The Wild Eternal

The Wild Eternal
N/A
Metacritic
76
Steam
58.358
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$2.24
Release date
13 April 2017
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
76 (147 votes)

Get lost beneath the fog in The Wild Eternal, a reflective first-person exploration game. Embark on a meditative journey to heal the scars of your past. Can you escape the cycle of reincarnation?

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The Wild Eternal system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows 7 or higher
  • Processor: Intel Core i3 2.00 GHz or AMD equivalent
  • Memory: 6 GB RAM
  • Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 450 or higher with 1GB Memory
  • DirectX: Version 9.0c
  • Storage: 2 GB available space

Recommended:

Recommended requirements are not yet specified.
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The game story's final goal is to find liberation from cycle of life and death. It also have a lot of Indian vibes.
Considering that, I've expected something along these lines. To see something related to one of the actual ideas of liberation.
But in the end all you get is some mumbo jumbo about getting lied to and not accepting the life as it is, the usual mediocrity you get in an average side quest in some game.

decorus_veritas
decorus_veritas

Great exploration experience. If you prefer your exploration games to have a tightly constructed narrative, this isn't for you. But for those who more enjoy traversing maze-like levels in search of lots of hidden goodies, and who don't mind some fascinating Eastern philosophy and mythologies along the way, The Wild Eternal is very fun and satisfying. The maps are gorgeously constructed, particularly the final map , Hollow Stones. The game is unexpanded, which means it has a fairly abrupt ending, but I also think the ending is a bit refreshing. A lot better than the cheeseball endings most Western-themed games have.

Overall, just lots of great exploration in an incredibly unique world. The gameplay mechanics can be a little tedious at first and require patience, but as your character accumulates blessings, things start to get a lot more smooth and efficient. A blessing towards the end allows for teleport to make achievement hunting easier. Definitely recommended!

rex
rex

Has foxes, very calming music and atmosphere, awesome visuals. Could've been a bit more dramatic and extravagant with the ending, but that's just my opinion. 10/10 would be a Wild Eternal again

Eveaustria
Eveaustria

I liked this game quite a lot!
Pretty creative, albeit there aren't really many puzzles to be solved. Exploration is the most important activity overall.

The story is based on buddhist legends and philosophy, not relevant for the puzzles though, just for the general atmosphere. The mood of the game is serene, underlined with a soothing music while exploring beautiful sceneries wreathed in distinctive colors one after another, with just a little bit of action, but not much.

I love that we are playing as an old lady, and a dead one to top it off :D

The most interesting game mechanics is that you will earn skills („blessings“) at shrines where you need to offer tributes, which will gradually enable your old character to run faster, see better, slide, jump and so on. A bit of inventory-management will be needed (you can only carry a certain number of fruit with you), and also a little bit of jumping, sometimes running and also balancing is required once in a while, but it's not hard to solve the mild challenges of the game.

When reaching the last area Hollow Stones you'll find 5 closed doors there labelled with names that seem to indicate regions similar to those that could be explored during the game. However, the developers revealed on the forums that these doors cannot be opened, but they do have planned for more content - if they find the time and if they will have the resources to add it.

rsm
rsm

Beautiful, immersive exploration game with an interesting and unconventional story. I love wandering through the foggy forests.

eudaimon
eudaimon

Beautiful graphics and colors in the environment of the Himalayas.
Challenging puzzles that keep me engaged.
A choose-your-path adventure that allows me to explore the beautiful world.
A deep and thoughtful storyline.

Overall, I highly recommend this game.

Tyl3rMack
Tyl3rMack

First thing that caught my eye was the art style of this game. Very cool looking! I wasnt expecting much game when I jumped into it but I have to say there is much more to it than I had expected! Overall I think this is a very nice game for the cost! :) Check out my video if youd like to see some gameplay!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49tcAuT4NFg

Flunksch
Flunksch

This game seems like a really relaxing and chill game. It runs smooth, even on my toaster of a gaming laptop. In a few month ill get a new PC and can hopefully run this on highest graphics.

It would be nice with just a little hint about where to go. (just a tiiiiny hint). Eventually I found everything but to me it would still be nice.

I'll recommend this game if you want to get a way from the "hardcore" games where you have to focus all the time. But beware of the wilderness in this game though ;)

Tozo
Tozo

Beautiful game with a cool upgrade system, good atmosphere/music and an intriguing story.

poo
poo

Enjoying this game so far. I really like the compass it's the coolest thing ever!

TheHeadDoctor
TheHeadDoctor

Awesome game, Beautiful, and addicting story. But then, With developers from The Solus Project, What can you expect. I definitely plan on letting people know about it.

<TVB> belak51
<TVB> belak51

Really interesting game focusing on exploration and story in an extremely beautiful world. I'm only a few hours in so far, but I've been enjoying getting lost (literally and figuratively) in this world. I can't wait to see where this goes.

Nillend
Nillend

The game is a treasure. Every small secret you uncover makes you feel satisfied and confused. SO far the story is engaging and the world is astonishing, great artstyle, wonderful music. I will think about this game for some time.

Barnyard Pizza Man
Barnyard Pizza Man

My first impressions were that this game is very beautiful. I love the art and visuals in this game, it honestly sucks that the "fog" keeps you from fully embracing the visuals (upgrading your vision really helps tho). The gameplay is very relaxed and the sounds are so peaceful, I could probably fall asleep to these in a heartbeat if I left them on in the background.

Overall the story is very free flowing and allows you to kind of choose your own path (or more like stumble upon your own path since there is very little direction even with a compass). Its a very self reflective game in my opinion and presented in a vibrant shell that is fun to play.

