Night in the Woods

 PlayStation 4
User Score
7.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 199 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 134 out of 199
  2. Mixed: 23 out of 199
  3. Negative: 42 out of 199

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  1. ricklongo
    Jun 19, 2017
    6
    My opinion on the relationship between gaming and storytelling is... well, complicated. Stories have always been a very efficient way to make players emotionally invested in a game, but the trend of turning all of the spotlights to the story, while actual gameplay takes on a supporting role, isn't something that usually appeals to me. This is pretty much what happens in Night in the Woods,My opinion on the relationship between gaming and storytelling is... well, complicated. Stories have always been a very efficient way to make players emotionally invested in a game, but the trend of turning all of the spotlights to the story, while actual gameplay takes on a supporting role, isn't something that usually appeals to me. This is pretty much what happens in Night in the Woods, and yet the game's many charms kept me coming back until its shiver-inducing ending.

    You play as Mae, a 20-year-old female cat who drops out of college for initially unknown reasons and decides to come back to her parents' home in the idyllic small town of Possum Springs. Once there, Mae gets to explore the town by walking around with mild platforming elements, such as jumping onto wires and tops of buildings. That's all there is to the game's platforming side, though, as there is virtually no challenge to Mae's jumps, no new abilities to unlock, and no enemies to kill.

    Instead, Night in the Woods plays out like an animated indie comic book, and in that ambition it's truly something special. The lovely Possum Springs is home to inumerous antropomorphic animals, many of whom Mae can interact with. The town has clearly seen better days, as most of Mae's chidhood places have closed up or exist in significantly decayed forms. The bulk of the game consists in developing Mae's relationships with the townsfolk and rekindling her old friendships, while slowly uncovering the mysteries pertaining both to her past and to the weird happenings around town. The writing is, for the most part, excellent, even if some of the text-heavy sections can go a little overboard on the innocuous worldbuilding details.

    It certainly helps that the game's graphics and sound are nothing short of phenomenal. There's a sense of peace about just wandering through the game's world, making small talk with the townsfolk, while admiring the colorful art direction and soaking in the subdued, melancholy soundtrack. Small details, such as the raccoons and squirrels interacting with background objects, the cars passing by in the Towne Centre, or the leaves flowing in the wind as you walk nearby, give the whole experience a sense of joy that's hard to explain with words.

    Night in the Woods progresses at a slow pace, which fits the decadent small town vibe. This, however, can be a problem in regards to the exploration. Even though new areas open up every now and then, the days can sort of blur together as you walk the same streets, check the same places, and talk to the same people. There's a monotony about the experience which simply isn't much fun.

    Like the name of the game suggests, however, there's a fair tinge of suspense about the storyline, and that's what keeps things interesting. At some point the strange occurrences, which are initially only hinted at, start piling up quickly, leading to a final chapter which is truly phenomenal from a storytelling standpoint (if even less exciting than the rest of the game when it comes to actual gameplay).

    Then there's one of the game's most interesting aspects: Mae's scrapbook. Her drawings are essentially collectibles, gotten after experiencing specific passages of the game's story. This is a fine reason for the player to try and develop the various minor storylines Night in the Woods offers, several of which can be genuinely funny, creepy, heartwarming, of all of that at the same time. My big complaint here is that you can't fill out the scrapbook in a single playthrough, as choosing to spend time with a specific character will often mean eschewing a different storyline altogether.

    TL;DR:
    It's hard to judge a title like Night in the Woods. The coming-of-age story hit all the right notes with me, with lovable characters, an excellent setting, and just the right amount of creepiness and serious themes. The truth is, however, that the gameplay itself left me entirely unimpressed, even bored at times. I kept wanting the game to offer exploration that's more interesting outside of the story progression, to no avail. If you want a challenging platformer with pleasant gameplay progression, you should probably look elsewhere; if you don't mind lackluster gameplay in name of a truly excellent story, however, this is a game you won't soon forget.

