Valheim
Valheim
Game
Game2024
Until Then
Developer Polychroma Games
Until Then is a 2024 adventure game developed by Polychroma Games and published by Maximum Entertainment. Set in the fictional city of Liamson in the Philippine National Capital Region, the game follows Mark Borja and his moments of déjà vu months after the events of a global catastrophe known as "The Ruling", which caused widespread damage and casualties across the country. The game is presented as a visual novel… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
470 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
95
LovedLoved
415 positive · 23 negative
95% range 92–96%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 415 | 23 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 15 | 0 | 7 |
| Mastodon * | 3 | 0 | 7 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Overwhelmingly Positive
11,143 of 11,414 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
93% recommend · 278 yes, 20 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 298 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Overwhelmingly Positive (18,971 of 19,628 positive).
Players describe the game as an emotionally devastating, beautiful story that stays with you long after playing. [1][2][3] Many reviewers praise the realistic characters, writing, and music, calling it a masterpiece. [1][4][5] Some players warn that the game can worsen depression or cause an existential crisis. [6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [14]
EDITING, PEOPLE. It's not optional. You gotta ask yourself if every line serves a purpose. Does it add to the story, further the plot, expand on a character in a way not already shown? Or is your only goal to dither about and make your story as time-consuming as real life conversations? Do your characters all need to apologize or make excuses to each other three times before anything can happen? I wanted to like …
- [1]
Until Then is one of those rare games that doesn’t just entertain you, it quietly moves in, sits next to you, and stays long after the credits. It’s not loud, not flashy, not trying to impress you with big moments… but somehow, it hits deeper than games ten times its size. This is a story about normal people, living normal lives and how even the most ordinary routines can hide something fragile, something painful, …
- [11]
Have you ever wondered, what if you've done something so bad that you'd want to restart everything and try again, and again, and again. You would try your best but not succeed. Only to be faced by the fact that, it was never meant to be. The only thing you can do is let go, and move on. Well, that's life for you. Sometimes it works. But when it doesn't, you have to play along. Because the world hasn't ended yet. So? …
- [6]
Only play this game if you're in a good place in life you can really give yourself a existential crisis if you get too deep into it with a bad mindset 8.5/10
- [2]
This game... I wish I could tell you more about it. Just play it blind, dont look up anything, just play it. It changed how I view things... I think this helped me a lot more than I think Thank you.
Summarised from 34 of the 324 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 10, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Until Then talk about emotionally impactful and deeply moving story; those who didn't talk about slow pacing and long, time-consuming dialogue. Which matters more to you?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Until Then received "generally favorable" reviews according to review aggregator Metacritic. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 90% of critics. Prior to its final release, reviewers provided generally favorable reviews for the game's Steam Next Fest demo. Katharine Castle of Rock Paper Shotgun praised the game's "gorgeous mix of expressive pixel art and 3D environments." She also commended the games interactivity, along with Hope Bellingham of GamesRadar+, who was "amazed by how interactive it was." Thomas Kent of Hardcore Gamer praised the game for its "compelling narrative that explores the intricacies of teenage…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 470 · most liked firstafter all this time, after seeing many people mention it and ISAT in the same breath, i have finally started playing Until Then. and of course: it has the sauce
positive · AI labelView post →Until Then is one of those rare games that doesn’t just entertain you, it quietly moves in, sits next to you, and stays long after the credits. It’s not loud, not flashy, not trying to impress you with big moments… but somehow, it hits deeper than games ten times its size. This is a story about normal people, living normal lives and how even the most ordinary routines can hide something fragile, something painful, something beautiful. The writing feels incredibly human. Conversations sound…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Have you ever wondered, what if you've done something so bad that you'd want to restart everything and try again, and again, and again. You would try your best but not succeed. Only to be faced by the fact that, it was never meant to be. The only thing you can do is let go, and move on. Well, that's life for you. Sometimes it works. But when it doesn't, you have to play along. Because the world hasn't ended yet. So? Until then.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'll start with context before I enter the subject of my review. My ex of 6 years broke up with me 4 months ago, we wanted to play this game together when it first came out but we never had the time to. What in my opinion makes this game special, isn't the gameplay but the self reflective story, and the value that it teaches. If you don't like reading then obviously you will struggle, but please consider this and try to learn from what this story is trying to teach. For the past 6 years of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game... I wish I could tell you more about it. Just play it blind, dont look up anything, just play it. It changed how I view things... I think this helped me a lot more than I think Thank you.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →for the love of god, only buy this game if it’s on sale and I mean it seriously. u’ll need that extra money… for therapy afterward. Until then... best of luck to y'all 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🦋 Until Then is nominated for Emotional Impact at The Indie Game Awards 2024! 🏆 @indiegameawards.gg #untilthen #untilthengame