If you're interested in my first impressions here's my first few minutes of gameplay:
https://youtu.be/o7WrMqpj3Ps

Crys1s
Crys1s

The Wild Eternal is beautiful and mysterious at the same time.

I´ve found it very challenging too, as I couldn´t find most of the tributes (are there any patterns for finding them?). I got easely lost at almost every place in the game, but this was the problem on my side....

All in all, I recommend this beautiful game!

foxyjoshua
foxyjoshua

The story is very immersive and the graphics are amazing!

SoapCactus
SoapCactus

This is one of those rare types of games that I simply could not put down. I was instantly transported back to the late 90s, staying up late on a Saturday night playing Myst... trying to find just one more piece of secret information that would finally reveal the truth of some great mystery.

A wholly enjoyable short story experience with many profound moments. I hope we get to learn more about Dhyoniso and Ananta's journey in the future!

Woodswolf
Woodswolf

There I am, bored on a Friday night, browsing through my product queue on a whim. Suddenly, I stumble across The Wild Eternal, a game that seems to be exactly up my alley - it appears to be all about exploring an interesting world, and it instantly catches my eye. One impulse buy and half an hour or so of extremely-slow-internet download time later, and I'm ready to start the game. I make myself a cup of tea, grab a quick snack, and get ready to dive in.

The tea remained practically untouched for the rest of the night.

Within the first fifteen minutes of getting into the game, and being somewhat coldly greeted by my new guide, the Avatar of Dreams, I was transported into a far-away world - a world of vibrantly-colored, beautifully stylized, and strangely ethereal landscapes, with the slightest sense of danger lingering behind every hill and around every tree hiding within the fog. I found myself searching for many things: Aum's Tears, which would allow me to open portals to new locales; magical Shrines, which could offer me blessings to make me more powerful over the course of the game, and the Tributes I needed to offer in exchange; and even just new, cryptic conversations with the strange fox-shaped demigod that the Avatar of Death coerced me into helping.

The visual style of the game is absolutely superb, and it creates the perfect atmosphere. It's stylized enough to not appear all that dangerous initially, but then one discovers the hidden threats lurking within the fog - everything ranging from falling to your death to drowning in deep rivers to being stalked, chased and devoured by any number of dangerous beasts. The music perfectly complements the sense of mystery, which at first seems mostly innocent, but grows increasingly suspenseful and mysterious the further you descend into the depths of the fog-covered wildernesses.

If even one sentence of what I've so far described in this review sounds appealing, or gives you the slightest shiver down your spine as you think about it, this is absolutely the game for you. I went into this game barely knowing what to expect beyond "explore the foggy wilderness with your talking fox-buddy", and came out itching to explore more of this surreal world and learn more about its inhabitants and history.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to get back to my third consecutive playthrough in the last three days.

Asher
Asher

ok...whre do i begin.....first, i've posted a few negative reviews in a row, so i'm happy to post a good one this time! the world was fabulous, music great, movement smooth, controls simple.

no killing or shooting, so some people won't like that, and a lot of "deep" reading at times with the interaction between the two main characters. turns out, there wasn't a need to spend time analyzing everything said.

so i played about 6 ish hours and felt like the game entertained me and was worth the cost.

now for my one problem, which contains a SPOILER, so don't read any further if you don't want to hear about the ending:

i had no idea the game was over until i watched some walkthroughs on YouTube. i mean....i don't think my game endedd properly. i was in Hollow Stones, talking to the Avatar of Death, and the game didn't end after the conversation. i just left and continued wandering around aimlessly. so maybe that was a bug? nor did i ever encounter that purple spirit towards the end.

aside from that, i loved the game, and remain curious what happened to my ending!

fantomchoder
fantomchoder

Great game - amazing graphics with excellent coloring, good level design, intriguing story, and an interesting upgrade system. Very relaxing game to enjoy.

hoontee
hoontee

Played to the end. Didn't understand it, but I think it was good?

I recommend it?

muddledlunacy
muddledlunacy

Such a cool concept. Peaceful, interesting, a little unnerving, this is a fantastic walking simulator that hides all kinds of secrets inside. Beautifully done, I felt like I was playing it for far longer than I actually did, but I wasn't ever bored.

Max
Max

I really wanted to like this but it has too many flaws...

The core gameplay is basically run around to find collectibles, which in itself would be fine, but exploration is terribly unfun as you don't move fast and have a super limited sprinting meter that recharges outrageously slowly. But this could be fine, right? Yeah, except knowing where to go is also quite hard; there's a ton of fog everywhere (kinda the point, I know) and little way to orient yourself except randomly stumbling upon a path that takes you a little bit above the fog cover, try to guess if something in the distance is meant to be a landmark, and then trying to walk in that direction.

If the payoff for going through this was good I'd be fine with it, but the dialogue with the fox is extremely cryptic and not interesting. The writing definitely does not feel refined, there are grammar/spelling mistakes, and the voice grunts are so irritating I muted them after 20 minutes.

This is a beautiful world in search of something interesting to fill it, but mechanically and narratively, as far as I could tell in a little over an hour that I convinced myself to keep pushing through it, hoping that the first stage was just an introduction. After reaching the 2nd level I saw it was just gonna be more of the same and I just gave up.

Can't recommend.

jthamind
jthamind

I remember finding out about this game a few months ago when the developers made a thread on reddit to show it off. I instantly fell in love with the setting, art style and exploration in the trailer, but I couldn't spare the money at the time to get it (bills and stuff). Anyways, I picked this up during the Summer Sale and was excited to finally get a crack at it. It was actually hard to decide whether to recommend this or not, because there were things I did enjoy about the game (and it kinda makes me dislike the binary rating system Steam has). Overall, though, I found myself frustrated too many times and ultimately let down at the end. If none of what I'm about to say applies to you, then go ahead and buy the game. I'm not at all saying it's a bad game (although this review will probably focus on the negatives), but I feel like it could have been much better, and for $15 I just felt four hours of sometimes-good-sometimes-bad play time wasn't worth it.