    Rating: 6.5/10    … Expand
  2. kitto
    Mar 3, 2017
    10
    I first heard about NITW when kickstarter for it was up, and decided to give it a go when it would come out.
    During all this long years since announcement I managed to forgot about it entirely. Surprisingly enough, this would be my game of 2017 - maybe NITW is not ideal gameplay-wise, but I really doubt that something comparable by emotional impact would come out in years to come. 10/10,    I first heard about NITW when kickstarter for it was up, and decided to give it a go when it would come out.
    During all this long years since announcement I managed to forgot about it entirely. Surprisingly enough, this would be my game of 2017 - maybe NITW is not ideal gameplay-wise, but I really doubt that something comparable by emotional impact would come out in years to come. 10/10, highly recommend.    … Expand
  3. KeybladeGamer
    Apr 22, 2017
    10
    A beautifully simplistic emotional powerhouse of a game that is driven by complex and human characterisation, ironic given how they're animals, and a poignant, thematic story. Night in the Woods moved me in a way that I thought no game could. I fell in love with each character, enjoying their company and accompanying them through their own personal hardships, the setting, a well-visualisedA beautifully simplistic emotional powerhouse of a game that is driven by complex and human characterisation, ironic given how they're animals, and a poignant, thematic story. Night in the Woods moved me in a way that I thought no game could. I fell in love with each character, enjoying their company and accompanying them through their own personal hardships, the setting, a well-visualised minimalistic style that is cosy and inviting, and the story, being able to relate to the nature of living in a small, dying town. Gameplay mechanics are simple but effective given how the game itself is a narrative-driven title and the very strength of its characterization and story allows you to overlook it. All in all, this is a tremendous little game that I recommend to everyone for it is a deeply moving experience that is rarely put forth by a video game.… Expand
  4. Gouter
    Feb 22, 2017
    10
    An amazing game with nice caracter and eyes-catching graphics. As great as the attempts. Dialogs are very weirds in a good way and some akwards moment were fabulous.
  5. Kumasimc
    Feb 21, 2017
    10
    Night in the Woods is a surprising behemoth of a game. A lot of games lately have tried to focus on narrative and often end up sacrificing gameplay to do it, while of course there are many games that are fun to play with insipid stories. Somehow Night in the Woods has some of the best dialogue in its wonderful story and is also chock full of all kinds of great gameplay. Here it bucksNight in the Woods is a surprising behemoth of a game. A lot of games lately have tried to focus on narrative and often end up sacrificing gameplay to do it, while of course there are many games that are fun to play with insipid stories. Somehow Night in the Woods has some of the best dialogue in its wonderful story and is also chock full of all kinds of great gameplay. Here it bucks another trend, often games with multifaceted gameplay tend to focus on quantity over quality, with many things to do that aren't all that terribly well put together. Fortunately all of the different gameplay mechanics in this game are solid and fun. Within the first couple of hours you'll find platforming, dialogue-driven gameplay, dungeon crawling, rhythm gameplay and puzzle solving all placed naturally and with finesse. The characters are unique and well written, and the story also manages to perfectly balance humor and depth. If at all possible it is highly recommended to download and play the two supplementary games on itch.io called "Lost Constellation" and "Longest Night". They're free, short, well made and give a fantastic introduction to the world and characters. They are not necessary but are fantastic and make parts of the main game more interesting. Also, on a side note, I've been having a blast playing with other people having everyone pick characters and read the dialogue out loud. It sounds silly, but we've been having a blast and laughing out loud constantly. This game is an absolute steal at 20$ and will appeal to all but the most cynical of gamers, and even maybe a few of them. I know it's a cliche line, but you truly owe it to yourself to experience this game. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll smash some cars, play some bass and electrocute yourself. What more can you ask for?… Expand
  6. ChuckAmuck
    Mar 23, 2017
    10
    Loved everything about this game. I am actually intending on emailing the creators to tell them how much I enjoyed it, which is something i never do. I found all of the characters very refreshing and was enthralled by the realist dialogue between characters. Totally missed the kickstarter, this was a surprise to me and would love it if they made a sequel
  7. Goombs
    Feb 25, 2017
    10
    First off I can't believe only 3 guys made this. You wouldn't know. Anyways it looks great,plays great, cool world with beautiful art.

    What sets it apart is the writing and the world. I buy and play a lot of games, from indie to AAA, with good story being my favorite aspect. This game has excellent writing. I haven't gotten through the story yet but the world... for a video game you    First off I can't believe only 3 guys made this. You wouldn't know. Anyways it looks great,plays great, cool world with beautiful art.

    What sets it apart is the writing and the world. I buy and play a lot of games, from indie to AAA, with good story being my favorite aspect.

    This game has excellent writing. I haven't gotten through the story yet but the world... for a video game you can actually relate to this world, or to be better said the game relates to my world - witty, all too real takes on death, school, community, relationships, it's just plan fun. They talk like I think, smart aleck but true.

    If you're already reading this you're probably wondering if $20 is worth it. Well if you like good story and writing, supporting indie devs, having a laugh while also thinking, then yes, this game is perfect for that.

