Draugen Reviews

Draugen is ranked in the 40th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Lee Mehr
Top Critic
5 / 10
Mar 16, 2020

Uneven storytelling and unexceptional gameplay makes this quaint Scandinavian mystery one you can a-fjord to miss.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2020

As an immersive experience, Draugen is a pleasant surprise for those who seek to contemplate, explore and enter the reconstruction of a story of drama and tragedy. Although its limits are evident, Red Thread Games knew how to make the most of its resources, delivering a work that promises to be the beginning of great projects for the future. Graavik is a beautiful place, the soundtrack is impeccable and the story is very interesting, it is definitely an experience you have to live.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

5.5 / 10.0
Feb 28, 2020

It’s a shame because there are some really good elements in here and hints of a much stronger tale to be told. Maybe if it had been developed longer or had better funding, more of the story surrounding the village and its citizens would have been better fleshed out. The game itself is only about three hours long, so it could have definitely benefited from some extra chapters. As it stands, Draugen is a beautiful borefest that is better left abandoned.

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8 / 10
Feb 25, 2020

Draugen might only last a few hours, but it leaves a lasting impression as you're drawn into the mystery of Graavik and the relationship between Edward and Alice. It can be a little overacted and you can see some story beats coming, but as a first person adventure title it is an enjoyable experience.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2020

Draugen is an investigative walking simulator based on the story and the player's immersion in the game world. Its short duration, the lack of real puzzles and a path already traced that only needs to be followed could discourage those looking for a mystery that gives a hard time to their sixth sense. Despite this, Draugen remains an experience to be nurtured for its intriguing story, well written dialogues and exceptional aesthetics.

Review in Italian | Read full review

4 / 10
Feb 19, 2020

Again, admiring its quaint, quiet beauty might be enough to convince those enthusiastic about its premise to give the game a shot, although what awaits them leads to disappointment.

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5.7 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2020

As slow-paced first-person mystery adventures go, Draugen is about as middle-of-the-road as you could get. It offers an intriguing story with interesting subject matter in a picturesque setting yet it ultimately feels unfulfilling once the brief story reaches its conclusion.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2020

Although only lasting you roughly three to four hours, Draugen is a beautiful, yet tragic adventure you won’t forget. Regardless of the platform you choose to play on, your eyes are in for a treat as the game is truly gorgeous and designed with so much love and care. Although some of the plot points may be predictable, thanks to the subtle hints the game drops throughout, I’ve played through the game three times so far and loved every second of the writing, acting, soundtrack and narrative. If you want something to curl up with and play at your leisure, without worrying about enemies, time restraints, or puzzles, then Draugen is perfect for you.

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7.5 / 10.0
Feb 19, 2020

Draugen is a gripping detective adventure that weaves psychological and Nordic mythological themes to grand effect. Though a short duration and some technical hiccups take the shine of the package somewhat, Draugen remains a compelling propostion for armchair slueths everywhere.

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Sep 5, 2019

After all is said and done, Draugen feels like a beautifully-crafted, but unnecessary, prologue to whatever story lies ahead of it. It’s worth a spin, most of all for its short playtime and gorgeous presentation, but least of all for its actual mysteries.

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Ehhh
Aug 5, 2019

Draugen is an atmospheric adventure filled with mystery, confined within the limitations of the walking simulator genre, with some unfortunate technical and story missteps.

Review in Greek | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jul 16, 2019

The detective-like gameplay allows the world to become a character in and of itself and, at times, I wished that there was no core central narrative. I would be perfectly content with exploring this beautiful Norwegian town, rummaging through the town's ephemera of life and taking it all in at my own pace—as slow and methodical as the bucolic surroundings imply. At just under three hours, Draugen is a perfectly fine excuse to interact with and explore a beautifully realized world; just be ready to come to terms with how forgettable its story is.

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5 / 10
Jul 10, 2019

Draugen has several good ideas from the pen of well known Norwegian game designer Ragnar Tornquist. It has solid dialogues, interesting characters and the storyline is quite original. However there are several problems with details be that in graphical and technical area or story-wise. Obvious effort to shock the player with several story elements are degrading otherwise interesting theme about psyche of individual and effects of isolation on ones mind. That being said Draugen is still pretty good game for people, who like this subgenre of adventure games or other works of Ragnar Tornquist.

Review in Czech | Read full review

TrueGaming
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Jul 9, 2019

While it is not perfect, Draugen is a charming experience and a beautiful journey that could invade enter your heart. it's definitely worth trying.

Review in Arabic | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Jul 5, 2019

Despite its short length, Draugen is a narrative adventure which you shouldn’t miss out on. Visually the game is absolutely stunning, from it’s highly detailed and realistic characters to the picturesque environments within this Norwegian setting, it’s easy to get lost in the moment as you wander around and admire its beauty. Thanks to the mysterious and harrowing nature of the narrative, the story brings up questions which will stick with you long after you’ve seen the final credits roll – some of which may be answered in the prequel comic book which is due for release later this year as (possibly free) DLC.

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80 / 100
Jul 3, 2019

As a narrative experience Draugen is perhaps one of the most interesting releases in recent months, although too many playable sacrifices have been made along the way that distance him from excellence.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

4 / 10.0
Jun 30, 2019
Draugen (ACTUAL Game Review) [PC] video thumbnail
Liked
Jun 24, 2019

Draugen isn’t really a game with many multiple choice situations or varied outcomes, therefore not really lending itself to a second runthrough. There is a cool 1923 mode which lets you play it all in black and white, a really refreshing aesthetical touch that doesn’t drastically alter things too much.

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9.2 / 10.0
Jun 18, 2019

Draugen is a stunning, emotionally resonant experience, and one of the best games I've played in 2019. For those unfamiliar with titles like Gone Home and Dear Esther (with a hint of BioShock), from which the game heavily lifts its inspirations, this might not be your cup of tea.

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7 / 10
Jun 17, 2019

Draugen's story might not meet the quality of its visuals, but it's an engaging few hours nonetheless.

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