Izzy's 2025

[canedaddy]

Appreciate the review of that one. I think I'll give the series a try at some point, maybe starting with the first one.

[isthatallyougot]

3) The Wild Eternal (PC - 2017: 20.6 hours played) 4/5



Once I switched to PC gaming as essentially my exclusive platform, I started accumulating a ridiculous number of games. Well, I should say that that accumulation started PRIOR to switching exclusively to PC, and while I say exclusively, I still play “console” games; I just do so on PC most of the time. For me, everything is better on PC, but that's neither here nor there with respect to this review. I bring it up, though, because one game I purchased at least a few years ago was a game I finally fired up in 2025, a game called The Wild Eternal. I was thinking of the pros and cons of having such a large library due to so many cheap games, via Steam sales or otherwise - mostly elsewhere - and one of the cons is that sometimes I will buy a game because it's cheap, or even VERY cheap, only to see the price drop even further prior to cracking the virtual shrink wrap. Well, with The Wild Eternal, I don't remember what I paid, but I know it would have been on discount - I don't think I got it in a bundle. Whatever it was I ultimately paid, it turned out to be more than I would have had to cough up because when I decided to finally download it this year and checked the store page, it was now listed as free to play. (It's not a multi-player game, to be clear.) So, surely patience pays and is warranted, especially when dealing with various PC storefronts. But this introduction really has little to no bearing on the actual game; it was just something that I noticed in the process of starting this particular game. Well, enough off the path stuff, and back onto another sort of path.

You see, The Wild Eternal is about the mystical path of life itself. As we look through the lens of a couple of main characters - Ananta an elderly woman in the 1600s who has lived a hard life full of suffering in the Himalayan mountains, and the Avatar of Dreams, a mysterious creature who has taken the shape of a fox, a talking fox, a being who claims to be 50,000 years old all while distancing himself from the very concept of time. Ananta has found herself in a bardo of sorts and is simultaneously in a state of reflection upon the pain of her most recent/current life and seeks an end to the cycle of rebirth and all the suffering that comes along with existence. In her weariness and quest to “opt out” of incarnation, she meets this Avatar of Dreams who seems to have had his own trauma from one (or more) of his own incarnations upon which he occasionally reflects. (I say “his” because of the life/experience he generally seems to be referencing, but given his age and suggested powers to shift form/realm, I can only assume there are many forms to which this fox has belonged.) And their journey through this realm is about the very notion of suffering, identity, meaning, and all of those other existential questions that face us all on our own adventure through this world. So while there is a focal point for a narrative about at least a couple of specific beings and their uniquely specific tales, they are only used as a framing device for circumstances that confront all sentient beings, or to put it another way, this game is really about YOU. And in the course of this journey with Ananta and the fox, you will be offered myriad opportunities to reflect and consider these heavier themes that ultimately must be dealt with sooner or later, whether within this “life” or another.

In terms of the practical execution of this idea, we are presented with an open world where you (as Ananta) are free to roam about and discover whatever there is to uncover. You will soon realize that you can find items called "tribute," which can be offered up at any of many magical shrines where you can pray and, by doing so, can get additional help on your travels. These blessings are beneficial in practical terms, giving you things like better sight for Ananta's aged eyes, increased jumping, better compass functionality, and a variety of other very useful perks to aid you in your wanderings and exploration. It's a fun way to incorporate some "leveling up" within what is otherwise largely a walking simulator. The world itself is also really beautiful. It's not that it is pushing a large number of polygons, but the art direction is very attractive, with lots of spacious and peaceful environments that really accentuate the contemplative mood. The sounds of nature, the peaceful, unintrusive music, and the setting (trees, critters, streams, bridges, gardens, shrines, wind, mountains, lanterns, etc.) are just wonderfully relaxing. Everything has such a soothing and inviting tone for the most part, and there is an excellent use of a diverse color palette that gives the various areas their own vibe and personality. You wander at your own pace and see what there is to find as you leisurely roam about these vast landscapes, following whatever captures your attention. And there are so many things that might. This world surely does NOT have a cut and paste feel. There are pathways that lead to gardens and open vistas or mysterious doorways and all manner of little elements and landmarks that make the world feel distinct and tantalize your visual curiosity, pulling you forward. And combining all those elements with a philosophical, eternal lens where death is really no big deal... just part of the movement of all things, and there is just this calming tone to the entire experience. If you want to chill, here you go. Very very Zen. It just begs you to explore and wander at an unhurried pace, as one might across the span of timeless eternity. There are so many endless little things, both useful and general environmental points of interest, that capture your attention and prompt you onward. Wonderful. There is some MILD potential danger in the world from some hostile natural creatures, but there is no real heavy consequence for "dying," especially for the (essentially) already-dead, ha. You can lose your compass, fruit (which replenishes your stamina or you can use to feed the animals), and your diya (your lamp), but they are usually easily found again, and even if you don't have them, it won't interfere with progression to any significant degree. This isn't meant to be a rushed experience in the first place, and in the course of eternity, all that is lost is regained, sooner or later, as you understand eventually that there is nothing to lose or gain in the first place. And while the worlds - there are different sections that divide the greater whole and which you can travel between - aren't quite as large as they might appear at first, they're still plenty big enough so that you feel like you are properly exploring, and it is quite easy to become lost as you wander and lose track of your bearings. The Wild Eternal imparts a wonderful sense of navigational disorientation that synchronized beautifully with the idea of a mystical eternal journey into the endless unknown and does a great job of making you feel small in a vast world while simultaneously giving you subtle direction. Nicely done.

And I thought the game was a satisfying length at about 6 hours +/- to "complete," although there is definitely more to explore and discover afterwards if you are so inclined. Personally, I was tantalized by some of the locked doors that seemed to eventually be accessible as well as the pure joy of roaming about this large, visually delightful, and varied world, so I kept playing a long while after I finished at about the 6-hour mark, hoping to see what other bits of existential philosophy or visual splendor I might find. The game touches on some very profound stuff as well. I love that it deals with the complexities of life, situations where a person's heart can be completely in the right place and yet the outcome goes ALL wrong. It touches on that exquisite tragedy and paradox... that inherent sorrow embedded within the human experience. If you love mysticism, the exploration of the indescribable and such, this will be right up your alley. It touches on the ultimate "unknowability" and irresolvable nature of things. Just an eternal maze with no real end point - both torturous and wonderful in equal measure. If you have any philosophical leanings and like to explore the existential mysteries of being, this may really seep into your bones like it did mine. There's an invitation to explore and just ****BE**** without the unnecessary and troublesome defining or "understanding" that often plagues the mind, the advanced and “evolved” mind that often seems to bring suffering along with its skills and abilities. This was a game I expected to enjoy. I remember specifically picking it up and the tone I thought it might have, but it exceeded those expectations significantly for me, offering much greater depth than I had imagined it to contain. I've been walking the real road referenced within this game (as have we all, imho), and it was wonderful to find such an insightful parallel within the gaming world. It's a real shame that this developer hasn't made anything else nor seems to have had much in the way of success with The Wild Eternal. But given the content of this work, I can surely understand why it has eventually been offered for free. And I'm surely not bothered that I paid rather than getting this for free, had I waited. If you resonate with any Eastern philosophy/spirituality or just find yourself amused and/or troubled with the transient nature of experience, then this comes with an even stronger recommendation. 4/5