This War of Mine

In this day and age, this game is a must. A welcome and gentler reminder, for those of us fortunate enough not to experience war first hand, about what war really entails for most of those who get embroiled in it. You get to witness people starving to death, girls being rounded up by shady military personnel for unspeakable ends, kids running from snipers to ensure their grandma can receive the medicine she needs to survive, even though she might die the next morning. Bleak, sure... but you also witness kindness and charity, and despite the struggle, you can feel hope. This is not a game to play mindlessly. You must let yourself get involved in the story - you must forget this is a game at all. It is a window into a reality most of us won't have (hopefully) to experience in real life. I've completed only single run successfully in this game, but every run I've lost reminded me of what real people, in real life, are experiencing around the world right now. And it touches your soul. It makes you feel for them... it makes you a better human. Even as the one I succeeded in came to its conclusion, I felt happiness and sadness, because as I came back to reality, I thought how this is the story of so many people around the world - how so many have suffered the same way, struggled the same way, and in the end, felt the same way when thinking about their neighbors, friends, and work colleagues who sadly didn`t make it through. Couldn't recommend this game enough. It deserves all the awards it has gotten and some more. "Through your arrogance and stupidity, you've opened these peaceful realms and innocent lives to the horror and desolation of war!" - Odin Allfather.

I understand why this game gets so much praise. And I also understand why some people bounce off it immediately. This isn’t something you play to relax. It’s something you experience… if you’re willing to sit with it. I don’t “enjoy” this game in the traditional sense. But I respect it. A lot. And I’ll probably go back to it… even if part of me really doesn’t want to.

It says 6 hours of play. It's a lie, I played probably closer to 50-60 hours on xbox. If for no other reason that the theme and tone of this game, I cannot recommend it enough. Too often in the gaming world we glorify and live out our fantasies as noble, yet violent heroes in a war against evil. I can't think of a single game that takes a peek at the unfortunate civilians stuck within a warzone. Enter "This War of Mine". Dark, morose, challenging, with moral questions abound of "Do I get involved and try to be a hero" or "Do I descend into desperation and steal from the innocent for my own preservation". It even touches on participation, where you choose whether to barter what meager goods you have with the military forces in your area. It's not a building or living sim, but more of a psuedo-simplistic colony/survivor sim where you build up your home defense during the day, and send out a single raider in the night to gather supplies. Sleep, protection, food, sickness, and depression/desperation are all factors that you need to manage for your tiny house amidst the war that rages around your little city. The personalities are simplistic but give a believable environmental tone, and if you really embrace the ambiance, gives a stark peek of war from the view of those who don't wage it, but live within it. Controls are easier with a controller vs. keyboard and mouse, but I'm entirely biased.