Forgotten Fields
Forgotten Fields
Game
Game2023
Unwording
Developer Frostwood Interactive
Unwording is a short but powerful exploration of overcoming negative self-talk. Solve word puzzles, explore the neighborhood through multiple perspectives, and help Tom have a better day through a challenging yet cathartic experience. From the Steam store page
78 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon) · newest Sep 15, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
76
LovedLoved
52 positive · 16 negative
95% range 65–85%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 52 | 16 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 1 | 1 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Mostly Positive
54 of 70 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
76% recommend · 52 yes, 16 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 68 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Mostly Positive (62 of 80 positive).
Players praise the game's heartfelt exploration of overcoming negative self-talk and depression. [1][2][3] Many reviewers note the game is short, taking about one to two hours to complete. [4][3][5] Some players criticize the clunky gameplay and buggy puzzles. [6][7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [6]
Unwording is an unusual puzzle game that only lasts around 1.5 hours. Developers Frostwood Interactive are known for their unique games such as Forgotten Fields and Rainswept. Whilst I liked both previous games, I did not enjoy Unwording. It is described as a powerful exploration of overcoming negative self-talk but its clumsy and bug-riddled gameplay definitely did not help in swaying my mood to a more positive …
- [1]
Unwording is a short and linear game that follows a young man’s emotional journey to overcome his negativity and ultimately find happiness in life’s simple things. With the help of a little bird who befriends him and starts following him everywhere, he will slowly begin to break his destructive thought patterns by changing his perspective on life. At its core, Unwording is a linear point & click adventure, in which …
- [3]
Unwording is a short but insightful exploration of overcoming negative thoughts and other aspects of depression. Players can explore, solve word puzzles and help the protagonist, Tom, find a new outlook on life. Overall, it is a cute and moving game that offers a brief look at how it might feel for somebody battling cognitive distortions and negative thoughts. It will take around 1-2 hours to play and carefully …
- [2]
A Simple but original interactive story about the doubts and negative thoughts that can plague our confidence. Stress and mental illnesses can be a blight on our lives, making us think irrationally or behave in a detrimental way. Everyone suffers to some extent, greatly affected by your circumstances, upbringing, and outlook on life. There are so many pressures nowadays with the stigma of being alone, or the …
- [4]
I couldn't with a good conscience give this game a thumbs down. The game is wholesome and cute, if not a little boring. The game can be 100%'d in under an hour, which is fair because the game does outright profess its length in the description. However, the "word puzzles" mechanic sort of gets tossed out the window after 20-30 minutes. For about 3-4 puzzles, it is a semi-interesting fill in the blank puzzle game. …
Summarised from 34 of the 79 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 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Unwording talk about meaningful message about mental health and cognitive distortions; those who didn't talk about clunky character movement and camera angles. Which matters more to you?
Reactions
60 of 78 · most liked firstUnwording is an unusual puzzle game that only lasts around 1.5 hours. Developers Frostwood Interactive are known for their unique games such as Forgotten Fields and Rainswept. Whilst I liked both previous games, I did not enjoy Unwording. It is described as a powerful exploration of overcoming negative self-talk but its clumsy and bug-riddled gameplay definitely did not help in swaying my mood to a more positive one. Pros Focus on mental health / cognitive distortions Three…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unwording is a short and linear game that follows a young man’s emotional journey to overcome his negativity and ultimately find happiness in life’s simple things. With the help of a little bird who befriends him and starts following him everywhere, he will slowly begin to break his destructive thought patterns by changing his perspective on life. At its core, Unwording is a linear point & click adventure, in which every time you interact with various items in the environment you are presented…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A Simple but original interactive story about the doubts and negative thoughts that can plague our confidence. Stress and mental illnesses can be a blight on our lives, making us think irrationally or behave in a detrimental way. Everyone suffers to some extent, greatly affected by your circumstances, upbringing, and outlook on life. There are so many pressures nowadays with the stigma of being alone, or the compulsion of looking a certain way, or conforming to what society dictates.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A contemplative experience about overcoming negative self-talk. Honestly an experience lots of people could benefit from! I don’t usually instantly recommend games, but there is one trait that gets me to that point. What do you think it is? Is it an incredibly cute artstyle? A touching storyline that makes you reflect on your own life? Interesting puzzles, perhaps? Those are all very good guesses!... even if they are all wrong. The REALLY important thing that gets any game an instant…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unwording is a game about overcoming negative self-talk. Solve word puzzles, explore the neighborhood through multiple perspectives, and help Tom have a better day through a challenging yet cathartic experience. Out on #xbox and #playstation in 3 days!
