Before We Leave is a game about leaving. It asks players to walk away from a comfortable life, a familiar city, and a partner who cannot follow them. That tension runs through every corner of the game, from its quiet dialogue to its slow, deliberate pacing. The game is built around a single question: what happens when you choose to leave behind everything you love?
Trailer, via Balancing Monkey Games.
Setup
Before We Leave follows a man named Eric, who wakes up after a car accident with no memory of his past. He lives in a small town with his wife, Mina, and their young daughter, Ellie. The town is peaceful, the family is loving, but Eric feels something wrong beneath the surface. He starts having strange visions and dreams that hint at a life he cannot remember. As the game progresses, he realizes that staying means losing himself, while leaving means saving his family.
The setup is simple, almost too simple. Eric’s amnesia is a plot device, not a character study. But the game leans into the simplicity. It trusts the player to sit with Eric’s confusion, his grief, and his growing sense that the town is not what it seems. The lack of exposition is a strength, not a weakness. The game lets the mystery breathe.
Walking Away
The core mechanic of Before We Leave is walking. Players move Eric through the town, talk to residents, and make small decisions that ripple outward. There is no combat, no urgency, no timer. The game is a slow, contemplative stroll through a dying world. Eric walks along a river, climbs a hill, visits a park, and watches the sun set over a distant mountain. Each step feels deliberate, weighted with meaning.
The pacing is the game’s biggest risk. Some players will find the slow crawl frustrating, especially in the middle stretch where the narrative stalls and the game leans heavily on environmental exploration. But the slow pace is also the game’s greatest achievement. It creates a sense of dread that a fast-paced shooter could never replicate. Every footstep feels like a decision, and every decision feels heavy.
Town and Its People
The town is the star of Before We Leave. It is a small, isolated community with a handful of recognizable faces. The residents are not cardboard characters. They have jobs, families, and secrets. Eric talks to them, learns their names, and watches their lives unfold. These conversations are brief, often just a few lines, but they carry weight. They are the moments that make the town feel alive.
The town itself is rendered with care. The streets are dusty, the houses are weathered, and the sky is a deep, oppressive blue. The lighting is excellent, with long shadows stretching across empty streets and a sun that sets early. The art direction is consistent, and the world feels lived-in. It is a beautiful game, and the visuals are a major draw.
Visionary
Before We Leave is a game about memory, but it is also a game about vision. Eric sees things that others cannot see. He sees flashes of his past, glimpses of a world he has forgotten. These visions are not explained. They are presented as fragments, pieces of a puzzle that the player must assemble. The game does not spell out what they mean. It leaves the interpretation to the player.
This ambiguity is both a strength and a weakness. On one hand, it forces the player to engage with the material. On the other hand, it can feel frustrating when the game refuses to answer questions that seem central to the plot. The game is willing to let the ending be open, but it also expects the player to put in the work. This is a game that rewards patience, but it also demands it.
The Choice
The game’s central conflict is the choice between staying and leaving. Eric loves his family, but he also feels trapped. He knows that something is wrong, and he is not sure he can fix it. The game presents this conflict in stark terms. Staying means living a lie. Leaving means risking everything. The game does not offer an easy way out.
The choice is not binary. The game offers multiple paths, each with its own consequences. Players can choose to leave immediately, to stay and try to change the town, or to leave and return later. The game tracks these decisions and changes the ending based on the player’s actions. It is a clever system, but it also means that the game is best played twice, once for each path.
Sound and Voice Acting
The sound design in Before We Leave is subtle but effective. The game uses ambient music and environmental sounds to create a sense of unease. The score is sparse, with long stretches of silence broken only by the sound of footsteps or a distant bird call. The music swells during key moments, but it never overwhelms the scene. It is a game that trusts the player to listen.
The voice acting is strong. The lead actor delivers a performance that captures Eric’s confusion and determination. The supporting cast is solid, though some of the minor characters are less memorable. The dialogue is naturalistic, with pauses and hesitations that feel human. The game is a showcase for its actors, and their performances carry the emotional weight of the story.
Ending and Final Score
The ending of Before We Leave is open-ended. It does not provide a definitive resolution. Instead, it leaves the player with a final image and a lingering question. The game ends with Eric making a choice, but the consequences of that choice are left unspoken. The player is left to imagine what happens next.
This is a bold choice. Most games tie off their stories neatly. Before We Leave refuses to do that. It respects the player’s time by not pretending to have all the answers. The ending is not a disappointment. It is a release valve, allowing the player to finish the experience without feeling cheated.
Before We Leave is a game that will divide audiences. Those who enjoy slow, thoughtful storytelling will find it rewarding. Those who want action and spectacle will find it frustrating. The game is not for everyone, but it is a strong entry in the genre of introspective, narrative-driven games.
The game is available on PS4, PC, and Series X|S. It is a short game, finishing in about six hours, but the replay value is high due to the branching paths. The game is best played on a console, where the controls are smooth and the loading times are minimal. On PC, the game can be played with a mouse and keyboard, but the touchpad controls are the preferred method.
Before We Leave is a game about memory, identity, and the cost of truth. It is a game that asks difficult questions and does not offer easy answers. It is a game that requires patience and attention. It is a game that rewards those who are willing to sit with the discomfort.
The game is not perfect. The pacing drags in the middle, and the plot occasionally loses momentum. But the strengths outweigh the weaknesses. The writing is sharp, the direction is confident, and the execution is flawless.
Before We Leave is a game worth playing. It is a quiet masterpiece that deserves attention.
Key Platforms
| Platform | Availability |
|---|---|
| PS4 | Available |
| PC | Available |
| Series X | S |
What the Game Tracks
- The player’s choice to leave or stay
- Small decisions made along the way
- How the ending changes based on those choices
Short Review
- Writing: Sharp, naturalistic dialogue
- Direction: Confident, atmospheric
- Execution: Flawless
- Replay value: High due to branching paths
- Length: About six hours
The game is a quiet masterpiece that rewards patience. It is worth playing, even if it divides audiences.
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