Night in the Woods

great game and loved the story!

I've played this game across platforms; I love it more than almost any other game.
I relate to Mae and this is a comfort game; I'm excited to have it here and to keep playing it over time.

Thank you for making this!

It is awesome game! I really loved its story and characters becayse they felt very genuine. The game surprised me and made me reflect on both its story and on myself. Recommending to everyone!

great story, great characters, and fun minigames, 1000000% recommend

the game was fun! BUT I WANT MORE!

r.i.p to the creator

For the longest time I always heard about this game but never really understood what it was about, it was the same about hearing another game called EchoVN praised all the same by furries but I didn't really understand it till I gave Night in the Woods a play.

Its gameplay is actually kind of unique and I really enjoy the rhythm sequences in particular since I'm really big into music, the atmosphere of the game is very depressing and to be honest most of the characters are unlikeable and very immature (except gregg, he is so awesome). However, I think the characters of this game are a reflection for many, either whats inside or outside a person and thats why this game probably is so enjoyed. With how troubled most furries tend to be, I'm sure this game is a form of solace. Personally, I enjoy good stories rather than sulk in my own self manifested grief and this game atleast has an interesting story with a range of memorable characters.

In my honest opinion, its a good game, but theres a lot of people out there that like it for the wrong reasons and its usually because people know what they may do is toxic but won't truly acknowledge it and solve their problems. Give the game a go, its message resonates with a lot of people trying to figure out how to live in an uncertain world, but don't seek subconscious validation for toxic behaviors, thats the issue where a lot of people tend to foster for these types of games that gravitate towards a furry audience.

This game has been sitting on my wishlist and in my library for a while, and I’m so glad I finally found the time to sit down and play it. The story touches on heavy topics like mental health, growing up, and figuring out who you are, but it does so in a way that (for me) was emotional without feeling overwhelming.

It took me a little while to warm up to Mae as the main character, but in the end, I appreciated how her perspective was so different from everyone else’s. It gave the game a unique angle and added a lot to the story. The mix of serious moments and humor kept things feeling balanced, especially in the later parts of the game.

Hanging out with characters like Lori, Germ, and the others was just as fun as following the main story. It made the town feel even more alive and gave me a chance to connect with the characters on a deeper level. That said, regarding the relationships within the game, I wasn’t entirely sold on the dynamic between Mae and Bea. I get that the game is showing how friendships can drift, but I didn’t feel like their bond was strong enough to make their reunion at the end feel as impactful as it could’ve been.

Overall, Night in the Woods is a great game. It’s a story-driven experience that tackles real-life issues, and if you’re into games that make you think (and throw in a few laughs), it’s definitely worth playing.

still a bit salty about the game being essentially a very beautiful wrapping around an onset of early adulthood

but it's still pretty great and it has kickass ost
play it

Amazing game full of rich story, truly believable characters and atmospheric greatness. This game leaves you with wanting more, and makes it playable over and over. Each time you play, you'll find something new and unique or strange. This game spoke to me on every level, and I sincerely hope the creators release more games like this. Truly perfect.

Great story, good game. Its like a ghost story if it were realistic

This is by far my favorite game ever made. Rich storyline, loveable characters, and an environment that is so detailed and enticing that it'll keep you hooked for hours. While the plot and characters are indeed fictional, the emotions they experience, relationships they build and experiences they have feel so real. Half the time playing this game I wish I had friends like Mae, Angus, Gregg and Bea! Not to mention how much fun it would be to explore Possum Springs. Overall this is and will always be one of if not my favorite games, the emotions it makes me feel are almost indescribable, and overall I just have a complete blast playing it. Gregg Rulz OK!!

If you like games with great stories, likable characters and a beautiful art style than do yourself a favor and play this game.

