An unusual mix of adventure and idle game. In utter loneliness deep below the surface, it's your task to wait for the awakening of your king... for 400 days.
Recent Reviews:
Very Positive (79) - 92% of the 79 user reviews in the last 30 days are positive.
All Reviews:
Very Positive (5,885) - 92% of the 5,885 user reviews for this game are positive.
Release Date:
Mar 5, 2020
Developer:

Sign in to add this item to your wishlist, follow it, or mark it as ignored

Check out the entire Application Systems collection on Steam

Buy :THE LONGING:

Buy Dark World Bundle BUNDLE (?)

Includes 2 items: :THE LONGING:, PRIM

-20%
$27.98

Buy Playtime Matters Bundle BUNDLE (?)

Includes 2 items: The Plague Doctor of Wippra, :THE LONGING:

-48%
$12.98

Buy Deep Stories Bundle BUNDLE (?)

Includes 3 items: Lamplight City, :THE LONGING:, Unforeseen Incidents

-65%
$17.50
 

Reviews

“Every so often a game comes along that is so audacious it reminds me how conventional and pedestrian many of the games that I’ve reviewed — and liked — are by comparison. This level of creativity reinvigorates my expectation of what games can be.”
90/100 – The Washington Post

“Literally sitting and waiting has called my attention to how it feels to wait, to the emotions that arise from being at the mercy of time.”
Kotaku

Buzz

  • "Players can expect one of the most unusual video games of the year with The Longing from Studio Seufz"
    - heise.de, Germany

  • "A very original and atmospheric gaming experience and a fascinating experiment."
    82/100 - PC Gamer, Sweden

  • "[...] we wish to accompany the Shade throughout his life, and he will accompany us even in our absences."
    90/100 - , Spain

  • "The Longing shows beautiful art and unhurried gameplay."
    4.2/5 - , Brazil

  • "The only flaw I can find in this little pearl is that we will hardly replay it, but it was created as a unique experience and so it will be for all those who buy it. You will not regret."
    95/100 - pcguru.hu

  • "The Longing is a fascinating adventure as long as you remember that it is not intended to be played in one, or even ten, sessions. "
    80/100 - , Finland

About This Game

Unusual mix of an adventure and an idle-game.


Play as a lonely Shade, the last servant of a king who once ruled an underground kingdom. The king's powers have faded and he falls asleep for 400 days to regain his might. It is your duty to stay in the earthen palace until he awakens.

As soon as you start, the game inevitably counts down the 400 days - even when you stop playing and exit the game.

It is now up to you to decide what to do with your solitary existence beneath the soil. Don't stress yourself, you have plenty of time.

Choose your playing style

Start the game and simply come back after 400 days to see how it ends. You actually don't have to play the game at all. But the Shade will be even more lonely without you.

Or explore the caves and collect items for your comfortable underground living room. Just send the Shade to take a stroll - the walking speed is slow, but luckily there is no need to hurry.

Read tons of classic literature from Nietzsche to Moby Dick right in the game - or at least have the shade read them. After all, time goes by faster if you learn to keep your mind occupied. (The little Shade in the game finds ONLY English books for now.)

Ignore the king's commands and advance to the outer regions the cave. It will be a long and dangerous journey into darkness...

Features

  • Slow exploration of a vast, hand-drawn cave.
  • Atmospheric Dungeon Synth soundtrack.
  • Various endings.
  • Lots of well hidden secrets.
  • Time-based puzzles.
  • A lonely but cute protagonist.
NOTE: The game time keeps counting down even if you quit the game or shut down your computer.

System Requirements

Windows
macOS
SteamOS + Linux
    Minimum:
    • OS *: Windows 7 SP1+
    • Processor: 1.2 GHz
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: 1024MB VRAM
    • Network: Broadband Internet connection
    • Storage: 5 GB available space
* Starting January 1st, 2024, the Steam Client will only support Windows 10 and later versions.
    Minimum:
    • OS: Mac OS X 10.11+
    • Processor: 1.2 GHz
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: 1024MB VRAM
    • Network: Broadband Internet connection
    • Storage: 5 GB available space
    Minimum:
    • OS: Ubuntu 16.04+, SteamOS+
    • Processor: 1.2 GHz
    • Memory: 4 GB RAM
    • Graphics: 1024MB VRAM
    • Network: Broadband Internet connection
    • Storage: 5 GB available space

Customer reviews for THE LONGING

Review Type


Purchase Type


Language


Date Range
To view reviews within a date range, please click and drag a selection on a graph above or click on a specific bar.

Show graph



Playtime
Filter reviews by the user's playtime when the review was written:



No minimum to No maximum

Display
Show reviews in selected display order





Learn More
Show graph
 
Hide graph
 
Filters
Excluding Off-topic Review Activity
Playtime:
Played Mostly on Steam Deck
There are no more reviews that match the filters set above
Adjust the filters above to see other reviews
Loading reviews...