Year Walk

"In the old days man tried to catch a glimpse of the future in the strangest of ways." If you're like me, small curiosities such as this sentence are things that just have to be investigated further. The most obvious response to that statement is, of course, how? And it is this 'how' that is at the core of Year Walk, a short game by developer Simogo that is available on the iPhone and the iPad.

Although I am loathed to use what is becoming a more and more cliched phrase in the world of video games, it has to be said that Year Walk  is less of a game and more of an experience. The narrative tells of the process of 'Year Walking' an old Swedish superstition whereby some would isolate themselves for a whole day with no food, water or light before taking a walk in the woods at the stroke of midnight. The belief was that by doing this the walker would be able to see glimpses of the future. Would they be rich? Would they be loved? Would they be happy? These were some of the more pertinent questions pondered by Year Walkers, but, as the legend goes, man was not meant to see the future. It is this notion that gives Year Walk its haunting atmosphere.

There is no clear goal throughout the game, instead, the main idea is to solve the various puzzles and interact with the various creatures (which are also inspired by Swedish myth and folklore) in order to uncover the mystery at the end of the Year Walk and to find out how it connects to your loved one, who is first seen in the prologue. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that Year Walk is not a particularly comfortable game to play (and I mean that in a good way), the game will test your nerves as well as your reasoning ability. While solving the puzzles of the game, it is clear that it really couldn't be played on anything other than a device like the iPhone or iPad, as some puzzles make excellent use of the touch screen and accelerometer.

It could be said that the game is a bit on the short side, but this isn't a huge issue as it is not a relatively expensive purchase and the free companion app gives the user further insight into the folklore surrounding the game, as well as increasing the longevity by giving the player access to the 'real' ending. So get lost on your own Year Walk, as although the game may not last that long, the experience will stay with you forever.