neutral · AI labelView post →I pirated this game and then felt immense shame for doing so that I bought it. It's one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. Now every time I hear THAT song, I feel like going through a psychosis with the divine urge to cry. Pretty good game, 10/10.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is a bit pricey once you factor in the therapy you’ll need afterward. $20 well spent on emotional damage. 10/10, would recommend. After playing the dlc: Thank you Polychroma games, I'm full now.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Cathy from Until then!! Just beat recently, cute game got me tearing up!! #untilthen
positive · AI labelView post →Dear Polychroma Games, Thank you for making this game. Thank you for making me laugh, for making me annoyed, for making me cry, for breaking me. I've never cried to a game as much as this one, and I, for one, do not prefer visual novels compared to other game genres. In fact, this is my first visual novel ever and I am glad that I have experienced this as my first because the story is so gripping that I played the whole day on my first day of opening this game. You guys made me realize how…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Until Then won three awards at the Godot Game Awards 2024 ✨ 🏆 Best Narrative/Story 🏆 Best Art Design 🏆 Best Music/Score We're honored to be featured with all these amazing Godot games! 🙏 www.youtube.com/watch?v=mUzA...
neutral · AI labelView post →The 2024 Steam Awards are here! 🏆 If Until Then resonated with you, we'd be super stoked if you could nominate us for the Outstanding Story-Rich Game Award 🦋🙏 🔗 store.steampowered.com/steamawards/nominations
neutral · AI labelView post →Until Then is nominated at the 2024 Godot Game Awards! 🏆 - Game of the Year - Best Narrative/Story - Best Art Design - Best 3D Graphics - Best Music/Score Voting is open until Dec 14 at 11:59pm EST 👉 forms.gle/Q4yYy82neZcKA3Ny6 #godot #godotengine #untilthen #untilthengame
neutral · AI labelView post →game was so good i pirated it felt guilty bought it finished it cried and then will buy the dlc shut up and take my tear filled monet
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Only play this game if you're in a good place in life you can really give yourself a existential crisis if you get too deep into it with a bad mindset 8.5/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game went under my skin, bones, heart and soul. So much it's hard to talk about it without this becoming personal. Every aspect of this game is delicate and human. Characters feel very real and flawed. Music is intimate and adds weight to every minute. Story is so relatable, even more so if you feel you've lost years or relationships for any reason. The build up is perfect. It's the slow, sneaky type that makes you just feel the weight of things later on. I've felt so vulnerable,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →beautiful game, i hope no more butterflies fly under the rain
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →How it started: Haha forgot my slideshow presentation again gotta cram!! How it's going: reality is falling apart. REALITY IS FALLING APART. I... miss when this was a normal and sweet coming-of-age visual novel. I thought it was a sweet, very heartfelt VN when the credits rolled the FIRST time, but... I didn't truly fall in love with this until I kept going. This game is... something beautiful. The soundscapes are some of the most immersive I've ever heard, and the visuals...…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →just finished my first run of until then (cycle 1) and im honestly a mess. it starts off looking like this charming slice of life set in the philippines with beautiful pixel art. the smartphone stuff makes the characters feel so real. but as you go on the deja vu elements kick in and it turns into something way darker. it really captures how trauma distorts both time and memory. the ending left me with a heavy heart and so many questions. but i know its not over. u have to go through multiple…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What I loved about this game is how empathetic and realistic it was, just like our lives In my playthrough, I saw pieces of my teenage years in every single character, especially in Cathy. The need to improve and the fear of being left behind felt so REAL I have felt the same in the past as well. The awkwardness of characters, those cringe posts in the game, deleting and writing same messages time after time felt real. I am glad I played this game after highschool. I saw myself in the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥. This should've won Indie Game of the Year. I don't cry after games- I haven't since I was 11. This changed today. I could never expect to play such a wonderful rollercoaster of a game when I first bought it. Maybe the plot slows down a bit, maybe the music sections are bit hard, maybe some stuff just doesn't make sense, but that's fine. It all comes together in the end. Play this game. Do it for him, for her, for everyone. It's the best experience you'll have.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →THIS GAME IS A DELIGHT!! we went a little over our usual time to make all 3 blorbos! I HAVE NO REGRETS!! WE'LL KEEP CHECKING IN ON THEM EACH STREAM DAY UNTIL THE GAME RELEASE UNTIL THEN, please go hang out with @punkpupvt.bsky.social while he plays Demon Tides!!!
