Absolutely Stunning

Great story, great puzzles, and great aesthetic. The game’s pleasing graphics only add to this great game. A story about loss and regret that not only is realistic, but sad in a way that is oddly pleasing and sympathetic. An old man who got divorced and has to live on his own, adventuring the world. The puzzles seem to focus mainly on showcasing game aspects such as hot-air balloon riding and falling through waterfalls. I wish there was a second game that not only tells a completely new story, but doesn’t just showcase game mechanics. The game also felt kind of short. If there were to be a second game, making it longer and still keeping all of the previously listed things all of the way through would turn this review into a five star.

Extremely boring “gameplay”

I’ve had this game on my wishlist forever. Let’s just say I’m glad I bought it on sale for $.99 and not at the full $4.99 price. I found myself really bored throughout the entire game but I had spent money so I was committed, hoping the gameplay would become more of a challenge at one point or another.... I wouldn’t even call it a “game”. It’s really just a full-on STORY that you kind of walk through. But you aren’t really interacting with the story at all. He’s just hiking. That’s it, he’s just taking a nice little stroll through the hills thinking of his life. Literally y’all, that’s it. The graphics are INCREDIBLE and stunning which is the only reason I even gave it 2 stars but you just drag the ground to make him hop from one area to another. Sometimes you have to move some sheep out of the way, that’s about the extent of the challenge. Maybe this is a real life story game and this is a tribute to a father or grandfather or something??? I’m not sure but either way, hindsight, if I would have known, I would have skipped this one. Sorry 😬 it had so much potential...I think.

Antidote to the common screen time

Come and get lost in a storybook where the lush landscape moves just enough to let you progress from puzzle to puzzle, traversing meadows, mountains, a bay, even the sky. This game is beautiful in its own right, but the beauty for me and my children right now was the peace of the gameplay. The music, the images, the story, the game play that is manageable for my 5-year-old, intriguing for my 9-year-old, and challenging enough that I had to slow down and think and try different approaches here and there. Most of all - no buttons, no prompts, no counters of achievements in the corners, no reminders to come back or the old man would suffer, just hills and waves and the occasional sheep. And how many games can you play on your iPad that almost bring you to tears? I’m sure my boys don’t understand the emotional weight of the story, but they are enjoying every step of the journey anyway.

Totally annoying

This game is a complete disappointment and very frustrating! There are no instructions and basically, as far as I can determine, all you do is direct the travels of an old character across the screen by raising and lowering landscape components with your finger. Problem is, the programming is poor and the character does not typically go where you touch on the screen, often times in a completely different area of the screen and the manipulation of the landscape (you have to get areas to intersect so he can walk across them) is very erratic. Some of the art work is pleasant, but all you do is view it. You do not interact with it in any meaningful way. To top it off, you don't even know why he is walking wherever he is walking!!! This is not a game. It is a frustration and I am not sure if there is anyone I would recommend it to. To be honest, I got so bored with it I eventually deleted it and never finished it.

Pixar In Your Pocket

Will be recommending to others. ⛵️Masterpiece story telling without a word said. Breathtaking detail and music moving you through the tale of an old soul driven on the path by a mysterious letter. It's the little things in life... and they move the hero through his journey and his memories. A story told through light terrain based puzzles. May have to downshift if you're looking for deep focus or concentration. Small on a iPhone 5 screen. Each chapter sets a tone and fleshes out the character and story as you go, building up to an emotional finale. Exquisite care was taken in making this. Spend the $5. Didn't know phone games could do this. Thank you for making this!

Relaxed, enjoyed every second

To enjoy the game you have to calm down, relax, and just enjoy the scenery and experience. The game's not about figuring out tough puzzles, which is why the puzzles are pretty easy. It's all about the journey, and the story. If you get it expecting it to be a hard puzzle game or a fast paced game, you will be let down. If you just appreciate it for its beautiful music, story, and scenery, you will have a fantastic experience like I did. It's not boring at all. Anyways, the graphics are probably the best part of the game, each area's art is so impressive. Definitely get the game, just know that you're not getting a hard puzzle game :)

Wonderful, artistic and heart warming.

I was a game player but for long time I have stopped playing video games because they all have more or less the same style. I downloaded Old Man’s Journey out of curiosity, because as an artist I was interested in the graphic and design. Yes, it’s not the most complicated game ever and if you are looking for something very challenging perhaps this will not be so exciting... but it is a wonder low stress game, that allows you to immerse yourself in a wonderful natural world, full of wonderful sounds and colors. It will warm your heart because the purpose of this game is not survival, but something very unusual and new. It’s worth trying.

One of the very finest games I have ever played

Hauntingly beautiful, both visually and spiritually, and deeply moving. I was more than a little choked up by the end. A game I will never forget. The wonderful story - told through the gorgeous illustrations and lovely musical score, without words - is the heart of the game. But this game is also highly creative and original - and challenging and lots of fun - purely as a game. It really creates its own category, what I would call “reverse parkour adventure.” I really can’t find the words to praise this game highly enough. Buy it and play it. You will love it and you will never forget it.

An old man receives a mysterious letter in the mail and sets off for a journey. The plot is about finding out who sent the letter and why the man is so...

Nintendo World Report Wed May 16 2018

Old Man's Journey is like the video game version of that old blessing, in which the mutability of the road traveled is the focus,...

Polygon Sun Jul 16 2017

This week there's a nice eclectic selection of games across genres. We have Old Man's Journey, DEEMO, Mercenary Kings: Reloaded Edition, The Men of Yoshiwara:...

GodisaGeek.com Wed May 16 2018

Broken Rules' Old Man's Journey is one the strangest gaming experiences I've ever had. It's categorized as a side-scroller, but that description is ultimately...

VGChartz Wed May 16 2018

A simple tale told with an interactive twist, this is the story of an old man who gets a message that sends him off on a lonely journey.

Eurogamer Sun Jul 16 2017

An important pilgrimage - Old Man's Journey is one of those games that's hard to talk about without venturing into spoiler territory.

Nintendo Life Mon Apr 16 2018

It may be called Old Man's Journey, but this game is really a leisurely stroll through beautiful coastal hills and towns.

The Verge Fri Nov 16 2018

Old Man's Journey [official site] caught my attention before release entirely on the strength of its aesthetic. It remi…

Rock Paper Shotgun Sat Sep 16 2017

Old Man's Journey by Vienna-based Broken Rules is equal parts game and story. You play as an old man who receives a letter that seems to...

MacStories Wed Aug 16 2017

Old Man's Journey is a point-and-click adventure game from the indie game studio known as Broken Rules. The game hit the App Store in May...

iMore Wed May 16 2018