Info about SEASON: A letter to the future:

Official game description:
*   **A bicycle road trip**: Explore a new world and wind your way through stunning landscapes on your bicycle.  
*   **Document, photograph, and record**: Collect memories, make recordings and capture the most important moments from the current season to preserve them for future generations.  
*   **A highly customizable journal**: Piece together the secrets of the world of SEASON before a cataclysm washes everything away.  
*   **Emotionally complex characters**: Meet a diverse cast of characters, each of whom has two precious things to share with you: the stories of their lives and a moment together at the end of the season.  
*   **A compelling narrative**: This quest leads you to the big questions: what is this season? Why is it ending? And what will the next season bring?

Release date: 31 Jan, 2023

Categories: Exploration, Single-player Story, Narrative Adventure, Walking Simulator, Research and Discovery, Multiple Endings, Customization, Meditative Gameplay


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Immersive World and Characters (weight 0.95): Players are captivated by the game's unique world-building, which blends fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and historical elements. The memorable character designs and their compelling stories contribute to a rich, immersive experience that makes the world feel alive and worth exploring.
- Relaxing Exploration and Pacing (weight 0.92): The game offers a peaceful, stress-free exploration experience, allowing players to wander at their own pace without pressure or danger. This slow, meditative gameplay, often involving cycling through beautiful landscapes, provides a calming escape from everyday life.
- Stunning Art, Sound, and Atmosphere (weight 0.83): Players consistently praise the game's breathtaking visuals, poetic art style, and immersive sound design. The melancholic yet cozy atmosphere, combined with a beautiful soundtrack, creates a deeply emotional and contemplative experience that many describe as a work of art.
- Engaging and Reflective Storytelling (weight 0.8): The narrative is frequently highlighted as deeply touching, poetic, and thought-provoking. It explores themes of memory, change, impermanence, and the human condition, often moving players to tears and encouraging introspection about life's moments and transitions.
- Unique Journaling and Recording Mechanics (weight 0.21): The game's core gameplay loop, centered around a customizable journal, photography, and sound recording, is a major draw. Players enjoy the creative freedom to document their journey, making the experience personal and reinforcing the themes of preservation and memory.

Common complaints:
- Incomplete & Confusing Narrative (weight 0.33): Players frequently felt the story was rushed, incomplete, and lacked clear explanations for its abstract concepts and characters. Many questions were left unanswered, and the narrative often felt fragmented, leading to a lack of immersion and a sense that the game ended prematurely.
- Short Game Length & Overpriced (weight 0.32): Many players felt the game was too short, often finishing in under 10 hours, especially given its initial price point. This brevity, combined with a slow early pace and a rushed ending, left players feeling disappointed and wanting more content.
- Limited Exploration & World Scope (weight 0.29): Despite promises of a grand journey, players were disappointed by the limited scope of exploration, primarily confined to one large but uniform region. The map felt empty, lacking diverse areas to visit, which undermined the sense of adventure.
- Awkward Dialogue & Voice Acting (weight 0.25): The dialogue was frequently described as too long, boring, and sometimes pretentious, with inconsistent writing quality. Poor voice acting, including monotonous delivery and inconsistent volume levels, further detracted from the narrative and character immersion.
- Monotonous & Unengaging Gameplay (weight 0.22): The core gameplay loop was widely criticized for being basic, repetitive, and boring. Players found character and bicycle movement painfully slow, and the overall lack of variety in gameplay mechanics contributed to a decline in engagement, making it difficult to recommend or replay.
- Poor Performance & Bugs (weight 0.21): A significant number of players reported various technical issues, including frequent stuttering, glitches, and poor optimization. These bugs often led to characters or the bicycle getting stuck, forcing restarts and severely impacting the overall gameplay experience.
- Inconsistent Art Style & Vibe (weight 0.19): Some players found the game's art style, particularly character designs bordering on caricature, inconsistent with the overall aesthetic. The graphical presentation and atmosphere were sometimes perceived as eerie or more suited for a different genre, clashing with the intended experience.
- Frustrating Bicycle Controls (weight 0.15): The bicycle controls were a major point of frustration, described as rough, clunky, and counter-intuitive. Players frequently got stuck on small obstacles or invisible walls, which, combined with poor camera control, made navigation a chore.
- Unsatisfying Journal Mechanic (weight 0.14): The journal system, intended as a core mechanic, felt hollow and tedious to many players. It lacked meaningful integration with the main story, offered little impact on the world, and became a ritualistic task rather than an engaging activity.

