“Fairy King, attend and mark…”

The Longing

With the biting cold of winter upon us and darkness falling early each day, I find myself drawn towards games that reflect this period of quiet, restfulness, and restoration. The Longing, with its slow pace and emphasis on patience and exploration, is the perfect choice for such a season.

2020’s The Longing is the ideal recommendation for anyone looking for something slow and different with a touch of winter’s ancient magic upon it. This brooding point-and-click side-scroller puts you in control of a Shade, a small, gnome-like creature who finds itself ushered into existence by an ancient king. The king charges you with a straightforward task – awaken them from a magic sleep after 400 days so they can use their restored power to revitalise the underground kingdom you inhabit.

That’s it. Or so it seems.

You might be forgiven for thinking that – like most established gaming rules would tell you – the 400 days will pass faster than in reality. But not so. You have to actually wait for 400 days. In real time. So you could conceivably turn off the game, return over a year later, and see the ending.

But that would be boring, as there is so much to see and do in the fairy-like underground mountain realm the Shade inhabits.

The Longing’s primary theme is ennui, boredom, and a feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction. Faced with such a long wait, our poor shade must find ways to occupy its time in the King’s lonely, empty tunnels. This can be as simple as exploring and picking up items to stow away in the Shade’s cosy home. Or risk attracting the King’s ire when he awakes, by breaking into the treasure chamber or cutting glowing crystals from the walls for decoration.

And I have perhaps not been entirely truthful – time can speed up if you find ways to keep our main character busy…

Faced with such a long wait, our heroic shade has several options. One, to be a good servant, dutifully waiting for the King to awaken. Second, to take action to pursue their own freedom, and perhaps even seek a way to break free from the spiralling realm.

To see every inch of the underground realm and find every secret takes TIME. Time is the fundamental resource in the game. Do you want to travel from your cave to the other side of the map? Be prepared to wait while the Shade slowly plods along at the speed of a snail. Do you want to reach the other side of a cavern? You might have to return to the game in a month when a stalactite has deigned to drop from the ceiling to provide a bridge. Opening a door? That could take a few hours.

For many, this sounds like gaming hell. But for those who possess patience, The Longing presents a unique experience that will stay with you long after your journey is completed. And there are some genuinely stunning pre-rendered backgrounds and plenty of unexpected moments to encounter straight from the deepest folklore.

“They had heard tell and sing of dragon-hoards before, but the splendour, the lust, the glory of such treasure had never yet come home…”

The Longing is one of the most atmospheric and unique games I have ever played, with dramatic musical cues and a stunning visual style. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone looking for a break from fast-paced action games. The game’s visuals and music are truly captivating, making it a perfect choice for those seeking a moody winter gaming experience.