This game is... something. I enjoyed every minute of it!
Night in the Woods has been a game I had been trying to play for a few years now since a few friends had recommended it to me, and so when it was on special I finally bought it. It's left me feeling both empty, and somehow comforted?? Still wish there was one final song :(

Night in the Woods is by far my favorite story game. It details dissociation and mental illness so well through its characters, especially Mae. Mae is one of my favorite characters in all of the video games I've played because of the thought in her character. The setting is also so nostalgic and sweet. It makes you feel very immersed. I really recommend this game, it makes you reflect on a lot. Gregg rulz?!?

Hard to put to words why I loved the game quite yet, besides some very generic "it's pretty" and "relatable" and "competent". But the night after I finished it and was idling thinking about it, I started crying. Think all the hours the game very happily spends with its characters will stick with me for a pretty long while

also while i did not mind it at all -- happily binged it matter-of-fact -- i don't think i'd ever want to go through the loop of walking everywhere for a while again jshdfldsfk

Oh wow, this was an awesome experience. The story was relatable and felt personal, and the characters felt very real. I just couldn't stop playing and could never guess where the story would go next. The strong art direction was great too. I'll need some time to write a more thought out review, but I definitely recommend this game!

This game is a cozy, heartfelt treasure that pulled on heartstrings and made me feel in ways a game hasn't in such a long time - impossible not to recommend. It's a short game, and worth every minute.

Got to be one of my top 3 comfort games. Amazing story, even more amazing soundtrack, and some of the most amazing characters I've seen in a story. Since it's very story heavy I know it won't be for everyone, but for me it holds a very special place in my heart <3

this is a game about life and its very beautiful, i'm not going to spoil anything but if its an incredible experience and story you're after in a silly, funny, sad, tragic story this is it.

Aside from the main story, there are a bunch of hidden side stories and just cute details in general, this is definitely the kind of game you play more than once. Also, demon tower rules >:)

Good game with a great story and amazing characters

Literally my favorite game on planet earth.
I never shut up about this game, and I never will.
This game is so beautiful and has such a different take on just everything really, to say this game changed me would not be putting it into enough words but I am not nearly smart enough to really showcase how I feel towards this game.

1000000000000000/10

i didn't participate in any of my graduation stuff but if I DID my senior quote would have been from this game
"cradle to grave, 100% dirtball"

PEAK H0LY SHlT ive had nitw on other devices before yes yes but i had to get it on pc because its so good. its interesting as hell , artstyle is original , it has fun little sidequests and stuff like rythm games and feeding baby rats or smashing lights and i could go on for hours but yeah erm good game go buy

out of all the many games ive played since the beginning of my gamer years in, like, 2016..

night in the woods is one of my absolute favorites.

the art design, sound design, music, dialogue and story all works so well together its amazing.

the art design is so simple yet so detailed in its own beautiful way. The simple glow accentuates the simplistic shapes that make up the world, making way for a cartoonish and child-like look to NITW's world despite its very deep and kind of dark storyline. I love taking in the world of Possum Springs - the autumn season the game takes place in adds an extra depth of nostalgia to me that only immerses me further. It really does remind me of those fall days in elementary school where I'd look at the world with wonder, all those fallen leaves, the red and yellows, etc.

moving on, the sound design. I feel this is a bit of an underappreciated part of NITW, but to me, the sounds in this game are beautifully crafted and add a layer of realism and immersion. characters' footsteps, the environmental ambience, the music, it's beautiful. i've always appreciated sound design in games, since it can really make or break a gaming experience (for example, the silent hill games). I'm happy to see it be a strong point in NITW.

next, the music. oh my god the music. alec knew wtf he was doing and was a genius at his craft. the music combines nostalgia, hard/punk rock jams, and that feeling of growing up throughout early, formative teenage years. playing the bass along with the band, or by yourself in mae's room, is a fun lil minigame that I actually enjoyed, despite my dislike of those kinda rhythm games. Die Anywhere Else and Mallard's Tomb evoke childhood-era feelings that not many other songs can rise in me. it actually tears me up, especially Mallard's Tomb. not many songs are able to do that, except maybe His Theme from undertale. (RIP Alec.)

