Journey - Story Explanation and Analysis

If you haven't played this game yet, please play it before watching this video. It will only take you an hour... an hour and a half maybe... to complete it. I still remember the first time I played it, and all the emotions that welled up in me right before the end credits. Please don't forbid yourself of that possible experience.

I've held off on tackling this game for a while, even though it is one of my favorites. Unlike other games that cry out for you to interpret them, I think this game works so well because it tries to keep its inherent meaning shrouded in mystery. By doing this, it forces the player to project their own life experiences onto the events of Journey, and this results in an experience that is intensely personal to the player.

Nevertheless, I decided to give it a try. Please go easy on me. :)

[Rekaert]

Jumped in to find the last scarf upgrade I was missing, fully intending to log out straight after that. Met a fellow wanderer and ended up playing though the entire game again, because I didn't want to leave them.

That's Journey.

[peachezprogramming]

I kept playing and playing because I didn’t want to leave my partner alone

[angolano]

I remember I was sad af when a person who was playing with me for a long ass time left😢

[SNIPEDBYAMI]

the first time completing it i tought the other toon that sticked with me was a npc. hooked after i knew it was another person

[mikes]

Who's here after Journey was made a free game on the PS4? Haha. great game. More of an experience really.

[erikconfirmed]

I remember when I first played journey and got the point at the end of the game where you run into the light that I wasn't alone but someone else somewhere in the world was doing the same thing together with me. To experience the end or rather this transition of the journey with someone else was such unique and touching moment for me :)

[oscar-cmrc]

I want to add something to this already several-month-old video. Into an aspect of the game that seems to reinforce the Buddhist interpretation.

I want to mention the player's ability to unlock the white robe.

If the player manages to collect all of the scarf upgrades in the game, they will unlock the "Transcendence" trophy.

This unlocks the white robe, as opposed to the default red robe that you normally play as. After getting the trophy, you have the option to put the white robe on at the start of the game. (In the stage select area) Upon wearing it, your scarf/cape will be longer, and will automatically regenerate when on the ground. It also depletes more slowly when flying.


Your interpretation that the red cloth symbolizes the Logos (Word of God) definitely seems to be reinforced by this feature in the game.

Every time you collect a scarf upgrade in the game, it makes your scarf longer, meaning that you can fly for longer, and therefore, are able to fly farther and higher.
Therefore, it's like you are collecting the Words of God.
The collectibles even look like Logos. Not Logos in the context of Words of God, but Logos as in symbols! (Just thought that was an interesting connection)

Upon collecting every single one of the Logos, you unlock the "Transcendence" trophy. I think the name simply speaks for itself here.
As I said earlier, this mechanic seems to reinforce the Buddhist interpretation of the game.


Collecting all of the Logos is Journey's equivalent to achieving Nirvana, or 'Spiritual enlightenment.'
Nirvana is the final release from the eternal cycle of life, death, and suffering. Upon achieving Nirvana, one no longer needs to be reincarnated, for they have uncovered and understood the "noble truths" or in your interpretation: The Logos.
This is why the trophy is titled "Transcendence."
To quote Google's definition:
"(In Buddhism) A transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth."

After finishing the game, the player is "reborn" or "reincarnated" only to repeat the game again. Just like the Buddhists' beliefs on the cycle of life.

You might be thinking "Well, if unlocking the "Transcendence" achievement is the game's equivalent of reaching Nirvana, then why is the player still reincarnated after beating the game, even when they've unlocked this achievement? Wouldn't the cycle end?"

In the beliefs of the Buddhists, there are people who achieve Nirvana, but delay it, instead opting to continue the cycle of reincarnation. Why do they do this? Out of compassion. They choose to continue on the cycle of rebirth and suffering so that they can guide others on their journey to reach Nirvana as well. These people are called Bodhisattvas.

It does make a lot of sense now, doesn't it? Upon collecting all of the Logos, the player becomes a Bodhisattva.
You can replay the game, show other players where all of the Logos are hidden, and help them achieve Nirvana as well.
Upon unlocking the White Robe, the player's new goal isn't to beat the game, but to guide other players through the game (or through life) and help them achieve the "White Robe" state as well.

[jesse]

I saw it in more of a Buddhist way, in that their craving for power lead to them harming all other life, and ultimately themselves

[emilycrow]

Coming from a design and art perspective, the scarf, and character, are red because it stands out and contrasts nicely with the environments. For a game that emphasises vastness, it's important to have a feature that ensures the player doesn't lose the character in that environment. The mountain is simply climatic adversity, which is why it ends emphasizing the snow. Winter is a trope metaphor for being the end of a cycle.

[fluttershy]

I always felt Journey to be a sacred game. To me it captured the fundamental meaning of religion and a connection of something bigger.

