Draugen is a single-player, first-person Fjord Noir tale of suspense and mystery, set in 1920s Norway. From the studio that brought you Dreamfall Chapters, and the creative team behind The Longest Journey and The Secret World, comes a first-person psychological mystery set in 1920s Norway. The year is 1923. You play Edward Charles Harden, an American traveller who's come to Norway to find his missing sister. But you're not alone: at every step of the way, Edward's accompanied by his ward, Lissie; a gregarious, independent and enigmatic young woman. Together, you must explore this scenic coastal community — nestled amongst the fjords and mountains of rural Norway — in your search for Edward's sister, and unearth the darkness that lies beneath the picturesque surface. "I am not alone": explore 1920s coastal Norway accompanied by a living, breathing, independent companion Interact with your companion, Lissie, through a realistic and dynamic dialogue system Experience a thrilling tale through the eyes of an increasingly unreliable narrator Find your own path through a scenic setting that changes with the weather and Edward's mental state "A story about what lies beneath": piece together a gripping narrative with unexpected twists and turns
Game Discussion
Steam User 5
On the whole I would recommend this game for the intriguing story, the general atmosphere/vibe, and quite honestly, its brevity. As many walking sims before it, it tells a neat little story through found objects and exploration, all while it keeps you pretty much on rails so that you can neither jump ahead nor miss a key moment. The companion character, Lissie, really sets the mood of the game and is what distinguishes this from other walking sims. By having a companion to talk to, Draugen can engage in a lot more exposition and draw out details of the protagonist, such as his history, the type of person he is, and what he is doing in a remote village in Norway, as well as the broader setting and period of the game (1923). The interaction with Lissie otherwise does such a good job at this that I visibly winced at the anachronism the moment I heard her call the protagonist a "Debbie Downer". If you have a few hours to spend and want to go through the story in a novel walking sim, I'd recommend Draugen.
Steam User 1
If you've come to read a review of Draugen, you probably already have an idea of what sort of game this is: that is, a member of the "moody, mysterious walking simulator" genre. For those who enjoy this type, Draugen is perfectly serviceable. Atmospheric, moody, visually beautiful and with exceptional voice acting. The story is by parts mysterious and tragic.
That said, the game gets in it's own way more than once. The use of a "sidekick" companion helps with the exposition, but also adds a lot of overly peppy chatter to the mix, which hampered the somber mood. The biggest story "surprise" was mostly obvious nearly from the start and is a well trod genre trope. The overall story was mysterious enough when experiencing it, but doesn't really hold up to detailed scrutiny or reflection. The emotional core of the story was also a bit cold, and didn't really resonate with me.
Overall, I recommend the game to those who have an interest in the genre, but if you're new to it, there are other entries that would be better place to start.
Steam User 6
First off, I think Draugen is kinda mediocre game. I'm leaning more towards the positive side, purely because of the stunning environment. The story takes place in a beautiful Norwegian fjord, during the 1920's. If Norway was a more common setting in video games, Draugen might not have been that impressive, but It really portrays Norway in a scenic and realistic way.
However I think the story is bland and predictable. You might not have the same experience as me, but I feel like I've experienced very similar stories in other movies and games done way better. I think the game would have greatly benefited by letting the players solve more of the mysteries by themselves, and encouraged more exploration beyond the paths you are "supposed" to follow.
Steam User 1
This game is one of my all-time favorite games. Yes, it is short - especially after you've played it 5 times, know how to do everything, and aren't going out of your way to get all the sketches for the achievement - at only 3-4 hours for a full playthrough, but each minute is so carefully crafted. It doesn't overstuff itself; the pacing is absolutely spot-on.
The complaint I see a lot of is that this game "isn't what I expected/wanted." Players wanted a detective story, the answers to their many questions, to find out what happened to the town of Graavik. But that's not the point of this game. Draugen is about mental illness, loneliness, overcoming your trauma, and the age-old question of whether there is purpose, fate, or a God out there. The mystery of Graavik is the disguise, the lie that Edward tells himself. If you finish this game still upset that you never find out what happened to Graavik, you bought into Edward's lie and you really don't understand what this story is meant to be.
This game is peace and thoughtfulness incarnate. 2 years in a row, Simon Poole (the composer) has been my top artist on Spotify and multiple of the songs from this soundtrack have been in my Top 5 Songs of both years. Draugen's soundtrack is my favorite soundtrack ever made; every song is unnerving yet tranquil and embodies the feeling of awakening to truth despite its harshness. The graphics are better than most recent AAA games, even though Draugen came out 5 years ago. I could sit on a bench on Day 2 watching a sketching cutscene for hours. Put on "A Goodbye to All the Things", close your eyes, and bathe in loveliness, infinity, and the warmth emanating from your heart.
Edward and Lissie are wonderfully rich characters. Their dynamic is one of my favorites that I've ever come across. Anxious, intelligent, and thoughtful Edward is a lovely protagonist, and it's enrapturing to watch him break down over the course of this game. You see such a wide range of emotions from him, and his reactions to the events of the game feel very real. Adventurous, sassy, and bitter Lissie is an accurate picture of a 17-year-old ward whose only company is her cautious, middle-aged guardian. She is filled with so much life and curiosity, with a sense of justice and morality that propels the plot of the game.
While this game is a "walking simulator," there are many moments that are genuinely terrifying on a first playthrough! You really have no idea what to expect as the game progresses. Jumpscares? Action scenes? Possible death? The music sets you on edge and the buildup of scenes makes you doubt yourself on your perception of the game. I find this to be a neat parallel to the story, which does the same thing. It twists and turns, sometimes you wonder if the entire game is about to change on you, and when you get to the end you can't help but go, "Wow! That's not what I expected!"
Anyways, if you're considering buying this game, DO IT!! It is so worth it. I will love this game forever and replay it annually. It never fails to hit me in the feels and reconsider everything in my life.
Steam User 1
It's a very beautiful game, so refreshing and the art is amazing. As a side note I wouldn't have inserted the conversationalist achievement because it's so tedious, maybe another form of collectables would have been more fun. Overall it's a great game
Steam User 2
This is a short adventure game that is well-written and keeps its pace without becoming tedious. For this genre, the plot is the most important part, and here it gives a complete story with just enough missing puzzle points leaving room for interpretation.
The visuals and especially the music should be praised as they create a great movie-like experience.
Play Draugen if you like games like What Remains of Edith Finch or The Vanishing of Ethan Carter.
Steam User 2
The visuals are great, with good gameplay. The story takes a bit of a weird turn at some point, getting a bit depressing. Eventually, there's somewhat of an unfulfilled feeling at the end. They've gotten more out of this game, but all thing considered not bad.