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Year Walk review
Exceptional
by Konstantin Komarov

Defines "indie". Small, 2D-animated, simple, yet thrilling and atmospheric. Gameplay is just simple enough to be called so.

Other reviews7

It has been 3 days since I finished Year Walk, and although I have mixed feelings with it I can't stop thinking in its themes.

I first heard about this game back in 2014 and I wanted to play it since, the fact that you walk and find mythical Sweden creatures lured me a lot, also it was introduced with an "encyclopedia" or the sorts for you to find out about the creatures, sounded great. Back to 2019, I played it on a Wii U and at times I found it brilliant and clever the same amount of times I found it frustrating and design broken. The atmosphere is amazing and the character and environment design are on top, the problem is the gameplay, of course, is a cryptic game and you have to solve your way through but I find its mechanics way too inconsistent, the first difficult puzzle has 2 different "things" that you need to interact with and click them in sequence, but, clicking them doesn't do anything so you may think that you can't go there just yet and you will wander around to find another thing to do, although you can't because you can only advance through that portion, turns out that you need to press L or R buttons on the Wii U, this was so annoying because in the instruction manual which is mandatory, doesn't have listed this buttons, also you don't use them before or after this puzzle, so it just feels cheap and tedious, it's just bad design, a thing that will appear in the future so keep that in mind. There is a plot within this game but is so superficial that by the time the game wants you to care it just feels too forced, that being said...

As I said, even when the bad things were pretty annoying and noticeable, I can't stop thinking about some things, which are related to the true ending and breaking the 4th wall if only just a little, there is an auditive puzzle which is pretty great and also the music is amazing, maybe my favorite part of this game by far, it can be comfy, scary, melancholic or even all of them, is that good.

Even when I had a mostly bad taste with Year Walk, I can't say for sure that is an skippable game, I do think that it's worth to try it by oneself and make your own conclusions, it doesn't have that much of replayability but I think I would try it again in a year or so, maybe then it might click on me.
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Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
One of the best Games of this Price Range and this Genre that have ever crossed my Path. At the beginning, as some people have already described, are quite confused, but you soon know why you walk the Year Walk or Arsgang in the first place. I'm not going to bore you with Executions, I'm just asking you to play it. If You like Nordic Mythology and would like to have an eerie atmosphere woven Around you, don't miss this Piece of gold. < 3
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
So I learned this pretty fact about Christian churches in Sweden, you can read it in the compendium in-game as well: When a church was built in midieval times, an animal was sometimes buried alive under the floors - most commonly goats since these were comparatively cheap. There have also been stories of criminals being buried alive as punishment. In other versions the criminal's heart was cut out and placed inside an animal carcass that was sacrificed. If you are into creepy folklore, like eerie stories and atmospheric games with a unique art style, this is for you.
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Really recommend those who want to sound a little quieter Tones. The Story is excellent, right down to the point of Taste, since something creepy, old Customs like Krabat'S, not necessarily Goth, but almost, Goth is rather fantasy. One can also give very theoretically recent Children, but it is especially about pagan elements in Christianity. Rarely to not present at all, that such a topic is seriously addressed in a Video Game. You expect a Point and Click, but is more of a Walking Simulator with looking and a few Rubs.
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
This Game is a real little Masterpiece. Unfortunately, it's only in English and I also had to read some Vocabulary. It is important to read well and let yourself be captivated by the Game. You don't just play through it once, it hides more than seems. To REALLY play the Game you should play it several times and Keep in mind all the Hints and tips. You just have to enjoy this Game, the Music, the Atmosphere, just everything. I recommend that anyone who stands on Puzzles, Secrets and Goosebumps buy it. It is definitely justified to his Price.
Translated by
Microsoft from Deutsch
Year Walk-a Swedish Game. I haven't played this game for long, but what you see in the first 5 Seconds of Playing Is enough: An unfathomably beautifully drawn world. Can understand when People say "that's not mine," but you should definitely have seen it, that's really something else! No classic seltroshooter game, no Role-playing Game, but also no Point & click game. The Creators really made an Effort here! You don't see such beautiful Games every Day, every Euro worth it! In addition to the Puzzles, you can also be very frightened, while the interesting Story follows through the "Year Walk ..."