Haven asks a simple question: can a love story carry a whole game? The answer is mostly yes, though the execution stumbles badly along the way.
Trailer, via bruderbohne.
The Premise
Haven follows Cara and Dom, a couple on the run from a war that threatens to destroy their species. They are fugitives, hunted by forces they barely understand. The setup is lean and effective, built around two people who have to keep moving while the world tries to kill them.
The Mechanics
The gameplay splits into two distinct modes. In the early hours, you control both characters at once, switching between them with a flick of the stick. Later, the game shifts to a single character mode, letting you explore the world alone. The change is jarring, and not necessarily for the better.
Combat is functional but dull. Enemies fall to gunfire with little resistance, and the pace slows when you have to manage two characters at once. The stealth sections fare better, forcing Cara and Dom to split up and watch each other’s backs.
Performance Across Platforms
| Platform | Performance Notes |
|---|---|
| Series X | S |
| PS4 | Drops below 30 fps in dense scenes |
| PC | Most stable option, high settings |
| PS5 | Runs well, load times improved |
The frame rate holds up best on Series X|S and PC. PS4 struggles with dense enemy crowds, dropping below 30 frames per second during set pieces. PS5 runs smoothly too, with faster load times than the older hardware.
Sound and Story
The writing leans heavily on dialogue, and it mostly lands. Cara and Dom talk about their past, their fears, and the strange bond between them. The voice acting carries real warmth, especially in quieter moments. The score is sparse but effective, letting the story breathe.
The ending is a quiet one, fitting the tone of the rest of the game. It does not resolve everything, but it respects the characters enough to let them be unfinished.
Where It Falls Short
Haven is a small game, and it shows. The world is thin, the enemies are repetitive, and the pacing sags in the middle stretch. Some players will find the two-character control scheme awkward rather than clever.
Still, the core idea is strong. A love story set against a war is a familiar one, but Haven treats it with restraint. Cara and Dom feel like real people, not props for a bigger spectacle.
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