Pros:
-Colorful art style
-Relaxing soundtrack
-Thoughtful dialog (although sometimes it can drag on)
-Intriguing premise
-Unique setting (incorporites some Indian culture, which is rare in gaming)

Cons:
-The game can feel sooooo sloooow at times when you want to run and your stamina is empty
-While the premise is interesting, the ending is a huge letdown
-The world can feel empty at times
-The blessing system feels tacked on and adds no real value, making exploration feel forced just to get upgrades

When I started playing the game, I was drawn in immediately by the premise and the interesting and kind of funny fox that talks to you (I love his "voice acting", btw). You trudge along as a tired, weak old woman who can't see very well and has no idea where to go. Once the world opened up a bit more, though, the tired, weak old woman started to get a bit annoying because it could take forever to get somewhere. You have limited stamina, and while you can eat fruit to help it regenerate faster, much of the game just felt like a stamina-management simulator. And when you run out of stamina, be prepared for the slowest walk ever. Now, this wouldn't be a problem if you were walking down a corridor in a linear game and the whole point was to take in the surroundings, but a huge part of this game is traversing the world and finding what you can, whether it's items, NPC's, books, or wayshrines. You can even upgrade your stamina bar later in the game, but that just means it takes even longer for it to refill. I honestly would have enjoyed the game a lot more if could just run from the start and play at your own pace.

That leads me to another problem--the game also would have been better if you just had all blessings available at the start. There's no real feeling of accomplishment or value by upgrading them, it just feels "gamey." If you compare it to a Zelda game, for example, most of the upgrades have a real purpose. They make you feel stronger, they help progress the story, and they ultimately power you up enough to beat the final boss. Getting a new item/ability in Zelda feels amazing, like you truly achieved something. Almost all of the blessings in this game felt like a way to ease some of the annoyances I had. Good, now I can run longer without having to stop and trudge along or search for fruit. Good, now I can walk on water so I won't drown. Good, now I won't die from sliding down a mountain. Only maybe 1 or 2 are necessary, the rest are just like, "why couldn't I do that in the first place?"

Another (minor) problem I had was that the world felt kind of empty at times. The fox (I can't remember how to spell his name, something like Dhiyonisis) was an interesting and colorful character, but he was really the only one. You can unlock blessings to read books and wayshrines, and to talk to random spirits, but they don't fill out the world enough. If there were more fleshed out characters like the fox, it would have given the game much more character and made the journey feel less empty. This wasn't a huge problem, but I did notice it more than a couple times.

Before I get to the ending, I do want to touch on the things I enjoyed about the game. As I said, it's not a bad game at all, and it did do some things well. The art style is colorful and pretty, and the relaxing soundtrack fits it perfectly. I also liked the design of the areas; even though they were empty, they had a "somebody once lived here" feeling to them which was cool. I especially liked the dialog between the old woman and the fox, with his vague but wise comments and her reactions to him. Another thing I liked was the squint mechanic, especially at the start. In the first area (before I found a compass), I was feeling lost and directionless. Then I remembered I could squint, so I found a high place, looked off into the distance and saw a couple important looking places that rose up above the fog. After that, I was able to figure out where to go next without any trouble. It felt rewarding because I was able to overcome the old woman's weak vision by using a natural mechanic to my advantage.

OK, so now on to the ending (minor spoilers ahead). Honestly, I feel like I would have recommended this game, even with the complaints I had above, if it had a decent ending. Sadly, it didn't. In fact, it didn't really have much of an ending at all. It just...ended. The game (mostly through the fox) unravels an interesting premise, and I was excited to see how it would turn out. Would the old woman get her wish? Would the fox turn into something (or someone)? What would the Avatar of Death (who looked really cool) end up doing to you? But nothing really happens. Game over, credits roll. Look, I'm one of those "the journey is more important than the destination" people when it comes to storytelling, so I can usually shrug off endings that other people have problems with (like the endings of Lost or The Dark Tower series). But this ending was basically "all that stuff you learned about along the way? Not gonna happen, now close your eyes so we can roll the credits." I don't know what happened with the writing, but man, that was a letdown. Anything would have been better than that.

With all that said, I will still gladly check out the next game this team makes. There were some stumbles in The Wild Eternal, but I think they have their heads in the right places, and they did give a unique experience that was occasionally beautiful and occasionally thought-provoking. I just wish they wouldn't have added in "gamey" collectables/upgrades that really only helped ease frustration, had a good ending, and filled out the world a bit more with unique characters. But if none of the complaints I had with this game apply to you, then feel free to check it out.

dontfollowmepls
dontfollowmepls

okay, this game is absolutely beautiful in every way- atmosphere, music, gameplay, story- it pretty much has it all. there is no combat at all which made it feel even more like a beautiful journey rather than a game. you spend a lot of time walking around which could be annoying to some people but remember- this is more of an experience than something you just play. reading the journals and the text found throughout makes it that much more immersive and i'd strongly recommend it. however- personally i think the ending of the game completely fell flat and that it brought this gorgeous, immersive and even powerful experience to an absoulte dead hault. it kind of feels like the ending insults all of the wonderful build up to it and i am slightly broken hearted after finishing it.

