Night in the Woods Reviews
Check out Night in the Woods Review Scores from trusted Critics below. With 13 reviews on CriticDB, Night in the Woods has a score of:
Imagine if Superbad, Twin Peaks, and Animal Farm had a baby. That’s what Night in the Woods would look like, and it’s that good. The game follows Mae as she moves back to her hometown of Possum Springs because she has decided that college isn’t for her (and for other reasons unknown). She spends her days traveling around town, hanging out with her friends, and trying to dig herself out of the melancholic slump she’s found herself in. The tone of the early game is very nostalgic, and it really made me want to hang out with my parents. But there’s also something kind of sinister about the tone. The game is called Night in the Woods, after all. What’s smart is that the game lets you ponder this, just until you’ve dropped your guard, then Mae and her friends find a severed arm on the ground. This Blue Velvet moment mixed with a Twin Peaks vibe really drove the game forward and the rest of the narrative never lulled. Oh, and also Mae is a cat.
I’d been looking forward to Night in the Woods since its announcement and crowdfunding campaign way back in 2013, and I still ended up being surprised at just how much it affected me. It’s a bittersweet tribute to slackerdom: a tale of existential crisis and failure, and the odd sense of comfort that failure may result in. Even when your world is crumbling, there’s solace in family taco night or the predictable evening talk show hosts, who spout the same catchphrases night after night. We’ve all had our own personal nights in the woods, but in the words of Possum Springs’ welcome sig…
Night in the Woods is basically everything I always hope games can be. Powerful and moving with gameplay that's clever, rewarding, and unique, all wrapped up in one of my favorite presentations. Don't pass this up.
The story is great, the music is fine, and the game runs well in both docked and handheld mode. Night in the Woods did not really leave me with a lot of complaints. So if you’re interested in trying out a well-written story that is fairly relaxing in gameplay to get through, but also want to immerse yourself in an environment along the lines of something like Oxenfree, then Night in the Woods is definitely a must-have.
It's very much the details that make Night in the Woods so memorable, and although we want to tell you how the story unfolds, what exactly is being said, and how we experienced some of the memorable scenes, but we would much rather you experienced this on your own. Curiosity, depression, friendship, loyalty, questioning, doubt, and cynicism are the themes explored here, and even if it starts off a little slowly, the journey is an adventure you simply shouldn't miss.
Night in the Woods is about mistakes, recklessness, and friendship, all wrapped up in a colorful adventure game. You play as Mae, a 20-year-old anthropomorphic cat who drops out of college and returns to her hometown. With an emphasis on self-discovery, rebuilding old relationships, and understanding the struggles of a dead-end town, Night in the Woods is an enthralling experience that captures both the wonder of childhood and the dread of adulthood.
Night in the Woods captures the fears and anxieties of being a young adult with surprising clarity, but brings it into new and interesting territory thanks to its developers’ deep understanding of rural America’s economic hardships. Branching, well-written dialogue made me feel closer to Mae’s story as I helped build out her history and reignite friendships, encouraging a second playthrough to uncover the scenes (and even a few secrets) I know I missed. Its ability to swerve from the amusing hijinks of its vibrant heroes into very real, and very serious subject matter without feeling forced or unnatural was a pleasant surprise that kept me invested in its character drama long after I’d said goodbye to Possum Springs for the first time. But just like Mae, I know I’ll be back soon.
While the main narrative drags a little, wonderfully crafted characters that deal with real-life issues, fill this beautiful Saturday morning cartoon show where the mundanity of life is the backdrop for some wonderful exchanges between Mae and her friends
A runaway success on Kickstarter, Night in the Woods has been released to strong praise from both critics and audiences for its story and characters. And with promises of deep narratives and beautiful artwork, it certainly has a lot to live up to. Is it worthy of the hype, or just the flavour of the month? We dove in to find out...
All I can confirm with absolution is that I loved it and it’s an experience I will take on again. I will read theories and I will understand the certain mental issues discussed. I will listen to the game’s soundtrack because the music is beautiful; it’s jazzy and relaxing. I will, also, most probably download wallpaper for my phone because I can guarantee, it has too much heart and soul to not be forgotten.
Night in the Woods isn’t perfect. I’m not perfect. You’re not perfect. Life isn’t perfect. But as the game itself tries to espouse, if you’ve got the patience, you may find that there is true beauty in that revelation.
We have come to expect a lot from the games that independent developers bring us. These developers are offered an opportunity that many bigger groups don’t have. They can develop deep experiences that enable the player to seep into a world and become absorbed in the world that they create. We can enjoy the depths of what these developers have to offer and enjoy the subtle commentary that waits for us to listen. With Night in the Woods, we get a very human story that begs to be listened to.
I have so, so much more to say about it, and it feels mad that I only really mention the three friends so far into this review, then don’t talk about them. But that’s important, that’s me remembering to allow you the same blank slate I started with too. I want to talk about the role of religion, about the complexities of the town’s politics, about Mae’s relationship with her parents, about just so many things. But another time.