Quando Year Walk vi inviterà a passare una notte nella gelida foresta che fa da sfondo al rituale pagano, preparatevi a puntino. Il folklore svedese vi vuole a digiuno per un giorno intero, meglio se festivo, lontani da qualsiasi tipo di fonte di luce per ventiquattr’ore, da dover passare, fra l’altro, in solitudine. Io ci aggiungo anche l’assoluta necessità di aspettare che fuori si faccia completamente buio, tirare giù le serrande e indossare un buon paio di cuffie impostando il volume un pizzico più forte di quanto possiate sopportare. Un altro passo fondamentale, l’ultimo prima di cliccare due volte sul collegamento all’exe di gioco fra i tanti altri del vostro desktop, è il prepararsi a leggere un inglese abbastanza fruibile, perché saltare a piè pari i documenti enciclopedici (ma non per questo poco affascinanti) che i ragazzi di Simogo hanno messo li per noi, nascosti dietro una delle icone che compongono il menu in alto a destra sullo schermo -quasi come fossero indicazioni tangenziali, prive di reale mordente- equivarrebbe a giocare ad occhi chiusi.

Vieni a leggere il resto della recensione sul sito dei più belli della festa!: http://theshelternetwork.com/year-walk/

Titolo estremamente originale, caldamente raccomandato agli amanti di avventure grafiche punta e clicca che non disdegnino atmosfere horror. Qui la nostra recensione completa:
http://www.nrsgamers.it/recensione-year-walk-adventure-raffinato-horror-purissimo/

It's been months since I first played Year Walk on iOS and I still think about it regularly. The Steam version of this game is as beautifully made as the original, and the changed puzzles feel at home on the PC. The atmosphere is greatly enhanced in this version of the game, providing a creepier mood than the iOS version - so much so that surprises I knew were coming still got jolts out of me. The story behind this game is so intriguing and mysterious that I wish there was more information about it online; Year Walk is an amazing introduction into Scandinavian folklore that everyone should play.

First off, there are two things I must mention: one, I have had absolutely zero experience with the iOS version of Year Walk; this review is based 100% on the PC version currently available on Steam. Two, I almost exclusively dislike "puzzle games." I find them annoying and tedious. That being said, I found Year Walk to be a mesmerizing and enjoyable little game.

In terms of its gameplay, Year Walk doesn't break the mold - there's nothing revolutionary to be found here. The puzzles are relatively simple and only required me to doodle a few things down on a scratch pad to help me solve the majority of them. They're not overly difficult. And if you do find yourself stuck, there's a Hint system in-game that's actually useful.
The controls for the PC work well overall, and I had no problems or confusion in how to do anything. So, as a port from a touch based device, this aspect is done fine.

So, then what makes this an excellent game? As I said, the puzzles presented in the game are not challenging. In fact, as I finished this game I came to the realization I had been tricked. This game wasn't about the puzzles at all. It was about the experience; the visuals, the music, the story, and the atmosphere it all creates. The puzzles are just a way to move you along.
Year Walk is ultimately all about the experience. And it's definitely quite the experience. It's visually striking - the art style is unique and hauntingly beautiful, and the music fits perfectly in with it. Together they enhance a weird, dark, and rather sad story.

In the end, Year Walk feels fleshed out and solid. It creates a unique atmosphere that's hard to compare and even harder to forget. Despite not liking puzzles games, I really found myself engrossed in the world that Year Walk so successfully creates.

Addendum (3/19/2014) - After playing through the game completely, twice, and also messing around with extras and some achievements, I feel that I have to make note that this is a short game, and more importantly one that lacks replayability. I'd still recommend the game, it's just something to bear in mind when making a purchase.

Year Walk is a great atmospheric horror puzzle-adventure game. It is not a very long game, for I finished this in under 2 hours (was expecting 3 hours based on the iOS users comments), but then again I think I missed out on some secrets and feel like there's more to it. (Update: Yes, there indeed is more to it. But I'll just leave it at that!).

The puzzles here are fine. They're not very difficult, but just requires you to pay attention to the environment. Some of them I sorta "accidentally" solved by just clicking here and there, but otherwise the rest of them can be solved by looking at the environments and taking notes (yes, I actually mean taking notes as in using a pen and paper). Fear not as those that I accidentally solved were early into the game....the latter ones are complex enough that they're no fluke.

One puzzle was particularly not obvious for me because it uses an input method that is not used in the entire game otherwise (don't wanna spoil too much). Should you be stuck, you can use the in-game hint system, which is kinda like a guide but not always 100% direct. Try not to over-use it, which is exactly what I did initially sadly. In hindsight, I regret succumbing so quickly when I got stuck. But at least this ensures you don't find yourself stuck for prolonged periods of time and needing to Google the solutions becomes moot.

The atmosphere is well done. It is spooky and there are lots of unexpected things you can expect to see. I played the game in two sittings, the first of which was at around 1am. And my, did it raise my goosebumps! There was one particularly unexpected jump scare which made me say to myself "Ok I'm gonna continue this in the morning in daylight". Having played the second half in the morning, I feel the game's best played at night (past 12mn). Just so much more atmosphere then that cannot be replicated in daylight.

Sound is great as well. Kinda what you expect from top-notch atmospheric indie games. It ranges from calm to downright eerie, and complements the game at every turn respectably.

Controls are good too, though I would frankly have loved a keyboard shortcut for the map at least. Lost count of the number of times I needed to use the mouse pointer to get to the map screen. The area covered by the game isn't that big though, and there's a fair amount of backtracking required.

All in all, this is a nice little horror-puzzle-adventure game. The sound design that perfectly complements the haunting visuals sets a great atmosphere for the game. Year Walk received many accolades on iOS so it's good to see it make it to Steam. The $6 price seems reasonable for a two to three hour game that does not overstay its welcome.