A forum in games clothing, this online fable experience lets old and new fans of the Shelter series come together and encounter a peculiar world.
You take on the role of various animals, such as badgers, lynxes, bears, and frogs, in this open-world, multiplayer game. The game uniquely focuses on non-verbal communication through emotes and animal-like sounds, rather than traditional text or voice chat.
You can freely roam the large, open game world, which features diverse biomes and environments, from lush forests and meadows to snowy mountains and foggy swamps. Along the way, you'll come across a variety of collectibles, including flowers, energy orbs, and puzzle pieces. Collecting these items allows you to unlock new animal skins, emotes, and even additional playable animals.
While you can explore the world alone, a significant part of the experience involves interacting with other players. Without access to traditional chat functionality, you must rely on a limited set of emotes and animal sounds to communicate and coordinate with one another. This encourages you to be creative and expressive, leading to emergent social dynamics and the formation of unexpected connections and friendships.
Certain in-game activities, such as unlocking special obelisks, require the cooperation of multiple players. These group-based objectives encourage you to come together, form temporary herds or packs, and work collaboratively to achieve your goals. This collaborative aspect is often cited as a particularly rewarding and memorable part of the experience.
Many players report feeling a strong emotional attachment to the other animals they encounter and interact with. The lack of traditional communication methods and the focus on non-verbal expression can lead to a heightened sense of empathy and connection, as you must rely on subtle cues and gestures to understand and connect with one another. This can result in poignant moments of shared experience and the formation of lasting, if ephemeral, bonds between players.
The game's serene visuals, soothing ambient music, and lack of traditional game objectives or challenges contribute to a calming and meditative atmosphere that many players find to be a welcome respite from more intense or competitive gaming experiences.