MR.NKL
MR.NKL

So you start of in this world get a short intro and the backround of this world and the controls but then its gives you a quest and you somehow have to complete it . I didnt even know what to do in this world but then after half an hour i got through the first thingand got to the tempel. After i went throu the Tempel i found i deer that had a old mans face on it wtf. there was also a villiage were a dark ghost apperd sometimes also a lion killed me once. THIS GAME IS SOO CONFUSING AND WERE IS THE GOD DAM MAP WTF WERE DOES THE COMPASS LEAD ME EXPLAIN PLEASE

APeacefulWarrior
APeacefulWarrior

Sometimes I wish there were a sideways thumb for 'ehhhh'...

I'm so on the fence about whether to recommend this. Because for those who enjoy "walking simulators," there's quite a lot to like. Pretty scenery, nice music, interesting conversations dancing around Buddhist and Daoist ideas, locations to explore with logbooks. Not to mention the highly unique premise of the entire game.

But the issue is in the execution. As obviously a bit of a low budget game, it doesn't have a huge amount of landscape or texture variety. This is a problem, because the individual areas to explore are often quite large - particularly the first area. So after awhile, exploration starts getting to be something of a drag. There's no map, and waypoints are nearly useless until close to the very end of the game. So you'll do a LOT of aimless wandering in search of content through areas that can look pretty samey. In particular, you could be looking for a LONG time to find the entrance to the final area. The game basically gives no clues whatsoever as to its location.

Plus, the final area is just dull to explore, and it's capped off with - as others have mentioned - an utter anticlimax of an ending. And to be clear: I knew from the tone of the game this was not going to have some spectacular shebang for the finale. But even *expecting* this to be a "it's not about the destination" game, it still really let me down. Like, it's not even an ending, per se. It doesn't end; it just *stops*.

Was that the point? Were they going even further down the "expectation-subverting finale" rabbit hole that Gone Home and Firewatch dug, by having an outright anti-ending with no resolution whatsoever to go along with the general detached Zen-ness of it all? I just don't know.

Since I have to click a button, I'll go ahead and give it a thumb's up since I like supporting smaller devs doing artsy games. But I'm still not sure if I actually recommend it.

Dharma Dude
Dharma Dude

Game is a solid 9/10.

The gamplay is very unique, you play as an old woman Ananta, who is traversing through lands to escape the cycle of rebirth. You'll learn more about her story and Buddhism as she explores and discovers journals and talks to spirits. She is accompanied by a fox who makes her question her life.

The game itself is stunning, beautiful foggy forests to walk through with some amazing peaks to look over and see the whole area, check the picture tab and see for yourself.

Story was good and interesting, ending might be a bit disapointing for people, but after some thought I think it ended fine. Would definitly recommend to anyone who wants a steady game with solid wisdom to teach.

Jack Kausch
Jack Kausch

*Minor Spoilers*
While I understand that the developers may have been constrained by budget, I found the ending to be a bit uncreative. The principal reason for me is that the protagonist does not go through any character development, and never comes to a deeper understanding of the Buddhist and Taoist principles found scattered throughout this game. This is deeply unsatisfying.

I enjoyed the references to the Tao Te Ching, Taoist Alchemy, and the story of the Buddha beneath the Bodhi Tree. I found the protagonist to be creative and compelling and deeply identified with her backstory. I thought the world was beautiful; one of my favourite parts about the graphics were the colours, which were vivid and well-balanced.

Overall I thought the game was unique, in story, content, and in form. Certain elements I did not buy as Tibetan as they came off as a Western take on Buddhism and Taoism. I do not know what connection the developers have to Tibet (perhaps they were last there in a previous incarnation) but at times I felt that other than prayer-flags and the colours of the bricks, there was little to let me know that I was in the Bardo; I saw no Tibetan script, and there were no references to the Bon, etc.

On the whole I am very happy this game got made; it gives me hope, and I would love to hear more from the developers about what their inspiration was and their intent in making it.

Kirito
Kirito

This game is just awesome, I love it!
I hope you will be able to continue it :)
Bring it to the switch! I feel like it would fit quite perfect.

fornaxxx
fornaxxx

I really liked all the exploration in this game and it gave me a good while of gameplay, but at the same time it was hard to get all the tears and get to the ending and then the ending made you feel like it was all for nothing. If I could go back I would probably not buy this game again.

urs.boe
urs.boe

Thoroughly enjoyable - I would however appreciate a helpline that helps (and does not just throw me back).

anamaria
anamaria

The Wild Eternal is a beautiful, atmospheric and truly immersive experience in which you play as an elderly woman in the himalayas looking for an escape from the cycle of reincarnation. In terms of gameplay, it walks the line between what some would call a "walking simulator" and an explorative game like Firewatch. It really is unlike anything I've played before.

Positives

+ The game has amazing art direction, with each zone having a distinct look. The rolling fog looks great, as does the different types of foliage.

+ The general atmosphere of the game makes you feel truly immersed and lost in this world, to the point where it feels as though you have been playing for much longer than you actually have.

+ The story, while a little vague at points, provides some interesting philosophical topics for you to ponder as you explore.

+ The voice acting is kind of mesmerising. I'm not sure they're actually speaking any kind of language due to the repeating of lines for different dialogue, but I like it all the same.

+ The "gamey" elements of The Wild Eternal are actually quite engaging for a game with a slow pace. There is a simple unlock system that allows you to cater to your own playstyle (to an extent).

+ For what I am assuming is a relatively low budget indie game, The Wild Eternal has a lot of heart. It's hard to find a game that does exactly what it sets out to do so well, so it's quite an achievement.

+ The world design is interesting. There are wild animals to encounter, complex landscapes and even a few mild platforming sections.

