Journey

I don't know how they did this, but the sand in this game looks better than real sand.

JOURNEY (2012) was a game that was somehow simple and yet full of emotion, beauty and secrets. Journey is a work of art, with it's meaningful visual aesthetics, gorgeous landscapes and mysterious purposes. It is a game unlike any other. You play a robbed figure in a desolate land that journeys towards a glowing mountain in the far away distance.

There is something so profound about such a simple premise. This game truly is a wonder. Beautiful minimalist styled graphics, rich eye-catching scenery, intriguing gameplay and premise. The music is simply a masterpiece. There is something so chill and relaxing about the ambience, and yet so emotionally poignant. The gameplay is very enjoyable and satisfying, you can really spend more time than you should ever spend floating around the golden sandy desert realms. The light and responsive environment is captivating, to say the least.

Overall, this game is highly recommended, especially to those looking for a beautiful, emotional, and enlightening experience, one that is as calming as it is gratifying.

STORY: 7/10 GAMEPLAY: 9/10 GRAPHICS: 9/10 ART DESIGN: 9/10 MUSIC: 10/10 OVERALL RATING: 9.5.

Journey is one of the most unusual games I've ever played, and I live for small little indie titles imbued with passion like this. I've played a lot of "walking simulators," and this is perhaps the second best I've ever seen (second to What Remains of Edith Finch), and I'm not sure how to review it, because all at once I'm so moved by it, but also convinced it's entirely over my head. The part of me that wants to make sense of it goes crazy, but the part of me that just wants to feel something is head-over-heels, because Journey made me feel a lot of things, and I'm not entirely sure how to describe those feelings, but I felt things none-the-less. It's a game that operates on pure emotion, playing it makes you feel like you're experiencing something profound, and that's all I can really say because I don't know what else there is. I'll play it again sometime and see if the "logic" part of my brain comes to any conclusions.

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Journey" (2012) is a gorgeously looking VG, the one you kinda don't play but rather experience. I've played just once but i will definitely will return to it. It works superbly cool if you wan't something to play just to relax and simply enjoy - there are no gore, no action, no blood - it is different experience which i loved.

Overall, "Journey", even first played now in 2016 is amazingly looking VG that everyone who is tired of all shooters must play at least once. It has beautiful to say the least visuals, great music and multiplayer is absolutely unique. What A Beautiful Journey.

Overall Impression

Journey isn't just a game. It's an experience. A wordless, spiritual pilgrimage through a vast, mysterious desert, where every grain of sand, every note in the score, and every silent companion along the way says more than dialogue ever could. It redefines what a game can be-visually, emotionally, philosophically.

Visual Style & Atmosphere

The art design is stunning. It's minimalistic but rich, ethereal yet grounded. The vast deserts, ancient ruins, and shifting environments feel both alien and familiar-like dreams you almost remember. Every scene looks like a moving painting. Light, shadow, and weather effects are used not just for aesthetics but to evoke feeling. Whether you're sliding down sun-drenched dunes or trudging through a blizzard near the summit, the environment tells its own story.

Gameplay & Mechanics

Simple, intuitive, and elegant. Movement and a single 'chirp' button are all you have-yet it's all you need. Your scarf lengthening with collected glyphs becomes a visual metaphor for growth. Flight and gliding feel joyful and freeing. Puzzles and obstacles are light, keeping the focus on exploration and emotion. It proves you don't need complex mechanics to create depth-you just need purpose.

Companionship & Multiplayer

This is where Journey goes from brilliant to legendary. The multiplayer system is anonymous. No usernames. No chat. No leaderboards. Just two strangers sharing a silent pilgrimage. Sometimes, you'll walk alone. Other times, you'll share a bond that feels stronger than words. Players often describe feeling grief when separated from their partner, or joy at reuniting at the summit.

It turns what could be a lonely quest into something powerfully human.

Storytelling (Without Words)

There's no traditional narrative. No cutscenes. No exposition. But the world tells a mythic story through its ruins, tapestries, and transitions. Themes of life, death, rebirth, struggle, hope, and transcendence run deep. Each playthrough feels symbolic of a different phase in one's own journey-whether it's grief, healing, growth, or connection.

The ambiguity isn't a flaw-it's intentional. You project your own meaning onto the journey.

Music & Sound Design

Austin Wintory's score is not just one of the best in video game history-it's one of the most emotionally resonant compositions, period. The music swells with every beat of the story. Lonely, uplifting, sorrowful, triumphant-it carries you the entire way. It's no exaggeration to say the music alone could bring you to tears.

Every sound, every chirp, every wind gust is crafted with meaning and care.

Themes & Symbolism The Journey itself - A metaphor for life. For hardship. For spiritual awakening.

The mountain - A symbol of purpose or higher calling.

The death-like blizzard near the end - Facing your limits, mortality, and suffering.

The rebirth at the summit - Transcendence. Renewal. Peace.

It's a game that invites you to interpret it based on where you are in your life.

Replayability & Impact

You can finish Journey in under two hours-but the emotional impact lingers for days, even years. Each replay can offer something new. A new companion. A new interpretation. A new emotional layer. It's short, yes-but that's because it respects your time while aiming for maximum impact.

Legacy

Journey changed the industry. It shattered assumptions about what games have to be. It opened doors for artful, introspective storytelling in interactive media. And it proved that silence can speak louder than words when crafted with intention.

Final Verdict

10 out of 10.

Journey is not just a game-it's a meditation. A work of art. A spiritual experience. It's what happens when minimalism meets emotional precision. Few games can say so much with so little-and none do it like this.