The Longing

But Why ThoSpencer Icasiano

75/10

While The Longing isn’t for everyone, it’s an excellent exercise in expanding our definition of what video games can be. You can explore and get to know your Shade, filling its home with warmth and making it happy as it longs for its king to awaken. Or you could put the game down, turn it off, and never open it again until the 400 days have passed. The choice is entirely yours. The Longing rewards your curiosity, invites you to sit with your feelings, and reminds us of the importance (sometimes) of being alone. And, if anything, it’ll teach you that patience is a virtue.

Nintendo World ReportJoshua Robin

9/10

The Longing is a very special game that alters how someone plays a game, what a puzzle can be, or even what a game can be. This is a fun game full of moments that are exciting, which is honestly surprising for what might be the slowest game ever made. Finding a new tool or a decoration to make The Shade’s home more comfortable is truly joyous, and I love that the puzzles are clever and unique. No other game is going to lock progression behind waiting two hours for a door to open. No other game is going to make moving a rock across a room take three minutes and dozens of button presses. I jus…

Pure NintendoKirstie Summers

8.5/10

A game that takes 400 days and counts down the seconds in real-time, The Longing requires patience. You play as a Shade, the servant of a magical underground ki

Impulse GamerAlex Prakken

In modern day games, the urge for instant gratification is usually needed to draw players in. If a thirty or forty hour campaign doesn’t hook the player from

Jump Dash RollJesse Gregoire

7/10

Like all of the most meaningful art, The Longing’s gameplay struggles to be what is traditionally considered to be “fun” at times. However, it is a dark and thoughtful journey that tackles profound subjects, and is well worth your time if you’re looking to experience something truly unique.