the writing in this game is exceptional stuff, the game has such a perfect blend of realness and humor. I could genuinely relate to some moments in this game, especially the fight with Mae and her mom (I have issues with my own mom irl, so yeah). All of these characters feel *alive*, which sadly you don't see much of anymore in big AAA games, even the NPCs feel organic and real, too. The whole town of Possum Springs feels like its own midwestern town in America, and I love it. The beer-belly dads yelling GO SMELTERS, the teens hanging around, people Mae knows, other citizens living in the town... it's all amazing. the details in Mae's struggle with her own mental illness (which I genuinely thought was schizophrenia at one point, I do believe that is wrong now) are also very well done.

in general, the story is one that was longer than I expected, which I actually liked. usually, stories get to a point where they drag out to me, but, not for me here. I was consistently excited to find out more about this world's story and wtf was going on with the ghost. all the little other storylines, like with Bruce for example, all helped to package this game up into one beautiful, sweet gift that I couldn't be happier to recieve.

please, for the love of GOD buy this game.
dont hesitate.
BUY IT.

10/10
<3

i played this game when i was 15, when it first came out. i was stuck in a rural place in a small town in a very conservative arab country, i was dealing with my queerness, a severe religion crisis and a feeling like the world is like a noose around my neck. i see the same people everytime i go out, the same places, the same trees. then i played this game and it was like someone came down and took everything i was feeling and put it into a game. i played it twice agan, when i was 16 and then 17. now i'm 23 and living in the city, and while still feeling lost, i have gotten out of that town. and i wish i could tell my younger self that it does get better, and while i can't time travel and tell my younger self that, there is something else that did that, and it was Night In The Woods

TLDR;
I fucking love this game to pieces
also.
Gregg rulez OK!

All the character are very relatable and it has a brilliant story, gettin' to pick your own choices and what not is really a nice touch.

As someone who has grown up in a small city, this game hit home really hard. That feeling of your home never being the same even after a seemingly short amount of time hasn't been captured for me in a game before.

It was strange though how that story that was heading in the direction where the protag deals with very grounded problems (dropping out, clear signs of depression & adhd, possibly burnout), was sidelined by a very paranormal story that shifted focus to a group of angry men sacrificing to some sort of God/Devil. But as strange as that was to me, it still felt very impactful.

the best atmospheric game i ever played in my life.
Style 10/10
story 10/10
soundtracks 10/10
10 arms of 10 highly recommend this game to everyone who wants to chill
i wanna erase my memory to feel all that experience again

Might genuinely be one of if not the best story game I've played

Ignore my playtime (played the game many times elsewhere!)... This game - and without exaggeration - is a fundamental part of my development as a person... When i say it saved me, I mean it. ‪‪❤︎‬ Also mae borowski is the best main character to ever exist in any media.

To enjoy it completely, Night in the Woods needs a more "patient" kind of appreciation. I've seen reviews giving this game a low score, calling it a "walking simulator", and this overgeneralization could not be any more lazy. This game isn't meant to be another form of mindless entertainment. It's a beautiful experience that requires you to enjoy the little things in life. The charming and relatable characters that you choose to talk to, the countless secrets hidden everywhere for those with enough curiosity, and the spontaneous minigames that serve no purpose other than to make the experience more memorable. Along with that, the music in this game is unbelievably beautiful. I can't put into words how it's impacted me, and that goes for the entire soundtrack as well. All of these qualities create an immaculate experience that could never be replicated, and hearing people brush it aside as "pointless" breaks my heart.

"At the end of everything, hold on to anything"

