Haven Reviews
It just doesn’t seem they put as much love and detail into the gameplay as they did the character writing and world building. In the end, while not a must play, Haven is still worth a glance if you’re looking for a feel-good experience.
While the journey to survive in Source is interesting and the gameplay brings fun yet repetitive things, Haven really does a spectacular job of telling its story, raising every little moment, from combat to gliding while holding hands, moved by the strength of its script, voice-acting and love between its protagonists.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
What Haven doesn't quite perfect in its gameplay, it makes up for with a beautifully crafted, surprisingly human relationship, accompanied by a brilliant soundtrack and gorgeous presentation.
Built for local co-op with a significant other in mind, Haven is a pleasant experience with some severe narrative downfalls.
A delightful central relationship gives this love story RPG wings, but generic survival beats and somewhat empty worlds leaves Haven not quite the essential indie experience we were hoping for.
Despite its outerworldly setting, Haven’s message & writing highlights the pros and cons of a relationship that many couples, and even ex-couples, can relate to. Except for maybe the bit where you feed a marble cake to attract a giant alien manta ray to serve as your makeshift taxi cab.
Haven is a different and unique experience as a game with a sci-fi theme. You will play as a pair of lovers and follow their adventures in " Source " planet. Combat system could be better and sometimes, you might feel that the most parts of the world look same, but except from these, Haven is an enjoyable, different and recommended experience that takes you to a beautiful journey of love.
Review in Persian | Read full review
When all is said and done, what sells Haven is its characters. If a deep rich character-driven narrative that centers around two exceptionally realized characters is something you believe is worth a few gameplay hiccups to experience then this game is worth every second of your time. It’s characters deliver in every way I could ask for. Crafting a tale that was the most emotionally impactful gaming experience I’ve had since I played Sea of Solitude last year. And to put a little perspective here, that was my game of the year last year. And while its gameplay shortcomings keep it from quite reaching that level of gaming perfection, its story is as close to perfect as I could ask for.
Haven's gameplay might not keep you invested as much as the core relationship but the game tells a very real tale of two people in love. Paired with a synthetic lo-fi soundtrack and some beautiful visuals, it's hard not to fall for Kay and Yu's story.
Haven is a clever writed story about two fugitives living their lives on an alien planet. In this RPG made by The Game Bakers you won't find a world to save but just Yu and Kay. Their relation and everyday problems. This quite cozy and atmospheric game will appeal for almost everyone. Especially if you have someone to watch you playing.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Traverse a fragmented alien world as a lovestruck couple and hunt down answers to the mysteries surrounding you in Haven, new from the developers of FURI. As you explore the planet and follow this mature and honest portrayal of their romantic relationship, do you have it in you to help them take control of their own destiny and protect each other from the sinister forces of the Apiary?
Armed with a charismatic artistic direction, excellent in every part, and supported by a varied gameplay which makes it impossible to get bored, Haven is, in conclusion, a refined game capable of entering the list of most succesful titles of the year and which blends will leave its mark for long. The Game Bakers’ work strikes for its delicate narrative with blends perfectly with the gameplay and the artistic compartament, all three almost creating a well balanced and light dance.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Haven’s engaging storytelling and alluring world help make for a unique and enjoyable experience – I just wish there was a little bit more to do on Source. Sure, gliding around feels wonderful and the instances of combat can make for some fun sequences, but it doesn’t take long for a sense of repetition to kick in. It probably doesn’t help that the land itself can be a little bit vacant, making it more difficult to find the areas you need to reach to progress. It certainly has its flaws, but I still had more of a more positive experience with Haven than a bad one. With a bit of extra fine-tuning it could easily stand out as a really special little game, especially with its endearing take on relationships in the video game landscape and its outstanding presentation. As it stands though, it doesn’t always manage to replicate the same sparks that are flying between its two main protagonists.
Playing Haven with someone else feels like the natural way to approach it, but you’ll still enjoy it if you’re playing on your own. It can be a tough game to grind through, especially when scouring different areas that often look the same, but the relationship between Yu and Kay is very relatable. Movement is satisfying, and the combat is simple enough to enjoy. The Game Bakers has managed to build an interesting narrative throughout, and the couple’s own story is just as important and engaging.
After the excellent Furi, The Game Bakers decided to test their skills on something completely different. An experience that focuses on love and adventure. Haven is a little game, well worth the 10-15 hours that you must dedicate.
Review in Greek | Read full review
A relaxing adventure that's at its best when focusing on the romance.
Haven is a game best enjoyed with someone else while making yourselves comfy on the sofa. While not without its flaws, a brave decision to focus on the story about a couple makes this a unique title worth immersing yourself in. The music is brilliant and the characters are just lovely. The story may go through the typical beats that I expect lovers to go through in a typical film. Its the talent of the voice actors and the accessibility of the gameplay for most audiences that keep you hooked till the end. Sometimes in life a game just hits you and ends up being better than you could possibly imagine. Haven to me is one of those game made even better because I got to share it with someone special.
Haven is a cute and enjoyable mix of light survival, light RPG, and serious romance novel. It's exactly the kind of game to play if you want to relax for a few hours and see adorable people being adorable. The surprisingly enjoyable RPG combat and gentle survival mechanics make the game feel more like a game, while at heart it is closer to a visual novel. If you like warm and fuzzy feelings, Haven is a great choice, as long as you don't mind the occasional risqué dialogue.