    I give it a ten because it's twenty bucks, indie devs and the writing is excellent. You can't get writing like this in any AAA game, it's always catered to a mass audience. They took a chance here and succeeded.    … Expand
  8. Flaahgra012
    Mar 11, 2017
    10
    The most thought provoking game I've played in memory. The characters, despite being cartoony animals, feel more human than any characters from pretty much any other game I've played.

    A few weeks after playing I'm still thinking about this game and trying to figure out the mystery of Possum Springs. Maybe I'll never know, but I'm totally ok with that, because the fact that I'm still    The most thought provoking game I've played in memory. The characters, despite being cartoony animals, feel more human than any characters from pretty much any other game I've played.

    A few weeks after playing I'm still thinking about this game and trying to figure out the mystery of Possum Springs. Maybe I'll never know, but I'm totally ok with that, because the fact that I'm still thinking about it so much speaks for how great the story is.

    The soundtrack is also incredible and really sets the mood, especially for the more atmospheric scenes.    … Expand
  9. younesberrada
    Feb 25, 2018
    2
    really boring game with very less game-play , its like a dialogue video game that doesn't have any motivation to read it because the story is not interesting at all, you keep pressing button on very long boring dialogue that is so annoying because its so boring, (Character1: "HI" (press),Character2:"Hi again" (press),character1:"what do you doreally boring game with very less game-play , its like a dialogue video game that doesn't have any motivation to read it because the story is not interesting at all, you keep pressing button on very long boring dialogue that is so annoying because its so boring, (Character1: "HI" (press),Character2:"Hi again" (press),character1:"what do you do tonight?"(press),Character2:"Nothing"(press),Character1:"Ok buddy"(press) ).The chat is long with a very less game-play on it.… Expand
  10. Winko
    Dec 27, 2017
    8
    Good:
    - The “Demon Tower” minigame is a great rougelike and could honestly be it’s own title if fleshed out a little more
    - Great art style - Fantastic soundtrack - Incredible writing throughout and very interesting subject matter - The mini games were always a lot of fun - Exploring the Possum Springs, finding secrets throughout, and interacting with the townsfolk on a day-to-day    Good:
    - The “Demon Tower” minigame is a great rougelike and could honestly be it’s own title if fleshed out a little more
    - Great art style
    - Fantastic soundtrack
    - Incredible writing throughout and very interesting subject matter
    - The mini games were always a lot of fun
    - Exploring the Possum Springs, finding secrets throughout, and interacting with the townsfolk on a day-to-day basis were all very rewarding experiences and well worth putting in the extra effort
    - High replayability value; branching storylines and secrets throughout incentivize players to go through the story at least a second time

    Mixed:
    - Player choice is a key mechanic in the game and the system works very well, but the devs don’t make it very transparent which optional events make time pass and which ones can be done without missing out on other choices
    - There are a lot of open ended problems that are never really resolved, but those kind of fit in nicely with the tone of the game

    Bad:
    - The dream sequences can get pretty repetitive and finding the four musicians in each stage gets tiresome
    - Very abrupt ending
    - Could have done without the supernatural elements; the story would have been better if it was more simplistic and straight forward
    XXX    … Expand
  11. draifu
    Mar 3, 2017
    9
    A very unique game that I can't believe started from a Kickstarter. Good story with an interesting main character. Lots of funny moments and relatable ones too. The interaction between the characters really keeps you wanting to know more about them and will keep you glued to the screen.
  12. ourtimehascome
    Aug 28, 2017
    3
    Night in the Woods is entirely story based, with few actual gameplay interactions other than basic platforming, walking around, and inspecting an object (in which the main character will then comment on it), or having a conversation with a handful of other characters. Sometimes there are choices to choose what to say, but they don't seem to really affect the overall story or how charactersNight in the Woods is entirely story based, with few actual gameplay interactions other than basic platforming, walking around, and inspecting an object (in which the main character will then comment on it), or having a conversation with a handful of other characters. Sometimes there are choices to choose what to say, but they don't seem to really affect the overall story or how characters relate to you. It is the story and these conversations which Night in the Woods relies on so significantly that to enjoy it any way whatsoever, you'll have to love its story and dialogue. There's so little else in the game that the gameplay plays such a minor role I would be surprised if anyone could get any enjoyment from it if they didn't find themselves immersed in the plot.

    The artwork and character designs are the best part about Night in the Woods. There are so few levels it renders the game tedious because most of the time you will get up, walk around, find something to do, and go back to sleep, only to repeat this process ad nauseam.

