Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture

After 12.5 hours I have finished this and it is one of the best 'games' (experiences) I've ever participated in. It is so immersive and so beautifully created, with love (You can tell). Some don't like that you can't run, but that's okay, most people don't run in life as they go about their day so walking is what makes it immersive you see, in part. The voice acting is 10/10, the world you are in also. The story, if it was a piece of literature, would rival famous works of Literature. The soundtrack could make you love a genre (eerie and pure choirsong) you never loved before. The experience is a perfect length. It's one of the coolest games I'll ever play, for its story is that incredible. It's borderline horror and at the same time something borderline holy.
10/10

The slow walking isn't that bad. Yes, it could be 20% faster, the run button could be better. But, it isn't a very long game, and walking in the countryside isn't typically a fast pursuit. Play it in a few chunks and enjoy the setting and the musical interludes. Some of the tracks hit really nicely, there's a mix of choral-type songs and some more folkish fantasy type songs.
The settings are visually pleasant, with some nice atmospheric moments at the end of the chapters - I really liked Wendy's end sequence. Sometimes it feels cosy, sometimes eerie. The voice acting is clear and legible, you'll hear a range of different types of mostly ordinary rural British people (and an American). Some assets do get recycled a bit often and I'd have liked the memory figures to have more distinct forms but it is reasonably faithful to the time it's set in, 1984. There are a few small anachronisms but it's not too bad. I did also experience some microstutters.
The main plot reminds me a bit of the Witness, a little pie-in-the-sky, a little ambiguous in its ending. There's scifi-ish speculation on matters of metaphysics, belief, mortality, afterlife etc with a clear nod to chaos theory. I found the relational dynamics with the villagers and scientists more interesting. You can usually appreciate why they have the views they do, whether you agree or not.
Stephen was probably the most interesting in that I ended up taking against him quite a bit by the end. I could absolutely see why he would be considered brilliant, charismatic and attractive by some of the characters, but I distinctly didn't like some of the actions he took near the end of the game. He came across to me as somewhat sociopathic. And, you know, if he hadn't been there at all, maybe things would have turned out differently. But who really knows.
It is a little sad to see it all unfold, but it is a nice game. The achievements are a bit of a pain, I would consider ahead of time whether or not you want to do those. You can do it in two playthroughs but I preferred to play organically the first time so I had to do 3.5 runs (Backtracker bugged so I had to do that one on its own).

I cried just explaining this game, incredibly haunting story and visually stunning. The voice acting, the things the people who's story you follow go through.. 11/10 would bawl like a child again

Absolutely beautiful – the visuals, the music, the story, the melancholy. Cozy gaming for those who enjoys a bit of sadness.

This game is a masterpiece. The story is immersive, the atmosphere is great, the music by Jessica is phenomenal. The walking is a little slow but its not that bad if you hold down the brisk walk button. Please Chinese Room, make this game a VR experience

The visual and sound design is excellent, high production values.
The story is disturbing and sad, but good.
I beat the game in about 6 hours and that was taking my time to explore.

Main issue with the game is as a walking simulator, the walking could be a bit faster.
If you don't like this type of game it isn't going to change your mind but I found it enjoyable.
If you're depressed don't play this game.

Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is a visually stunning and unique narrative-driven experience that excels in atmosphere, storytelling, and emotional depth. Set in a beautifully realised English countryside, the game masterfully conveys its story through environmental storytelling, a haunting soundtrack, and a deep sense of isolation.
I first played this game on PlayStation 4 years ago, and it performed flawlessly, allowing me to fully immerse myself in its world. Naturally, I was excited to revisit it on PC, expecting an even better experience with improved visuals and performance. Unfortunately, the PC version is plagued with serious technical issues. Even on the lowest settings, the frame rate frequently drops from 60fps to as low as 15fps, making it frustrating to play. These stutters break immersion and hinder the otherwise breathtaking experience.
It’s a shame because Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture is a masterpiece that deserves to be enjoyed without technical limitations. If the developers were to release a patch to fix these issues, it would allow PC players to fully appreciate this incredible game the way it was meant to be experienced. Until then, I can only recommend it with the caveat that you may have to deal with performance problems.
Would love to see this game get the attention it deserves on PC!