Gameplay feedback:
- Core Gameplay: Documenting the World (weight 0.26): The central gameplay loop revolves around exploring the environment and meticulously documenting observations using a camera, sound recorder, and a customizable journal. Players capture photos, record sounds, and jot down notes to preserve memories and information about a fading world.
- Slow-Paced Narrative Exploration (weight 0.23): The game is a slow-paced, contemplative narrative adventure, often described as a 'walking simulator' with more interactive elements. It emphasizes exploration, immersion, and story discovery over traditional challenges or fast-paced action, focusing on the journey and its emotional impact.
- Bicycle Travel Mechanic (weight 0.12): A significant aspect of traversal is riding a bicycle through picturesque landscapes. While primarily a means of transport, it contributes to the game's meditative pace and allows players to explore the world at their leisure, often dismounting to use other documentation tools.
- Theme of Memory and Change (weight 0.09): The overarching theme centers on memory, loss, and the impending end of an 'era' or 'season.' Players document a world on the brink of significant change, aiming to preserve its essence for future generations and understand the impact of forgetting.
- Pendant Mechanic & Memory Sacrifice (weight 0.03): A unique narrative element involves creating a protective pendant before the journey. This process requires sacrificing important memories, introducing a thematic layer about the cost of preservation and protection against forgetting.
- Intuitive Controls & Smooth Gameplay (weight 0.02): Players generally found the gameplay smooth and the controls intuitive, making the experience accessible and easy to understand. This contributes to the game's relaxing and contemplative atmosphere.
- Multiple Endings & Choices (weight 0.02): The game offers multiple endings, influenced by player choices, such as deciding the fate of a guardian pendant. This adds replayability and allows players to shape the narrative's conclusion.
- Character Interactions & Emotional Impact (weight 0.02): Meeting various characters and engaging in dialogues can evoke strong emotional responses. These interactions contribute to the story, offering different perspectives on the world and its impending changes.
- Uncovering Lore and History (weight 0.02): A minor aspect of the game involves collecting bits of stories and knowledge, allowing players to learn about local history and uncover the truth behind the world's current state.
- Interactive Rest Spots (weight 0.01): Players can find benches and other rest spots in the environment, allowing them to sit, sketch, or interact with the surroundings in small, immersive ways, such as petting animals or praying at statues.
- Limited Beta/Playtest Feedback (weight 0.01): Some feedback is based on playtests or beta versions, which might not fully reflect the final product. This point is based on limited, low-quality feedback.

Performance notes:
- Poor PC and Steam Deck performance (weight 0.08): Many players report significant frame drops and stuttering, even on high-end PCs. The game is particularly unoptimized for the Steam Deck, with frequent dips into the 20-30 FPS range, making the experience less enjoyable.
- Limited bug reports (weight 0.01): A few players reported not encountering any significant or game-breaking bugs, indicating a relatively stable experience in terms of critical defects.
- Visuals suffer on lower settings (weight 0.01): Players note that reducing graphic settings to improve performance significantly diminishes the game's core visual appeal, suggesting a trade-off between playability and aesthetic experience.
- Occasional camera wonkiness (weight 0.01): One player noted minor camera issues in specific situations, but these did not negatively impact immersion or convenience.

