Forgotten Fields, or as I like to call it - Walking Simulator: Existential Crisis - is not a game you will ever see on top 10 lists, but that doesn't really matter. It exists in the crack between today's gaming industry and something much quieter, more personal. This is a meditation on leaving childhood, on slow summer days, and on how nostalgia can be both pleasant and sad at the same time. We play as Sid, a writer with a creative block, which is quite meta, as it seems the developers experienced the same thing when writing the dialogues.
The game is slow. Not just slow, but soothingly contemplative, as if it's trying to hypnotize you into stopping playing. Controls? Like trying to manage ice cream on a hot summer day. Dialogues? Like reading posts from a high school philosopher on social media.
However, it cannot be denied that it has a strange, charming atmosphere. Yes, it technically creaks, but beneath that creaking, there is heart. And perhaps even (shyly) a soul. The narrative is not perfect, nor is the execution, but the emotional honesty breaks through all the technical flaws. It reminds us that video games do not always have to be escapism. They can be a mirror of ourselves or even a farewell letter.
Forgotten Fields is a small reminder that there are still creators who believe that games can be personal, quiet conversations between the creator and the player. In conclusion, this game is recommended for those seeking meaning, not spectacle.
A copy of the game for review purposes was provided by the publisher Nejcraft
