Players Like...

❤ Exploration and Environment

Players freely navigate the game's vast, open-world setting in northern Quebec, Canada during the 1970s. The snowy landscapes and remote wilderness locations feature highly detailed and atmospheric environments, immersing players in the region's isolated, remote feel. Reviewers consistently praise the game's beautiful environments and sense of isolation as a major highlight.

❤ Investigative Gameplay

As detective Carl Faubert, players piece together the game's enigmatic events by searching for and examining clues. This includes finding documents, letters, and other items that provide insights into the story. Players can also take photographs of important evidence, and the game's journal system helps them track their findings and follow the narrative. Reviewers widely enjoy this investigative gameplay loop of exploring, discovering clues, and piecing together the mystery.

❤ Survival Mechanics

The game incorporates light survival gameplay, requiring players to manage Carl's body temperature and fatigue levels to avoid succumbing to the harsh winter conditions. This involves finding sources of heat, such as campfires, and managing resources like batteries for the character's flashlight. While not overly punishing, these survival mechanics add an extra layer of tension and challenge to the experience. Players can adjust the impact of these survival elements by choosing different difficulty settings.

❤ Narrative Delivery

A key aspect of the gameplay is the game's strong narrative delivery, with an omniscient narrator providing detailed commentary on the environment, Carl's internal thoughts, and the unfolding events. Reviewers praise this narration for its ability to establish atmosphere and immerse them in the game's world. The narrative is further enhanced by the optional lore items and documents that players can discover, providing additional context and backstory.

❤ Variety of Gameplay Elements

In addition to the core exploration, investigation, and survival mechanics, the game incorporates a variety of other gameplay elements to keep the experience fresh. This includes light puzzle-solving, occasional combat encounters, and sequences involving the use of Carl's dog sled for transportation. Reviewers appreciate this mix of different activities, as it helps prevent the experience from feeling repetitive.