Night in the Woods Reviews

Night in the Woods is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
95 / 100
Mar 13, 2017

The Samurai Jack-like graphics seem cutesy, but Night in the Woods earns a master class in tone.

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9 / 10
Mar 5, 2017

Night in the Woods is a truly magnificent adventure game. An eclectic array of different gameplay mechanics play off of a small American town vibe incredibly well. While the gameplay is fun and varied, the main attraction is the absolutely incredible writing. A college-aged life crisis story paired with some much darker and more sinister elements is used as the framework for developing some of the best-realised relationships we've seen in gaming. All of this set to an incredible soundtrack, while utilising a wonderful art style with exceptional use of colours that makes the experience that much sweeter. A few small complaints aside, this title offers a remarkable demonstration on how to write a game, and definitely stands out as one of the best Kickstarter releases we've encountered thus far.

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GameMAG
xtr
Top Critic
7 / 10
Mar 7, 2017

Night in the Woods is like a book with a bright cover, but filled with old newspapers. You can compare it with Oxeenfree, but the last one was more solid and in many ways better. However, if you like that story about the lighthouses, you can try this - story about the city full of animals with human problems.

Review in Russian | Read full review

Jan 17, 2018

Night in the Woods is a refreshing take on the adventure genre.

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Unscored
Mar 2, 2017

‘Night in the Woods’ is great, and a lesson for all game creators in how to develop characters

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4.5 / 5.0
Mar 7, 2017

While Night in the Woods does have the platforming and exploration elements that you would expect from a 2D adventure game, it is first and foremost a game about conversation and listening. The detailed characters and excellent writing tell stories that can be hilarious and heartbreaking and, as Mae, you develop some relationships with people you truly care about.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 5, 2017

How Night in the Woods manages to capture the anxieties of being stuck in the gap between adult and childhood, how it tackles serious topics like depression, and how it brilliantly understands and recreates the hardships of rural America, is worthy of admiration. Put more simply, Night in the Woods is a unique breath of fresh air, and an experience I’m likely to not forget for a long time.

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Feb 28, 2017

Night in the Woods might get messy with its broad strokes, but it's the fine details that make the game so special.

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9 / 10
Feb 4, 2018

Less of a game, and more of an interactive story with some light platforming and exploring to tie it all together, Night In The Woods is one of the most rewarding experiences you can play on Nintendo Switch. A curio better played for yourself than described by us, it's an indie title that will no doubt leave an impression with its enchanting soundtrack, disarming story and instantly identifiable character arcs. Both strange and wonderful in equal measure, few games are as easy to recommend as this.

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9 / 10
Mar 27, 2017

Featuring a quirky and charming art style and a fittingly subtle and cute soundtrack, Night in the Woods is a serious look at life and at its hardest moments in its various forms – In particular mental health and making the transition to adulthood. It's also a look at the best bits of life, deep and meaningful relationships and connections, edgy clothes, and of course terrible puns. It's a tight knit package with more depth than I ever could have imagined going in, and well worth the price of admission.

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95%
Mar 5, 2017

To all the faildaughters and failsons out there who've ever felt like their lives were hecked up forever, Night in the Woods has got your back.

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9 / 10.0
Mar 13, 2017

Despite some slightly uneven pacing, Night in the Woods is a mature, honest and fun tale of how it feels to be lost in a damaged world. This is the indie game you just have to get your paws on.

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Mar 14, 2017

Night in the Woods may be a pastiche of influences, but as far as video games go, there's really nothing else like it, and there's a lot to be learned from spending a dozen days in Mae's life—about her and her friends, about yourself, about America and towns forgotten by time.

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4 / 5.0
Mar 4, 2017

Although it’s told through the lenses of cute cuddly woodland creatures, Night in the Woods‘ narrative themes of isolation and insecurity are nothing to shake a stick at.

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CGMagazine
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2017

A melancholy but realistic tale of creatures in a town called Possum Springs.

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9.5 / 10.0
Feb 27, 2017

Night in the Woods is basically everything I always hope games can be. Powerful and moving with gameplay that's clever, rewarding, and unique, all wrapped up in one of my favorite presentations. Don't pass this up.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2018

Leaving Possum Sprigns is one of the hardest things we've done in the last years of gaming: Mae Borowski and her fellow young adults have left a memorable stain in our hearts, and we're already looking forward to go visit them again. Don't miss one of the best narrative experiences ever.

Review in Italian | Read full review

4.5 / 5.0
Feb 2, 2018

Nearly one year later, Night in the Woods remains one of the most quotable and passion-fueled indie titles in recent years.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 1, 2018

As poignant and raw as ever, Night in the Woods feels more at home on Switch than anywhere else.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 12, 2017

Night in the Woods is about growing up in a world that doesn’t seem to give a damn about you, something so many of us can almost relate to today. It’s about growing up when you thought you were already grown up. It’s about embracing your emotions and coming to terms with your failures. It’s about cherishing the past but also learning to let it go. And it’s one of the nicest indie games I’ve had the pleasure of playing in recent memory.

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