Recommendations:
- Highly Recommended, Especially on Sale (weight 0.32): The game receives overwhelming recommendations for its unique experience, often described as relaxing, contemplative, and story-rich. Many reviewers, however, strongly advise purchasing it during a sale due to its perceived short length or full price point.
- Ideal for Reflective Exploration (weight 0.09): Players highly recommend the game for those seeking a meditative, tranquil experience focused on exploration, photography, and introspection. It's particularly suited for individuals who appreciate natural storytelling, walking simulators, and a deep dive into human condition and nature.
- Great for Narrative & Artistic Fans (weight 0.06): The game is strongly recommended for fans of narrative-driven experiences and artistic games, especially those who enjoy titles like 'Kentucky Route Zero,' 'Sable,' or 'Firewatch.' It appeals to players who appreciate unique art styles, strong stories, and a focus on atmosphere over action.
- Technical Issues & Performance Concerns (weight 0.02): Some players reported technical issues, including poor performance on Steam Deck, which impacted their ability to fully enjoy or recommend the game. It's suggested to wait for fixes or a sale if technical stability is a major concern.
- Appeals to Journaling & Creativity (weight 0.02): The game resonates with players who enjoy creative activities like journaling, scrapbooking, or simply appreciating beauty in small details. Its mechanics and themes align well with a creative and observant mindset.
- Short Playtime, Potential for DLC (weight 0.01): The game's overall playtime is estimated at 4-5 hours, which some reviewers felt was short for the full price. There's a desire among some players for developers to expand the game with DLCs or more explorable areas.
- Not for Everyone; Patience Required (weight 0.01): While highly praised by many, the game is explicitly noted as not suitable for all players, particularly those who lack patience or prefer action-oriented gameplay. It's a slow-paced, contemplative experience that requires an open mind.
- Consider Demo First (weight 0.01): A reviewer suggests playing the demo to determine if the 'bike and notebook simulator' style aligns with player expectations, especially if unsure about the game's unique approach.
- Minor Control Customization Needed (weight 0.01): One piece of feedback suggests that keyboard controls could be more intuitive and might benefit from remapping.
- English Language Recommended (weight 0): One reviewer noted that understanding at least some English is beneficial for playing the game, implying a reliance on narrative or text.
- Go In Blind for Best Experience (weight 0): One reviewer highly recommends experiencing the story without prior knowledge to maximize its impact.
- Suitable for Ages 10+ (weight 0): One reviewer recommends the game for curious individuals aged 10 and up, provided they don't demand action.

Other player notes:
- Deep Philosophical & Meditative Experience (weight 0.38): Players consistently praise the game for its profound philosophical themes, encouraging reflection on life, memory, loss, and environmental impact. It's described as a meditative journey that invites players to slow down and appreciate the present, often leaving a lasting emotional impression.
- Unique Narrative & World-Building (weight 0.2): The game features a rich, symbolic narrative that explores themes of past, present, and future, often through the lens of 'seasons' representing eras of change. Its world is described as mysterious, beautifully crafted, and full of depth, though some find its world-building somewhat arbitrary, adding to an ambiguous atmosphere.
- Pacing and Player Suitability (weight 0.16): The game is characterized by its slow pace and short duration, making it suitable for players who enjoy introspective, non-violent experiences. However, it's explicitly noted that the game is not for everyone, particularly those who are impatient or prefer more action-oriented gameplay.
- Desire for More Content (weight 0.11): Despite its short length, many players expressed a strong desire for more content, specifically wishing for a sequel or DLC, indicating a deep appreciation for the game's experience.
- Pricing and Purchase Context (weight 0.03): Players often purchased the game at a discounted price or followed its development for a long time, suggesting that the full price might be a barrier for some, especially given its short duration.
- Bike Mechanic & Exploration (weight 0.02): The game's core mechanic of riding a bike is central to its exploration and meditative feel. Some players noted that the demo did not fully showcase this, and achievements suggest some players may not engage deeply with the bike exploration.
- Reviewer Self-Promotion (weight 0.01): Some reviews included promotional links to external platforms or groups, indicating a common practice among certain reviewers to leverage their feedback for self-promotion.

