When the Past Was Around

"When The Past Was Around is a beautiful game by Mojiken about love, loss, and life. Through art and music we discover the love story of Eda and Owl, putting pieces together scene by scene by solving puzzles. It&s;s a …"

"When the Past was Around conveys a whirlwind of emotions through its combination of award-winning violin music and hand-drawn art. It’s a compelling journey into the thoughts of Eda, the main character, as she processes a devastating personal loss. There’s …"

"When the Past was Around is a poignant journey, and if point-and-click puzzles are your jam, then I would recommend this one for your Switch library. Cherish the time you have, for it is precious and fleeting."

"I love love stories but When the Past Was Around couldn&s;t completely catch me on this journey to the past. The puzzles are just too inconsistent in their difficulty."

"With such a touching story, it would be hard not to get emotionally involved. A brilliantly balanced puzzle game that plays second fiddle to a mournful plot that takes you on a journey of discovery. Do I recommend it? Absolutely, …"

"If you’re a hopeless romantic like me that loves to have their heart shattered into hundreds of pieces over a thought-provoking story, When the Past Was Around is exactly what you’re looking for."

"When The Past Was Around may be brief, but its splendid artwork, beautiful music and memorable story will stick with you long after you wrap it up."

"What start as very simple hidden object brain-teasers eventually progress to multi-scene puzzles, where items you collect serve more than one function. The puzzles never get hard per se, but they are immensely satisfying all the same, especially the more …"

"When The Past Was Around is the lovely bookend to 2020 for me; when coupled with January’s Coffee Talk, I’m reminded that there are plenty of cozy games that provide extreme comfort no matter what their genre. While I do …"

"When the Past was Around is a well-made point-and-click adventure. The music and visuals contribute to the captivating, if abstract, tale. The puzzles are just right in terms of difficulty, although the game could be a little longer overall, making …"

"Short and beautiful, When the Past was Around tells a pretty story of love and grief in an accessible and light manner."

"With a unique hand-drawn art style and some unusually inventive point-and-click puzzles When the Past was Around definitely stands out from the crowd..."

"If you enjoy quiet and reflective games like Florence, as well as indulging in a bit of puzzle-solving, you’ll undoubtedly find something to like in When the Past Was Around. Its narrative never fully delivers, however, and its bizarre choice …"

"Whether due to its miserly length or disjointed puzzles, Mojiken&s;s exploration of loss is already distant in my mental rearview mirror."

"When The Past Was Around tells a story without uttering a single word of dialogue, using simple but beautiful music and a masterful, unique art style to communicate it."

"If you&s;re looking for a great indie title to while away a sombre afternoon, look no further."

"When The Past Was Around is a short and quite cathartic experience about loss and letting go of the past by cherishing every memory we have made with our loved ones. The art style is one of the most beautiful …"

"When the Past was Around is a meaningful point and click journey. Its puzzles are more than improvable, but the soundtrack and the atmosphere are captivating."

"Despite its few flaws, When The Past Was Around tells a beautiful love story through simplistic mechanics and themes. The only thing that gets in the way is puzzle pacing at the end, which breaks the formula in an uncomplimentary …"

"A dream-like point-and-click story of love and grief told through memory vignettes, When The Past Was Around is memorable but when you can finish it in a few hours, it feels oh so fleeting."

"When the Past was Around is a point and click puzzle game that succeeds in getting the player emotionally invested in its bittersweet tale of love and loss. Eda&s;s tale of grief for a lost partner is wonderfully told in …"