+ There are hidden things and secrets everywhere. This is a great game for completionists. Luckily for me, I am not one of those. I could have spent many more hours in this game had I wanted to find everything.

+ The music and sound effects are lovely. Plenty of synth and what sounds like some traditional instruments.

Negatives

- With a few settings turned down, the game doesn't quite run at the framerates I was hoping for. It's not a deal-breaker, and high framerates aren't necessary for a game like this, but it would have been nice.

- The game feels quite slow. Sometimes this works in its favour, giving it a quiet, reflective tone, but other times it can be a little bit of a slog to earn some progress.

- The world design can be a bit confusing. I did a lot of backtracking and returning back to an area only to find a vital item I didn't even see the previous time.

- The mouse smoothing/movement felt a little weird and maybe unnecessary. Not sure if it can actually be turned off, but it was weird.

TL;DR

The Wild Eternal is a narrative exploration game with a reflective and philosophical tone. It offers some engaging gameplay, some quiet, reflective story moments and a lot of collectibles if you're into that. Most of all, it sets itself apart from other first-person narrative games. It's very unlike anything else I've played, and well worth the price. I expect it will resonate with me for quite a while :)

aravipak
aravipak

This game has a very beautiful scenery, I was stunned by it, and has a very great narrative, althrought it can be a little confusing sometimes. If you don't have patience to explore places it'll be very boring in the beginning, but after you get a compass it gets easier. I loved the dialogues with the fox, and the interativity you have with the environment is very nice too. I totally recommend it.

mesugo
mesugo

I really enjoy playing this so far! The writing is thoughtful and introspective, and the music and scene design is surreal, stunningly beautiful, and very memorable. The playstyle is quick to learn and intuitive, and the open world exploration feels genuine and interesting. The character advancement is unique and clever. I HIGHLY recommend this to any fan of adventure games, you're gonna love this one!

JonnyC2244
JonnyC2244

10/10

This game is incredibly good at what it is trying to ancomplish. It is a beautiful, humbling and serene walking simulator. There is little direction and it is up to you to explore and advance throughout the game but it is not too difficult. I highly reccomend it to anyone looking for a calming adventure. It is absolutely great for ending a bad or hectic day. The graphics are nowhere near mind blowing but the visual presentation still finds a way to be fantastic. This allows the game will to run on practically any pc made with in the last decade.

xatchett
xatchett

Now this is how you do a game about religion. )
This is a walking simulator quite like, say, "Corpse of Discovery".
There's an open world, collectibles to find, a story to piece together. And there are RPG elements, by which I mean various abilities (running, jumping, walking on water) which you access by finding "tributes" and presenting them to a diety on an altar. The entire game can be beaten in an hour if you know what to do. But I feel that this is not the purpose of the game.
The purpose is to literally get lost and wander around ). Which is fine by me.
The graphics are simplistic in a good way, the music is calm, and the atmosphere is quite relaxing. It's a good looking game, kind of in a World of Warcraft vibe.
The story... well, you folks better remember what you can about Buddha, it'll help you a lot here. I wasn't kidding when I said this is a game about religion, because it's ALL about that. It's obvious from the very first lines in the game, but still, the story goes into some very specific details that might be confusing for people who are not versed in Buddhism.
And yet, even if you have no idea what that fox diety is talking about, you can still enjoy the game for its visuals and atmosphere. I know I did. So, thumbs up.

PS - While it is technically finished, the game appears to have some locked off areas - or at least a placeholder for future add-ons. Either that, or I have missed at least 70% of the game's content. )))

randolf
randolf

This experience is remarkable. Two brothers and a sound expert built a little limbo where you can contemplate attachment, fear, greed, disappointment, shock, wonder, progression and similar Nominalisations while being basked in gloriously adept feedback candy.

The way the (hidden) Achievements are doled out seems harsh perhaps; some will wonder how, being already dead, one could still die again, or if loss of possessions really robs one of anything; personally, I noted the constant suggestions of threat and viewed them with a somewhat open mind, but the lions and tigers and bears oh my! certainly gave me moments of existential dread as I paced the road.

It was interesting resisting the obvious power-ups (in the form of permanent unlocks exchanged for thievery, such as trampling a thousand plants at lightspeed) and I greatly enjoyed the dialog with various entities and the "Simlish" voiceovers, full of warmth and character.

The ending seemed fair to me and I am somewhat curious about all the stories to be uncovered if I "spent my" Tributes differently... but one playthrough is enough, right?

Viporion
Viporion

It is an interesting game.
I had fun traveling around, talking to the fox and learning what he knows.
On occasion there is an enemy, but there isn't a bit problem if you die.
All your items will be in a bag and your biggest problem is figuring out where the fox brought you and where you died.

The only problem I have is one single achievement. walk 100.000 meters.
It would be nice to have any clue if I am getting anywhere near to this number.

Goblin
Goblin

Philosophical walking simulator with some original bells and whistles to it, but with a very disappointing ending. All in all, cannot recommend it.

greymittens
greymittens

If you have patience and enjoy exploring, this is a joy to play. The scenery, music and atmosphere are absolutely gorgeous, with thought provoking dialogue throughout. I would highly recommend drawing a map as you explore, because this quickly turns into a walk-around-in-circles simulator until you find a compass and work out how to use your surroundings properly, which is what I think resulted in some of the negative reviews on here. The more shrines you find and unlock, the more you can interact with your environment, build up your stamina etc. Really beautiful game for those who like to take their time soaking up environments and stories.