    The story itself concerns the main character, Mae Borowski, a teenage cat in a world of anthropomorphic animals. She has decided to quit school and return home to Possum Springs. Borowski can be an endearing character at times, and I found her to be very relatable to a certain degree. She is naturally inquisitive, and seems to actually want to help others. However, many of the conversations eventually become inane in an effort by the writers to create a false sense of emotional appeal. The plot doesn't become clear until the very end of the game, and even then it's so completely uninspired and unoriginal I found very little reason to justify my time playing a game that believes it's infinitely more clever than it actually is.    … Expand
  13. petuniabird
    Mar 9, 2017
    0
    I immediately fell in love with the characters, art, and music in this game. Two weeks after playing it i still think about the world and the characters daily, which is really the highest praise I can give a game. I played it twice on the first week, to unlock more branches of the story. Play this game.
  14. SuperDuck23
    Mar 26, 2018
    8
    Night in the Woods is a game that I will no doubt keep reflecting on, as the game's numerous themes and overall message is worthy of the price alone. Mae is a fantastic main character as she possesses a number of traits that many will relate to. While the game's message is worthy of admiration, there are a few things that set it back.

    My main issue is that the game is simply too long.    Night in the Woods is a game that I will no doubt keep reflecting on, as the game's numerous themes and overall message is worthy of the price alone. Mae is a fantastic main character as she possesses a number of traits that many will relate to. While the game's message is worthy of admiration, there are a few things that set it back.

    My main issue is that the game is simply too long. Looking at it before playing, I would have guessed its runtime to be about 5 hours - similar to games like Oxenfree (where gameplay is limited but story is at the forefront). Night in the Woods took me about 12 hours, maybe more. This length is a hindrance because the gameplay is secondary to the story, and the story is constantly brushed aside in favour of monotonous tasks that are ultimately unimportant and not that interesting to play through. Although, to the game's credit, the decision of starting every day the same way is very effective at recreating the feeling of monotony that we all feel in real life.

    The best thing about Night in the Woods is the story itself. Once it gets going, it's genuinely interesting and well told. Along with some fun characters and great writing, it gels nicely with the art style and leaves you feeling satisfied come the end. The atmosphere that the game paints is also worthy of praise. Possum Springs, the main location, feels like a real place when exploring and interacting with the locals.

    I'd recommend Night in the Woods to people due to the fact that, while the pacing of the game is misjudged, its story and characters - along with its strong moral - is unlike any other game I've played in recent years. The positives outweigh the negatives, so it's worth your time.    … Expand
  15. TatsMcGee
    Sep 8, 2018
    6
    This is a game that I went into with high expectations. I heard great things about the game and really thought it was going to be extremely relatable. It just didn’t pan out for me that way. This a game that is very reliant on you finding the characters to be relatable and it just didn’t happen for me.

    The whole premise of the game is, your character has gone away to college for the    This is a game that I went into with high expectations. I heard great things about the game and really thought it was going to be extremely relatable. It just didn’t pan out for me that way. This a game that is very reliant on you finding the characters to be relatable and it just didn’t happen for me.

    The whole premise of the game is, your character has gone away to college for the last couple years, it didn’t work out and now she’s back home living with her parents. For the main character Mae, it’s a weird combination where everything looks like its the same but at the same time, everything feels different. Really its a story about going home.

    That’s probably one reason why I just didn’t relate to the main character, I never went away to college. I went to a local community college and lived at home, then after 2 years I just jumped straight into work.

    Going into the game, I also knew the game dealt with depression and that’s why I felt like I may find it relatable but the game just didn’t do anything for me. I just had to slog through this game and the 8-10 hours that I played it. I had maybe an hour of enjoyment.

