Road Not Taken

 PC
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. Riot Pixels
    Sep 26, 2014
    90
    Road Not Taken is an endless stream of puzzles and a mysterious world which you just can’t stop exploring. Every new secret you solve brings up new exciting questions.
  2. Joystiq
    Aug 5, 2014
    90
    The cutest catalyst for an existential crisis I've ever encountered. Its puzzles are complex and brutal, at times unforgiving and in other ways surprisingly merciful. The townspeople are lovable and unique, even in their bite-sized interactions. The game is packed with surprises – it's deep in narrative, world and interaction. Overall, though, it's a roguelike...Kind of.
  3. ZTGD
    Aug 6, 2014
    85
    Road Not Taken is a beautifully presented game of small acts, survival and humanity.
  5. Meristation
    Aug 5, 2014
    85
    Road Not Taken is another great indie puzzle game, full of possibilities and clever mechanics. Spry Fox offers a new and intelligent challenge for those who love puzzle games.
  6. Digital Spy
    Aug 11, 2014
    80
    Despite its often infuriating difficulty, Road Not Taken is a fascinating journey where how you play it makes all the difference.
  7. GameFront
    Aug 11, 2014
    80
    It’s a testament to Road Not Taken’s creepy little world that I’m so willing to continue the search, and to its gameplay and style that each foray remains rewarding.
  8. IGN Italia
    Aug 5, 2014
    80
    Behind the cute graphics there's a very demanding, fun and challenging puzzle game. Do not underestimate it.
  9. Vandal
    Aug 5, 2014
    80
    Very simple but yet very deep, this is a great puzzle game that has more to offer than it looks. Very recommended, especially if you can play it for free with PS Plus.
  10. COGconnected
    Aug 5, 2014
    77
    So in the end, Road Not Taken is a very charming and entertaining puzzler, with a deeper mystery behind it yet to be solved. I will definitely be traveling this road more than once, and you should too!
  11. Game Informer
    Aug 5, 2014
    73
    I genuinely enjoyed the charming early hours of Road Not Taken, but its rewards are a game of diminishing returns.
  12. Gamers' Temple
    Sep 24, 2014
    70
    Ultimately you'll master the mechanics of the game and it ends up being very basic at that point.
  13. XGN
    Aug 27, 2014
    70
    Road Not Taken is a pretty challenging puzzle game that especially fans of roguelike games will love. It is too bad that dying is often not in your own control.
  14. Edge Magazine
    Aug 20, 2014
    70
    For all its delightful art and writing, the cold logic in its Gordian design is unrelenting. [Sept 2014, p.115]
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  15. GameWatcher
    Aug 11, 2014
    70
    Road Not Taken might not always be successful in making players feel remorseful for paths avoided, but the game itself stands as one journey that at least everyone should attempt; if only to expose themselves to the game's frustrating, yet undeniably fresh idiosyncrasies.
  16. Hooked Gamers
    Aug 10, 2014
    70
    Overall, Road Not Taken is a good little title.
  17. GameSpot
    Aug 5, 2014
    70
    Road Not Taken is an ambitious endeavor, a substantial puzzle adventure with that special something that keeps you returning for yet another trek through the harsh wilds. It's sometimes too unforgiving for its own good, but the urge to travel along another path is difficult to resist.
  18. IGN
    Aug 5, 2014
    67
    Road Not Taken is a[n] interesting mix of ideas that make a strong first impression but don’t quite come together.
  19. CD-Action
    Oct 22, 2014
    60
    It’s challenging and pleasant at times, but not really engaging. [10/2014, p.61]
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  20. Hardcore Gamer
    Aug 5, 2014
    60
    Those looking for a truly rewarding challenge are better off looking elsewhere.
  21. DarkStation
    Aug 5, 2014
    50
    Road Not Taken’s roguelike structure works against the rest of the game’s design and ultimately makes playing into a tedious, repetitive experience. On the surface there’s a lot to love in the game’s charming presentation, but repeated playthroughs reveal a failure to implement the variation and unpredictability that make rougelikes great.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.5

Mixed or average reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
  1. Garmy
    Aug 5, 2014
    10
    Most games (and other media) have a tendency to put their themes right in your face, written in such ways that the audience couldn't possiblyMost games (and other media) have a tendency to put their themes right in your face, written in such ways that the audience couldn't possibly miss the point. Road Not Taken doesn't do this. It's sublimely subtle as the deceptively benign surface theme melts apart, slowly revealing a story of life and loss. Even as that becomes apparent, even deeper themes are lurking to be discovered by the keenly aware.

    The theme and story work beautifully with the setting and game objectives. Your goal, as an outsider to a quiet village, is to venture into the dark woods to find children who have been lost and reunite them with their parents.

    The game play is best described as a Matching Puzzle Roguelike. The forest is made up of randomly generated screens. The player has the ability to life almost any object they come across. Pressing the same button, the player can throw that object across the screen until it hits something. Moving while having an object lifted will drain precious energy. While this cannot be avoided in all cases, the strategy and planning comes into play when trying to minimize energy loss by creatively pushing objects. In many ways, this is an evolution of the classic "Slide the block on the ice" mechanic. Some objects can be combined when placed adjacently to each other to create new objects. Combine an Ax with a Tree and you make a Log. Combine two logs, and you make a fire. There are lots of combinations with lots of room to create your own strategy by cleverly using them. Each screen also has one or more entrances to another screen, however they are initially blocked. Each exit has a sign post with the requirements to unblock it. Meet the requirement, and you can pass through.

    The main goal is to find children in the forest. Sometimes, parents can be found looking for their children. Combining a parent with a child saves that child and it leaves the forest safely. When no parents can be found, the child can be pushed from screen to screen and is finally saved when thrown near the entrance to the village.

    There are over a hundred different objects to be found in the forest, most of them with unique properties that throw variety into the puzzles. Rocks that change color when thrown, Wolves that run from you but attack when cornered, Boulders that push other objects when flung into them, Owls that follow your every step, and more. The degree of unique properties found from object to object is impressive, and each one puts its own spin on the challenges of the game.

    While most screens are randomly generated, there is a collection of pre-designed rooms that may appear in your play through. They're typically little tableaus, but many are hand-crafted puzzles. These rooms are challenging, but with big rewards. You can fail the puzzle and be prevented from reaping the reward, but don't worry, you'll run into that room on a subsequent playthrough and get another shot at it.

    This isn't a game you've likely experienced before. If you like Roguelikes, and you like Puzzles, and you like charm, and you like depth, this is one to check out.    … Full Review »
  2. Pureray
    Aug 7, 2014
    10
    This game is not only adorable, it's also extremely challenging with each year you advance in without dying. Your mission is to recue theThis game is not only adorable, it's also extremely challenging with each year you advance in without dying. Your mission is to recue the children that got lost within the woods for collecting berries which happens every year, now don't try to find logic when you see a parent and child in the same location not being able to find each other without your assistance. You can decide to rescue half of the children and leave when things get to difficult or try finding all of them with a greater reward or die in the woods or by the citizens for not saving them.

    If you enjoy rouge-like puzzles you should test your skills with this.    … Full Review »
  3. TRANDO101
    Aug 7, 2014
    6
    Not worth 15 bucks, although its a decent game for free if you have ps plus, its a small game, some puzzles are a bit clever but most areNot worth 15 bucks, although its a decent game for free if you have ps plus, its a small game, some puzzles are a bit clever but most are quite obvious, i feel like they are testing the waters, seeing how smart the audience for these games are. its got some great graphics though… Full Review »
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