A Space for the Unbound Reviews
Some surprising depth and creative storytelling mechanics help this pixel adventure stand out
A Space for the Unbound is a well executed indie title that masterfully deals with some heavy themes while delivering an engaging experience.
The gameplay of A Space for the Unbound isn't overly deep, but its simplicity is more than made up for by its exceedingly entertaining and emotional storytelling.
A Space for the Unbound brings, with great charm and subtlety, an exciting story about the transition from youth to adulthood, traumas, personal desires and the consequences of intervening in the lives of the people around us, all with a touch of fantastic literature. Despite having some drawbacks, the game seduces with a well-crafted plot and a fantastic and immersive audiovisual presentation, making it an instant recommendation for fans of the adventure genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound is a great coming-of-age game that presents difficult topics to players in a compelling way. The game’s art style is beautiful, with many detailed scenes clearly lovingly created by the artists at Mojiken. While there are moments where it feels slow, this is a game that will last with players for many years to come.
A Space for the Unbound gently reminds us of the value and importance of human connection through our words with dream-like, mindful storytelling.
A Space for the Unbound told a stunning, touching story about identity and finding yourself, even in the midst of trauma and crisis. By the end, your heart will ache for Atma and Raya, even if the “game” part of that story gets in its own way sometimes.
At the end, A Space for the Unbound is one of the best indies of the year so far. The gaming experience is pleasant, but also emotional and capable of generating some unpleasant emotions. Definitely, it's an indie game worth giving a chance, even though its story and ending may break our hearts, and the Space Dive reminds us to take care of our mind and emotions.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
The game deals with some very heavy subjects at times, but always does so respectfully and without making them seem like a crutch for the narrative to lean on. There are also a lot of cats that can not only be pet but can also be named, something some people may see as a very worthwhile bonus (I know I do). If you like your adventure games to try and yank some tears out of your poor, poor eyes, A Space for the Unbound is easily your first great choice of 2023.
Underneath the layers of cute pixelated art and a calming lofi-like OST is a short yet memorable story. It will leave you in need of Atma to dive into your heart after it is shattered time and time again by the tales to be told of feeling fearful of one's future.
A Space for the Unbound delivers its story of domestic/school violence (and overcoming it!) with its own imagination and well written characters. The tiny little details in the game that introduce Indonesian culture not only showed the developers' affection for their home country, but also made me want to know more about the country.
Review in Korean | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound is a little gem that no one should miss.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound is an insightfully thought-provoking adventure game.
Overall, A Space for the Unbound does everything it seeks to accomplish. It creates a beautiful world full of vibrant characters, and it shares a story of love, friendship, loss, and growth. It does this with delicacy in a world that feels familiar, even if you’ve never walked down a dusty city road in Indonesia. And while its gameplay meandered at moments, it’s still a game worth dedicating 9 to 12 hours of your life to.
I was surprised at just how tightly the narrative in A Space for the Unbound grabbed me, and it's sure to be either one of the indie hits of 2023 or one of the most under-played gems.
A Space for the Unbound is a game that explores the theme of trauma and our need to consistently move forward. It is an exciting adventure and recommended for any type of player.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Simply put: this Indonesian indie title is one for the ages (for 2023 anyway), despite that one problem which is honestly a genre issue. Hats off to the humble team at Mojiken Studios for finally releasing a huge passion project that puts a lot of big-budget narrative-driven video games to shame.
With stunning pixel art visuals, a soundtrack wrapped in melodies ranging from cozy to mysterious and a delicate and thought-provoking story, A Space for the Unbound transports the player back to the late 90s and invites us to see the world with different eyes, showing that happiness can be in the simplest details of life.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
A Space for the Unbound triumphs in capturing what’s between the lines of the story: the life-and-death emotions of Raya. The game’s not afraid to peer at her faults right alongside everyone else’s, and if, as one character puts it, “The most perfect world is one with imperfection,” then, emotionally speaking, this is a pretty perfect game.
A Space for the Unbound is a narrative adventure about issues as important as they are difficult to deal with, but it does so with extreme tact and elegance through a particularly apt allegory. Despite some flaws in the gameplay mechanics, rather repetitive towards the end of the game, the story of Atma and Raya is one worth experiencing.
Review in Italian | Read full review