neutral · AI labelView post →I went into it expecting a story, but I didn’t expect it to leave such a heavy feeling behind. By the end, I wasn’t sure if I had finished the game… or if the game had finished me emotionally. One of the things that impressed me the most was Mark’s development throughout the story. Watching him grow, mature, and understand the people around him was genuinely rewarding. What stood out to me was how inherently kind he is despite everything he carries. There is a sincerity to him that feels rare,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I just wish I could erase this game from my mind so I could play it for the first time all over again.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My friend said that this worsen his depression. Don't really believe that at first but now I can confirm that it worsen my depression too.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Until Then. I'll admit, it started off as a really slow story. I found myself picking and dropping it several times. But, I'm so glad I decided to stick with it as much as it has stuck around in my head. As I said, it's slow. But, I'd argue that it works in its favor. You get attached to the character. One by one. You start caring for them. You start fearing their absence. The limitations of a pixel style was never apparent. Sprites, backgrounds, close up shots. The artists perfectly…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I would NEVER cry while playing a video game, I am a MAN. *plays chapter 5* ༼ಢ_ಢ༽ I've only done the first playthrough, will do the others another time probably. Game is good. I've never played a visual novel before, but enjoy reading so I think that contributed to my enjoyment. The story is interesting and the characters are all likable. Very accurate portrayal of high school as well, at least I could relate to it. Thank you Mateo for buying this for me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If I could lose all my memories to replay 5 games, this would be one of them. The emotional rollercoaster this game puts you through opened my eyes and taught me things about life that I never considered beforehand. If there is one story game I could recommend to someone, it would be this one. The story, the characters, and the art style are all 9.5/10 or better. My only pieces of advice are to go into this game blind and watch the credits to the very end
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →When the game so good you start researching quantum physics
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I found Until Then at #BitSummit ! Trying to find more Godot games 👀
neutral · AI labelView post →You're missing out if you haven't played this game. The emptiness this game left when I finished it is indescribable. Awesome game, one of my favorites in the genre. Just a tiny thing you wanna have in mind is keep going after the game ends
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just trust me, if you have any interest in story heavy games, play this one ASAP. Game looks absolutely amazing, Deck performance was okay, only one or two scenes in the game couldn't sustain 45 fps.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →No matter how much we want to... We'll never truly understand someone else, not entirely. But that's part of understanding, isn't it? to misunderstand... to writhe, to struggle, to fail, but still, somehow our desire to understand... to connect, to belong, to grieve, to accept... It's gotten us farther than we once thought. We place trust in ourselves... in each other. And in the end, despite everything... We keep trying. We play along. We get along just fine. THE WORLD HASN'T ENDED YET.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'll be honest, at the start I found this game slow, and was starting to question the overwhelmingly positive review it has recieved on here. I am so glad I pushed through it because this game has one of the most beautiful, compelling narratives i've ever seen in an indie project. The storytelling, the characters, and their development couldn't have been done better. If my review has convinced anyone to purchase this, make sure to purchase a box of tissues too. I'm not sure anything will fill…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am infinitely grateful to the person who introduced me to this game, to this story, and equally grateful to everyone involved in creating this game The range of emotions and feelings that Mark’s life(s) has brought into mine is hard to put into simple words, and maybe I'm just a sucker for stories about pianists haha but I truly, truly, truly hope that you guys never lose this passion and keep doing what you love, because we love it, too. You have created a work of art. Thank you. Kaya mo…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have never wrote a review in my life about a game nor product. This is the top 3 single player game I have ever touched, and even if you are late to the party and seeing this years later? I highly recommend playing this game. Game def makes you emotional, top tier game. Especially if you relate to any themes that are displayed in the game. I have played many storylines and this is the only one that has managed to make me really emotional, not even red dead 2 managed. Have fun.