    This game was just not for me.    … Expand
  16. Reed618
    Aug 26, 2018
    10
    Really impressive. I found this game hard to put down. Typically games which are so heavily narrative driven leave me bored after a while but this was so well written and full of charm.
    Often when I entered a new 'mission' or 'scene' I found myself thinking 'oh this probably won't be that interesting' but every single scene pulled me in and that's not an exaggeration.
    I also really    Really impressive. I found this game hard to put down. Typically games which are so heavily narrative driven leave me bored after a while but this was so well written and full of charm.
    Often when I entered a new 'mission' or 'scene' I found myself thinking 'oh this probably won't be that interesting' but every single scene pulled me in and that's not an exaggeration.
    I also really enjoyed the mini games sprinkled throughout such as the rhythm game sections. I found myself replaying these just for fun because the music is frickin great!
    I also loved the art style as well. All in all a total indie gem. If you like story driven games and coming of age stories then yes... you should buy this... you don't even need to think about it.    … Expand
  17. Nox_Arcana
    Mar 7, 2017
    9
    La perfecta demostración de que mucho de los Indies son el motor de la industria y la gasolina de nuestro más tierno corazoncito. Es un juego que todo gamer que se precie debe jugar al menos una vez en su vida.
  18. Rimorine
    Feb 25, 2019
    10
    Hands down the best game I've ever played. No game has ever touched me this way before. The feelings, the story, the music. Everything hit home for me. And I still cry everytime I listen to the soundtrack. I have played it through 6 times now, I have platinumed it and still I find areas I haven't found before. It is so easy to miss parts of the game and it is not a game you want to rushHands down the best game I've ever played. No game has ever touched me this way before. The feelings, the story, the music. Everything hit home for me. And I still cry everytime I listen to the soundtrack. I have played it through 6 times now, I have platinumed it and still I find areas I haven't found before. It is so easy to miss parts of the game and it is not a game you want to rush through. This is the kind of game you want to savour, you want to milk every last playable drop of it. This game is incredible. It is the kind of game you want to play in the middle of the night all alone, just you and the game. I recommend this game to everyone, but especially to those who found growing up to be difficult, especially to those who have encountered mental illnesses and especially to those who habe felt like a lost misfit sometime in their life.… Expand
  19. PantsOnFire
    Mar 13, 2021
    9
    Very fluent animation, really nice graphics. Surprising amount of content, you can't explore the whole game in one go. Funny dialogs, though it gets depressing sometimes.
    It's a very extensive exploration game. Just go out, speak with everyone you can, and see the story unfold itself: the everyday struggles of the residents of an ex-miner-town, with one spooky secret (okay, I found that    Very fluent animation, really nice graphics. Surprising amount of content, you can't explore the whole game in one go. Funny dialogs, though it gets depressing sometimes.
    It's a very extensive exploration game. Just go out, speak with everyone you can, and see the story unfold itself: the everyday struggles of the residents of an ex-miner-town, with one spooky secret (okay, I found that secret part very unfitting to the story and the whole game). At first I judged it as a short indie game to play through in one evening, but I was wrong. It is a long game, with 8-10 hours in a single gameplay, and the game is worth to play at least twice.    … Expand
  20. keanex
    Apr 19, 2018
    9
    This game didn't immediately impress me. Maybe I was jaded by all of the praise it got. I really wanted to love this game though, it just didn't click. That's not to say that I didn't like it, I enjoyed it quite a bit, but the magical charm wasn't immediately apparent to me.

    Here I am now, I think about 3 months since I completed this game, and I am thinking very fondly of it. This game    This game didn't immediately impress me. Maybe I was jaded by all of the praise it got. I really wanted to love this game though, it just didn't click. That's not to say that I didn't like it, I enjoyed it quite a bit, but the magical charm wasn't immediately apparent to me.

