Draugen (2019)

Norwegian Film Institute (NFI), Red Thread Games

Main
3
hours
Main + Extra
3
hours
Platinum
5
hours

Draugen is a first-person psychological horror adventure, set amongst the deep fjords and towering mountains of Norway’s awe-inspiring west coast. The game is a dark and disturbing journey into the pitch black heart of Norwegian national romanticism, as seen through the eyes of an American nature photographer, botanist and entomologist.

About the story

Draugen is set in the early 1920s and delves into the deepest, darkest secrets of a remote fishing community where every single soul has mysteriously vanished. As the player explores the tiny settlement, gathering clues and memories, and unearthing the truth behind a terrible tragedy, they will learn more about the history of the village and its inhabitants. And they will come to see that behind even the most innocent of facades lurks the potential for malice. But there is more to this place than meets the eye. From time to time, a woman in black can be spotted in the distance. Who is she, and what is her connection to this place? Who is the little girl singing broken lullabies as the sky begins to darken? And when night falls, and those last few, precious drops of kerosene in the lamp feed a fragile, flickering flame, what hides out there in the darkness and in the cold, black sea?

Platforms

PC PS4 XONE

Genres

Adventure Indie Puzzle

Themes

Action Fantasy Historical Horror Mystery

Languages: English and 7 more

Interface Audio Subtitles
English
French
German
Spanish (Spain)
Russian
Norwegian
Japanese
Chinese (Simplified)

Critic Reviews

VGChartz

By Lee Mehr

50

Uneven storytelling and unexceptional gameplay makes this quaint Scandinavian mystery one you can a-fjord to miss.

16 Mar, 2020
LevelUp

By Víctor Rosas

80

As an immersive experience, Draugen is a pleasant surprise for those who seek to contemplate, explore and enter the reconstruction of a story of drama and tragedy. Although its limits are evident, Red Thread Games knew how to make the most of its resources, delivering a work that promises to be the beginning of great projects for the future. Graavik is a beautiful place, the soundtrack is impeccable and the story is very interesting, it is definitely an experience you have to live.

09 Mar, 2020
WayTooManyGames

By Heidi Hawes

55

It’s a shame because there are some really good elements in here and hints of a much stronger tale to be told. Maybe if it had been developed longer or had better funding, more of the story surrounding the village and its citizens would have been better fleshed out. The game itself is only about three hours long, so it could have definitely benefited from some extra chapters. As it stands, Draugen is a beautiful borefest that is better left abandoned.

28 Feb, 2020
TheSixthAxis

By Aran Suddi

80

Draugen might only last a few hours, but it leaves a lasting impression as you're drawn into the mystery of Graavik and the relationship between Edward and Alice. It can be a little overacted and you can see some story beats coming, but as a first person adventure title it is an enjoyable experience.

25 Feb, 2020
Push Square

By Liam Croft

40

Again, admiring its quaint, quiet beauty might be enough to convince those enthusiastic about its premise to give the game a shot, although what awaits them leads to disappointment.

19 Feb, 2020

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