Eukanaria
Eukanaria

Very beautiful. Seems like a peaceful, atmospheric game but then there are suspenseful/creepy parts so you don't get too comfortable. The philosophy and practices that permeate the game are really awesome. I hope the dev team can make a sequel/part 2 to this game, because it really captured my mind.

veaulroisja
veaulroisja

Just loved wandering aimlessly through forest, slowly learning about protagonist's life and a philosophy. Kind of relaxing. Sometimes felt so awed exploring the different environments. Not too long, but I think perfect length for the purpose. Slow pace and once or twice frustrated by going in circles, but I think that is just part of the journey. Recommend, worthwhile experience!

butteredbandits
butteredbandits

The Wild Eternal is a meditative and enthralling game that I won't soon forget. The enviornments, music, and story sucked me right in and I found myself enjoying the feeling of being lost, trying to understand what was happening. There's a variety of things to collect and I enjoyed the feeling of progression as I gained new skills. It's not linear- and I was glad to be able to backtrack to previous areas and find corners I'd missed. Also I gotta say the artstyle is just fantastic and helps create that 'dream-like' atmosphere. Kudos to the team, y'all did amazing!

I'm a fan of these "walking simulator" type story games of course, and if you're not a fan of a measured pace and a game that encourages you to take your time, then you probably won't be interested. This game is a breath of fresh air, and I'll be replaying it again soon I'm sure. There's not many games out there that put you in the role of an elderly woman! The ending is a delight to be honest, something that made me think and also appreciate that the protag is their own person, not just a puppet that I have full say over.

shemkhobali
shemkhobali

Want to like it more, interesting philosophy , spirituality, great sound, but too much backtracking , great little detailed bits that are unexplored for no clear reason, then you run from a tiger or lion a lot, which leaves little of the "feel " a meditation could give. feels good, but too shallow. and the ending could have been given a bit more energy. 7/10

Festmache
Festmache

Interesting world to explore.
Nice atmosphere with good music.
Many small things to discover.

I definitely enjoyed myself for a couple of hours. Would be interested in seeing future projects from the same devs.

𝔅𝔯𝔞𝔡𝔲𝔷
𝔅𝔯𝔞𝔡𝔲𝔷

Looks nice, probably the only good thing about it.

Forcefully slowed down gameplay to increase game time, it's also generally boring.

Refunding.

BlueRaja
BlueRaja
Follow "First Person Exploration and Puzzle Games" for more games like this!

This is a pure exploration game about a woman who is trying to escape the cycle of reincarnation.

The game takes place across three large worlds (and a few smaller ones). In each world, the player is allowed to explore however they'd like. As you explore, you find items and powerups that make exploration easier, and/or give you access to previously inaccessible areas. At first you have to navigate completely on your own, which makes it highly likely you'll get lost. Eventually you gain some navigation equipment, but at no point is there a map, so you're unlikely to see everything in one playthrough. OCD completionists beware!

The forest looks creepy, but it's actually very relaxing to explore. With the exception of one completely avoidable tiger, there are no enemies in the game. There was only one optional area that required mild platforming skills.

The story is told through a series of journals, and through conversations with a fox-god who apparates in predefined spots. Though the conversations are often confusing and metaphorical (drawing lots of inspiration from hindu mythology), the story itself is pretty straightforward. This is not one of those games where nothing makes sense and everyone has their own interpretation.

The game took me about 3.5 hours to complete (significantly less than the 6-8 hours claimed) - I did not rush, and found most of the things that can be found. The ending is slightly disappointing in that it's clear they intended for the game to be much larger, but must have run out of time/money. Additionally, the developers promised more content updates, but went completely silent after their first update two years ago.

Still, the game is overall enjoyable. I don't know if I'd pay $15 for it, but for the $2.50 I paid during the Winter Sale it was definitely worth the price.

Genghis Pawn
Genghis Pawn

I'll update/revise this review if things change as I play on, but for now [Apr 12 2019]:

This is almost certainly the most uneventful game I've ever played. [E] There's no direction or clear path, and meandering around to stumble onto things is not fun; there's just not enough going on here to hold my interest.

I've spent about 2 hours trying to figure out why "a charge of finding imbues my compass." I can't seem to find wherever it is it wants me to go or why I should care when I get there.

I like walking simulators.
I like games that are subdued.
I like well-crafted environments.
I like games that encourage reflection.
I like games that encourage exploration.

At present, I do not like this game.

Most recently, I triggered an achievement I almost certainly didn't earn, suggesting that some wires have gotten crossed here.

*sigh* I will probably keep playing, but I expect less and less of this game as time goes on.
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EDIT [Apr 13 2019]

Oh fffs...

the compass is bugged, as is documented in a discussion board.
So the one mechanic in the game that gives you any specific directions about where to go is broken, and the dev is aware of this and hasn't patched it.
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EDIT [Apr 14 2019]
Well, yesterday I stumbled onto the ending after around 7 hours of gameplay, and nothing seemed to be resolved. I'll be leaving the review as negative. This game just doesn't rub me the right way.

Here and there I'll continue to load up the game to run around aimlessly, since an insanely high stepcount is required to unlock the last remaining achievement. I expect it will feel a lot like normal gameplay.
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EDIT [Apr 16 2019]
Took me around 4 extra hours of gameplay to rack up the stepcount to get the last achievement. Uninstalled and forgotten.

Kruzy_Fränz
Kruzy_Fränz

Pro: Grafiks and music are nice.

Con: The game's story revolves around reincarnation. The problem here is that if you don't care about that idea of reincarnation, the hook of the game vanishes. I tried to be open-minded, but IMO this seems to require some sort of hinduistic familiarity to understand, to me, thats way to specific and exclusive, thus, I cant recommend the game.

Axel Wolfin
Axel Wolfin

Realy nice and atmopheric game. Good story, pretty graphics and Dhyoniso , such a lovely creature. My playtime: about 6hrs. I will Definitely play this game again.

