Night in the Woods

This game was recommended as being similar to Fran Bow, but I'm not sure why as it has very little in common with it, other than some mature subject matters. Half the time I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, if there are any puzzles I can't find them, I just wander around hoping to get some prompt from the NPC's as to what I', supposed to be doing, and usually they just rabbit on about nothing that seems significant to the story. I will persist but when a game starts to feel like a chore it's difficult to continue. It's a shame as I do like the presentation of it it's just that the gameplay is very stunted.

it has been several years since i've played this game but i think of it often. i named my cat after the man character so if thats not endorsment enough idk what is. its beautiful and honest and atmospheric. it reminds me its ok not to have it all together. it reminds me its ok to not know. to go back home and build from the scraps of who you left behind.

Man, what do I say about this game?

First, it's not for everyone. Let me be honest about that.
You won't find awesome gameplay mechanics, nor an expansive world of exploration.

But what is on offer here is still valuable.
Time to take a step back from the excessiveness of many other games and take comfort in the peaceful atmosphere.

Featuring a small, dying town, Night in the Woods focuses its efforts into wonderful and fun characters, the charm of a slow-paced, detailed, environment, fantastic music, and its own woven tale to tell.

I've completed the game once, which as of writing has taken me the 14.2 hours to complete.
But, there are some things that I was missing my first time around - Scenes and character insight missed as I had to make choices on who to hang out with during each in-game day.

Probably will take me a couple runs to see and do everything, so it's well-worth the $20 price tag.
(Especially considering it comes with 2 additional side-games, and features an internal mini-game that could be its own game itself!)

Do I recommend this game? Absolutely yes.
Go play it. Relax watching the daily life of a small town. Have fun hanging with the characters.

And remember,

GREGG RULZ, OK?

Phenomenal game. Wow.... just.... wow. There are very few games that leave me speechless and this is one of them. It's an amazing blend between adventure, humor, and horror.

Amazing game, amazing characters, amazing story.

beautiful visuals and animation, also good story!!!!!

Sweet, charming, and a little bit spooky, it's a pretty great game.

Just a heads up, this game is mostly spent reading dialogue. But it is totally worth it!
I'll say little about the experience, because I think you should go in as neutral as possible (as I did).

If you like to spend time getting to know characters, with a little bit of meaningful exploration sprinkled in and some amazing atmosphere to soak up, give it a go!

FYI, I found this game in the midst of me being emotionally downtrodden. I'd say that I would have a very large personal bias for this game, especially since I find myself much in similar circumstances to the characters of this story at the time of playing the game/writing this review.

So. Night in the Woods. It's definitely one of those art-y games that doesn't really try to be a *video game*. This game most specifically sparks feelings of the adventure genre, though not necessarily point-and-click as this game was not developed with only PC in mind. Nevertheless, the game does tread other boundaries in its various mini-games, though without much serious obligation aside from obtaining 100% achievements.

As a result, this game primarily focuses on storytelling. Having not had much context going into this game, the game is seriously character-driven, and I enjoyed that aspect of the game a lot. Having beaten the game and finally done more research of what I had gotten myself into, I realized that this game also has many horror elements, and it makes me seriously question what the authors of this game are actually going for.

I think any good horror story ought to have the readers (or players in this context) get to know the protagonists. But this seeming horror story focuses so much on the characters and setting it kind of falls into a "world building trap" where it develops its world so much the horror starts to take a backseat. I'm not going to lie, I did not think the game was going to go where it had.

Still, I greatly enjoyed my time with this game. I found it in many ways comforting, and at the very least an excellent exercise in empathy. I think it would be best to have an open mind going into this game, although maybe with some more context considering I was surprised by where the game eventually went.

If I were to summarize my thoughts into an unrepresentative ratio, it would be 4.5/5. I think even with its flaws there's a lot to love, and considering the game is super open to interpretation I don't think it's that hard to ignore those flaws anyways.

Personally not my fav because I feel like it was very slow and inconsistent but the game was beautiful and the charachters and story were still nice. I can see why people enjoy it but the playstyle was just not for me.

Absolutely loved the story, the way everyone has their story as well. The seasons, how the soundtrack change with it. Just 10/10 i recommend

The story wasn't really my cup of tea, I guess I'm too old to really get into the existential dread vibe of tweens from middle America and I was expecting something a bit more interesting than a lambda Cthulu story. Yet, for the fans of the genre, I'll have to recommend. The story is told in an interesting manner and the mini-games are fun. The musical bits are freakishly difficult for me.

