When the Past was Around
The game tells a bittersweet tale between a girl and her lover in a surreal world consisting of disjointed rooms from memories and time. With each gathered clue, solved puzzles, and unlocked door, the girl will find her way, unraveling the secrets between her and her lover, the secrets which she used to know. A picture speaks a thousand words. Experience the game’s story not through words nor dialogues but beautifully hand-drawn art created by famous Indonesian artist, Brigitta Rena. A short, sweet and whimsical journey. Explore a bittersweet tale between a girl and her lover in a surreal world consisting of disjointed rooms of memories and time. Personal and ubiquitous. a game about overcoming the past and finding the self. Solve brain-teasing puzzles. Various intriguing puzzles to solve and stories to uncover. Let the music guide you. Atmospheric violin music will accompany you from the peaceful days to the angstiest moments
Game Discussion
Steam User 83
The past is a place to learn from, not to live in.
Steam User 26
This game made me feel like I was the one who lost a lover... it's gonna stick with me for quite awhile
100/10 recommend, especially if you're an emotional masochist like myself
Steam User 21
I was really enjoying this cute little game and then someone broke into my house and starting chopping onions..
Steam User 16
I think I'm way too sensitive and emotional when it comes to letting go of someone, I mean, who doesn't?
If I can describe this game: like all the things, it ends too soon but never leaves u.
Steam User 17
I got this game in a Valentine's Humble Bundle, saw it had good ratings and went in blind, assuming it'd be a dating sim like the others in the bundle. Boy was I wrong. This is a story about loss and all the fun that entails: grief, supressing memories, blocking emotions, and so on. I was not expecting it at all, and the thing is, last summer I lost my dear life companion and I'm so, so, sooo far from done grieving. It caught me by surprise, had me in tears all throughout once I realised what was going on, especially **SOFT SPOILER ALERT** at the end, during the "rushed" struggle with the meds. It really hit too close to home.
Anyway, it's a beautiful -albeit short- story. I finished the game in like 2 hours (although I did leave it running between breaks, and thus the 6 hour record). Cool Japanese vibes too... reminded me of 'The Girl from the Other Side' manga, for some reason. I highly recommend playing it.
Steam User 11
Beautiful game with beautiful art, but puzzles aren't as intuitive as they should be at some points in the story. The message is nice, but the game failed to make me feel things as I thought it would, and the puzzles were annoying sometimes. I felt like there should have been more care with the actual gameplay instead of only art/soundtrack/story (or less puzzles if they wanted to focus 100% on the story). It felt a bit like a school project when two people work separately then copy paste everything on word.
I'm still giving it a thumbs up because of the amazing art and the fact that the game deals with grief, which is not something you find everyday, but I really wish it had captivated me more.
Steam User 12
When The Past Was Around is a beautiful and heart-wrenching tale of love and loss.
When a game can tell you a story without a single dialogue line and pulls at your heart strings while you simply solve puzzles and observe the environment, you know it's a game done right. The music and art compliment the story perfectly; while relaxing, it's also very sad, yet absolutely beautiful at the same time. Your heart will undoubtedly break while experiencing this story.
Overall, if you enjoy puzzles and point-and-click games but also want to experience an emotional story, I highly recommend this.