    Here I am now, I think about 3 months since I completed this game, and I am thinking very fondly of it. This game hits a spot that I didn't know that I needed. Reviews have been done to death, I just wanted to share my love for this game.    … Expand
  21. Kakashi2
    Oct 30, 2020
    6
    I don't want to say this is a bad game, I think what I was expecting was simply very different than what I got. While not action packed, I think the story it tells is told well, although the story can be a little slow at times. Don't want to be too harsh on something that probably wasn't for me to begin with.
  22. neongames
    Mar 20, 2017
    10
    For a game with deep themes and light gameplay I find this to have a perfect balance to create something truly special. This game explores modern issues and handles them in a respectful, but also surprisingly realistic way. Don't expect an action-packed adventure though, once you're settled with the rhythm the game is laying out for you will be in the perfect mindset to fully enjoy whatFor a game with deep themes and light gameplay I find this to have a perfect balance to create something truly special. This game explores modern issues and handles them in a respectful, but also surprisingly realistic way. Don't expect an action-packed adventure though, once you're settled with the rhythm the game is laying out for you will be in the perfect mindset to fully enjoy what this game has to offer. And believe me when I say, this game has A LOT to offer. The gameplay is mostly some minor platforming and interacting with different characters with certain dialogue options that will influence your current playthrough. What mostly stood out to me was the beautifully composed soundtrack that sets the mood perfectly, the beautiful art and animation, great dialogue and very well written characters that are easy to fall in love with. If what I described to you until now, has you at least a little bit interested, do yourself a favor and play this game. Multiple playthroughs are encouraged! :)… Expand
  23. gum11
    Feb 28, 2017
    8
    i really enjoyed the game. the story is what makes it. the artwork is pretty unique and great looking, the characters all have depth to them and the story is a little bit weirdly paced, and is a bit all over the place at times, but still manages to be interesting. this game really is about the dialogue and character development/growth. if you like reading and casual adventure stylei really enjoyed the game. the story is what makes it. the artwork is pretty unique and great looking, the characters all have depth to them and the story is a little bit weirdly paced, and is a bit all over the place at times, but still manages to be interesting. this game really is about the dialogue and character development/growth. if you like reading and casual adventure style gameplay (and cats) i would for sure recommend this game.… Expand
  24. Wander22
    Feb 17, 2019
    8
    Gameplay/Mechanics: 8.5
    Sound/Music: 9
    Graphics/Art: 9
    Story/Atmosphere: 9
    OVERALL: 8.9/10
  25. Mars1922
    Apr 29, 2017
    10
    Every once in a while, a special came comes around. That's what Night in the Woods is. Made by 2 people, it's a childlike adventure on the outside, and a sarcastic and emotional journey on the inside. It's not for kids. It features a female college drop out, in the form of a anthropomorphic cat named Mae. She comes back to town and bonds with her friends over bizarre adventures, gets intoEvery once in a while, a special came comes around. That's what Night in the Woods is. Made by 2 people, it's a childlike adventure on the outside, and a sarcastic and emotional journey on the inside. It's not for kids. It features a female college drop out, in the form of a anthropomorphic cat named Mae. She comes back to town and bonds with her friends over bizarre adventures, gets into trouble, and discovers a sinister presence in the town. Even 20 minutes in, you find yourself immersed in Mae's world. You care about her, her family, and her friends. You care about what happens to them. You relate to them. And you never want it to end. Yes, it's a little on the short end, and yes there are spelling and grammar errors. But overall? I couldn't recommend this title more.… Expand
  26. Hethoss
    Mar 21, 2017
    9
    Amazing Game. It covers a myriad of different topics such as abuse, depression, and religion. The game will blend its quirky comedy with dark, heartfelt moments perfectly. The characters are amazing and you will learn to love them. All of this is tied together with a wonderful art style and some minor platforming elements. If you are a fan of adventure games, then you will love this!
  27. BlakDak666
    Jul 21, 2017
    8
    Night In The Woods is a well done story game that only asks for more by the end of its conclusion. The characters and writing is exceptionally great, as they feel more like people in our own reality rather than generic or cliche ones. The setting and objective is nothing hard hitting or even amazing, but it's consistent to the story and the people you interact with that makes up for it. IfNight In The Woods is a well done story game that only asks for more by the end of its conclusion. The characters and writing is exceptionally great, as they feel more like people in our own reality rather than generic or cliche ones. The setting and objective is nothing hard hitting or even amazing, but it's consistent to the story and the people you interact with that makes up for it. If you expect to "play" the game and expect alot of stuff, then you might be surprised that it's not that at all. Sure, there is some mini-games and a couple platforming puzzles you will solve, but the game is virtually all narrative driven. This will put off some players, but for those that like these type of games, you will enjoy it for that reason.

    Without spoiling much, here is a few other notes to remark; I did not think the supernatural element really fit well with the story. It tries too hard to make it odd AND tie it well to the story (even though the moments are visually interesting). I found the music track to be very good and the art style was different but something that will stick out more as time passes. You should give this game two gos and you'll see why, but afterwards it's best to move on. I think the ending was lacking a bit, like there should have been more included to make the journey carry more gravitas, but the argument could be that would hurt the more compact and consistent writing. It's a conflict I can't find an easy solution for.