[zianeriaaka.frostbite]

When it comes to your partner, the game is very beautiful. I played this game for the first time yesterday and I had no idea I would have a companion through out my journey. While there were several places that I had gotten lost, they were patient and waited for me to find them. I noticed that their cloth has more symbols on it which lead me to believe that they were my guide through the world to show me where I needed to go. When it comes to the red cloth creatures being the messiah, I believe that the one with more symbols on their cloth are the others guide. To help them free themselves which allows the other player to help others. This game was so beautiful and I am glad I was paired with a partner that had shown me through it.

[ChallengerNetwork]

I just played Journey for the first time today, and it was a beautiful experience. I met a traveler not soon after the first altar, I just didn't know it until they pinged me to follow them. We started to communicate back and forth with each other, eventually giving each other the ability to fly in formation. They were very helpful in pinging for artifacts to extend our time in flight, but the trials that awaited us made me care even more when I screwed up by accidentally getting ourselves spotted, but only he was scooped up and his scarf was torn. I stood by him to make sure he and I would make it through, even in the bitter cold near the end, we pinged each other to keep warm and survive more of those creatures lurking around. We eventually made it to the end, and I was thankful to have such a faithful companion alongside me.

[cycleoffire]

You actually on point with Religious syncretism theory. The concept of Journey
is based on famous structure called the Monomyth (or the Hero's Journey). It was discrabed by one of the most profound Jung's followers professor Joseph Campbell in his book - "The Hero with a Thousand Faces". In the monomyth, the hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.

Campbell and other scholars, such as Erich Neumann, describe narratives of Gautama Buddha, Moses, and Christ in terms of the monomyth.

He describes 17 stages of the journey.
The stages may be organized in a number of ways, including division into three "acts" or sections:

-Departure (also Separation),
-Initiation (sometimes subdivided into IIA. Descent and IIB. Initiation) and
-Return.

In the departure part of the narrative, the hero or protagonist lives in the ordinary world and receives a call to go on an adventure. The hero is reluctant to follow the call, but is helped by a mentor figure.

The initiation section begins with the hero then traversing the threshold to the unknown or "special world", where he faces tasks or trials, either alone or with the assistance of helpers.

The hero eventually reaches "the innermost cave" or the central crisis of his adventure, where he must undergo "the ordeal" where he overcomes the main obstacle or enemy, undergoing "apotheosis" and gaining his reward (a treasure or "elixir").

The hero must then return to the ordinary world with his reward. He may be pursued by the guardians of the special world, or he may be reluctant to return, and may be rescued or forced to return by intervention from the outside.

In the return section, the hero again traverses the threshold between the worlds, returning to the ordinary world with the treasure or elixir he gained, which he may now use for the benefit of his fellow man. The hero himself is transformed by the adventure and gains wisdom or spiritual power over both worlds.

This repetative narrative represents Man's intuitive striving for spiritual development and progression through confronting his inner fears and patterns.

P.S. Interesting fact - most of soundrtack names refers to stages of Hero's Journey:

01. Nascence
02. The Call
03. First Confluence
04. Second Confluence
05. Threshold
06. Third Confluence
07. The Road of Trials
08. Fourth Confluence
09. Temptations
10. Descent
11. Fifth Confluence
12. Atonement
13. Final Confluence
14. The Crossing
15. Reclamation
16. Nadir
17. Apotheosis
18. I was Born for This

[aromlevoful]

Last night I was playing through the entire game for the third or so time, I met a partner at the first level, we were collecting stuff for achievements and whatnot. Stuck together the whole time but then right at the windy part before the summit he fell down and disappeared, I felt like a close friend had died. This game is amazing.

[NRobbi]

Journey was my first ever sand-type game. Thanks Kojima.

[wisteriablossom]

After years of Journey existing, I finally played it. I realize now that Journey can be anything; It can be a metaphor for life, lore to do with religion, or simply a Journey. I love the game so much! It makes me feel at home.

[elessal]

grat explanation. and for those who don't want him to ruin the game with explanations... no one is forcing you to watch these videos.

[xsparik]

Isn't it wonderful that a hardly 2 hour of game can give you a lifetime of memory that you'd always want to cherish.

[mmorpgkitty]

When I first saw those grave shaped stones I thought to myself "oh no" because I was hoping I was wrong. Then I finished the game and went "O H N O"

[squeegeeboard]

I interpreted a cautionary tale about preserving the environment. The culture first had a good relationship with the red cloth things, co-existing with them. Eventually they began to abuse them, and use them strictly for their own gain. Then the dragon things showed up and destroyed their society, leaving them to sand. Also, I wanted to mention something I experienced while playing through Journey. I was at the mountain and my friend who was accompanying me was attacked by the stone dragon and lost all their cloth. I didn’t want to move on without them, and I wanted to look for a scarf ball thing so they could proceed with me, but there was none to be found. It was an actually sad moment, and I did cry a bit. I just found that a very beautiful and meaningful moment.