Despite this theme's presence throughout the game, Night in the Woods ironically taught me to do the opposite. The moment I put down any experience such as this one, I can't help but feel pangs of nostalgia. It's as if I'd just been born and I wanted to be back in the womb. I would normally blame these feelings on maladaptive escapism, wanting to ignore my real life and live someone else's instead, and while that is a part of it, my problem was rooted in something much deeper. I undoubtedly love this game with all my heart, in the same way you would a close relative. Every replay feels like seeing a distant friend after a long time apart. From the safety I feel from tracks like "Home Again", to the support expressed in every line of dialogue with Mae's parents, this game feels like home in every sense of the word. Every time the story comes to a close, I'm devastated to see all of the characters I've bonded with leave. I would spend weeks afterword ruminating on memories I had with this game, and for hours at a time, I'd be stuck in my head wishing I was still experiencing this masterpiece. That was until I realized that, just like with any close relationship you lose, you need to learn to let go. Night in the Woods has taught me so many life lessons and I'll never forget the ways it's changed my life. While I'd love to live in the comfort it gives me when I'm playing it, I know that it can't last forever. Some time apart is what's needed to truly appreciate all it's done for me.

Thank you for everything Alec Holowka.
Rest in peace.

the actual story is kinda mid, so is the gameplay. scary killers run around and you need to solve the mysteries behind them by platforming, reading a lot of dialogue, and playing the occasional minigame
but the soundtrack is fucking gold, the single piece of duct-tape that somehow holds the entire shitbrick of gears together.
the game has more of a focus on getting to know the characters, more than the actual story, which i think was a good choice. these are genuinely some of the best written characters in... anything i've seen so far.
there are also a ton of messages to the player scattered throughout the story

10/10. worth every penny
rip alec holowka

The characters are cool and the writing is decent, but I just cannot get invested in the story. I don't know exactly why, but I can't really get into it. A large factor could be that it isn't relatable to me in any way. Not sure... maybe just not my type of game?

makes existential crisis after graduating high school normal and shows how cool having friends who care about you can be. rad game.

The gameplay is very simple: You basically just run around and talk to people.
But the story, the whole Art and especially the characters, are what make Night in the Woods an outstanding game.
You really feel like a part of Mae's friend group and all their dreams and problems feel so real. You just want to learn more about them, the longer you play.

And even though I don't directly fit into the target demographic, I really enjoyed this game.

Oh and it has one of the best OSTs. I constantly come back to some of the songs.

never played anything like this, but it was my gfs favorite game of all time so i thought i'd try it out.

legit flawless 10/10 game. humor, emotion, everything is just so good.

It’s strange how I keep finding myself missing how life felt when I played through this game. I’m not even one for games without a lot of action, but this one drew me in and I have no idea why. I just wanted to keep finding all the little secrets.

The main character is actually somewhat relatable. It’s so easy to feel like she does even though my circumstances are different. I kept finding myself getting nervous in any situation she would, and I never got to successfully steal a pretzel because of that.

Music is great, atmosphere is great, story is great, cool minigames :)

fell in love with this game way before even playing it, i've watched so many video essays and playthroughs and am now playing through it for the first time myself and loving it even more. i love the art style, the story, the characters, how the dialogue is written, the sound design, everything. i'm proud to call NITW my favourite story game. :)

I have played a lot of games, this is by far the only one that has ever made me not only come close to crying but actually cry.
The story is great, you really get immersed in the lives of the characters, I am not kidding when I say this is the only game I've ever cared about spoilers (still watched commentaries and playthroughs but waited to finish the whole game before seeing everything).
I am from a smaller village originally, but I related most to the isolation that is felt in the game.
It has two main storylines of which I have only done one of in my, as of yet, 14.9h playtime.
The only issue I have with it is that I paid for the bundle that was supposed to come with the soundtrack and yet I can't seem to find where or if it was even downloaded.
Will definitely come back to it.
RIP Alec Holowka, I am sad that I only found out about this game so late.

THE game of games EVER. I can't even properly describe my feelings and thoughts on it, but if someone asked me to prove that video games are art this'd be the first one i'd point to.
Genuinely such a beautiful experience;
Play it if you haven't already, and replay it if you have!! Right now!!

It was a constant surprise. Story is reaaaaally well thought out, characters are really well made. It is not a "psychological horror", but might consider it "horror" by design.

I do not appreciate all achievements being hidden, that's non-sense. Most achievements shouldn't be hidden. If it is the spoilers the concern, then use locked achievements' descriptions/names as hints!