    Night In The Woods was a great experience for me, not so much as a "game" but a interesting story nonetheless. I would recommend this to everyone to try it if you like good writing and characters in video games.    … Expand
  28. Blink1192
    Jul 16, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The characters speech and way of talking to one another essentially emulate real life more than any game I have ever played by a long shot. In fact, many of the conversations these young 20-somethings would have almost exactly included many of the mannerisms and foully interesting conversations I have had with friends in my life. The accuracy is almost uncanny.
    The game might go over your head if you are too boring to enjoy a story-oriented game rather than a gameplay one. The subtleties and differences in the way characters interact with each other on each playthrough as well as the difficult hidden sections of the game essentially giving way to players perhaps missing large sections of the game might be too nuanced for many people. Jeez, I sound pretentious.
    However, the game simply hit me so much more personally than I expected and which I believe it may not for others as no game has ever resonated with the young adults like me as this one has. Perhaps if you aren't a Millenial or Gen Z experiencing the **** explanations this modern-day life gives you whilst failing your supposed dream education system to be thrown back in the small dying town you grew up in whilst dealing with sexual and practical difficulties resulting in a depressive mindset of oneself and the social system we live in due to people from times long ago still living into the modern world destroying it before your eyes with you having to pay for it, then maybe it wont resonate with you like it did with me and if so that's cool I guess.    … Expand
  29. Shnicks
    Nov 7, 2017
    10
    This is probably the best game I've played in the past couple years solely because of the story. This game has very charming characters, amazing music, and heavy themes. The only thing this game lacks is convential gameplay. I'm gonna be straight up and say there isn't much "gameplay" except for the guitar hero-like segments, and some other minigames. Sometimes it feels more like a visualThis is probably the best game I've played in the past couple years solely because of the story. This game has very charming characters, amazing music, and heavy themes. The only thing this game lacks is convential gameplay. I'm gonna be straight up and say there isn't much "gameplay" except for the guitar hero-like segments, and some other minigames. Sometimes it feels more like a visual novel rather than a game, which is okay for me because every other facet in the game makes up for it. I wish the game was much longer and allowed you to do the missions for all the characters in one playthrough, but it's not really a con in my book. The best part about this game is the interactions and relationships between the Mae, the player's character, and her friends. The dialouge is feels real and not forced, and the struggles that the characters go through are relatable and realistic. In the review from youtuber Shammy, he eloquently said that the things the characters go through recieve empathy from teens and sympathy from adults. Not everyone will be able to relate to the characters or the events, but those who do will recieve a much deeper experience. The way the game handled very heavy topics like depression, death, and derealization made me think the writers went through the things that the in game characters went through. As a 19 year old I instantly felt connected to each one of the characters in some way, and it made the events in the game have a much larger impact. After I finished the game I felt a big pit well up in my chest because I just wanted the story to continue, but the way the game wrapped up was satisfying. The unfortunate thing is that you only have so many days to hang out with one of your friends, Gregg or Bea(the main ones, there are more), so you end up only being able to complete one of their personal storylines. In my first [and only playthrough so far ;) ] playthrough I decided to hang out with Bea, the alligator girl. I won't spoil but her story in the game made me want to cry manly tears. I can't imagine doing Gregg's storyline right now because I will feel so guilty not being there for Bea, which is a weird feeling considering she's just a cartoon alligator. It's so crazy that the writers elicited these emotions. I believe it's because many games barely reach half these levels of character development, which makes this game stand out even more. I really don't know how to sum up my thoughts about this game, other than that you need to play it as soon as possible, because this is a very genuine game that deserves your attention.… Expand
  30. Dwoodlander
    May 31, 2019
    10
    It has been over 2 years since I first played Night in the Woods, yet this game has managed to still stand out over most triple A games that I have played recently. To some, this might sound ridiculous as this is not so much a “game” in the traditional sense, but more of an interactive, branching graphic novel. I personally found the game to be heartfelt, hilarious, and deeplyIt has been over 2 years since I first played Night in the Woods, yet this game has managed to still stand out over most triple A games that I have played recently. To some, this might sound ridiculous as this is not so much a “game” in the traditional sense, but more of an interactive, branching graphic novel. I personally found the game to be heartfelt, hilarious, and deeply thought-provoking all at the same time. It connected with me a on a deep level, probably because I grew up in a weird rustbelt city in the midwest, played bass in a high school band, and have been through some uncannily similar experiences to Mae and her friends. I played this game when finishing undergraduate and sorting out the next steps in my life and it could not have been more opportune. Enjoyment of this game will probably depend a lot on your own background and experiences with entering adulthood. For me, the art style, melancholic yet beautiful soundtrack, memorable characters, and existential themes will always hold a special place.… Expand
  31. barawekek
    Nov 29, 2018
    10
    История о том, как игра с кикстартера действительно была сделана с душой.
    Данный проект хорош как и своим концептом, так и проработкой всех мелочей. Создается иллюзия влияния выборов фраз в диалоге на дальнейший сюжет. Сюжет можно назвать если не великолепным, то как минимум достойным. Приятная для такого типа игр графика и музыка хорошо сопутствуют той атмосфере, в которую погружен игрок    История о том, как игра с кикстартера действительно была сделана с душой.
    Данный проект хорош как и своим концептом, так и проработкой всех мелочей. Создается иллюзия влияния выборов фраз в диалоге на дальнейший сюжет. Сюжет можно назвать если не великолепным, то как минимум достойным. Приятная для такого типа игр графика и музыка хорошо сопутствуют той атмосфере, в которую погружен игрок во время прохождения. Именно на примере таких игр мы можем понять, что геймдев в 2017-2018 году настроен не только лишь на получении с продуктов денег, но также встречаются и проекты, сделанные действительно от души, как например эта игра.    … Expand
  32. Felix_taskete
    Mar 4, 2020
    10
    Man, such an amazing, melancholic game with unique charecters, fascinating dialogs, exciting plot and cute graphic. 10 out of 10.
  33. Myudd
    Sep 18, 2019
    10
    I Love the art and the history of this game
    Amazing
    I Hope there is going to have a sequel
  34. LikeaPisces
    Dec 22, 2019
    9
    I enjoyed playing, I kept remembering him for days, great dialogues, a good way to lead and wrap up an easy tale that finds similarities to people close in life, in funny and also tragic ways
  35. Fala_fi
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    Just played two times and I loved it I hope there is another game coming soon
  36. jedicraftmaster
    Jul 28, 2020
    7
    Beautiful game. Really quite lovely in the ambeince graphics and story mechanics.