neutral · AI labelView post →6. Unwording ⭐⭐⭐ A nice, short narrative game about negative thoughts patterns and your perception on life.
neutral · AI labelView post →Let's separate the game into two branches; one is the message and themes of the game, and the second is the actual game/gameplay that is used to convey the message. So the ideas of negative thought processes and depression are obviously quite important ones, and the themes of mental health and promoting good mental hygiene are presented well and in a more or less sensitive and empathetic way. The problem is that the game itself isn't that good from a gameplay perspective; the character…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unwording is a short but insightful exploration of overcoming negative thoughts and other aspects of depression. Players can explore, solve word puzzles and help the protagonist, Tom, find a new outlook on life. Overall, it is a cute and moving game that offers a brief look at how it might feel for somebody battling cognitive distortions and negative thoughts. It will take around 1-2 hours to play and carefully combines gameplay, narrative and styling elements to create a comprehensive and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I couldn't with a good conscience give this game a thumbs down. The game is wholesome and cute, if not a little boring. The game can be 100%'d in under an hour, which is fair because the game does outright profess its length in the description. However, the "word puzzles" mechanic sort of gets tossed out the window after 20-30 minutes. For about 3-4 puzzles, it is a semi-interesting fill in the blank puzzle game. Then for another 3-4 puzzles it becomes a perspective puzzle game. Then it just…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Depression Cured by Bird and Wordplay? Not Quite. Unwording sets out with noble intentions: overcome a year-long depression by rearranging words and receiving motivational nudges from a passing bird. Admirable as that may sound, it reduces a complex, often devastating illness to little more than a grammar exercise with feathers attached. What’s presented as uplifting instead comes across as naïve therapy-lite for the Steam store. The puzzles begin innocently enough. Day one and two?…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →[url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/33025671-Missi-the-Achievement-Huntress/] Please see my curator page for more games that are well worth your time Approximate amount of time to 100%: 1,5h without a guide Estimated achievement difficulty: 1/10 Minimum number of playthroughs needed: 1 Is there a good guide available: I wrote [url=https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2960005107] this solution and achievement guide Multiplayer achievements: No Missable achievements:…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's hard to really say whether or not I'd recommend this game, but in the end, I think it comes down to what you're looking for in this game. Going in, I was excited for a word-based puzzle game, and on that front I was sorely disappointed because it's not much of word puzzle at all. In the beginning there's a weird sort of fill in the blank type of puzzle, and then that's about it. After that there are some perspective puzzles and such that involve words, but aren't exactly word puzzles. And…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I appreciate the concept, but the game play is super clunky.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Summary Unwording is a short puzzle game where you follow the day to day life as Tom. The main character is seen to have depression, and you must do different types of puzzles to unscramble a hidden word. This is the basic premise of all the puzzles, although the execution is different. Pros + Hand drawn artstyle + Decent puzzle variety for game length Cons - Clunky gameplay - Tons of bugs - Horrible camera angles (the worst ive ever seen) - Lack of any decent story - Frustrating and unfun…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I love the concept, and the rich use of metaphor. As the protagonist gradually learns to undermine his own negative thinking patterns and overcome his depression, his world literally attains new colors and dimensions. And the puzzles, fittingly, involve reorganizing thoughts and looking from new perspectives. As a work of art, it's moving. But in terms of game design, it's honestly pretty bad. The puzzles are counter-intuitive and weird, and rely heavily on gimmicky rules and trial-and-error…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Rushed Would have been a clever game, if not spoiled by many UI bugs. Basic ones, that are not game killers but make the game just annoying. Clever As the game progresses you move from a flat line-drawn to a 2d space with colours, and finally to a fully 3d viewpoint. So the game kinda hides it's cards, and that builds the atmosphere in a way that is unexpected, everything becomes more interactive. However the mouse controls in 3D are terrible and you end up doing 360's or spinning about…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →LIVE now for a cozy Mental Health Game Day! 🌿 Playing Ship Inc (via Keymailer) + Unwording — comfy vibes, soft chaos, and safe space 🧠💜 Come hang + unwind 💬 🔴 twitch.tv/BellaRose0810 📺 youtube.com/@BellaRose0810 #BellaRose0810 #MentalHealthGaming #CozyChaos #Keymailer #IndieGames
