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Play OverviewPlay Overview

When The Past Was Around (2020) is a short adventure puzzle game, where you point-and-click on items to gather clues, unlock doors and unravel an intriguing and emotive narrative. Without any words, it tells the tale of a young woman, Eda, and her love, the mysterious Owl man, in a surreal world consisting of disjointed rooms from memories and times past. The music from Eda's violin accompanies the story.

This whimsical and bittersweet game has themes of joy and pain, love and heartbreak, moving on and letting go, peaceful days and angsty moments. It's about losing your way on the journey to achieving your dreams, and the importance of overcoming your past.

You play by panning around different scenes to interact with doors, cupboards, boxes and so on. Along the way, you find clues and puzzle pieces that need to be solved to progress. As is the way with these games there are often some leaps of inspiration required to arrive at a solution. But throughout, the puzzles are logical and are woven into the narrative of the game.

The result is a short moving story about loss and love. You play an integral part in revisiting Eda's memories of meeting and falling in love with her Owl man. And by doing this you find you have also helped her come to terms with her loss and find a way forward.

Our examiner, Goran Wallgren, first checked When The Past Was Around 3 years ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 8 months ago.
Too complex for your family? There are lots of games similar to When The Past Was Around. Here are some easier younger-rated games:

Play StylePlay Style

This is a Narrative and Point-and-Click game with Adventure and Puzzle elements. This is a single-player game.

DurationDuration

Play Time: This game will take between 2 hours and 2 and a half hours to complete.

Age RatingsAge Ratings

Content Rating

This game has been rated PEGI 3.

The game deals with the growing illness and eventual death of a character. This isn't depicted gratuitously, but does use some visual and audible techniques to communicate the shocking loss of losing someone you love.

Skill Level

10+ year-olds usually have the required skill to enjoy this game. Younger players need to have really good observation skills and be willing to get stuck and keep trying. The emotive side of the game needs some maturity to engage with, as does the sometimes unsettling moments of loss.

CostsCosts

When The Past Was Around usually costs £6.69 to £7.39. 

When The Past Was Around

XBox Store Xbox One £7.09
PlayStation Store PS4 £7.39
Steam StoreSALE PC £6.69 £4.01 until 21/03/2024
Switch Store Switch £7.09
Steam StoreSALE Mac £6.69 £4.01 until 21/03/2024
There are no additional in-game purchases, loot boxes, adverts or subscription costs.

DetailsGame Details

Release Date: 22/09/2020, updated in 2020

Price: 40% off

Out Now: Mac, PC, PS4, Switch and Xbox One

Skill Rating: 10+ year-olds

Players: 1

Genres: Narrative, Point-and-Click (Adventure and Puzzle)

Accessibility: 9 features

Components: 2D Side-On and Hand-Made

Developer: Mojiken Studio (@MojikenStudio)


Taming Gaming Book Written by parents for parents, the database complements the in-depth discussion about video game addiction, violence, spending and online safety in the Taming Gaming book. We are an editorially independent, free resource without adverts that is supported by partnerships.

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