Draugen

A beautiful and touching interactive novella. It's not very long, but I feel it's just the right length for spending a few contemplative hours on a peaceful weekend.

Don't expect an adventure game with "puzzles". There is some interaction with the environment, but the game is at its core a "walking simulator", like Dear Esther. It carves its own space in the genre, though, with a lot of dialog and some reading. It all works very well with the kind of story it is telling.

It seems that quite a few reviewers were disappointed in the story, but I felt it was wonderful, and very nicely told. Without spoiling it, I will just say that there is no grand resolution and the game lets you interpret what you discover for yourself. For some, that might not be very satisfying. For me, it makes perfect sense considering that it is, for the most part, an externalized internal journey. Also, some complain that it's too easy to guess the story's "twist". To which I say: So what? I really didn't feel that the "twist" was the point. The story would have worked just as well for me had I known it from the start.

It's also not quite as short as some reviewers say it is! Two hours? Maybe if you race through it trying to reach the conclusion. But for those of us who enjoy these kinds of games, it's all about moving more methodically and taking in all the lovingly-crafted details.

Bravo. Despite its darkness and sadness I am left feeling closure and warmth. I will remember Draugen.