neutral · AI labelView post →A lovely little game that tackles the matter of breaking negative thinking patterns. From bland 2D graphics to full color 3D graphics, the story is told through different types of word games that we will have to solve as we progress through the game. The soundtrack is absolutely lovely and the game is quite relaxing to play. I loved the cute bird in the game! It is sadly a bit short (it can be finished in one setting). I would have really liked for the game to offer more puzzles. In all, I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →only positive things to say about this game. it's full of simple puzzles, but those are just a piece of the bigger picture. this game shows what a colorful 3d world we live in, as long as we take the time to slow down & enjoy the little things. Frostwood Interactive has even taken the time to link some resources in game to help those who are struggling.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Well yes and no tbh The message that they want to send is good but the puzzle elements and the gameplay itself is not that fun. BUT if you stuck through it then the story itself is pretty uplifting Positives: - Cute artwork especially the 2d drawn images - Positive message - Uplifting story - Price is cheap especially if on sale - Not that long to finish IF you know what to do, so roughly 1 hour-ish if you're a genius, about3 hour-ish if you struggled with the puzzles and character movements…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎮 Gaming time! #QOTD: What's your favourite scent? Trapped with Jester was the shortest game ever so we started Unwording last week 🤩 I'll be going live at around 5:45 - 6:15pm BST Link to #Twitch in my bio 👆 See you there! 🖖 #WritingCommunity #books #vtuber #streamer
neutral · AI labelView post →Unwording is a short exploration game revolving around negative thoughts and perceptions. The idea is that we accompany our main character along three days, and see as his thoughs and ideas change towards a more positive life. While this core idea could be a worthy one, it's quite poorly developed, pretty explicitly telling the player that "things will turn better just by looking at them from a different perspective". I mean, if this is the best advice you can give, then just don't give any.…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I liked the premise of the game, and what it was trying to do. But the puzzles just weren't that engaging and too cumbersome to enjoy.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →got goosebumps the entire time. so beautiful.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I finished the game Unwording earlier to review it hit me right in the feels 💔🩷
positive · AI labelView post →This game really lifted my spirits on a dreary day. With its heartwarming story and cute art style. A little gem that was hidden in my library for too long.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Newest 100% - Unwording #PS4 This was a really neat little game about the different stages of depression. As the days went on the animation style changed showing how the different stages of depression change. Short but moving.
positive · AI labelView post →100%: Unwording Unwording is a word puzzle game where you play as a depressed man over the course of 3 days as he navigates through daily life and work. 100% Guide: www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YgG... Trophy Playlist: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUG2... #unwording
neutral · AI labelView post →Art style and music are great. Some funny and cute scenes. Some of the puzzles are a bit confusing and even when you figure them out the game doesn't really acknowledge them until they're done a certain way. Overall a cute little story :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The uses of different art styles and the nature of the puzzles were fantastic. Absolutely enjoyed every second of it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unwording is a game about depression focusing on negative self-talk and thought patterns. The game highlights the two dimensional feeling of depression and allows the main character, Tom, to physically overcome his depression and become more 3D through a change of perspective as the puzzles themselves require a literal shift of perspective through moving word blocks to create new words and phrases. While the message of the game is meaningful and depicts an accurate portrayal of mental health…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a game, it has its issues in the technicals. But as a piece of art, it's damn near perfect.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really enjoyed playing Unwording. It's short, and quite linear but in a way that works. I'd say the overall message, and the way it was told can be interpreted in several different ways which also works in it's favor. From my perspective, it wasn't so much about doing things to stop feeling and thinking negatively, simply that Tom was finally able to step a bit outside his negative mind and enjoy his life. Had a great time!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Interesting game. Not quite comfortable to play on the Steamdeck yet.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A wonderful short experience. Expanding "perspective" from start till end, All the game mechanic is really on theme. My only complain is, why do I have to eat ramen (with sliced eggs) near the bird egg nest T__T
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Enjoyed playing the game. Just going through the day and seeing the world through Tom's eyes makes you understand how he frequently falls into a negative thinking pattern. The background music is soothing, filling in the silence in the game (there are no spoken words) comfortably. Colours and textures used are soft and pleasing to the eye. Also enjoyed the subtle transition from 2 - 2.5 - 3 D blended in perfectly with the milestones reached in the storyline. A great game to play on a weekend…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In the majority of people on this one, but the music is amazing! (No surprise there since it's Trevor!) Had no idea what I was getting into, but this game was definitely worth the time I put into it. Such an interesting concept and overall the story it is trying to tell warms the heart. I cried and laughed while playing this game. Would for sure recommend to others for the experience!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Its a unique and challenging puzzle experience that encourages you to think creatively and outside the box. I really love the game concept story line, design and soothing music with a calming atmosphere, Its a really beautiful experience. ❤️❤️❤️
