Faraway: Puzzle Escape
Genres: Puzzle, Mystery, Story Rich, Adventure
Play modes: singleplayer
Release Date: 5-3-2021
Rating: 3/5
Developer: Pine Studio
Our verdict
6/10
- Difficulty: Easy
- Players: 1
- Playtime: 3–5 h
Faraway: Puzzle Escape is Pine Studio's PC director's cut of a popular mobile puzzler, pitched as a tribute to Myst. You explore 20 desert temples in first person, using odd devices and found items to open each one, with added voiceover and refreshed graphics for this version. It suits solo players who like calm, self-contained puzzle rooms over horror or co-op.
Players are split. Steam rates it Mixed, with about 56 of 83 reviews positive. One reviewer enjoyed hours of tricky and varied puzzles and an intriguing story; another, after many hours, found most puzzles very easy and the story too thin to make up for it. Tag votes lean towards casual, minimalist and relaxing, which fits the easier reading.
The mobile roots are the main caveat: the temples are short and self-contained, and those used to deeper PC puzzlers may find them simple. At five dollars it is a pleasant, low-stress series of puzzle rooms, best picked up on sale. Fans of tougher escape games should look at Escape Simulator or The Room series instead.
Pros
- 20 temple levels, each with its own device-based puzzles
- Calm desert setting suits relaxed play
- Low price for the amount of levels
Cons
- Some players find most puzzles too easy
- Story is thin despite the added voiceover
- Mobile origins show in short, simple levels
About
Faraway is a puzzle adventure game set in a mysterious desert. After the mobile version, which has been downloaded more than 5 million times, Faraway finally opens its door to PC gamers with this updated Director's cut version.
Ruled by an ancient civilization, this realm is packed with carefully constructed devices. Now with two extra levels, you can explore 20 unique temples filled with puzzles. To reveal all the secrets this place hides, you will have to explore it, find unusual items, solve perplexing puzzles, and prove your worth.
