“At the end of everything, hold onto anything.”

Whether you’re a casual gamer or a hard-core perfectionist, Night in the Woods might just be the game for you.

Maybe this is  your first story game and you’d like to delve into the genre, or perhaps you’ve found yourself interested in the indie world.

For whatever reason - with fantastic humor, visuals, and playability - this article will be the provider for anything and everything Night in the Woods (but not too much...I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise of playing).

About Night in the Woods

On January 10th, 2017 the world saw the release of Night in the Woods.

A witty, colorful, charismatic sidescroller. You get to know each character as a dear friend.

Careful though, since you may sever those friendships by neglecting them. You move through the neighborhood, enjoy many great minigames, and annoy the local elders.

Night in the Woods was definitely highly anticipated, considering it reached its kickstarter goal in only 26 hours back in October 2013.

It skyrocketed the game budget to a total of $209,375 - triple the original goal! As for today?

The reviews are still holding up. After being re-released  on the Nintendo Switch last winter, many still hold the hope for a DLC (although we haven’t heard anything on that *sigh*)

Night in the Woods Story

You’re a 20 year old college drop-out, and you’re heading home.

You’re not a damsel in distress, you’re not “the chosen one”, and you’re not a criminal. Well… usually. You’re just Mae.

And there’s something in the woods. You’re objective? Hang out, play bass, and cause all kinds of trouble with your friends.

The real attraction though, the music. Available for purchase as DLC, the soundtrack has great flow, interesting twists, and gorgeous instrumentals.

Mae and Gregg hanging out at Donut Wolf

Night in the Woods Gameplay

The map is all in 2d, which I guess is somewhat expected from a sidescroller. However, the artistic style makes this animated world pop.

The trees are fuller, houses more vibrant, and the leaves being swept up by the wind are all too real. A great style can bring life to a game, something you we can definitely see in Night in the Woods.

The whole world is within the boundaries of Possum Springs, Mae’s hometown.

You’ll get to know your whereabouts pretty fast, but the fun lies within. It’s the experiences you find with your friends that really expand the story. The best place to find things - the rooftops. Some rooftops will be inaccessible for large parts of the game.

Once opened though... well, I’ll leave that up to you to find out.

There’s an underground tunnel where I’d love to see more content, but its main purpose is to get you through the main street faster.

Mae exploring the streets of Possum Springs

Night in the Woods Quest/Mission System

Kind of like in reality, you choose your path. Alright, you can’t punch a wall or anything like that, but maybe someday! Will you hang out with Gregg and go on an irresponsible adventure, or chill with Bea and listen to rockin' records?

The best way to open up every possibility for fun is this - Talk. To. Everybody! Seriously, if you want to get the most out of the game, talk to everyone you see.

There’s so much to do if you investigate a little! If you choose to go do something with one friend, you’ll end up missing out on another adventure. Don’t worry though, it only means you can play the game over and over - always with a new experience.

You decide. However, if you’re not a fan of slow story driven games, this may not be the one for you.

Night in the Woods Graphics

Night in the Woods is a moving storybook. No, really!

The illustrations almost feel like they're popping out of the screen.

They are charismatic and chuck full of personality.

It’s not made to be hyper realistic (I mean, everyone is an animal) but rather convey feelings through art.

A great testament to indie games.

The Tunnels below the town are dark and yet intriguing

Night in the Woods Developer

Developed by Infinite Fall, Secret Lab, and 22nd Century Toys (while published by Finji) it’s a pretty clean-cut game.

Little to no glitching is present, and the controls are really responsive.

The developers are relatively active with the community, and recently released the Weird Autumn update.

This includes a whole new set of content making the game even bigger.

Night in the Woods Price

The game costs $19.99 on Steam, though you can get a bundle for $35.06 which includes the entire soundtrack. It’s also available on the Playstation 4, Xbox one, and Nintendo Switch (a personal favorite platform to play it on). There’s no need for any in game purchases (hallelujah) and it’s constantly on sale.

FINAL VERDICT: 10/10

Night in the Woods in one word - wonderful. I’ve seen my fair share of story games, but this one holds a special place in my heart. The love that was poured into it simply seeps through. A good story, and just a fun time.

Pros:

-Great visuals

-Engaging story

-Fun gameplay

-Witty humor

-Exceptional soundtrack
-Crimes

Cons:

-Slow paced

-Requires multiple playthroughs

-Takes a while to talk with everybody every day