Journey (2012) is an adventure game set in a desert. Exploring the eerie sandscape, you discover a world abandoned by the race that created it. The sense of space and scale evokes feelings of aloneness and being lost. But then the game pairs you with other players, one at a time, who appear on the horizon. You can communicate only using wordless chirps but it’s enough to create a camaraderie to take on the wild, vast landscape. This creates a beautiful journey from sand to snow and water that creates an unusual appreciation of help from unknown others.

The game works the emotions successfully and in unexpected ways. While the esoteric journey through the landscape inspires awe, the presence of another anonymous person creates surprising comfort.

Our examiner, Andy Robertson, first checked Journey 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 2 weeks ago.