Virginia

 Xbox One
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 13 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 13
  3. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. Game Informer
    Sep 22, 2016
    93
    Virginia is a taut thriller that strikes a fine balance between storytelling and interactivity in a way that narrative-driven first-person adventure games have not accomplished since their inception, thanks to its blend of classic cinema and exploration. It should not be missed.
  2. GameSpew
    Sep 28, 2016
    90
    The story is human, relatable, enabling you to build an empathetic bond with Anne with ease. And even when events go all mind-bendingly crazy as you reach the final stretch, you still care.
  3. Time
    Sep 22, 2016
    90
    Virginia trades that sort of clarity for another: that of the subjective, ever-precarious moment...And what gorgeous, reverberant moments there are in this game, empowered by its absent words and explanations. As David Lynch put it, answering a question about Lost Highway, “There’s things that have to happen, information that has to be given, for the thing to go. To say with words any more, would not be good.”
  5. ICXM
    Sep 22, 2016
    90
    Despite its short length and constrained gameplay, it tells an intriguing story with multiple layers and given its low price of admission, I heartily recommend it. My only complaint would be that I wish the game allowed you to interact with your environment more and explore it to a greater degree. While there are secrets which need to be discovered through multiple playthroughs, that sense of being caged never goes away. However, that doesn’t detract from the gameplay and Virginia is unlike anything else you’ve ever played before.
  6. games(TM)
    Nov 19, 2016
    80
    An interactive experience unlike any other. [Issue#180, p.48]
  7. XboxAddict
    Oct 5, 2016
    80
    You’re not in control of anything in Virginia, and once you come to accept that, it’s a completely different experience. It’s not going to appeal to many, but for those of you that might understand it, you will find something truly unique that sticks with you long after the credits roll.
  8. Windows Central
    Oct 4, 2016
    80
    On one hand I loved Virginia — it was quirky and weird; and on the other, I just felt frustrated that I still didn't know what it was all about by the end of multiple plays. There isn't even much to say negatively about it -- it plays fine, if not the camera by default is a little over-sensitive, but this is easily remedied.
  9. Official Xbox Magazine UK
    Oct 3, 2016
    80
    It may frustrate, but within its boundaries this is a riveting, intelligent mystery. [Nov 2016, p.90]
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  10. DarkStation
    Oct 3, 2016
    80
    Throughout much of its length, Virginia manages to steer its story in surprising and unexpected detours, giving us moments and images that defy the intellect and yet still resonate deeply. While its abstracted art style and ambiguity might be a barrier to some, Virginia is suffused with humanity and a few memorable mysteries.
  11. TrueAchievements
    Sep 22, 2016
    80
    Virginia is a game because of its avenues of release and its use of a controller, but it is the most cinematic, movie-like game that may have yet been created.
  12. MondoXbox
    Sep 22, 2016
    75
    A visually brilliant adventure, graced by a very good direction that managed to tighten the storytelling and to get rid of the more boring walking sections in the walking simulator genre. Unluckily, though, we couldn't fully appreciate the surreal and confusing story, even after a second playthrough.
  13. CGMagazine
    Oct 24, 2016
    60
    As a piece of art, I quite appreciate Virginia. but I certainly won't be revisiting Virginia in the future.
  14. XBLA Fans
    Sep 28, 2016
    40
    I’d question whether Virginia can be described as a game at all and for that reason it is unlikely to appeal to the majority of gamers. There’s not enough gameplay, even for a walking simulator, to be called a game and the whole thing might have functioned better as a two-hour animation, rather than trying to package in the limited player interactions which serve only to distract from the story’s immersion.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best Xbox One Game of 2016
63
#63 Most Discussed Xbox One Game of 2016
87
#87 Most Shared Xbox One Game of 2016

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 49 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 49
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 49
  3. Negative: 16 out of 49
  1. Trunkis
    Sep 28, 2016
    0
    Atari's ET 2600 has more narrative falling down a pixelated well than this mess.

    This is the problem with hipstery creators... they don't    Atari's ET 2600 has more narrative falling down a pixelated well than this mess.

    This is the problem with hipstery creators... they don't get that they don't get what videogaming is all about.    … Full Review »
  2. KamenRiderDark
    Sep 28, 2016
    0
    Speaking as a movie lover, Virginia is a pretty fascinating story. Imagine if David Lynch directed the pilot episode of The X-Files. It hasSpeaking as a movie lover, Virginia is a pretty fascinating story. Imagine if David Lynch directed the pilot episode of The X-Files. It has some great visuals and a soild score. It's worth it to at least watch a stream if you're into this kind of story.

    As a gamer, and as someone who loves "walking sims" and artistic games, there is no reason that this should have been told as a game instead of movie. You have no agency, there is no sense of exploration, you can't affect any outcome, and you never have any option to choose. You pretty much walk through a series of very linear levels with usually only one object to interact with at any given time.    … Full Review »
  3. gygessgygess
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    Wow, what an experience! I played it at a friends house, have no plans on replaying it, yet went ahead and paid for it to support what theWow, what an experience! I played it at a friends house, have no plans on replaying it, yet went ahead and paid for it to support what the devs have done here.

    If you're a fan of Blendo games (Gravity Bone, Thirty Flights of Loving, Quadrilateral Cowboy), but also like the thoughtfulness and drama of The Chinese Room (Dear Esther, Everybodys Gone to The Rapture) than you will love this game.

    Don't listen to people complaining about the game length, they really need to understand game development more. No good film or piece of music begins by setting out how long it will be. Gamers need to start thinking quality, not quantity. The two hours it takes to complete is paced perfectly, had it lasted much longer than attention would start to fade.

    Since there's a demo available, I'll just end off with a comment on the music. The score is fantastic, unbelievably high levels of production value, and is a step in the right direction for the industry. Play with headphones! The sountrack adds a lot of emotion, and I don't see that as a bad thing at all. You must experience it.    … Full Review »
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