Reviewers Liked
- Witty writing and humor
- Relatable but flawed characters
Reviewers Didn't Like
- Unnecessarily gamified sections
Night in the Woods
From beginning to end to epilogue, Night in the Woods is ultimately open to individual interpretation. How you relate to it depends on your own experiences and choices, including Mae’s dialogue and who you decide to spend time with. Though its charming and angsty story works well on its own merits, it’s special because of how it prioritizes conveying emotion over telling a straight narrative.
-- As reviewed by GameSpot
85
8.8
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Expert reviews and ratings
Night in the Woods captures the fears and anxieties of being a young adult with surprising clarity, but brings it into new and interesting territory thanks to its developers’ deep understanding of rural America’s economic hardships. Branching, well-written dialogue made me feel closer to Mae’s story as I helped build out her history and reignite friendships, encouraging a second playthrough to uncover the scenes (and even a few secrets) I know I missed.
By IGN onNight in the Woods isn’t perfect. I’m not perfect. You’re not perfect. Life isn’t perfect. But as the game itself tries to espouse, if you’ve got the patience, you may find that there is true beauty in that revelation.
By Polygon onSometimes games can hit a little close to home. While most of us probably aren't retired space marines or heroes of time, we've all dealt with loss in some way, or tried to find our place in the world. How we choose to deal with it, whether it's grief...
By CGM onYou could also argue that the game is a little too repetitive - Mae might not have a job, but trundling back and forth between home and town every day certainly feels like one. For the most part, though, Night in the Woods is a triumph, comparable to Gone Home in mood and thrust, but with a delicacy and a humour that is all its own.
By EuroGamer onBoth intensely personal and widely relatable, Night in the Woods doesn't just tell a story--it gracefully captures complex, often unpleasant feelings and experiences. From the quiet melancholy of doing nothing on a rainy day to the emotional vacuum of...
By GameSpot onA beautiful, heartfelt coming of age story that says something about life, and cracks a few jokes in the...
By PC Gamer onThe excellent writing pulls off a realistic sense of cynicism, childlike wonder, and comradery between friends. With its careful balance between adult themes and youth, it captures a stage of life that is confusing, frightening, and thrilling. The sluggish pacing can drag, but players fill the time by building friendships and understanding the grim secrets of a town they once again call home.
By GameInformer onNow for the standard disclaimer: Night in the Woods is not for everyone. Even hidden within the framework of a traditional platformer, there's bound to be a group who thinks it's “Not A Game.” Fine, whatever.Those people are missing out though. Night in...
By PCWorld New Zealand onDepending who you are, you'll either want to hang out with Night in the Woods ' characters all the time or tell them to get off your lawn. The game is small enough to feel intimate and spacious enough to cater to different kinds of curious people. It...
By kotaku.com onNight in the Woods è un'avventura narrativa che spinge alla riflessione e all'introspezione. E' un gioco originale, che in termini contenutistici offre molto più di un semplice walking simulator, con sezioni platform anche impegnative e tanti minigiochi...
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