MoQ
MoQ

A walking simulator, but utterly engrossing. The scenery is gorgeous and the soundscapes are lush.
There's not much gameplay to be had, but the world to explore is large enough to enthrall one for hours.

FlorSilvestre12
FlorSilvestre12

This game is full of seizure-inducing graphical glitches, the worst of which permanently corrupted my save file and caused my laptop to block the game from using its graphical hardware entirely. Since TWE has only one autosave and no manual saving, I effectively lost all four and a half hours I'd poured into the game.

I could start a new game and replay all of the progress lost, but it's honestly not worth it. Aside from the graphical issues, the audio is poorly compressed and really grates on the ears after a while. I thought about muting the game, but certain gameplay sections rely on audio cues, so the audio has to stay on. Additionally, one of the game's core features is that the environment is difficult to navigate. Even with a compass, I spent a good chunk of those four and a half hours wandering around completely lost. And then I got killed by a tiger, causing me to lose my compass. There are more compasses you can pick up, but actually locating them when you don't already have a compass to give you any sort of direction is unbearably difficult.

Other smaller complaints include jumps being very tough to nail and the appearance of the mouse cursor not being changed to match the aesthetic of the game.

I really wanted to like TWE. It has a gorgeous look to it when not bugging out, and the exploration of Hindu mythos starring an elderly Indian woman is something very fresh in an entertainment medium heavily dominated by the U.S. and Japan. But in its current state, I cannot recommend this game, especially to anyone sensitive to flashing lights.

fanslayer
fanslayer

Pretty cool short game with plenty of philosophical aspects. Nice graphics and an interesting story (you must pay attention here)

Chi
Chi

Very fun game! I especially enjoyed the design and voice of our fox guide. He had a LOT of interesting dialogue to say and never bored me. I always felt excited when I found a new place he'd appear. I hope to see a lot more from these devs!

Alkippe_
Alkippe_

Ooooh I have so many thoughts.
So first off, just a general list of pros and cons:
Pros:
- Gorgeous graphics
- Thought-provoking dialogue
- Interesting story
- Perfect ending (a lot of people are criticizing it and saying that it just stopped, however the ending is hinted at if you read all of the dialogue and makes a lot of the fox's comments about Aum, which are weirdly phrased, make sense, and it fits with what the main character's struggle throughout the game has mainly been if you look back at it)
- Loved the soundtrack
- Made a lot of sense that you couldn't fight back against animals because a) this is a heavily Buddhism-inspired game and b) you're basically in purgatory throughout the game
- The environment was highly immersive. At some points during both playthroughs I almost forgot I was playing a game on my PC
- Couple people said there weren't enough hints on how to access the last area, but if you pay attention to the fox's dialogue towards the end of the game, he hints at the location at least twice, which is honestly more than he did for the first couple areas. This is a game about being lost, remember.
Cons:
- I didn't feel the cartoony logo went very well with the design of the world (which is slightly more realistic, but still cartoony) but a) maybe that's just me and b) this is being nitpicky
- For a supposed 6-9 hour game, I finished it twice in seven hours, second time was with me finding all of Aum's Tears and investigating everything I could possibly find, and I still managed to finish it in around 3 and a half hours. I would have enjoyed a lot more levels, honestly the four different areas (five if you count the palace I guess) felt far too short, I know a lot of people disliked the map because it was too large and confusing but I would have preferred to get lost for far longer. Maybe that's just me.
- I agree with other people about the blessings, they didn't feel like a necessary part of the game, more like "this walking speed annoys me so time to go get the ability to sprint for like... ten seconds".
- The wild animals, especially the dangerous ones, weren't really all that much of a threat. I think I ran into the big cats maybe a handful of times each playthrough, and during my second playthrough I actually completely forgot about the snakes because I didn't see any of them until two and a half hours in, when I went "jeez what's that hissing sound it's been following me the entire game" and actually turned around to check. Otherwise, if you keep walking forward you'll probably miss most of them, to be honest.
- I wanted a lot more dialogue with the fox (sorry, I can't spell their name correctly XD). A couple other people said more characters should have been added, but I honestly think more dialogue from the fox would have fixed it for me.

Basically overall I recommend it but like... maybe buy it when it's on sale.

Cranky&TheBoom
Cranky&TheBoom

Where do you go? What do you do? I am so lost but everything is just so....beautiful. I'll just stay lost.

DesertDraggon
DesertDraggon

This game is enchanting! The graphics are so lovely, and smooth. Lots of love was put into the models and animation. The plot and lore are outstandingly interesting. I seriously recommend this game to anyone looking for an exploration game with plot.

Ravenize > *
Ravenize > *

I like walking simulators. I like foxes. They're serious trends in my gaming history. So that means I should like The Wild Eternal, which is a walking simulator with a spirit fox for a guide.

But alas, this game is not good. Despite having all the right ingredients, the formula they cooked up is severely lacking. They forgot the basics. Start with salt.

The game begins mysteriously...and remains mostly mysterious throughout. This isn't some puzzle you're trying to unravel - it's obtuse musings on the nature of life, reality, and existence, when all you want is a proper backstory for your character. And of course there isn't an actual new story going on here, it's just the discovery of what happened previously.

The gameplay is mostly just walking, but it's somehow worse than usual. I think the primary culprit is a heavy fog that cuts down the draw distance to almost nothing (was that a technical decision)? It makes navigating anywhere a pain. It's not like there's a map or minimap you can reference to help out.

There are some elements that mix things up - you can collect upgrades, you can get attacked - but I found those more annoying and frustrating than anything else. Some of the upgrades are things they should've included from the very beginning, like a compass.