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's probably the most beautiful story I've ever played through. It honestly hurt like hell at moments and made me want to stop playing just not to overwhelm myself, because this one is definitely a heartbreaker. But, god was it worth it. And if I had the time, I'd gladly do it again, as it was the most heartwarming type of pain I've ever felt. It punches you in the guts, then gives you the best hug ever. Just, if you play this, watch the credits till the end, trust me.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My mental health is now in shambles and the thought of not being able to blindly witness this story unfold ever again hits like a semi-truck that’s blazing down a desolated highway. 9/10 would recommend
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Honestly, I expected more. It's basically a slice of life visual novel with interactive fiction and mini-game parts. The story is fine, wish there was an auto-play tho so I don't have to keep pressing spacebar or enter all the time. I know there are 2 more endings but I just looked them up as I didn't feel like playing the game anymore. The art direction is fantastic, very innovative and way better than your run-of-the-mill VN. However, this game has a serious graphic issue with the new…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really reminds me of OMORI, this is one of the best game stories i have read and i am glad that i got to exprience it. Cath is best girl, always remember fellas.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Words can't even begin to describe how this game made me feel. I'm very bad at finishing games fully, but I didn't struggle with this game. It had me completely hooked and I had to know what was going on and how it would end. I loved all the characters and how complex they were, they felt realistic which made it easy to grow attached to them. The story executes heavy themes such as loss and forgiveness very well and some parts made me tear up. It made me think about aspects of my own life and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Until then. In a word. Masterpiece. Words cannot describe my love for this game, but I’m gonna try. Around a year ago i put Until Then on my Wishlist and didn't think much about it when one day my friend was asking if anyone wanted a copy, i said yes and started playing. right out of the gate I fell in love with the music. As i played i fell into the story, the characters felt so real and emotional I wont spoil the story but at points it made me sob. the story is so impactful and it will stay…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game absolutely destroyed me. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever played a game that portrayed these kinds of emotions and experiences this realistically. Until Then felt painfully human. The characters, their relationships, the way they deal with loss, regret, memories, and moving on… it all felt so real that I completely lost it while playing. I cried so much playing this game. Not just a little emotional here and there I was genuinely sobbing. The writing, the characters, the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have no words to describe the emotional journey this game made me go through. Do yourself a favour and experience this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Some games entertain you, but Until Then is one that truly leaves a mark. It is truly a beautiful narrative game with a gripping story, emotional depth, and memorable characters. The art style and soundtrack create a cozy yet mysterious atmosphere that keeps you pulled in. Keep fighting your battles, and remember to forgive yourself along the way. Until then.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I usually make silly, unserious reviews with few words yet i think this game deserves a bit more than that, i haven gathered the courage to finish it entirely, but even tho i just barely scrapped the surface of it, it resonated with me more than i would like to admit, i love this game and the characters and story in it, worth its entire price and every minute i spent playing.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game changed my life. I never thought I'd write that sentence about a video game, and yet here I am. Until Then let me look at my own life from a completely different perspective. It made me see how many traumas I had never dealt with, and how much I refused to let go of everything that had happened in my head. I realized how strongly I pushed people away because I felt they had hurt me. I shut out my friends and everyone who wanted the best for me, because I was afraid of getting hurt…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →(HEAVY SPOILERS AHEAD) (Also, I have nearly 45 hours on PS5. I just got it on PC for the dlc) Until Then is, at worst, my second favorite game of all time, and at best, the best piece of gaming/literature I've ever played/read. But before I go all fanboy on you guys, here's some light negatives: 1. If you are expecting anything other than a visual novel with very light gameplay segments, this game will leave you dissapointed. This is not a exploration game, this is not a gun game, this is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →AMAZING game. I cried during the main story AND the DLC. the plot was great, very unique takes on themes such as grief and letting go and trying to find out who you are or where you lost yourself. the mini games were quite enjoyable too, it was like a nice little break from the plot. it also definitely made me miss the Philippines again. 