    i really dont want to spoil any story but know that the charcters are excellently written and developed. One cone that I can think of is the gameplay which consists of many minigames. Some of the minigames arent quite on par with the others and feel rough. Some parts of the story feel like they go on    Beautiful game. Really quite lovely in the ambeince graphics and story mechanics.

    i really dont want to spoil any story but know that the charcters are excellently written and developed.

    One cone that I can think of is the gameplay which consists of many minigames. Some of the minigames arent quite on par with the others and feel rough. Some parts of the story feel like they go on for quite some time (part 2) however its still significant. In the end I wanted more. Excellent game    … Expand
  37. Dank-nielv17
    Dec 28, 2020
    10
    NITW has a beautiful art, special soundtrack and a a narrative that few games today have. Great game
  38. sesix
    Dec 27, 2021
    2
    Meine erste Metacritic.
    Alter, ich habe ja nichts revolutionierendes erwachtet aber das da ja so gar nichts kommt ..
    Ich habe es mir ca. 3 - 4 h jetzt rein gezogen und nix passiert. Man besucht Ihre Freunde auf der Arbeit. Kein GamePlay, kein Inhalt, nichts .. ja witzige Dialoge. Aber auf Englisch. Muss man auch erstmal drauf haben. Dann gibts noch den Dungeon Crawler auf PC der erst    Meine erste Metacritic.
    Alter, ich habe ja nichts revolutionierendes erwachtet aber das da ja so gar nichts kommt ..
    Ich habe es mir ca. 3 - 4 h jetzt rein gezogen und nix passiert. Man besucht Ihre Freunde auf der Arbeit. Kein GamePlay, kein Inhalt, nichts .. ja witzige Dialoge. Aber auf Englisch. Muss man auch erstmal drauf haben. Dann gibts noch den Dungeon Crawler auf PC der erst einmal super funktioniert aber die letzten LvL sind dermassen unausgewogen schwer das es auch kein Spaß mehr macht ..
    Und dann die Tatsache das es nach 4h nur eine Trophäe bei mir gab .. Gut vielleicht habe Optionale übersehen aber trotzdem .. Ich habs im Sale gekauft und spiele Spiele eigentlich immer zu Ende. Aber hier war es für mich nicht möglich. RICHTIGER FEHLKAUF! Keine Kaufempfehlung.    … Expand
  39. Jollyolfun
    Mar 16, 2022
    10
    A very niche game that gives you story of a girl in an unfamiliar place rebuilding bridges she had burned long ago. This game nails the vibe of a small town during fall, and also nails how it would feel to explore an unfamiliar place. Also there's a fun rythm game.

Awards & Rankings

10
#10 Best PS4 Game of 2017
80
#80 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2017
68
#68 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. GameSpot
    Feb 1, 2018
    90
    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.
    Read full review
  2. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    May 29, 2017
    80
    Forgive its clumsier moments. Play it for its brill soundtrack, loveable-unlovable cast and charmingly rendered brand of nihilism. Then, for god's sake, call your parents. [May 2017, p.97]
  3. GamingTrend
    Apr 14, 2017
    95
    Night in the Woods is a fantastic narrative with a beautiful artstyle, theme and plenty of small touches occupying a wonderful world full of loving characters covering a sinister story underneath.
    Read full review
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