Wide Ocean Big Jacket

 Switch
Wide Ocean Big Jacket Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 10 Ratings

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  • Summary: Take part in a classic camping trip: Roast hot dogs on the fire, go birdwatching, tell ghost stories, grab a beverage from the cooler and do cartwheels on the beach.

    WOBJ is a short story game including 20 chapters, 4 playable characters, 10,000 words of dialog and 8 explorable areas, all    Take part in a classic camping trip: Roast hot dogs on the fire, go birdwatching, tell ghost stories, grab a beverage from the cooler and do cartwheels on the beach.

    WOBJ is a short story game including 20 chapters, 4 playable characters, 10,000 words of dialog and 8 explorable areas, all rendered in a beautiful 2D/3D art style.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Gaming Age
    May 20, 2020
    91
    It’s all pretty low stakes, and it’s extremely low stress. But that’s the point — it’s designed to be a relaxing game you can finish in a single sitting. It’s not about the change the world, but it should be enough to put a smile on your face…and yes, maybe just make you want to go camping.
  2. GameCritics
    Aug 13, 2020
    85
    Wide Ocean, Big Jacket is a brief experience, perhaps 90 minutes including extra scenes recently added via patch, but it’s just the right length for delivering a richly-colored snapshot into the lives of its subjects, and as a memento of this brief camping trip where four people connect, it’s just perfect.
  3. Destructoid
    Feb 4, 2020
    80
    The stakes aren't high, and given how ridiculously high the stakes often are in video game stories, I appreciate the humble slice-of-life premise. Still, I would have liked to see a little more ambition – something to wrap a bow on an otherwise pleasant present. I ended Wide Ocean Big Jacket feeling good, and it resonates, but at the same time, it's not necessarily an experience that will stick with me.
  4. Slant Magazine
    Feb 23, 2020
    80
    The game captures place and feeling through honing in on things that are singular, small, and warm.
  5. New Game Network
    Mar 3, 2020
    79
    Wide Ocean Big Jacket is a game about what happens in between the life-changing moments. About how everyday interactions and conversations are interesting in their own way. It’s a memorable experience built around relatable characters, fun dialogue, and clever gameplay moments.
  6. TheGamer
    Feb 5, 2020
    70
    If you're looking for a relaxing, calm, amusing short story, Wide Ocean Big Jacket should be a perfect choice to help pass the hour.
  7. Cubed3
    Feb 24, 2020
    70
    From a gameplay standpoint, Wide Ocean Big Jacket is an extremely simple game - with 'game' put between the biggest quote marks imaginable. As an experience, though, this is something else entirely. Turnfollow's tiny adventure is basically a funny, and occasionally very sweet, slice-of-life tale of four people enjoying themselves in the woods, while also dealing with some serious matters, but not in a very serious way. It's not a narrative-driven game. It is vacation in video game form - and only the good parts are included.

See all 9 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 4
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 4
  3. Negative: 0 out of 4
  1. Redeyedfigure
    Feb 5, 2020
    10
    A brilliant walking simulator that broke my expectations. Deeply human dialogue, nice atmosphere, nice graphics, and what turns out to be theA brilliant walking simulator that broke my expectations. Deeply human dialogue, nice atmosphere, nice graphics, and what turns out to be the most immersive camping game I've ever had ends up to be the best game of this year so far for me.… Expand
  2. nusco
    Jun 28, 2020
    8
    A tiny piece of interactive fiction, way more "fiction" than "interactive", and little more than one hour long. In that hour, mostly occupiedA tiny piece of interactive fiction, way more "fiction" than "interactive", and little more than one hour long. In that hour, mostly occupied by dialogue, Wide Ocean Big Jacket tells a nice little story about growing out of childhood. It does that with an extremely lightweight touch that will leave you with a smile on your face. Although it deals with serious themes such as parenthood and relationships, this game is never on the nose, and never takes itself too seriously.

    To be clear, Wide Ocean Big Jacket can hardly be called a "game". It's in the same category as "Florence": a short story narrated through the medium of interactivity. However, it's better than Florence at grasping that elusive bittersweet feeling of a slice of life passing by. It's hard to play this game without situating it in your own childhood, so that each little vignette fades to the colors of a cherished memory from your pre-teen years.

    The authors struck a perfect tone with this thing, and I'm looking forward to their next work.    … Expand
  4. apocalypzedream
    Oct 29, 2020
    5
    The reviews made me think this game was going to be a lot more interesting than it was. It was kind of boring TBH. I didn’t like how I’d getThe reviews made me think this game was going to be a lot more interesting than it was. It was kind of boring TBH. I didn’t like how I’d get stuck certain areas exploring. The dialog was eh. Didn’t seem like there was much of a point....… Expand
  5. GeneWagner
    May 31, 2021
    5
    So sad that this game is only 90 minutes. Definitely need to see more from these devs. Although it's short, the characters develope superSo sad that this game is only 90 minutes. Definitely need to see more from these devs. Although it's short, the characters develope super obvious personalities that make it an immersive and memorable game. There's also a small option towards the end that gives you varying endings. Who doesn't love that?… Expand

Awards & Rankings

68
#68 Best Switch Game of 2020

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