Finally got around to playing this game and wow. Absolutely loved it. I've never felt so seen by and enamored with a video game world, especially one so clearly based on our own. Night in the Woods is really really special and feels so relevant, even 7 years after its release. One of my favorite games now, can't recommend it enough
--∅--

Speaking as a once-aimless (and still somewhat aimless) twenty-something, the melancholy of returning to a place you once knew and feeling like you've stayed the same while everyone else changed is a mood that fills out the core of this game. If that's an emotion you'd like to see realised in any piece of media, then Night in the Woods is the game piece of media for you.

What to expect?
-Funny, yet introspective dialogue
-The occasional fun mini game
-Heartache

What not to expect?
-A whole lot of gameplay

The game looks like a platformer, plays like a visual novel, and feels like therapy. Definitely worth purchasing if you happen to snag a discount. I bought it for myself after already playing through it once on another friend's account.

Fucking legendary bounce-n-talk game. Fun, funny, poignant, really resonates if you're of a certain experience. Love these characters. Love all the care and love on display.

Brilliant and haunting. Mae is deeply relatable, in all of her flawed beauty. I'm going to be thinking about this one for awhile (and definitely revisiting it again.) If you have any interest in playing this game at all, I highly recommend you just do it. It's pretty light on actual "gameplay," and more of an interactive story, but the story it has to tell is beautiful and existential and wistful and nostalgic and just so so good. It centers on a lot of tough themes, and is one of the few pieces of media that explores religion in a neutral way that doesn't make me want to implode. I wouldn't say it's a main point of the game, maybe, but its definitely there. As someone who generally avoids religious topics, I found it's presence surprisingly welcome here.

If you like stories that are open, vulnerable, and curious, and told in a way with stylish graphics within a cozy fall backdrop with plenty of fun moments, this is for you.

touching story, pleasant animation, fantastic soundtrack

Its a nice game with a good story that's perfect to play in Fall

this game changed the way i view everything, i won't forget the way it made me feel playing it for the first time.

Actually just tragic, the game is way too good and had a future way too bright for something not to go wrong. The sequel, Revenant Hill, The book... all canceled because of things that are completely unrelated and completely out of the developer's control. This whole IP could've been so much more but at least we got this game, which is not a small thing.

Night in the woods is such an astounding game. Visuals and art style, Story and characters are all phenomenal. This game has such a special place in my heart and makes me feel so at home and understood, as well as just an enjoyable Immersive story following only the best little guys >:) I dont have enough words to explain how moving this game is.
If you cant buy def watch Jacksepticeyes play through because he breathes such life into these characters with the voices he gives them

I've come back to this game many times over the years. Every time i'm reminded why i fell in love with it all those years ago. Its a wonderfully woven branching story that tells differently each time. The characters and the bonds you make feel very real which is a first for me and very bizarre as Mae is very different from myself yet i can relate to her and see much of her world without trying.
I can't really recommed this enough but i know its not for everyone but everyone should try it. Its a massive shame Revenant Hill has been cancelled. I hope to see a spiritual successor to NITW when the developers are in a better place. NITW stands as my all time favourite story game and i doubt i'll ever find a game i have the same connection with.
"At the end of everything, Hold onto anything."

i really enjoyed playing this ,wish it was abit longer , i love the graphics , and the characters have so much personality. its such a nice game to play to get away from ur own problems in life . 8.3/10

Really good story. I never knew what was coming next. Lots of surprises. Also loved the art style. I only wish it was longer. Def recommend.

I love the art style of this game so much its such a good story and game!

Can't believe it's taken me 5? 6? playthroughs (on 3 different platforms) to get around to writing a review for this game, but if anything that just makes it more thorough, yeah?

This game is hands down, the best game I've ever played in my life. I bought it back in 2018 or so, after I had moved back to my crappy hometown after barely making it through college (see where this is going?). I instantly connected to Mae, seeing so so much of myself in her, and empathizing with her and her struggles. I sat there as Mae had the same conversations with her mother as I did with mine, feeling like she was once again disappointing her family. It was like seeing myself as a video game character! Not only is Mae extremely relatable, but the story, the witty writing, the music, it all sucks you in and you feel like you're there in Possum Springs. I was in my early 20's when I first played this game, and I'm 30 now. I can say with the utmost confidence, even after you've played every single route, gotten every possible ending, seen every single line of dialogue, this game will still make you laugh, cry, hurt, and smile, every. Single. Time.

