A first-person narrative adventure set in the unforgiving Arctic. Your plane crashed in a storm, leaving only your court-mandated therapy bot for company as you journey to find your co-pilot and uncover the mysteries buried beneath the ice.
Arctic Awakening delivers an entertaining, mysterious story set in a fresh Arctic environment, but it’s unfortunately held back by a sluggish pace, uninteresting characters, and a poorly fitting voice performance for the main protagonist.
If you admire The Long Dark but bounced off its punishing survival mechanics, Arctic Awakening might hit the sweet spot. It’s a game that feels like spending a weekend in the cold; you won’t stay forever, but while you’re there, it’s an experience worth having.
There is plenty to enjoy about Arctic Awakening. Its writing and voice work bring the characters to life, and the mysteries of the abandoned facilities and plane crash are worth exploring. It's a shame that so much time is spent walking long distances to reach the next major story point.
Arctic Awakening is an interesting story-driven adventure game that does a great job at creating a mood and delivering an emotional tale. The game's best features are its graphic design, emotive music, and the way Kai and Alfie's relationship grows. The branching choices let you see several endings, and the story is well-paced with five chapters.
With a strong narrative focus, GoldFire Studios’ Arctic Awakening feels like a five-episode series with a well-defined arc, aiming to be an event for fans of the genre, but ultimately getting lost in gameplay that’s too passive and dialogues that are more tiring than engaging.
