A Space for the Unbound Reviews
I’ve been writing reviews for this site for a number of years now, and one of the best things about it, for me, is picking a game I know nothing about and enjoying the surprise it offers. Reviewing games has helped me step outside of my comfort zone numerous times. Some of my favourite reviews have been on games I would have passed over had I known more about them before I took the code.
A Space for the Unbound combines a stunning visual world of beautiful pixel art with a plot that's rich in hard themes, and the result is an adventure game where everything is more complex than what it seems at first. Its pacing and tasks are more likely to appeal to more dedicated adventure game players, though, as the plot gets extended with acts that can feel redundant and this won't appeal to other parts of the public, but A Space for the Unbound deserves all praise for what it does well.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound is a cute adventure game with an excellent audiovisual style. Unfortunately the story is badly paced, repetitive and heavy-handed.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound tries to stand on its story, but wraps it in a gameplay that is unbearably tedious.
"A Space for the Unbound" is a delightful homage to nostalgia-driven whimsy, with a unique art style and engaging story.
Very rarely does a game make a little-known culture feel familiar to all and also capture the human mind in such a surreal, unexpected way. Profound, personal, warm, homely and harrowingly heartbreaking: all this is A Space For The Unbound
Sometimes you come across a game that is actively striving to evoke emotions within you, and as mentioned above I think Mojiken did an amazing job in driving their intended point home. I truly found myself contending with some dormant feelings as I experienced A Space for the Unbound, and while it does have some things that bog it down (mainly just the long and repetitive fetch quests), it is certainly much more than its flaws. It trades off all the running around with a culturally rich environment/cast of characters, a realistic view into adult issues like depression, anxiety, loss, and loneliness, and for the price also provides pretty good replayability and entertainment value.
A Space for the Unbound shoots for the stars and lands in the Milky Way, making it a 2023 stand out already. Whilst the gameplay wanes in the final hours, the story, characters and plot conclude in an immensely satisfying and emotional way.
A Space For The Unbound tells a story with plenty of heart and strong atmosphere, if occasionally let down by technical limitations.
You can love this game despite its problems and think it’s extremely important even if there are aspects of it you don’t like. People are flawed, and so is this game, but we can overcome that and still allow them to affect us deeply as we move on from them.
A Space for the Unbound is a brisk 15-hour story that is full of surprises and potent emotional beats. While it doesn’t offer much in the way of replayability, it’s a hugely memorable experience nonetheless.
A Space for the Unbound is a mesmerising adventure. Dive into people's minds and experience so much of Indonesian youth and culture through the eyes of Atma and Raya's clash with the end of the world. Uninspiring minigames and simple gameplay aren't its best features. Regardless, the stunning pixel-art visuals, animations, music, likeable characters and storytelling make this a game that will have you in tears.
A wonderful adventure with a fantastic story and a bit of padding in its gameplay. You will remember it for a long time.
Review in Russian | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound is an ode to teenage nonchalance, and an emotional lesson in learning to let go, all wrapped up in a story about a superpowered calamity. Its disparate parts thoughtfully work together to create a heartfelt story, full of characters you won't want to say goodbye to.
A Space for the Unbound is a heartwarming but dark tale about Atma and Raya, and it's one that will stick with you. The beautiful scenes, stellar score, and unique gameplay far outweigh the few negatives the game has.
Despite the runtime being padded out by some meandering requests, A Space For The Unbound is a perfect little adventure title to curl up with on a rainy day. The myriad puzzles, while never overtly challenging, switch things up often enough to keep from growing tedious. At the same time, we wholeheartedly recommend it for its bittersweet, sombre narrative alone. It never veers too far into melancholic territory yet handles some heavy topics with grace. We didn't come away gloomy from the potentially depressing themes depicted via the wonderful inhabitants of this beautifully rendered snapshot of Indonesia. Rather, we came away genuinely touched and inspired.
Mojiken's well crafted, charming small town, and it's handling of delicate subject matter, combined with its captivating narrative, carry you through to its bittersweet end, despite some pacing issues, and gameplay elements that feel out of place.
The deep, meaningful narrative, partnered with the lovely pixel art and outstanding music composed by Masdito Bachtiar, create a mysterious title that we couldn't put down until we had seen it through to its satisfying conclusion. We would highly recommend A Space for the Unbound for anyone who loves a good story-driven adventure game — just expect to be run through the wringer in this powerfully emotional tale.
A Space for the Unbound is a wonderful and intensely emotional experience. If you're interested in dark psychological scenes mixed with day to day life and appealing anime inspired visuals, you'll be extremely happy.
What starts as a sweet and endearing homage to 90s gaming evolves into a sophisticated and, at times, dark exploration of two troubled youths, in one of the best indie games of the year.