It’s a funny old game
Walking as a video game? It’ll never catch on…
EXCEPT IT DID. During 2020, sales and downloads of ‘open world’ walking games went through the roof, as lockdowns and isolation periods denied people access to the real-world places they craved. And even though sitting around gaming is sort of the very opposite of what we’re into, a lot of these games are made with real heart and craft, and try hard to replicate all the stuff we love about walking. Here are four of the finest.
JOURNEY by Thatgamecompany
PC, PS4&5, Xbox, c£12
The one that started it all. Take the role of a robed figure journeying through an enigmatic but beautifully visualised world of deserts, open plains and mountains, heading for a mysterious column of light on the farthest horizon. You’re surrounded by relics of some bygone civilisation as you drift through one stunning landscape after another, and the effect is utterly blissful. Austin Wintory’s delicate, haunting music won a clutch of awards, as did the game itself.
WALDEN, A GAME
by USC Game Innovation Lab
PC, PS4&5, Xbox, c£15
This remarkable game puts you in the person of naturalist and philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who spent just over two years living independently in a cabin by Walden Pond in
THOREAU-LY FASCINATING
Learn to survive, thrive and enjoy the great outdoors in a remarkably visualised reimagining of Henry David Thoreau’s experiment in Walden, A Game.
Massachusetts in the 1840s. Like Thoreau, your tasks are to observe and record the wildlife and natural habitats around you, while focusing on his original priorities of food, fuel, shelter and clothing. It’s been widely praised for its beautiful visuals, attention to detail and calming effect.
EASTSHADE by Eastshade Studios
PC, PS4&5, Xbox; c£20
In this lush, lovely world you’re a wandering artist, and your commissions take you to snowy mountains, soaring cliffs and serene river valleys. Gentle creatures ask you to do paintings for them, so you can wander to your favourite viewpoint, set up your easel, and create something just as beautiful as the view in front of you.
A SHORT HIKE by adamgryu
PC/Mac; £5 (pay in US$)
Gentle music plays as you take the role of a sweet little bird visiting her aunt in a seaside village, before heading out for a hike into the nearby hills, where you can chat to locals, collect stuff and just enjoy the artfully created scenery. (You can also fly, but that’s cheating.)