What parents need to know
Season: A Letter To The Future is a narrative game in which players take on the role of Estelle, a young woman who leaves her home village to discover the world and keep track of it. Indeed, a premonition predicts the end of the current season, a small end of the world, and Estelle wants to prevent this world from disappearing into oblivion.
Season is a narrative game of a largely contemplative nature. You ride your bicycle in an (almost) deserted valley, and equipped with a camera and a tape recorder, you can record the elements that catch your attention and paste them in your notebook that you will bequeath to the future.
It’s not the kind of game you can lose in. It’s about discovering the world around you and trying to make sense of it. You can explore at a pace that suits you, and it’s even better to take time to ride your bike aimlessly, other than to enjoy the scenery.
There are still some small simple puzzles. For example, if you read some posters, you will find mentions of radio frequencies. If you tune into this frequency on a radio, you will have access to additional information about the world.
Details
Release date: 31 January 2023
Developed by: Scavengers Studio
Published by : Scavengers Studio
Platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5
Game Type: Narrative game
Themes: Ecology, memory
Average duration of a game: 1 hour
Total game lifespan: 5-10 hours
Business model: You only pay once to buy the game.
Available languages: French, English and Japanese for audio, interface and subtitles in several other languages
Number of players:
1 player on the premises
Available:
- in digital format (download to console or computer)
The game was provided by the publisher for review. It does not influence our opinion.
| Players | 3+ | 7+ | 12+ | 16+ | 18+ |
| Neophytes |  | |  | | |
| Intermediate | | | | | |
| Experienced |  | | | | |
Difficulty
Season: A Letter To The Future is a purely narrative game. It is not possible to lose. The game is designed for you to enjoy the scenery and discover the story at your own pace.
Violence, fear, nudity?
Season is a game for all audiences, without any violence or nudity.
Language level used
The vocabulary is appropriate for all audiences. There is no vulgarity or particularly specialized vocabulary.
Positive message
Season: A Letter To The Future is a fundamentally environmentalist game. There is an obvious parallel between the end of the season that we talk about in the game, and the climate threat hanging over the world today.
There are also anti-war and egalitarian messages throughout the game. The importance of family and the bonds between individuals are also emphasized.
Minimum reading level required
Almost all the dialogues were dubbed, in both French and English. You may have to read a few posters or menu items here and there, but otherwise, you don’t really need to know how to read.
Additional costs ?
No additional cost.
Minimum level of execution on the controller required
The controls are simple, and there is never a question of time or precision.
Local game mode
Single-player story mode.
Online game mode
None.
Our opinion
Season is not a game that will suit everyone, not because of the content, or even its quality, but by its very nature.
Season is a very contemplative, slow-paced game. There is no pressing goal, no victory or defeat. Even the elements that we observe and that we choose to record or not in our notebook, it is we who give them their meaning.
It is therefore doubtful that the youngest will hang on to such a game. Even among the oldest, it will take players with a temperament that lends itself to this type of game. Players looking for action will definitely not find their account.
It is also a shame to note that the direction of actors is not quite at the level. The developers have hired experienced actors, but despite the talent of the performers, the dialogues often sound very wrong, which breaks the immersion tremendously.
Despite this significant flaw, there are still moments that manage to be touching, and Season is definitely a unique game that will interest players open to this type of experience.
More information about the game: Official game page