At the end of everything, hold onto anything. <3

Just finished this and oh. my. god.
I bought the game without much expectation, but immediately fell in love with it! in love with the artstyle, the characters, the story, everything!

Despite the cute visuals, the story is something else, really makes you feel connected to Mae and crew and their shenanigans, gets quite dark too.

Can't say much because i want YOU to experience it yourself, just be ready to read quuuuuite a bit of text, and for the roller coaster of emotions this is.

I love this game! The story, the characters, the overall vibe = fantastic! It made me a little sad, but I love a game that can make me feel things (happy or sad).

amazing story with amazing visuals and awesome music. would recommend 100%

Great concept, great execution, great characters, great art style. Its a good game. You should probably play this game.

i fuckin love night in the woods. just finished my fourth playthrough (played it previously on ps4). i rarely do second playthroughs of games, let alone fourth ones.


listen, if you want a "real game" with stuff like... game mechanics, and "actual" progression, and hours of content to sink your teeth into, this isn't gonna be for you. if you want something authentic, something where you finish playing and you have to just sit for a few minutes and be sad that there's nothing left but also glad to have experienced it, glad to be alive and in this moment, check out night in the woods. i don't think there's anything else quite like it.

GREGG RULZ OK

I played this game on Epic Games but bought it on Steam. I want to say that this game influenced me very much. It sank into my soul so much that this excerpt from life can be called a separate section of my growing up. BUT the developers treated Alec very badly ////gregg rulz ok?

When someone asks me what my favorite game is I usually say this one, I have plenty of games contending for this place and it's quite hard to elect one among them, but NITW is the one I feel the most emotionally connected to.

If you're seeking an action game you might be quite disappointed, the gameplay is quite limited as it's clearly not the main focus of the game. The main focus however is the ambiance, the artstyle, the music that makes this game so unique. Add to it great characters who you will definitely get really invested in, interacting with cool dialogues (don't know how to describe it, but it just makes me think "these guys are cool"). You should probably treat this game as a visual novel with lots of added interactivity, and if you're in the mood for that I don't know a better game than this one.

So yeah this is my first time leaving a review so I don't know how to express what makes me love this game really well, but it's become an integral part of me, and if you like games with a great story and an immaculate vibe to them, please get Night in the Woods you won't regret it :D

Despite I've heard so much positives reviews about this game I'm really disappointed.

The rhythm of the story is slow and boring. Plus the use of the dialogue bubbles is pretty excessive and the dialogues are too long and often banal, sometimes even nonsense. At the end I was tapping A button quickly to skip the conversations because I was tired of them.

For the gameplay, basically you see the days come and go slowly in the game, without being able to do anything other than little things like exploring the town or hang out with Mae's friends. But without ever getting to main plot :
At the beginning, Mae's arrival coincides with the macabre discovery of a severed arm that the citizens find in the middle of the street. But instead of continuing in this path, the developers make that the characters treats this fact as if it would be "normal" and the subject is quickly forgotten, no one talks about it anymore or worries about it. They simply continues their lifes peacefully (and not because they have something to hide).
Then, you find yourself playing a game where the story never seems to move forward and you're stuck in a loop doing the same things again and again.
HUGE LACK OF NARRATIVE AND STORYTELLING COHERENCE. How is even possible this game won the price for "the best narration"?

I only played 5h before I was tired of it. I even didn't finish the game.
Personally I'm asking a refund.

God, where do you even begin with Night In The Woods.

This is my favourite and the best game ever made. The characters all feel real, the style and graphic design is so silky smooth and cosy - nothing makes me feel like autumn as much as booting this game up for the sixth year in a row. I'm not putting any spoilers, just play it!!!

Good Story and Beautiful Music. This is for you if you like story games, funny dialogue, and an overall chill game.

Plus it's nice to play this during the fall.

I just finished playing and I did have a lot of fun playing it but I'm so upset at how aprupt it ended! You have a kind of "journal" or diary in the game and the pages fill up while you play but half of the pages were still empty when it just started showing me the credits out of nowhere. I'm pretty sure it was supposed to do that but most of the story hasn't really gotten to any proper end yet and all the characters were missing so much as well still. There's a ton of little "secrets" and details in this game that I didn't get enough time and guidance to explore yet. I got seven to eight hours out of this game which is good for a mostly story based game, I'm just upset about how much more there was that I would've liked to find out about. It just seems overall very unfinished to me.