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super chill game about overcoming negative thoughts with some lovely art and relaxing word puzzles. Easily worth the asking price!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great Little experience. Calm, cozy and relaxing, makes you think about the small things in life. Fun puzzles don't break the relaxing feel.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game has a nice premise and I enjoyed it at first. However, it got worse with every "new stadium". Especially the 3D riddles were tricky for me (especially when I had to select the letter "A" and multiple A did not work since it was not the correct one). But also the navigation was horrible for me in the 3D setting. It glitched a lot, I got stuck in plants or doors or windows. Once my mouse pointer got missing and I had to restart the game. It was exhausting to finish it. I am sorry, but I…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →really bland writing and an uninspired breakdown of the topic, infinitely more that probably couldve been accomplished to a higher standard of quality if it just stuck to the hand drawn style and made a game longer than an hour. the conclusion is ultimately really boring as it just comes off as getting to roleplay the median human.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Monotonous Puzzles and poor messaging. Unwording is a short 1-2hr story about recontextualizing Tom's thoughts through puzzles thanks to a bird & seemingly nothing else, with the length relative to your puzzle skills, lexicon & word association knowledge. Unwording has you experience Tom's life as a sidescroller with puzzle prompts placed in his Apartment, Street & Workplace that display his current outlook on life. You travel through the former areas across three days with each day hosting a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A disappointing new release from Frostwood Interactive, the studio behind the excellent “Rainswept” and “Forgotten Fields", two narrative masterpieces despite their distinctive visual style and occasional bugs. In this one, we have a very short story, mini-games and puzzles that aren’t particularly interesting or practical (even though they’re the core of the game), and very few opportunities for interaction. Like its predecessors, this one is also buggy but lacks the other qualities needed to…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unwording is a very cute puzzle game with a strong underlying theme about cognitive dissonance and negative thought and I think it sends that message really well. The idea is very simple solving some puzzle by scrambling words and move on with the daily life of your character, the game start with a very washed out and minimaistic artstyle in a very flat world, represting of your character mental state that will slowly fill with more depth and color the more your character gets out of his…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Short, cute, and meaningful, with a good story and interesting puzzles. I only wish it were longer. I would love to see more of the puzzles, especially.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#NintendoSwitch Review Video: #Unwording - Aside from the general mechanics for interacting with the puzzles feeling sloppy, the initial bleak outlook may be too triggering from the people who could ultimate benefit from the game’s attempted message https://youtu.be/IBpH1yE92Lw
negative · AI labelView post →#NintendoSwitch Video: #Unwording - A somewhat unique story-driven word manipulation puzzler #IndieGames https://youtu.be/UtpuNR0E3x4
neutral · AI labelView post →a beautiful game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Next up is Unwording. A game about negative thoughts with word game mechanics.
neutral · AI labelView post →The game is great , although it quite resembled my life too accurately. But great game and innovative gameplay.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Would have quit during fourth puzzle if the music wasn't so good. Bugs galore after the first art style change but you can praise the sun.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Beautifully written story that speaks to real world struggle, amazing game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Super cute art style!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I liked the idea of the game, but it is pretty rough in both game mechanics and overall user experience
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Unwording is not just a game; it's a gentle exploration of the human mind and a heartwarming embrace for the soul. In a world where stress and anxiety often dominate, Unwording emerges as a beacon of light, offering a short yet profoundly impactful experience that speaks directly to the depths of our mental well-being. From the moment I stepped into the serene landscapes of Unwording, I felt a soothing calm wash over me. The game delicately weaves a narrative that delves into the intricacies…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very quick, charming game about resetting depressive thoughts. At first word puzzles, it expands into a celebration of life, community, and simple pleasures. UPDATE: You CAN pet the dog.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a good, heartwarming game. It is not as deep or "powerful" as I expected, but it still gives a good portrait of what it is like to have intrusive and negative thoughts. With that said, I loved some choices in the game design regarding that aspect, as I found the way of implementing the hints for the puzzles to be very creative. Important: Make sure to save the game manually every now and then, because I got a bug that forced me to start the game from the begining after more than an hour of…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Normally I would recommend this game. I think that it portrays dealing with negative self-talk well enough, and I do like the transition from 2D to 3D as the game progresses. The puzzle design and somewhat clunky controls is what got me, though. Even as a native english speaker, I found some word puzzles a bit confusing--not words I would have personally thought of in the situation. On day 3 there are even some correct answers that have nothing to do with the action, such as writing shower when…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am glad i played this.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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