Night in the Woods

Story

After dropping out of college you, Mae, return home to live in your parent’s attic in your hometown of Possum Springs. Whilst there you discover how much times have changed since the closing of the town's coal mines, uncovering a dark mystery that leads you into the nearby woods. You are forced to confront a horrible secret the town has hidden for decades involving not only the town's mine, but also the recent disappearance of your friend Casey. Your friends include Bea, a cigarette-smoking crocodile and Mae's childhood friend; Gregg, a hyperactive fox; and his boyfriend, a bear named Angus.

Why we chose it

Night In The Woods makes good use of being interactive, as you choose the course of Mae’s life, choosing who she interacts with and how much time she spends creating a relationship with them. The game is perfect for late teens approaching adulthood, as the game covers the thin line between childhood and adulthood and the difficult transition between the two. The characters you can interact with are all multi-layered, engaging and damaged in relatable ways. The narrative focus and beautiful writing are what sets Night In The Woods from other games as its deep storylines and meaningful lessons leave a lasting impression on players.

Where it came from

Night in the Woods was created by game designer Alec Holowka and animator Scott Benson and funded by a Kickstarter campaign, with a goal of $50,000 being reached in only 26 hours and earning $200,000 in total.

Where it went next

An extended version of the game, titled the Weird Autumn edition, was released for PC, macOS, Linux, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on December 13, 2017 and for Nintendo Switch on February 1, 2018. It features new content as well as supplemental games.

Associated stories

Longest Night (December 2013)

Lost Constellation (December 2014)

Weird Autumn (13^th December 2017)