2017 video game
Old Man's Journey Developer(s) Broken Rules Publisher(s) Broken Rules Director(s) Felix Bohatsch, Clemens Scott Programmer(s) Jan Hackl, Stefan Kernjak Artist(s) Clemens Scott, Brian Main, Lip Comarella Composer(s) scntfc Engine Unity Platform(s) Android , iOS , macOS , Windows , Nintendo Switch , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One Release Android , iOS , macOS , Windows 18 May 2017 Nintendo Switch 20 February 2018 PlayStation 4 29 May 2018 Xbox One 4 March 2019 Mode(s) Single-player , Two-player local co-op
Old Man's Journey is an adventure video game [ 1] developed and published by Broken Rules . The game was released for Android , iOS , macOS and Windows in 2017,[ 2] the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in 2018 and the Xbox One in 2019.
The game follows the trip of an old man, who starts to travel after receiving a letter containing some news. Throughout the game, some semi-still flashbacks explain the past life of the man.
Gameplay
The player using the cursor in order to move a hill.
The player controls an old man using the mouse, clicking where they want him to move (tapping on mobile). To allow the character to progress, the player must click and drag hillocks (swipe on mobile) to modify the landscape, adjusting their height - except where the man is standing - within a certain limit. When the edges of the hillocks fit, the old man may then pass from one to the other - even if one is in the foreground and the other is in the background. Sometimes, additional items are part of the puzzles (such as sheep), which must be moved to let the old man pass. The old man conducts his journey on foot for the most part, but other means of transport are sometimes used. In this case, the player may need to solve some environmental puzzles to allow them to progress. At times, the old man will sit down to rest, and the player must find an item in the scenery that will trigger a memory in him, initiating a flashback and allowing the player to progress. Much of the old man's story is told through these flashbacks, which consist of short, single-shot animations (such as a man looking at a house in the rain) and eschew dialogue altogether.
Reception
The game received "generally favorable" reviews, according to Metacritic , a video game review aggregator .[ 3] [ 4]
Accolades
Year
Awards
Category
Result
Ref
2018
Bolognaragazzi
Digital Award
Won
2018
Emotional Games Award
Best Artistic Achievement
Won
2018
Game Developers Choice Awards
Best Mobile Game
Honorable Mentions
2018
Google Indie Games Contest
Runner Up
2018
Google Indie Games Contest
Unity Award
Won
2018
Taipei Game Show
Best Visual Arts
Won
2018
Taipei Game Show
Grand Prix
Won
2017
The Game Awards 2017
Best Mobile Game
Nominated
[ 13]
2017
Apple iPad Game of the Year
Won
2017
Apple Design Awards
Won
2017
IGN Best of 2017
Best Mobile game
Nominated
2017
AzPlay
Best Visual Art
Won
2017
Busan Indie Connect Festival
Excellence in Art
Won
2017
BIG Festival
Best Art Award
Won
2017
BIG Festival
Innovation Award
Won
2017
Golden Joystick Awards
Mobile Game of the Year
Nominated
2017
Independent Games Festival
Excellence in Visual Arts
Finalist
2017
Indie Plus Awards
1st Runner Up
2017
Sense of Wonder Night
Best Art
Won
2017
TapTap Game Awards
Best Audio
Won
2017
TapTap Game Awards
Best Indie Game
Honorable Mentions
2017
TapTap Game Awards
Best Narrative
Won
2017
TapTap Game Awards
Best Visual Art
Won
2016
IndieCade Europe
Media Choice Award
Won
[ 14]
References
^ Renaudin, Clement (8 February 2017). "Old Man's Journey is a whimsical puzzle adventure game coming this year to mobile, first gameplay revealed" . Pocket Gamer . Retrieved 19 May 2017 .
^ Campbell, Colin (18 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey review" . Polygon . Retrieved 19 May 2017 .
^ a b "Old Man's Journey for iPhone/iPad Reviews" . Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 27 June 2018 .
^ a b "Old Man's Journey for PC Reviews" . Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 27 June 2018 .
^ "Old Man's Journey for Switch Reviews" . Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 27 June 2018 .
^ Dotson, Carter (18 May 2017). " 'Old Man's Journey' Review – Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls" . TouchArcade . Retrieved 27 June 2018 .
^ Glagowski, Peter (20 May 2017). "Review: Old Man's Journey" . Destructoid . Retrieved 26 May 2021 .
^ Campbell, Colin (18 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey review" . Polygon . Retrieved 26 May 2021 .
^ Koopman, Daan (21 February 2018). "Old Man's Journey (Switch) Review" . Nintendo World Report . Retrieved 26 May 2021 .
^ Croft, Liam (17 February 2018). "Old Man's Journey Review (Switch eShop)" . Nintendo Life . Retrieved 26 May 2021 .
^ Gwaltney, Javy (31 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey A Poignant Adventure Through Memory" . Game Informer . Archived from the original on 3 June 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2021 .
^ Slater, Harry (19 May 2017). "Old Man's Journey review - A trip worth taking" . Pocket Gamer . Retrieved 26 May 2021 .
^ Makuch, Eddie (7 December 2017). "All The 2017 Game Awards Winners Revealed" . GameSpot . Retrieved 7 December 2017 .
^ "IndieCade Europe 2016 Recap | IndieCade - International Festival of Independent Games" . www.indiecade.com . Archived from the original on 8 March 2018. Retrieved 7 March 2018 .
Further reading
Donlan, Christian (May 19, 2017). "Old Man's Journey review" . Eurogamer . Retrieved June 9, 2017 .
Warr, Philippa (May 18, 2017). "Wot I Think: Old Man's Journey" . Rock, Paper, Shotgun . Retrieved June 9, 2017 .
Werner, Jillian (May 18, 2017). "Old Man's Journey Review: Beyond the Sea" . Gamezebo . Archived from the original on June 25, 2017. Retrieved June 9, 2017 .
External links