The Longing
In utter loneliness, miles below the surface, it is your task to... wait. For 400 days... in real-time.
What it feels like
Isolation and loneliness are definitional to the experience—waiting alone miles below the surface for 400 days is the entire premise. The vast real-time waiting period and idle structure naturally invite reflection and introspection. The solitude and long wait carry a wistful sadness that finds quiet beauty in the isolation.
What it's about
Complete solitude and being cut off from the world above are the central condition and subject. The underground world, the sleeping king, and what will happen upon awakening create central hidden truths to uncover. The 400-day wait and underground exploration form a transformative passage through time and space.
How it plays
The 400-day real-time countdown and juggling of activities against a ticking clock is the core structural loop. Adventure and puzzle elements are likely explored through point-and-click interaction with the environment. Puzzle gameplay is listed as a genre, likely integrated into exploration and world discovery.
How it looks and sounds
Steam tags explicitly mention hand-drawn art, confirmed as a visual signature of the game's aesthetic. As an underground solitary experience, the perspective is likely first-person exploration of the lonely depths. An idle/waiting game naturally strips away excess, relying on sparse, essential visual and mechanical elements.
How it's structured
The game is designed exclusively for solo play in complete isolation, with the loneliness of the single character as the core premise. Despite the 400-day real-time wait, most active play sessions are brief and bite-sized, suited for checking in periodically. The game has a defined narrative arc with a beginning and end—the countdown to the king's awakening—plus multiple endings based on player choices.
Kindred games
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Shares Lonely, Isolation, Branching Narrative, Multiple Endings.
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Shares Contemplative, Point-and-Click, Short Playtime, Branching Narrative.
Both lean into Single-Player, Contemplative, Point-and-Click, Branching Narrative.
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A lesser-known kindred — Lonely, Isolation, Branching Narrative, Multiple Endings. 98% positive across 4,955 Steam reviews.
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