Draugen Reviews
For as much as I wasn't blown away by Draugen's plot, I enjoyed my time with Edward and Lissie and their adventure to Graavik quite a lot. I do hope they return, sooner, rather than later, old-bean.
In summary, for anyone who is looking for a quick and easy game with beautiful Norwegian scenery, this is a must. I do hope that the developers add more aspects of the storyline down the track, but it was a good play overall and worth a try if you have a few hours to kill.
Draugen is not bad, just disappointingly... mediocre-to-decent, when it could be so much more. The whole noir mystery narrated by an unreliable protagonist thing definitely manages to spark some interest, but this never really becomes the engrossing tale it wants to be. Forget the marvellously rendered Norwegian landscape, and the magical music that keeps it company. What lies underneath is just an okay-ish, walking simulator.
Despite its narrative shortcomings, Draugen still has plenty to offer. Graavik has no shortage of beautiful views and stunningly detailed locations. In under three hours, Draugen pulls off a series of well-composed shots that are worth the entry price alone. Teddy and Lissie's story never reaches its full potential, but there are worse ways to spend a few hours than exploring a wind-swept fjord.
Draugen is a frustratingly creative attempt from Red Thread Games that some will appreciate, while others brush it aside without much thought.
Draugen is an enthralling series of mysteries wrapped in a beautiful, haunting landscape. Although some of the game might leave you stumbling around or questioning its direction, its hard to not play it to the very end and find out what has happened.
With peerless aesthetics and creative-yet-simple gameplay, Draugen provides a thrilling tale of intrigue and tragedy that is sure to satisfy the curiosity of gamers the world across.
Draugen does a lot of tropes very well, but it does others in a tired way that garners side eye from me.
All in all, it is definitely a game that deserves a place in any adventurous gamer's digital library.
Draugen is not a revolutionary game, but it is a smart one.
Draugen manages to surprise player at one point in its story, but fails to keep pace after that. You'll like it if you're looking for a short, calm and relaxing game (thanks to its gorgeous views), but prepare to be disappointed if you want a real adventure game.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
The game forsakes worldbuilding as it increasingly gives itself over to making the most digressive of statements.
Draugen's engaging story, wonderful characters, solid voice acting and beautiful environments could have made it an unforgettable experience, only if the developers have pushed harder through some limits and answered more story-related questions.
Review in Persian | Read full review
What starts as a mystery tale about the protagonist’s sister disappearance turns into a journey into obsession, what make us obsessed and how it can make us blind to the world around us. Extremely compelling and sometimes, even heartbreaking.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Many plot threads are resolved, and the observant will be able to narrow down the catalyst for the overarching mystery to two possibilities, but a number of details and ancillary mysteries are left unaddressed so as to impart to the ending the same feeling of creeping uncertainty that defines much of the preceding game.
Draugen delivers a beautiful and captivating journey with interesting characters that leaves you wanting just a bit too much more.
Draugen can be a thrilling experience at times, but its unimaginative gameplay and weak finale knock it down a peg or two.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
There's Norway you won't be engrossed in this beautifully crafted and well written Scandinavian mystery.
Draugen tells a beautiful story that fans of the genre won’t want to miss. A runtime of only two or three hours, depending on how much extra exploring you do, should allow for the game to be completed in just a couple of sessions.
As with their previous work on Dreamfall Chapters, developers have provided players with a breathtaking, interesting world to explore that is set in a historical era and location that is little seen in games today. Wandering through the world is a visual and aural treat that is somewhat let down by two divergent mysteries that are never adequately explored or resolved.