Welcome to Elk

[i]Welcome to Elk[/i] is a bright and charming game on the surface, but it is not the lighthearted experience I was expecting - perhaps that is my fault. Most of the game is actually quite heavy and I just couldn't get into it. There were a couple situations where I worried the main character would be SA'd, which made me very uncomfortable, as it would lean heavily in that direction ([spoiler]thankfully, no such thing happened[/spoiler]). Another scene I wasn't a fan of, and I'm sure would bother most animal lovers, is where you're forced to [spoiler]k!ll someone's pet rabbit - you can't avoid it and you have to decide how to end the poor creature. I chose the least offensive (?) method of twisting its neck, which it only partially shows, but I don't know how much it would show for the more cruel options.[/spoiler] And for players that might be a bit squeamish, there's a mini game where [spoiler]you have to stitch up a wound that is very zoomed in[/spoiler] - given the art style of the game, this task didn't bother me, but I can imagine some players being uncomfortable regardless. Aside from that, the townsfolk were all problematic in their own ways. A lot of them had tragic or violent backstories and I can't say I really liked any of them. If you're looking for a cozy, feel-good experience, this is not it. The bright side is that it's a very short game, so I did manage to tolerate it enough to finish it, but I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it or would even recommend it.

It takes a lot for me to say I don't recommend something, but this game has very positive reviews so my little two cents will be a drop in the bucket at best! I'm the kind of person that likes and appreciates video games for the art that they are. They don't have to be perfect for me to appreciate what they bring to the table as I see it as an expression of the developers creativity through the game. Anyways, all that being said, I was drawn to the game because of the art style, which was very quirky to me. I uninstalled the game after the second or third death and what I can remember as some sort of dream sequence? I don't like when any artform directly breaks the fourth wall. It takes me out of the experience completely. I don't understand the artistic choice for the developers to add those little sequences where they were talking about the game and the reasoning behind certain elements...in the middle of me playing the game? I don't understand that. That could've been in a replay/directors cut or something like Firewatch did. It encourages replayability and it's exclusively for those who actually care for that. Additionally, I wasn't picking up what they were putting down. It was a little depressing and I just abandoned it all together. I would get my money back, but as this is a small developer I could never. Long story short, don't get fooled by the colors and the whimsical game style. This game is surprisingly heavy. I'm happy a lot of people got to enjoy it even though I didn't. Happy gaming!

First of all, a word of caution: Welcome to Elk deals with very serious themes such as alcoholism and death, as well as tragic and sorrowful events, though there are also some quirky and humorous moments. So, even if it might not look like it at first glance, this is really a game for adults: sweet in appearance, but heavy in content. The entire game is built on true stories, either told directly to the developers or in some way part of their lives. Most of the time, you interact with other characters to push the story of Frigg forward, though at its heart, it’s a story about stories, with Frigg as the main character who not only lives her own tale but also collects all the others along the way. On top of that, there are several creatively designed mini-games, which are genuinely varied and entertaining, but nothing groundbreaking. The game can be completed in a relatively short time and apart from one small exception, the achievements are very easy to unlock. The visual design is deliberately full of contrasts. The cute look stands in stark opposition to the serious themes, and it’s exactly this tension that gets under your skin. It’s not a game that captivates you with gameplay, but with honesty. It doesn’t just aim to entertain, but to move you. And it achieves this in a way that’s rarely experienced. It’s a game that forces you to look. And maybe also to ask yourself which stories you carry with you and who you would share them with. I also really enjoyed the soundtrack and it’s quite different from what we’re used to in many games. But here, that folk-blues sound with its variety of guitars fits just perfectly, so good that it was the reason I took six times as long to finish the game. The rest of the sound design is solid and works exactly as it should. Welcome to Elk is a unique game that, even though it’s short, I can wholeheartedly recommend and genuinely encourage many players to experience. The combination of comic-style visuals and serious subject matter creates a powerful emotional impact. Anyone willing to go on this journey will be rewarded with one of the most human experiences this art form has to offer. Once again, a clear recommendation.

It's difficult to "NOT recommend" this game, but that's the right things for me to do. I regret I played it. To be fair I owe it some very well due credits. The music is very good and perfectly fits the story the whole time. The art style is unique and beautiful. Not only the visuals. Also the movement of characters, the dream sequences, the transitions, the message in a bottle items, the interview scenes are perfect... It plays great, it's very easy to get what to do in each sequence. All the mini games are super intuitive and charming... I finished it the day I started it. The execution is almost perfect. But... all the mini games are useless, there is no point in any of them. There is nothing to do right or wrong. Each one of them will pass with or without attempt. The story is the whole point of this game. But is it enough? Could be. I loved STILL HEROES which is a Bande Dessinee (comic) with even less gamification. I also really like BEFORE YOUR EYES and SAYONARA WILD HEARTS. The problem here is that there is no way to get out of track. The illusion of free will disappears in 5 min. As the player, we can only do what the games tells us to do at any moment in time. Nothing else. We can sometimes dialogue less, but never more, there is nothing to do other than follow exactly what is asked to do. All doors or objects are shut down, except the only one we are told to open. What is the point then to make it a video game. If the same world was free to roam in, and discover the story by oneself, it would have been completely different. There is only 1 moment during which there is a choice to make and it has no impact whatsoever on what happens... Also, I feel like the story/game has a "message", but I am not even sure the authors know what they want it to be... I am sure the devs can learn from this game a make the next one perfect, where as the player, we play while they tell their stories.

It was a very cozy and devastating experience. Will always remember at least one of the singing mini games. 🙂

It makes you go "oh, actually games are art". Specifically a queer punk zine kind of art.

Going in blind I thought the game was going to just a fun, cozy island game but NO! it had so much much more. The game itself is not that long, but after getting acquainted to it, it takes you for a ride of different emotions. Some made me smile, some made me cry and some made me glad that i get to experience such a good story in such a short time. It has to be experienced to know how good and sweet this game is. Its that FRIGG-ing good. Do give it a try if you have a few hours to spare

Wtf the story... Fantastic graphics

Well, that was quite an experience! It wasn't what I was expecting; the colourful and cute graphics were a bit deceiving at first, to be honest. I'm glad it didn't disappoint me at all. I really liked the overall concept of telling a story about very personal stories. Granted, they are devastating. Be emotionally prepared to deal with some harsh topics, although the game manages to find some joy in those experiences. This is definitely not a game in the traditional sense, even though there are mini games scattered around which are a nice addition and fun enough. I enjoyed it a lot and it will probably stick in my mind for a while.

I went into this expecting some light-hearted little story game - I was wrong. It looks colorful and cozy but is actually quite morbid and dark, but a VERY entertaining story that hooked me quite a bit. I recommend it for exactly that, but not if you are looking for something chill with a silly story.