“Year Walk,” developed by Sweedish game designer Simogo, is an adventure game that immerses players in the haunting folklore of Swedish mythology. The game explores themes of mystery, exploration, and psychological horror through creating an eerie and thought-provoking experience. Year Walk can be played on iPads and iPhones and has similar mechanics to walking simulator with point and click interactions.
“Year Walk” excels in creating a captivating atmosphere from the moment the game is started. The haunting visuals combined with the atmospheric sound design develop an eerie ambiance. The minimalistic design of the visuals creates thought-provoking experiences for the players without over stimulation. The game’s narrative draws inspiration from Swedish folklore which juxtaposes the mysterious and immersive atmosphere of the visual design and the psychological journey of the player. As players uncover clues and piece together the story, they start to unravel the protagonist’s unsettling life, creating discovery fun.
The audio design in “Year Walk” plays a crucial role in building tension in the game’s narrative and atmosphere. The haunting sound effects combined with an ethereal score create an psychologically demanding ambiance which complement’s the dark themes from the mythology and symbolism in the storyline. Furthermore, the game mechanics are enhanced using audio cues as indicators and hints for the player.
The dark symbolism and mythology in “Year Walk” manifests as a gameplay with no dearth of puzzles. Puzzles are used creatively to enhance the game’s narrative. Fantasy, narrative, and discovery are components of fun present in “Year Walk”.
While the ephemeral mechanics of “Year Walk” create a captivating experience, the lack of clarity and guidance occasionally leave the player confused about what the next objective is. The non-linear structure of the game is compounded by the lack of explicit guidance. Additionally, “Year Walk” relies heavily on a point-and-click mechanic which limits the expressivity of the player. If I were to change one thing about this game, I would add friendly NPC’s such as those in BABBDI who can interact with the protagonist and give them clues about what to do next. Furthermore, I would add an additional dimension of interaction mechanic to the game such adding a joystick.
“Year Walk” is a well-designed game which successfully creates an immersive and chilling experience rooted in Swedish mythology. The atmospheric visual and audio design and captivating storyline create an impactful experience.
