What is Year Walk?

Year Walk is a first-person adventure game for iOS platforms based on nearly forgotten but mystifying Swedish folklore. In it, you must year walk* and solve creepy puzzles presented by supernatural creatures. The game is also accompanied by a Companion app, which tells you everything you need to know about the creatures. And although the game requires a one-time fee of $3.99 to download, the price is small considering the experience the game has to offer. Allow me to explain:

Story — Though the story is shrouded in so much mystery that you may feel irritated, it’s one of those games where everything comes together beautifully at the end, and you are frantic with so many questions that you play the game over and over again. Though this is perhaps the best part of the game, it is necessary for you to figure everything out, and so I won’t spoil it for you. But I will say that the creatures have very interesting back stories, which you can check out here.

Puzzles — Not too hard, but certainly not too easy, the puzzles are quite clever. While most of them involve memorizing sequences, the true adventure lies in connecting each puzzle for a complete story. In fact, there is not one element in the game that doesn’t serve a purpose, including the windmill, the hanging doll and the mysterious box.

Gameplay/Artwork — Even the way you play the game is fantastic. With each movement, you are immersed in a sort of storybook with those pop-outs you used to hold so dear as a child. However, those sweet memories are doomed, with supernatural creatures and frights lurking around every corner to transform them into something less desirable, to say the least. But for those who can take it, the sacrifice proves to be worth it. Also, the absence of menus contributes nicely to the atmosphere, making the game feel real, like it isn’t a game. And that’s what makes it so horrifying and great.

Soundtrack — Also contributing to the atmosphere, the soundtrack is wonderful in the way it manipulates the player. For instance, you can be walking through the light snow and not feel anything, but when you hear the wailing violins and sad piano, a feeling of foreboding and emptiness surges through you and asserts itself like an omen. For those who can take it, it is recommended that you play the game with headphones. And perhaps even in the dark, if you dare.

In short, you should play Year Walk because it is simply beautiful, terrifying and inspiring all in one.