Wayward Strand Reviews

Wayward Strand is ranked in the 83rd percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.5 / 10.0
Apr 15, 2021

Wayward Strand revels in its ability to funnel players' curiosity down multiple avenues of branching intrigue. Though light on actual "game" there is little excuse not to become easily transfixed by its whimsical, touching nature.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

Wayward Strand may not be the kind of adventure its unique location and teen journalist protagonist suggests but it has a humanistic emotional story at its heart that is made more memorable by its beautiful art style.

Review in Persian | Read full review

Sep 15, 2022

One of the first characters you meet, Ida, says that Casey’s experience in the hospital is much like the life of an older person; piecing things together as best you can. As you wander the halls of Wayward Strand’s hospital, you too piece together little fragments of entire lives lived into a rich, heartfelt story that will leave you re-entering reality with a renewed sense of curiosity.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

Wayward Strand offers up a uniquely Australian take on the narrative adventure game with a gorgeous art direction and moving portrayal of hard-working people in a harsh system. Despite a couple of pacing issues and an unforgiven save system, Wayward Strand is an approachable and hugely enjoyable little world to explore and find some catharsis in.

Read full review

8.5 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

An experience that touches the soul and the heart, about the most precious present we can make to other people: our time.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Stevivor
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

If you are vehemently opposed to narrative experiences with very light gameplay elements, Wayward Strand may not be something you will gravitate towards. For fans of the genre, it would be hard not to recommend. I – who usually prefer the third-person, open world flavours of the month – found myself thoroughly entertained by its charming cast of characters and its uniquely compelling storytelling style.

Read full review

9.5 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

With its eccentric elderly cast, intricate themes, unique agency mechanics and narrative structure, Wayward Strand is a compelling experience that reels you in and leaves you wanting to call your grandma.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 15, 2022

The game is fully voice acted, adding quite a bit of personality to the cast. If you enjoy a laid back experience that just has you talking to people, Wayward Strand is worth a look. Old people have some pretty neat stories, and the ones on this airship are no exception.

Read full review

74 / 100
Sep 15, 2022

Wayward Stand tells an intimate story that you discover at your own pace. The non-linear design gives you the freedom to personalize your journey through a long weekend at work with your mother. The in-game clock makes the world feel alive and pushes you to follow story arcs rather than meander. While the conclusion is a little lacklustre and there is an absence of gameplay, this is a wonderful passage through a moment in time.

Read full review

7 / 10
Sep 15, 2022

With a lovely cast and setting, Wayward Strand is sure to land into your heart even if it does lack gameplay essentials such as more frequent save points or, at the very least, a skip button.

Read full review

Loved
Sep 15, 2022

This unique work of interactive fiction is realistic, relevant, and wholesome. Amazing voice actors and great writing have made the characters so real and got me to care about them. Wayward Strand is a game about being there for people. Sometimes that involves being still and doing (seemingly) nothing. These are abilities I feel I’m losing in the age of smartphones. It can be hard to sit with someone in silence, especially when they’re suffering. But this game has given me a little nudge, a little practice, towards being present.

Read full review

4 / 5.0
Sep 15, 2022

When all is said and done, Wayward Strand is a great narrative experience but not a game for everybody. The lack of clear direction and rewards can make its simple gameplay loop feel overwhelming, and the grounded themes it tackles aren’t always easy to get through. For those willing to give it a look, though, it’s a game that offers characters who players won’t be able to keep from falling in love with, and the experience it offers will stick with whoever plays it long after the credits roll.

Read full review

Unscored
Sep 15, 2022
Wayward Strand Review (PS5) | Backlog Battle video thumbnail
Sep 15, 2022

Overall, Wayward Strand is an interesting game that explores humanity in a way that few games have, while its time limit to each day means choosing who to spend time with has an added importance. Technical issues hold the game back, alongside a lack of dialogue depth as the weekend rolls on. However, overall this is still an engaging game for players who want a more cerebral title.

Read full review

6 / 10.0
Sep 16, 2022

Wayward Strand all in all is a unique enough game that showcases interesting game elements and story with interesting characters and different backgrounds of characters that think, talk, and feel all uniquely different. But with different narrative outcomes and endings it does not feel entirely rewarding to play the game more and more to get those unique differences or moments.

Read full review

85 / 100
Sep 16, 2022

Wayward Strand is one of the most sophisticated narrative-focused games of recent times and, in its simplicity, manages to be captivating and sensitive without appealing to any cheap sentimentality. It should not appeal to every type of player, but fans of the genre will find here an authentic experience, striking characters, and really meaningful choices.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

90%
Sep 16, 2022

Wayward Strand is a thoughtful and compelling game with a unique setting.

Read full review

3.5 / 5.0
Sep 17, 2022

Wayward Strand is less an active experience and more like sinking into a comfortable, worn couch. At first, you find the seat to be relaxing, but as time goes on you find yourself sunken into its cozy depths, all desire to move from your resting place evaporated. The floating hospital becomes its own character, just like the colorful cast that resides within; soon, your goal to see the game through becomes less important than learning all you can about the airborne convalescent home. If you’re looking for a game that places more importance on the journey instead of the destination, Wayward Strand welcomes you aboard.

Read full review

Unscored
Sep 18, 2022

Wayward Strand is a very unique game with a lot of heart, and it tells its non-linear, intertwined narratives in a very naturalistic fashion, which you can freely jump between as you guide Casie across the decks of the airship. The game’s ending is somewhat lacklustre, but I admire that the game didn’t attempt to invent a dramatic finale simply for the sake of it. It’s certainly worth a playthrough or two to see the various stories and conversations you missed the first time around, and the heartfelt, caring atmosphere it fosters will help to raise your spirits.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Sep 20, 2022

In a world of narrowly-focused objectives in games, it’s sometimes nice to simply choose your own path

Read full review