One of the most profound experiences in gaming | Journey

What if a game could make you feel deeply connected to a stranger. A stranger that you don’t even have a real way to communicate with.

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Journey has been out for a decade, but I recently went into it blind, not even knowing what gameplay looked like. All I knew was its great reputation.

Once started, I was given zero instructions on what to do. But it seemed like I was supposed to go towards this looming mountain in the distance.

The environment was desolate, but, eventually, I ran across another character that looked just like mine.

At first, I thought it was an NPC, but I started to think, wait, could this be another person, also playing this game?

We had no way to talk to each other, but it was soon clear, we were on this journey together.

It was an oddly profound connection that I’ve never experienced before, especially from a video game.

We shared a silent bond and supported each other through each of the game’s challenges.

Journey is a short and simple game, but through breathtaking visuals, evocative music, and subtle environmental storytelling, the game urges you to contemplate your own journey in life and, most importantly, the connections you forge along the way.

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[GameandGig]

I know I’m super late to this game, but I still really wanted to share my experience. If you haven’t played Journey, I absolutely recommend it. It 100% holds up!

[_Umbrael_]

I still remember playing this game when I was a kid. I remember near the end, where you have practically infinite scarf flying, I somehow lost my partner and started crying because I couldn't find them anywhere. Eventually my mom, whom was in the room, convinced me to keep going, so I did. And there at that rivet in the mountain, standing just before the bright light beyond, was my partner, waiting for me. When I caught up to them, we walked into that bright light together.

I've never had anything make me feel so connected to a stranger before or since then.

[kajusia]

you cannot believe how shocked i was when i found out that the other character i was playing with was not an npc but a real person.

[Mirvra]

Best part is that your companion was an experienced player as denoted by their cloak's embroidery, that instantly understood the assignment of staying with you for the full journey XD

[rigure]

Once I was with someone super quiet and kept honking at them like the annoying child. They seemed very chill😂

[NexodoYT]

The same company who made Journey, made another game:
Sky: Children of the light
Is very similar (no talking, good graphics)
Is a work of art
THANKS FOR THE 1K+ LIKES ITS SO MUCH 😱😱😱

[kcvriess]

As someone who avoids MP games like the plague. The MP aspect in this game is truely magical. No competitiveness, just shared exploration and wonder.

[littleleakyleakythere]

I am so so lucky because I had one person with me through my whole journey, and they were streaming on twitch. So I can go back and watch our game any time I want

[HydesHoney]

I can’t imagine playing this without my companion. My first playthrough was so memorable because my companion had a white robe and basically guided me everywhere. We found all the secrets. They played along with me and got me to sit with them for achievements I didn’t even know of.

They even got me in an out of bounds area 😂

At the end, I ran around them, drawing a heart in the snow because they made my journey so wonderful and fantastic and it was bittersweet to leave my silent friend.

I was able to get the white robe and I’d guide others, just like my first companion taught me. I nearly cried when someone else drew a heart around me at the end of the game… the same way I did to my first companion.

God this game is such a masterpiece ❤❤❤

[tallismarlowe]

journey is somewhat replicated through thatgamecompany's mmo called sky: children of the light. it's super easy to get into and has a massive community. it's a little more game-like, whereas journey is more focused on immersion, but the social aspects of sky are just groundbreaking to the point where it's been studied (bisberg et al., 2022, proceedings of the acm on human-computer interaction). it has an incredibly unique culture in that players are encouraged and even rewarded for both exploration and socialization. the music and the environmental story telling play just as big of parts in sky as they do in journey. i've been playing it since 2019, and only got journey a few months ago, but both of them are some of my favourite games. 10/10 would absolutely recommend, but try to avoid the krill.

[SanshiNicto]

Now you should try Sky children of the light if you enjoy Journey 😊❤

[exit]

Still the most memorable experience I've had in gaming was in Journey. There was no clear indication or clue that it it was possible, but conpletely by accident, a stranger and I discovered that if timed correctly, you could use the singing to fly. We managed to skip the entire tower platform puzzle by flying to the top. At the end of the game, when it tells you who you played with, we sent each other messages telling each other how amazing that was. We're still friends over ten years later.

[CRWSYU]

Veterans of journey and veterans of sky: children’s of the light must be proud of the evolution

[abandoned__]

i first played the game on ps4 as a kid with my mum, and i remember coming back to it every christmas to travel with a stranger. every moment felt beautiful and meaningful. thatgamecompany has a history of great games, and they really hit the mark with Journey, and has continued to fuel that fire with the release of Sky: Children of the Light

beautiful game. cherish your loved ones

[cosmonautics]

Journey is my favorite game of all time, finding someone random and managing to finish the game with them is the most profound and magical things I’ve ever experienced in a game.

[paircear]

I remember playing Sky: Children of the light. And ended up playing the whole game with 2 other people.

[jeevesss]

Im a huge Journey fan. Ive even got a Traveler plushie and a Journey art giclee by creative director Matt Nava on my wall! Amazing game.

[Creatureofclay]

Whoever climbed the mountain with me at the end, I hope you’re doing well.

[keshidsu]

Now as veteran Player I'm guiding newbie player. But still get moved by how beautiful it is. This game also sky make you feels like really inside the game.

[GwydionV]

I befriended my partner in Journey back then. We havent talked in a while but for a time we connected beyond the game.