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| Journey: I'm Not Crying, You Are! |
Platforms - PC/IOS/PS3/PS4/PS5
How Long To Beat
I am sure you have all probably played Journey by now, and you might remember how it leaves you jittery with emotion.
But, let me jog your memory.
In Journey, you're dumped into a desert as a floating scarf wizard.
No dialogue.
No tutorial.
Not even a passive-aggressive pop-up telling you how to jump.
Just a robed figure, some sand dunes, and a glowing mountain in the distance screaming, “Oi mate, that’s your destination.”
Sounds like bollocks, yeah?
Nope, it works, very well.
Wait, Was That a Metaphor?
Journey is not a subtle game. It’s basically screaming, “THIS IS ABOUT LIFE, YOU IDIOT,” at you the whole time, but in a beautiful, poetic way, so you don’t mind. Birth, death, struggle, connection, rebirth. It's all there, dressed up in sand and scarf physics.
You start alone, crawling through the metaphorical wasteland of existence. Then someone else shows up. No name, and no voice. Just a chirpy little bastard hopping next to you like some sort of spiritual hummingbird, and suddenly you care about them more than people you've known for years.
And when you reach the final stretch, struggling together, falling over, and barely moving forward, it will hit you: this game is your entire bloody life.
You’re born, you journey, you suffer, you bond, and then you ascend, or die. Hard to tell, but either way, you end up glowing and flying.
The game is basically saying: You’re welcome. That was your free therapy session.
Gameplay Without the Game-y Bits
Journey is a barebones game.
You move, you jump, you chirp. That's it. No combat. No health bar. No gear to upgrade. Just floaty traversal and magic carpet physics.
It sounds boring, but somehow, it’s mesmerising. There’s something about the simplicity that makes it elegant. You’re not distracted by sidequests or loot, you’re just in it.
Every movement feels meaningful, and every step pushes you closer to something, even if you’re not sure what.
And because it's so stripped down, it’s impossible for anyone to screw up.
You can’t die.
You can’t “fail.”
You just experience.
It's like a walking meditation, but without all the smug yoga instructor vibes.
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| Journey is a simple game, but oh so elegant. |
Why the Hell Does This Even Work?
You’d think a game with literally three controls and no enemies would be as dull as watching paint dry on a desert rock. But no, Journey manages to hook you in with what feels like magic.
It’s not about winning or losing. It’s about being.
And that’s a weird concept for a game, right? We’re so used to constant objectives, leveling up, grinding for loot, or blowing stuff up, that when a game just says, “Nah, just walk and feel” it messes with your head a bit.
Every time you jump, float, or chirp, it feels like you’re part of this beautiful dance with the world, and the world’s responding.
The scarf length mechanic is genius. It’s like a power-up, but instead of making you stronger, it makes you more graceful. And grace is an underappreciated stat in gaming.
And because you can’t die, there’s no stress.
Just peace.
And if you want to stop mid-run and stare at some crumbling ruins or beautiful sand formations, you’re free to just soak it all in.
Journey Is Zen (But In a Cool Way)
Pros
- Short & Sweet: Done in under 3 hours, perfect for a lunch break session or post-work existential meltdown.
- Emotionally Impactful: No dialogue, yet somehow more emotionally effective than 3 seasons of The Witcher.
- Stunning Visuals: Feels like you’re controlling a painting.
- Immersive Score: The music is beautiful.
- Zero Nonsense: No menus, no crafting, no “Kill 10 lizards for no reason.”
Cons
- Zero Replay Incentive: Once you’ve reached spiritual enlightenment, it’s hard to top.
- A Bit Up Itself: Let’s be honest, it knows it’s profound.
- You Might Cry: Not great if your fragile emotional state is already hanging by a thread.
Journey is a playable piece of art that somehow punches you in the heart. It’s elegant, moving, and mercifully short, making it a goldmine for is busy gamers who want depth without a 400-hour commitment.
Is it a game? Sort of.
Is it worth your time? Absolutely.
Will it make you reevaluate your entire existence? Quite possibly.
And because I am nice, here's a gameplay video from YouTube for you to watch. (Not my video)
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