Rue Valley
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Rue Valley Media
Rue Valley - Official Story Trailer | Galaxies Showcase 2025
Rue Valley Date Reveal Trailer
Rue Valley - Official Gameplay Trailer
Critic Reviews for Rue Valley
There are some good ideas in Rue Valley's depressioncore time loop, but the execution makes it feel more like a chore than a charm.
Rue Valley is a clever puzzle game that uses its time loop foundations to not only present a unique challenge for players but also to craft a rich narrative that will tug on the heartstrings.
A time loop adventure with an interesting premise and characters, but a frustratingly rigid structure that fails to resolve most of the stories it sets up.
Much like its primary protagonist then, Rue Valley certainly has no shortage of faults or shortcomings and it's also practically impossible for Rue Valley to escape the vast, looming shadow of ZA/UM's epic adventure, Disco Elysium. Taking all of that into account however, Rue Valley's Disco Elysium meets Groundhog Day concept is a compelling one that finds itself ably anchored by a great art style, good writing and interesting characters and it's one that will surely tide over Disco Elysium fans looking for their next existential adventure fix.
Rue Valley excels in brief snippets, but forces players through long spans of laborious exploration.
Ultimately, Rue Valley is a frustrating experience, with too many loose ends and unresolved arcs at the end of the game. It’s unable to make the most of its excellent setup, faltering in the mid and late game stages as you’re forced between slow montages and extremely specific puzzle sequences. It’s a game with great writing and some truly fantastic ways of exploring depression and mental health, but it mechanically falls flat.
Rue Valley is a mixed bag. Its strongest moments are getting to grips with Eugene’s situation, learning the character’s routines, and the initial sense of mystery and intrigue. Regretfully, it doesn’t stick to landing due to a rough and utterly boring final stretch. If you want an RPG, you aren’t really going to get one here.
