Shelter

A simple but incredibly powerful experience, that uses interaction to convey well known themes in a different, emotional and bizarrely frightening way.

If you found Proteus poignant and Gone Home felt like going home, Shelter will break your heart. [Nov 2013, p.88]

Shelter is the nature version of Journey, with as a major difference that you have something to lose. The game is serene and tense, linear in a way that it feels natural, beautiful and simply special in every way.

A beautifully simple story about a family of badgers, trying to survive. Other than tears, this brings out the mother in all of us.

It's definitely something unique. We could tell you many things about it, but it's something you need to experiment and draw your own conclusions.

By successfully tapping into parental instincts rarely solicited by video games, and offering a parable about nurture and sacrifice, it's a beautiful game within, too.

While the game is somewhat pricey considering its runtime lands just slightly over two hours, it’s marvelously unique. If you’re even slightly interested in what living the life of a badger is like, give it a shot. Its mechanics do grow tired towards the end, but the overall experience is so fascinating I can’t help but recommend it.

Shelter is a bit short and a bit too easy, but it's also beautiful, touching and unique. Also, it's a game about badgers, how could you not like it? I would love to see an expanded sequel, even if it would just be more of the same. [Oct 2013]

Shelter is a game about being a badger and strange as that may sound it is first and foremost a pleasant and beautiful little adventure. It doesn't really strive to anything majestic but it's still a great game for those who want something different.

The last work of Might and Delight looks like a simple and extremely short title, but able to tell a story that excites and involves.

As a man I might not be qualified to judge this, but I think the developers did a great job tackling the subject of maternity. [11/2013, p.79]

Portraying the casual indifference from nature to it residents is a neat idea, but Shelter can't come up with enough ways to cleverly explore that relationship. The message is clear pretty early on and a change in scenery and context isn't enough to make it any more interesting. It sure is beautiful, though, and as the final scene fades away you can't help but smile.

Any game that can make me haul out quotes from both a 17thcentury philosopher and a 60’s era bard is worthy of note, but the technical shortcomings (i.e. camera wrangling) of several generations ago, and the fact that it can easily be completed in one sitting, really hamstring the overall experience that Shelter offers when it comes down to the brass tacks.

An original and experimental game, that delivers a truly emotional experience. On the other hand, it suffers from a repetitive gameplay and a of general lack of indications, which can be frustrating.

This is a lovely game, let down not by its mechanical simplicity, but by its resistance to doing more with those mechanics. Yet when it taps into basic animal instinct, Shelter reminds us just how precious life is, and how apathetic the laws of nature are to our pleas for mercy.

Even if it is at times too orderly and directed, Shelter remains admirably blunt in its emulation of life throughout its short, two hour length.

Try and play Shelter as a perfectionist and you’ll fail, the victim of a cruel world and occasionally clunky, unclear rules. Better to simply do your best, allow Might and Delight’s fantastical art to enthrall, and let nature take its course.

Shelter certainly doesn’t outstay its welcome, clocking in at just over an hour for an entire playthrough. It’s a short game with just a few levels, but given the lack of variety it is probably a good thing it’s not much longer.

If you have the urge to put yourself in sow's place, and protect your cubs on a road through the forest full of uninteresting obstacles, then Shelter is a good choice for you. Otherwise, try to read the Adams' Watership Down classic adventure novel.

The base idea has plenty of potential, although for some reason the developer built only the bare minimum around it. At least the game is cheap. If you're looking for something unusual, and temporarily weird but in semi-satisfying way, I recommend giving it a chance.

Shelter briefly teases with an original concept, but quickly ties you hand and foot, and then throws you into a blocky wasteland. Yes, one can argue that the game is a big metaphor for the circle of life and motherhood, but even this angle doesn’t make it interesting.

How does it feel to be a badger facing the daily challenge of protecting and raising your offspring? While this sounds interesting as a concept the execution lacks immersion and depth.

That Shelter is not a particularly convincing simulation of being a badger is no real sin—I doubt many people want to play a game about eating earthworms all day. The game's real failure is that it's not an emotionally compelling representation of parenthood. It convincingly shows that the cubs need their mother, but fails to convey the possibility that they can ever not need her.

Shelter wants you to feel compassion for your badger cubs but it doesn't give you a lot to work with. Because of the short duration, dull color scheme and simple gameplay you never get the real feeling of bonding with your little ones.

In the end I did enjoy Shelter but I don’t think it’s for everyone and unfortunately, instead of condensing an experience to fit a smaller time-frame, it felt more like the experience was just cut short.

Shelter is a unique experience, even moving sometimes, but unfortunately the game is too short and the end is quite disappointing.

As an emotional tool for parents educating their children, it works. As a game, it's painfully short yet boring after a while. [Issue#234]