"Sometimes
I like fruit snacks
Out by
The train tracks
A juice box
And headphones
I enter
The juice zone."
10/10 peak fiction

can't put into words how much this game matters to me

Lovely story, lovely art direction, lovely characters, ok ending

It's very hard to describe my exact experience and thoughts about this game.

I live in a factory and farm town similar to, but not as small as Possum Springs. It even shares one of our biggest exports... Corn. I feel a strong connection to the themes and main character of this story. I was so engrossed in everything the game had to show.

Every feeling the characters here express feels so real, realer than any game I've ever played in my life. It's the best book I have ever read, or movie I have ever watched. Sometimes it feels like looking at a slightly exaggerated, cartoonish version of my hometown. I sometimes feel lost, too. Sometimes I'm not sure if what I'm doing is right. And sometimes, I don't know if I can handle life the way others seem to be able to... I just wish I could jump around on roofs and telephone wires, feed hungry rats, and play some terrible bass with my friends.

An incredibly sweet and grounded experience where you return back to a town where nothing much ever seems to happen. While I have mixed feelings about the ending, the writing is incredible, the humor is amazing, and it all manages to capture an atmosphere of aimless delinquency that is so bizarrely comforting to return to.

Great game, I love how I was able to explore the town and interact with the many different characters around with each on having their own life going on. It felt like they weren't just your normal everyday NPC, they felt like they were real characters, each one having their own deep backgrounds that you can choose to explore or not.

A game where you really care about the characters! Other pros: smart/funny/moving writing; attractive animation; interesting context (class, changing industries, small towns). Sometimes, this felt more like a movie where you clicked to advance the dialogue than a game: there were limited things to do, and the dialogue choices didn't seem super significant to the story's events. Don't worry if you're bad at the music or computer game parts. Slight complaint: the dream sequences were a bit of a slog. Overall, an intelligent and moving experience.

This game is absolutely amazing! The writing is hilarious, introspective, and meaningful, the story is engaging, and there are so so many little things to discover and explore. It's so pretty to look at and the soundtrack is great. I highly recommend giving it a try.

Night in the Woods is a Lot. Both in the sense that it is a lot to deal with, and in the sense that it “tries” to be a lot of things. Be that a cozy game with some serious undertones like spirit farer, a political commentary on capitalism a la Disco Elysium, a Life is Strange like Teenager drama or a Twin Peaks-esque Mystery, Night in the Woods does it all. However, contrary to what you might expect when hearing something like that, it doesn't slouch in any of those aspects.

The game puts you in the character of the 20 year old Mae, who just returned from college to her hometown of possum springs after 2 years. The town has been in economic decline for a while, and everything there seems to slowly wither away. You spend most of the game walking around town, hanging out with your friends and talking to the people that live there, most of them former friends, classmates or other acquaintances. Throughout the story themes like trauma, mental illness, capitalist society and the meaning of life take center stage, all of them addressed tastefully and with impressive levels of insight.

I can only speak from my own experience with these things, so I can't necessarily speak for the trauma/mental illness aspects of the game, but they felt well made to me. The questions the game asks in regard to life under capitalism however were all the more familiar to me. In this regard it really excels. Anti-capitalism is generally pretty easy, in times where even the lego movie manages some valid anti-capitalist sentiment, it's great to see a game that not only proposes solutions, but also refrains from plain observations and manages to bring its messaging to a personal level, making it a lot more relatable and original than usual.

The Gameplay isn't necessarily anything impressive and it does get a little boring half way through but does pick up pace shortly after. Think of it more as an interactive visual novel than a full game, which is in no way a negative as long as you can enjoy a game for the story.

Overall an experience that I would recommend to anyone that enjoys story focused games, especially if you played either Spiritfarer, Disco Elysium or Life is Strange before and enjoyed it, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this game as well.

Really, really loved this game. The story and mystery sucks you in, the characters are interesting and complex and fun to explore, and overall this game made me feel a lot of different things I didn't expect going into it. Playing through the story was a really enjoyable experience and I'm looking forward to playing through it again to find more things.