The art style is nice; when it works it works very well, and there are some beautiful vistas if you can rise above the fog (so I guess it wasn't technical, which makes it that much worse).

Individually, the different aspects of The Wild Eternal are poorly designed, for the most part. And when they're brought together the result is a slow, plodding journey you'll be rushing to finish.

Seawater
Seawater

Really well done exploration game with an engaging story line that you uncover wandering in this mysterious, sometimes dreary, and bizarre world.

antihero2.0
antihero2.0

A very enjoyable experience with a strong sense of progress in a beautiful environment. The ending was a bit abrupt, however.

Laura
Laura

This game is different and engaging. It's non-violent and spiritual/philosophical. There are many points where it makes little sense, however it carries you along with it. The fox friend is a good character.

TorrGuide_MC
TorrGuide_MC

A great game to get lost in. And I mean, literally get lost...

barbaramlocke
barbaramlocke

This is a brilliant game. There is much to discover in the worlds and you can't really die - you come to life again every time (I think). It is easy to move around the beautiful scenery and the story itself is great. I got to the end, watched the credits, and then discovered I could keep playing and gather the things I'd missed before. I was disappointed that Part 2 is not available but hopefully it will be soon.

мaмa Schwaмph
мaмa Schwaмph

Bought this on 90% sale and it feels like I stole the game for that price!

Relaxing and cute walking simulator with lots of exploring, skills, reading and achievements to complete.

Pablo Diablo
Pablo Diablo

I did not feel compelled to play this, boring and not my cup of tea.

paxton
paxton

A beautiful, meditative exploration game.

40GallonTophat
40GallonTophat

I did not enjoy this game at all. Maybe I'm crazy, but I found the game loop very sucky. Had this game have had a 15 minute demo, I'd probably have known it wasn't for me. That said, I don't feel ripped off, so I'm not getting a refund.

DancingDuck
DancingDuck

I've played this for 28.9 hours now. The world isn't high-res and realistic, but it has a medium-resolution iconic feel to it that I quite like. It's not trying to be cool. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who's competitive and feels compelled to find the fastest way. The pace is relaxing, tranquil; it doesn't try to make you do anything, it lets you be as systematic or laid back as you want. The terrain has lots of variation and the plants, buildings, mountains are beautiful in a simple way. It's ideal for someone who appreciates slow, meditative journeying and doesn't mind getting lost in lots of misty, winding paths. The world is a lot bigger than it looks at first. The music is appropriately atmospheric and low key. The stories of all the characters, be they humans or gods, contain a lot of tragedy. Though I'd guess you'd expect that when the protagonist's main goal is to die forever, not be reincarnated. But this story happens after all the tragedy, it's about what you do afterwards. So the story is not depressing, just filled with questions. But the story, unlike some other games, does not force you to pay attention to it. Nothing speaks unless asked, and the escape key will end any answer you feel is too long. When I started playing it, I was a little disappointed: It seemed the world was a little small, the goals were a little simple. But that feeling has gone now. It turns out the physical world is much larger and the simplicity was the simplicity of the profound. So I ended up loving this game. Walk its misty trails long enough and you'll find its wonderful heart. (Two tips: It's okay to throw fruit at the critters (they like it), but don't try to talk to the tiger like you do the fox.)

Orangutang
Orangutang

So I was just kind of expecting a walking sim, it most is, but it also has collectables that actually net you perk upgrades, really neat. It looks VERY pretty, and its very heavy on philosophy and like death and how one lives their lifes and consequences, etc. (I'm not that smart with this stuff but I can get gist of it).

I will say the ending is kind of a wet fart, but otherwise cool.

zaphodikus
zaphodikus

Tries to get a bit spiritual at times, but sticks to the basic idea of telling a story, on your terms, with your choices and does it beautifully. Very nice locations to just stop and spend a moment enjoying.

Heinsy57
Heinsy57

THE WILD ENTERNAL

This game immediately caught my eye during this years lunar sale, a first person narrative driven walking Sim / exploration game.

I had no idea what to expect for the 2$ price tag at 90% off, lets say the feelings were quite mixed to be sure.

You play as woman that awakes in a beautiful looking world, you have a guide in the form of a fox which gives you directions, the graphics are so so but that's on purpose.. in the first part of the game I stood on the lookout to barely be able to see the distance.. I found out later why, I will explain further below.

So far, graphics are nice, controls work well though I wish I could run... well you can but once again I will get to that, the sound design is superb.

The game has bad draw distance, no running.. well now I will tell you why, this game implements one of the coolest skill system, you find tributes to the gods which allow you to unlock running, mountain traversal, far sight, improved hearing which actually affects your head phones.. many many more which adds a very strong positive to the game.

Now for the negatives... which really weights the whole experience down.

The story - goddamn this story is slow and most of the time nonsensical, it constantly tells you about what has happen, what is happening and what may happen but in this very annoying riddle like way, nothing is voiceacted, it's all scripted which will consume serious time to read everything..

Where the F*ck am I going- One of the biggest issues.. honestly, many of the areas you explore are covered in fog.. everywhere looks the same, you will come across a compass thats useless.. this is the main reason I may not continue with the game.

Some things I loved and really admired and others was a kill joy, its not raxing when your constantly lost.

Gets a 6/10 given the unique skill system and relaxing music and graphics

Just passes into a recommended game

UPDATE

I beat the game, score still stands as it was a slog to find the way to go.. and when i got there... no spoilers but wow.. very anti-climatic

Still worth 2$ though, lots of effort went into it.

Dragon LeClock
Dragon LeClock

Beautiful and sad.

4/5 stars, would definitely play a sequel.