1000/1000 recommend!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Let me preface this by saying I am not a lover of visual novels at all, nor do I usually write reviews on steam. But man, this game was a ride. I highly recommend everyone who is even slightly interested in in an emotional rollercoaster of a story to give this game a shot. It doesn't have gameplay in any real sense, the start is slow, and in many ways it could be a better "game". But it was a great story that made me cry like a little ♥♥♥♥♥.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I don't write reviews, ever. Anyways, if you enjoy a narrative game that likes to stab you in the gut, and then stab you in the gut with a bigger knife, and then wiggle both knives to make sure you rlly felt it. This is the game for you. Its been a while since a games made me shed a tear. This one made me ugly cry not once but THRICE?! Yes its slow paced at times and more about the storytelling, but trust me its worth it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the type of game that you finish, and you're standing in front of your screen for a good 5 minutes, reliving the experience you just had. It's by far the BEST game I've played in a long time. Update : I just finished Afterimages.... I'm glad Sofia got her happy ending... BUT YOU CANT LEAVE ME THAT SPARKS ENDING MAN YOU JUST CANT THIS IS CRIMINAL (please announce the next DLC I need it)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Tears in my Filipino eyes This was my first time playing a visual novel typa game and I am surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The story / plot was very touching especially with its themes on loss, mental health, healing, moving on, etc. As someone who genuinely saw a lot of themselves / related to Cathy the ending genuinely made me bawl and shed a couple of tears as it hit quite close. This game also gave me some insight into the Philippines which I appreciate as a heavily assimilated…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have watched too many good anime and movies to find this plot to be unique, especially if I'm going to spend tens of hours on it. I found myself just auto-piloting through most scenes in this game, I wanted to finish it because of sunken cost, regardless whether I'm really enjoying the game or not. But it's a "game," it should be "enjoyed." When I realized this I came to the conclusion that I shouldn't be wasting my time anymore. In a linear visual novel where choices don't matter at all and…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →EDITING, PEOPLE. It's not optional. You gotta ask yourself if every line serves a purpose. Does it add to the story, further the plot, expand on a character in a way not already shown? Or is your only goal to dither about and make your story as time-consuming as real life conversations? Do your characters all need to apologize or make excuses to each other three times before anything can happen? I wanted to like this game. I thought I couldn't go wrong, with Overwhelmingly Positive reviews. But…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →For the love of God, only buy this game if it’s on sale and I mean it seriously. You’ll need that extra money… for therapy afterward. Until then... best of luck to y'all
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →very emotional, pretty, and immersive. I cried a lot! I haven't played the third loop yet but will soon :3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →10/10. DO NOT read anything about this game before playing - juist go for it fully blind. Game is longer than expected tbh - i thought it would be like 6h long, but it was for me 17.1h without even trying to 100%, iust playing through it naturally.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Genuinely don't see what people see in this game and I really wanted to like it. Ultimately the story ends up going from being a decent coming of age story to a mediocre steins;gate rip off without any of the tension, build up, stakes, or explanation that make steins;gate so beloved. The story drags in multiple places without any real pay off and in general kind of feels like it was written as it went along rather than with any plan in mind. I could see this being somewhat interesting to you…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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