience (play with headphones on) and the spirits perfectly capture what a child feels when encountering something completely foreign in a dark night alone.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful and really set a scary atmosphere... it basically has no OST, but it just adds to the ambience.”
    • “The art style really sets this game apart and it has such a strange foreboding atmosphere while still being comfy.”
    • “The graphics and fullscreen support are questionable, although the art style itself is okay, fitting the mood the game is going for.”
    • “The art style is too cutesy to make me feel creeped out and the mechanics used to avoid ghosts don't work as well as they should.”
    • “Very frustrating to see your long work suddenly gone because graphic hang up (the game still run).”
  • atmosphere135 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of cute visuals and eerie elements, effectively creating a spooky and immersive experience. Many reviewers highlight the strong sound design and ambient effects that enhance the tension, while some note that the game relies less on jump scares and more on building a sense of dread. However, a few players feel that frustrating gameplay mechanics can detract from the overall atmospheric experience.

    • “The vibe, theme, and atmosphere of this game is absolutely perfect, and I love how it's even more emphasized to put you in this child-like perspective to truly immerse you in the horrors that surround an adorable, sweet, and innocent protagonist.”
    • “The atmosphere is perfect for giving the player an unnerved feeling.”
    • “Yomawari doesn't rely on jumpscares as much as many modern horror titles and takes a more atmospheric approach to make you feel genuinely unsettled.”
    • “On the other hand, it tries too hard to do horror by throwing some unneeded screamers at you, some of the sounds being way too high and breaking the game's peaceful atmosphere and an absurdly frustrating difficulty at multiple points of the game.”
    • “It's a bummer because the environment and atmosphere is so incredibly well done that it's held back by tedium and frustrating gameplay.”
    • “Unfortunately some scripted segments are very tightly tuned and you'll probably have to repeat them several times, which tends to ruin the atmosphere.”
  • music60 mentions

    The music in the game is a mixed bag, with many players noting that it primarily features one standout track that is beautiful and haunting, while the rest of the experience relies heavily on ambient sounds to create atmosphere. Some appreciate the minimalistic approach, arguing that the lack of a continuous soundtrack enhances the eerie feeling, while others express a desire for more musical variety during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is generally well-received, but its limited presence leaves some players wanting more.

    • “This will forever have a place in my heart as 'that one game' with an incredible soundtrack that's just so beautiful, and for the millions of monsters and ghosts that I haven't even seen before. Even on my second playthrough, I'm still meeting new ones.”
    • “I love the atmosphere, art style, music, characters, and story. The music really enhances the overall experience.”
    • “The one song the game does have is quite a beautiful piece—part haunting, part serene, part chaotic. It's a song that I can listen to over and over, which made getting the OST and artbook DLC pack worth it.”
    • “The way that there's no music at all while exploring.”
    • “The game is 2 to 3 hours long and there isn't any music, so I would be wary about the price.”
    • “Sadly, there's only one song in the game which is good anyway.”
  • grinding22 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and frustrating, with players often feeling compelled to repeat tasks and navigate aimlessly through the environment. Many reviews highlight the slow pacing, unclear objectives, and repetitive boss sequences, which contribute to a sense of monotony and lack of engagement. Overall, the gameplay is described as unpolished and lacking in excitement, making the grinding experience feel more like a chore than a challenge.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “So much of the game is just running around aimlessly just hoping to stumble upon something to maybe help progress some part of the story, which becomes tedious and obnoxious.”
    • “All in all, the gameplay feels tedious and unpolished, with lots of problems that could've easily been fixed.”
    • “The slow pacing combined with unclear goals makes wandering around town dodging ghosts more tedious than challenging.”
  • emotional21 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its blend of charm and horror, evoking a range of feelings from sadness to heartwarming moments. Players appreciate the impactful storytelling, with minimal yet deep narratives that resonate emotionally, often leading to tears during key scenes. The combination of cute graphics and unsettling themes creates a unique atmosphere that enhances the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey through both lighthearted and dark moments.