Aside from all that, there were so many aspects that I loved about this game. It always felt like everything was about the brilliant music and colors. The sounds and visuals set the vibe for the current scene and current emotions very well and you could sometimes just relax for a while and take in the music. I loved that every day you could play her bass. It just shows you which of the four assigned keys you have to press and when and it was just fun to me personally. There were some mini games like that here and there and some parkour-ish parts that were also really fun for me. But still the main part in this game is the dialogue, the conversations between all the characters so if you're not a fan of having to read a lot yourself, this game won't be very fun for you. I rarely skipped some of the talking but basically every time I did, I was very much at the verge of getting stuck cause if you missed something, they don't tell you what you have to do next.

Overall, I'd definitely recommend this game! I wil lbe looking for similar ones as well now, since it just ended... Maybe they're just gonna add a bunch of things in the future? But if they do, it also got rid of my save file when I got back to the main menu so I'd have to go through everything again. Still very frustrated. Literally just stopped playing and went straight to posting this review.

i believe in an universe that doesn't care...

i've played this game three times since 2020. each time i think i finally got it. the next time i realized i was wrong.

beatifull story about growing older, anger, feeling stuck and burning out, and that's just what has been in my mind since i first played it. i sincerely think that this is one of those games that everyone can relate to in different ways, and the value you get just grows as you meditate on the thoughts it leaves with you. i know it has been true for me, more than once.

everytime i play this game it's like i am recentering, calibrating all the frustration and hope i can't help but feel to the pit of my stomach. it's a really good companion, not only as a videogame, but as a story, a piece of art, and a memory <4

...but i believe in people who do

I love this game so much. The art, the story, the characters, everything.

Wonderful game, I love the story and soundtrack and visuals, the controls are a little weird but other than that its awesome!

One of my favourite games of all time.
I've been wanting to play this since shammy reviewed it a couple years ago and it's absolutely worth the frankly expensive price tag for an indie video game.
Cried during the entire ending sequence and then after it as well because i realised i had, in fact, ended it.

night in the woods is my favourite video game ever

so beautiful and with such an amazing story line and characters to go with it

this game will always hold such a huge place in my heart

this game is not for every one thats for sure but if you like story game then I would recommend you try this game

A funky walking simulator/adventure that didn't really resonate with me that much, despite being "my kind of game", whatever that means. Could be a 9 out of 10 for another gamer, but a 5/10 for me. Can see the care and the craft behind this game but it didn't click, pity.

When I first played this game I fell in love with it like no other simply said. No other game comes even close to the amount of emotion that this game made me go through during my first play though. I literally had no clue what to play and I downloaded NITW on a whim off of FitGirl Repacks and I had no clue what I was getting my self into. There were some parts in the game where I almost hated my self because of how the story was rigged to go and I wanted to restart almost because I thought that it was my fault that things ended up badly. Like that part when you have a conversation with Bea in her room, that stuff was agonising haha. I agree that the ending gets pretty strange thou, all of a sudden this game becomes about something else thats just made up but as a whole I think its a good idea to end it that way because otherwise, how the hell would you end a story like that anyway? This review sucks, I wanted to sit down and try to write something impact full that would be as charming as the game is but I cant do that at all... Right now Im on my 8th play though because I finally bought it lol. Its always a thrill to go through it again for the mood and its amazing music. And I always find this game a little relatable because Im also from a small once great city.
Man I dont know, If youre going through something that sucks, this game might make your bitter life a bit sweeter.

Possibly my favorite game ever? Definitely up there. I love exploring the town and jumping on power lines, hanging out with old friends and doing fun little mini games. Incredible story I'll always think about this game.

Makes me realise how sad and lonely my life is but at the same time i can burry myself under this story like a big, warm and heavy blanket

10/10 Gut game, get now

I'm kind of touched by this game. I don't really know how to put it. I think the nostalgia of me knowing that this is an old game just puts me in a strange place of comfort/discomfort at the same time. But it eases the pain for me to know that it came out in 2017 and not any sooner than that because for some reason i thought it was released before then.

i thought this was more of an adventure game, like "hey i can walk on cable!" kinda stuffs, but no, it happens to be more than that.

this game made me think about life, and then it tells me life is all about now. or maybe all you need in your life is a Gregg that will help you leave work earlier just because we need to do some crimes. Crimes?

Wanted to play this game since release, but I didn't have a PC back then. Got overwhelmed with life and remembered this game existed when I saw it on sale, and its just even better than I thought. So many little extra secrets and I really love the rhythm game sections, and every character so far is awesome! Gregg rulz ok