Emotions:
- Satisfaction (weight 0.36): Players felt satisfied by the game's beautiful art style, immersive world-building, and compelling narrative. The unique journaling and scrapbooking mechanics, combined with relaxing exploration and strong emotional themes, contributed to a deeply personal and fulfilling experience.
- Disappointment (weight 0.19): Disappointment stemmed primarily from the game's short length, especially relative to its price, and a perceived lack of content or replayability. Players also expressed dissatisfaction with the story's pacing, an unsatisfying ending, and various technical issues like bugs and poor optimization.
- Admiration (weight 0.14): Admiration was frequently expressed for the game's stunning visuals, artistic direction, and strong narrative. Players were particularly impressed by the beautiful execution of its themes, the immersive world, and the overall quality that made it feel like a piece of art.
- Frustration (weight 0.13): Frustration was mainly caused by technical issues such as corrupted save files, poor optimization, and frequent frame rate drops, especially on platforms like Steam Deck. Clunky controls, particularly for the bicycle, and camera issues also significantly detracted from the gameplay experience.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.1): Players enjoyed the game's beautiful world, engaging lore, and well-developed characters. The peaceful exploration, thoughtful journaling, and captivating story, often enhanced by a relaxing soundtrack, provided a fun and chill experience.
- Reflection (weight 0.08): The game prompted significant reflection due to its deep themes of memory, loss, grief, and the meaning of life and travel. Players found themselves contemplating personal experiences and universal human conditions, often inspired by the journaling mechanic and thought-provoking dialogues.
- Joy (weight 0.06): Joy was experienced through the overall delightful gameplay, the unique journaling feature, and the game's ability to evoke strong positive emotions. Players loved the immersive experience, the charming characters, and the sense of finding a 'dream game' that resonated deeply.
- Relaxation (weight 0.05): Players found the game to be a deeply relaxing experience due to its slow pace, serene atmosphere, and beautiful scenery. The absence of pressure, puzzles, or combat, combined with the meditative act of bicycle riding and documenting, created a calming escape from daily life.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation was shown for the game's impressive art direction, solid world-building, and unique mechanics. Players valued its delicate artistic expression, memorable dialogue, and its ability to convey deep messages and foster tranquility through its visuals and sound design.
- Calmness (weight 0.04): The game fostered a sense of calmness through its unhurried pace, lack of pressure, and relaxing atmosphere. Players appreciated the ability to slow down, enjoy the scenery, and engage with the game at their own rhythm, contributing to a Zen-like experience.
- Engagement (weight 0.03): Players felt engaged by the game's compelling story, intriguing mysteries, and effective exploration mechanics. The unique DIY journal and scrapbooking features, combined with a meditative atmosphere, kept players engrossed and eager to explore every detail.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Hope was expressed for future updates to fix technical issues and for the studio to continue creating similar impactful games. Players also found hope within the game's narrative, which often provided comfort and guidance for dealing with loss and difficult life transitions.
- Emotional impact (weight 0.03): The game had a strong emotional impact due to its poignant themes of loss, memory, and moving on. The compelling story, well-developed characters, and immersive world resonated deeply with players, often evoking tears and a profound sense of connection.
- Immersion (weight 0.03): Players felt deeply immersed in the game's mysterious, poetic, and melancholic universe. The high-quality graphics, evocative sound design, and detailed world-building, combined with the unique sound recording mechanics, created an authentic and captivating experience.
- Boredom (weight 0.02): Boredom arose from the game's monotonous and repetitive gameplay loop over time. Some players found the narrative rhythm slow and tedious, leading to a loss of interest in the main story and basic gameplay mechanics.
- Awe (weight 0.02): Awe was inspired by the game's breathtaking beauty, artistic quality, and profound emotional and artistic depth. Players described it as a 'once in a lifetime experience' due to its gorgeous visuals, powerful narrative, and soul-stirring impact.
- Melancholy (weight 0.02): Melancholy was evoked by the game's atmospheric tone and its themes of a dying culture, change, loss, and the dissolution of cherished memories. The narrative often explored the sadness of family departure and the passing of seasons, creating a bittersweet emotional experience.
- Excitement (weight 0.02): Excitement was generated by the game's stunning beauty, unique graphics, and innovative storytelling. Players felt a strong desire to play immediately upon release, anticipating a game that perfectly matched their interests in scrapbooking, cycling, and exploration, and even considering it a potential 'Game of the Year'.
- Gratitude (weight 0.02): Players expressed gratitude for the overall game experience and the dedication of the development team in creating such a beautiful game. Many felt thankful for the game's ability to foster appreciation for the present moment and for the profound journey it offered.
- Moved (weight 0.02): Players were deeply moved by the game's profound experience, often feeling a strong emotional pull due to personal resonance with themes of loss. The beautiful story and emotional weight of its themes frequently brought players to tears, creating a powerful and unforgettable impact.}