    • “And my god, a part of me says I wish I kind of didn't because I got so annoyed with some of the bosses and enemies in this game, but looking past that, it's still as charismatic, adorable, sweet, and maybe even heartbreaking as I remember.”
    • “Yet it is not all horrors, as we must come to terms with the grim, emotional realities that lead us on this dark adventure, crying into the night as we face many unpleasant realities that brought us into the darkness from which we are attempting to push through.”
    • “Its story has a deep, emotional core.”
  • stability19 mentions

    The stability of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and various glitches that hinder gameplay. While some players experienced minimal issues, others found the game nearly unplayable due to persistent bugs, particularly in specific chapters. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a major concern, leading to frustration and discouragement among players.

    • “100% bug-free product”
    • “Every time I put the Steam Deck in sleep mode, the game freezes.”
    • “But the game is so buggy and crashes a lot.”
    • “This game couldn't even start up properly; no patch to fix this game for a month (bought on Halloween), no response from the community as they said 'post it in troubleshooting, we will reply right away.'”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be lacking, with reviewers highlighting that while the character and ghost designs are visually appealing and contribute to the game's atmosphere, there is insufficient depth in their development. The art and sound design are praised, but technical issues and gameplay mechanics detract from a more engaging character experience. Overall, the focus seems to be more on aesthetics than on meaningful character growth.

    • “The character design is really interesting; even the ghosts were fascinating to look at, which explains my week of playing this game.”
    • “The artbook DLC is a 12-page PDF with promotional art and character design art, featuring written dialogue from the director of the game, Yu Mizokami, explaining her thought process for each piece of art.”
    • “It mixes elements of cute character designs and fun item descriptions with some dark subject matter, creating an enjoyable horror game.”
    • “It's held back by technical issues, somewhat clunky controls, unfair enemies, and lack of character development.”
  • replayability5 mentions

    Overall, the game has limited replayability, with many players noting that it can be completed in about six hours and lacks incentives to revisit beyond the main story. While there may be hidden easter eggs, the absence of engaging features and counterplay against monsters diminishes the motivation to replay. Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale due to the high price relative to the playtime and replay value.

    • “I will say there is most likely a ton of easter eggs I never encountered, which probably adds to the replayability.”
    • “The only thing I would mention is to get it on sale, since the regular price point is rather high for the amount of playtime you get, coupled with the lack of ideal features such as voice acting and music.”
    • “I heard this game doesn't take very long to be beaten, though it seems to have only little replay value - so I would wait for a sale to grab it!”
    • “It offers no replayability; it's 6 hours long if you don't search around, and its length is inflated by all the collectibles laying around.”
    • “There's little replayability and little motivation to do anything beyond the main story, but it makes for a decently entertaining night in, and shows that cute games following conventional design can still be scary experiences.”
    • “I heard this game doesn't take very long to be beaten, and as I understood it, it seems to have only little replay value - so I would wait for a sale to grab it!”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent crashes, poor PC controls, and frustrating enemy AI. Despite its engaging story and atmosphere, performance issues persist even on capable hardware, leading to a recommendation for potential fixes that seem unlikely given the game's age.

    • “I would like to see some improvements made to the resolution settings and performance, but it wasn’t enough to make me not like the game.”
    • “If this was the only flaw with the game it could still be fine, but with the poor optimization of the PC port where many other users reported crashing, the clunky PC controls/not working controller support out of the box, and some extremely convoluted puzzles at times, this game is hard to recommend without any fixes from the creators (which I doubt will happen since this game was released about 8 years ago).”
    • “Overall, the story is very good, the atmosphere is dark and eerie, it's fun to explore and it has a variety of puzzles to solve, but on the other hand, it is very badly optimized, crashes constantly, and the enemy AI is utterly frustrating.”
    • “Even with the low resolution, the performance could have used some improvement as well (using a GTX 970 got me 55-58 frames, with some drops a bit lower than that).”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as both amusing and slightly irritating, often eliciting a mix of laughter and tension. Players appreciate the blend of comedic moments with a cute yet eerie narrative, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Had my heart pounding and laughing hysterically because 'f*** me, that was f***ing scary'... really nice and simple gameplay and a nice cute/sad/scary story.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

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Play time

9hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
7-50hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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