Haven

 Switch
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 10
  3. Negative: 3 out of 10
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  1. mmhmm69420
    Feb 15, 2021
    7
    This game, when first starting, takes a lot to get used to. You may expect some interesting turn-based combat, some strong plot or large landscapes to travel for 100's of hours. It doesn't really have any. The combat is real-time and you only get 5 actions to choose from, the story seems (at first) to be pretty weak, and the landscape doesn't seem to be that large. At this point, you areThis game, when first starting, takes a lot to get used to. You may expect some interesting turn-based combat, some strong plot or large landscapes to travel for 100's of hours. It doesn't really have any. The combat is real-time and you only get 5 actions to choose from, the story seems (at first) to be pretty weak, and the landscape doesn't seem to be that large. At this point, you are probably wondering why I gave it a 7 whilst giving it such harsh criticisms, and you are right to do so. I do this as playing this game gives you this feeling off the bat. It feels as if there is tons of unused potential at the beginning. Despite all this, this game grows upon you incredibly subtly. The movement (the free rail system) is genuinely really interesting and could've been expanded upon, even though it is pretty good. The combat is generally disappointing, however, it is nice to get the hang of it. Now, the plot. The overall arc is pretty loose and cheap. When I arrived at the end, I found myself asking the game, "Is this it?". There is however a massive silver lining to this, which is the bond between the two characters. It seems like the game was focussed on delivering a more realistic outlook on the relationship that is typically not present in most games. It may be a little cringy at first but quickly becomes thoroughly interesting. The development of a backstory to create urgency is pretty poor, the differences in settings are similarly poor, which really matters on a foreign planet with such vibrant colours and foreign ideas (with cooking, discovering the planet, etc), and the overall creation of care and urgency in all facets is not par, to say the least.

    The positives are the fun movement, the rich relationship between the characters, the vibrant colours and vague plot points.

    The negatives are the lack of expansion on the afore-mentioned plot points, the lack of development of urgency for getting things done, the lack of unique landscapes (and differences between the pre-existing areas), the terribly boring combat and the quick ending. I would've liked a more game to play and even a post-game would be appreciated.

    The reason I give this such a high rating is because of how sneakily charming it is, the size of the development team and the sheer potential behind the game. I wouldn't recommend this to a personal friend, however, it is a genuinely interesting experience and if you are looking for a more real experience of the relationship between two characters that isn't typically done in other games, go ahead. It's only £20.

    (Oh yeah, there's also tons of glitches and crashes in the game on the Switch version, so if you want to play it on that, it's going to be annoying at times.)    … Expand
  2. Arkane7
    Oct 16, 2022
    2
    This should have been a great game with such an interesting premise. However, it falls flat on many levels. Clunky controls, lacklustre graphics and presentation and well as boring characters. The voices are ok as is some of the music. All in all, the gameplay just isn't interesting enough and neither is the story.
  3. Aeon_Patch
    Mar 15, 2022
    10
    A wonderful story driven game with a beautiful soundtrack. I have finished the game after some evenings and it was hard to lay it down to go to sleep every time.

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Starbit
    Apr 27, 2021
    70
    With its very well written characters and dialogue, as well as a marvelous looking world, Haven could have benefited from more ambition during its development, rather than going for a simple work which at times can feel somewhat repetitive.
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  2. Hey Poor Player
    Feb 26, 2021
    80
    Haven is absolutely worth playing, especially with a partner. Its story is beautiful, engaging, and authentic. Its storytelling sets a clear benchmark in realistically portraying relationships in video games. I do wish Haven’s gameplay reached the incredible standards set by its story, but even a few blemishes can’t completely tarnish such a unique experience.
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  3. Nintendo Life
    Feb 21, 2021
    70
    Haven is a beautiful game about a relationship that is best in its quiet moments. The conversations and tenderness between Yu and Kay, its two leads, are the lifeblood of the game, and everything else is secondary. Its interesting combat system would benefit from a bit more signposting, and the flying traversal is a fun sci-fi addition to the game that works more often than it doesn't. Still, it's a wonderful experience, especially in co-op, but perhaps one to get on sale.
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