Within the Woods

(Note: The game has been updated but is no longer playable online. If this changes, I’ll edit this review accordingly.)

The only reason you’re driving across the mountainside on a Sunday is because Dale promised you $500. The request was simple: Do a quick assessment of a rental cabin. Tidy it up, make sure it’s empty, etc.

But when you arrive and find the cabin in a dilapidated state, you start to wonder if this is worth the money…

Within the Woods is a horror game about taking on more than you bargained for and having to deal with the fallout of someone else’s poor choices.

Gameplay
The game takes place in a cabin surrounded by dense forest (and it’ll be night soon, btw). Gameplay’s first half is spent on repairing the cabin the best you can. The second half (Spoiler - click to show)involves recreating a ritual to dispel the evil forces preventing you from leaving.

What I love about this game is the richly implemented environment where the smallest details can be examined for atmosphere and information. Puzzles are largely centered around noticing key details in your surroundings (oddly, “listen” and “smell” only use default responses). These are my kind of puzzles. I examined everything. Many solutions turned out to be in plain sight! Finding the (Spoiler - click to show)etchings was a fun highlight.

There were moments where I was stuck. Daunting, considering an absence of hints. But I was eventually able to figure it out because the puzzles do not require huge jumps in logic. Plus, both halves of the gameplay are broken down into smaller objectives, whether it be the repair to-do list or the (Spoiler - click to show)instructions for the ritual. I always knew what to do. It was simply a matter of looking in the right place.

(I’ll be honest, I totally would have used the hints if they were available. Being forced to go without made solving the puzzles much more rewarding.)

[Your score has just gone up by one point.]

That euphoric feeling of victory when you (Spoiler - click to show)finally find the hammer.

Story
It’s easy to get invested in the story. In fact, there is a slight investigative bent to the game in the sense that you must piece together whatever dark secret is lurking in the shadows. (Spoiler - click to show)Figuratively and literally. Seriously, don't go wandering off without a light source. Your life depends on it.

Upon reflection I actually found the first half of the game to be slightly scarier than the second because it rides on the suspense of the unknown. You’re not entirely sure of what happened to the cabin. The diary, sketchbook, and (Spoiler - click to show)grave certainly offer some ideas, but there are still gaps in the story that haven’t yet been filled.

And no matter what, the game never, ever wavers on atmosphere. There is always a subtle creepiness that compels you to fight for your freedom.

I was also delighted to see that there are nine endings! So far, I’ve found (Spoiler - click to show)1, 4, 6, 8, and 9. I’m still trying to find the others. I suspect they are premature gnarly death endings. If anyone has any suggestions, I’m listening.

Final thoughts
I wouldn’t outright classify Within the Woods as a spectacular game in the sense that the story and setting on their own aren’t earthshattering or novel. But there is something deeply satisfying about the overall experience that it offers. Its consistency and solid implementation blend all of its components into a well-rounded game that sets itself apart from other works of horror. I had a blast and A+ for atmosphere.

Recommended if you have a craving for a mid-length horror game.