The Witness
Release Date: January 26, 2016
Puzzle, FPP, indie games, Meta Quest / Oculus, exploration games, VR, singleplayer
A first-person adventure game with logic puzzles, developed by the creator of Braid – Jonathan Blow and his independent studio Number None. The game takes you to a large, mysterious island, whose all inhabitants vanished without a trace. Gameplay has you explore this vast world, solve logic puzzles, and search for clues that will help you solve the mysteries of this place. Game mechanics resemble the cult Myst series.
The Witness for PC, PS4 and etc. is a first-person adventure game that puts emphasis on solving puzzles, which is similar in this regard to the classic logic-adventure games series entitled Myst. It was created by independent studio Number None founded by Jonathan Blow, who previously developed one of the most interesting logic platform games in recent years – namely Braid, released in 2008. Initially, the title was designed for different platforms, of both current and past generation, but ultimately it came out for PC and PlayStation 4, and a couple of months later also on mobile devices.
Story
The game is set on a pretty large island, which you can explore freely in search of puzzles to solve. The island is very mysterious and, despite many traces of someone’s presence, seems completely deserted. As you find more clues (e.g. audiologs) hidden here and there, and solve various new logic puzzles, you learn more about the place itself and the island’s secrets.
Gameplay
The Witness uses FPP view, and the gameplay focuses on exploration (on foot or by boat) of every nook and cranny of the island, finding various hints, and solving logic puzzles in order to lower a bridge, activate a mechanism, open a door, etc. Similarly to the aforementioned Myst games, The Witness for PC, PS4 and etc. requires logical thinking from the player, but there's more. As you explore the island, you have to prove to be remarkably patient, observant, and able to connect seemingly unrelated elements of the story. Many things here have a secret meaning, and the key symbols, hints and markings that let you push the plot forward are smartly hidden within the game’s environment. What makes things even more difficult is the fact that there is no hint system for the player, so you can only count on yourself.
Technology
Unlike Number None’s first game, which was fully 2D, The Witness for PC, PS4 and etc. offers simple, but very charming 3D graphics. What's more, using first-person perspective allows for even greater immersion in the game’s atmosphere.
Last updated on November 18, 2015
Last Update: September 8, 2016
The Witness Game Guide & Walkthrough
This guide for The Witness will provide you with all information necessary to complete this difficult logic game. Simple solutions to puzzles is not the only thing that you will find here.
February 3, 2016
The Witness review – the Darks Souls of puzzle games
Colorful graphics, couple of hundred of riddles, narration through environment, and, at times, extremely high level of difficulty is the Braid's author's recipe for the perfect logic game. But such a meal my not be digestible for every player.
Videos and Screens
[1:22] The Witness trailer #2
[1:58] The Witness trailer #1
Gamepressure Review
The Witness
Colorful graphics, couple of hundred of riddles, narration through environment, and, at times, extremely high level of difficulty is the Braid's author's recipe for the perfect logic game. But such a meal my not be digestible for every player.
GamesBeat: 70 / 100 by Mike Minotti
I admire a lot about The Witness. It is a beautiful game. It is a clever game. It is a big game. But all of its elements, mazes, exploration, and philosophy didn't really come together to express some greater theme. Unless I was meant to question why I hurt my brain to solve a series of difficult mazes for no real award.
VideoGamer: 10 / 10 by Tom Orry
I'm so caught up inside the world of The Witness that it's hard to think about anything else. It is one of the best games I've ever encountered.
Shacknews: 7 / 10 by Ozzie Mejia
The Witness is an intentionally simple game to grasp, but enjoyment almost feels proportional to patience. These puzzles are absolute brain-breakers, so anyone that doesn't have the patience for them will get no enjoyment out of The Witness. I was certainly on the verge of being one of those people, but exploring the sheer beauty of the island and learning more about its central mystery turned out to make returning worthwhile.
The main pros of the game
- Innovative Puzzle Design: Many users praised the unique and clever design of the puzzles, highlighting the depth and variety involved in the mechanics of connecting dots and discovering rules.
- Visual and Environmental Aesthetics: The game is frequently described as visually stunning, with meticulous attention to detail in its environment, which enhances the overall experience.
- Engaging Exploration: Players enjoyed the sense of exploration and discovery on the island, as well as the satisfaction that comes from solving challenging puzzles.
- Length and Replayability: Several reviews mentioned the substantial amount of gameplay (20+ hours) and the potential for replaying to uncover all puzzles, making it a worthwhile investment for puzzle enthusiasts.
The main cons of the game
- Lack of Guidance: Many users found the game frustrating due to its minimal instructions and hints, leading to confusion and sometimes tedious gameplay as they navigated unknown mechanics.
- Repetitiveness: Some players noted that the puzzles could become repetitive over time, with similar mechanics being reused, which detracted from the overall freshness of the experience.
- Absence of a Compelling Narrative: Several reviews criticized the game for its lack of a meaningful story, with only scattered philosophical quotes that did not contribute to a cohesive narrative.
The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users
- Better Instruction and Hints: Players expressed a desire for clearer explanations of game mechanics and symbols to reduce frustration and enhance the learning experience.
- More Achievements: Some users felt that the game could benefit from additional achievements to provide more goals and incentives for completion.
- Accessibility Options: A few reviews pointed out the lack of accessibility features, which could make the game challenging for players with color blindness or other sensory sensitivities.
- A More Engaging Storyline: While some appreciated the philosophical elements, many felt that a stronger narrative or more engaging story would have improved the overall experience.
Summary
- Overall, "The Witness" is recognized as a beautifully crafted puzzle game that offers a unique experience but may not appeal to everyone due to its difficulty, lack of guidance, and minimal narrative.
Summary generated on:
GAMERS Score
Average score from 3954 votes. 982 players anticipated the game.
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The Witness Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows January 26, 2016
PlayStation 4 January 26, 2016
Xbox One September 13, 2016
Android OS January 16, 2017
Apple iOS September 21, 2017
PlayStation 3 cancelled
Xbox 360 cancelled
Developer: Thekla, Inc.
Publisher: Thekla, Inc.
The Witness System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: Dual Core 1.8 GHz, 4 GB RAM, graphic card Intel HD 4000 or better, 4 GB HDD, Windows 7
Recommended: Dual Core 2.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 3 GB GeForce GTX 780 or better, 4 GB HDD, Windows 7
Xbox 360
Supports: Xbox Live
PlayStation 3
Supports: PlayStation Network
PlayStation 4
Supports: PlayStation Network
The Witness For Free on Epic Games Store
Beginning with today, Epic Games Store users will be given free access to The Witness, an FPP adventure game with logic elements from developer Thekla.
special offers
Milosz Szubert
April 4, 2019
Oxenfree Available For Free on Epic Store, Followed by The Witness
Oxenfree is now available for free on Epic Games Store. The title joins the list of games that were made available during the ongoing special offer of Epic Games.
special offers
Jacob Blazewicz
March 21, 2019
The Witness is launching today and getting smashing reviews
Braid developer’s new game is now out on PlayStation 4 and is going to launch on PC in several hours. The Witness is also coming to iOS and other platforms some time later.
video games
January 26, 2016