When the Past Was Around

When the Past Was Around is an adventure point-and-click game and puzzle game.{{Cite web |last=Banas |first=Graham |date=2020-12-16 |title=Review: When the Past Was Around – A Loving Embrace in Game Form |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/when_the_past_was_around |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Push Square |language=en-GB |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501043039/https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/when_the_past_was_around |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Logarta |first=Michael |date=2019-11-17 |title=SEA Game Awards 2019: a showcase of Southeast Asian and Filipino talents |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/715736/sea-game-awards-2019-a-showcase-of-southeast-asian-and-filipino-talents/story/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128205245/https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/scitech/technology/715736/sea-game-awards-2019-a-showcase-of-southeast-asian-and-filipino-talents/story/ |archive-date=Jan 28, 2020 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}} The player progresses in the game through solving escape-room-style puzzles, which take place in rooms and other locations shown from the side in a two-dimensional perspective. The player has to solve a number of puzzles related to daily activities such as doing laundry or drinking tea to proceed to the next location.{{Cite web |title=When the Past Was Around PC, PS4, XONE, Switch |url=https://www.gry-online.pl/gry/when-the-past-was-around/z55a78 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241123194631/https://www.gry-online.pl/gry/when-the-past-was-around/z55a78 |archive-date=Nov 23, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Gry-Online |language=pl}}{{Cite web |last=Blagg |first=Melanie |date=2020-10-19 |title=When the Past Was Around review |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/when-the-past-was-around |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Adventure Gamers |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117143921/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/when-the-past-was-around |url-status=live }} To explore the current location, the player can move a cursor to the left and right of the screen. The cursor changes depending on whether the player can interact with the object. There is also a basic inventory; the player can drag an object from the inventory onto the screen to use it. A hint button also shows possible objects the player can interact with.

The game autosaves at the end of every chapter, as it is not possible to save progress between chapters. The only text in the game are terms for objects. The game only uses pictures and symbols to assist the player in gameplay. In one puzzle, the player has to refer to clues of numbers and symbols to play a melody in a piano. It is also described as a music game since some puzzles are based around music and require the player to find notes and complete melodies.{{Cite web |last=Dellosa |first=Catherine |date=2022-03-17 |title=5 new mobile games to try this week - March 17 2022 |url=https://www.pocketgamer.com/new-weekly-mobile-games/march-17-2022/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240714235914/https://www.pocketgamer.com/new-weekly-mobile-games/march-17-2022/?page=1 |archive-date=July 14, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Pocket Gamer |language=en}}

{{Plot needed|date=April 2025}}

When the Past Was Around was developed by Mojiken Studio and published by Toge Productions, which are both based in Indonesia. The game was created and illustrated by Indonesian illustrator and developer Brigatta Rena, who created the game as a love story that was relatable yet mysterious. It was made without any dialogue for players to loosely interpret her life experiences, which the game was based on. The development team had the challenge of having a unified view of the story from the game's absence of dialogue, as each member had a different interpretation of Eda and the owl's story. The team eventually agreed to the game's story details through "some trial and error", Rena said. Rena's hand-drawn scenes in the game were inspired from several manga and video games such as The Ancient Magus' Bride and Florence.{{Cite web |last=Wald |first=Heather |date=2021-02-05 |title=Have you tried… learning to let go in the musically magic When the Past Was Around? |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/have-you-tried-learning-to-let-go-in-the-musically-magic-when-the-past-was-around/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240805130439/https://www.gamesradar.com/have-you-tried-learning-to-let-go-in-the-musically-magic-when-the-past-was-around/ |archive-date=Aug 5, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=GamesRadar+ |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Beresford |first=Trilby |date=2021-01-15 |title=The Independent Gamer: Inside the Development of Silent Narrative 'When the Past Was Around' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/the-independent-gamer-inside-the-development-of-silent-narrative-when-the-past-was-around-4115228/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628235201/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/the-independent-gamer-inside-the-development-of-silent-narrative-when-the-past-was-around-4115228/ |archive-date=Jun 28, 2022 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} Rena would join the narrative development team of A Space for the Unbound.

The game was released for Windows on September 22, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Alhadad |first=Zahra |date=2020-10-09 |title=The Meaning Behind 'When The Past Was Around' and Why You Should Experience It Yourself |url=https://sea.ign.com/when-the-past-was-around/164709/feature/the-meaning-behind-when-the-past-was-around-and-why-you-should-experience-it-yourself |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=IGN Southeast Asia |language=en-sg |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118231733/https://sea.ign.com/when-the-past-was-around/164709/feature/the-meaning-behind-when-the-past-was-around-and-why-you-should-experience-it-yourself |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Bashir |first=Dale |date=2020-09-10 |title=Exceptional Indonesian Game 'When the Past Was Around' Releasing on September 22 |url=https://sea.ign.com/pc/163580/news/exceptional-indonesian-game-when-the-past-was-around-releasing-on-september-22 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=IGN Southeast Asia |language=en-sg |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403011034/https://sea.ign.com/pc/163580/news/exceptional-indonesian-game-when-the-past-was-around-releasing-on-september-22 |url-status=live }} Release of the game in consoles within the year was first announced in May 2020.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2020-05-20 |title=Point-and-click adventure game When the Past Was Around coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch this summer |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/05/point-and-click-adventure-game-when-the-past-was-around-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-this-summer |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617095545/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/05/point-and-click-adventure-game-when-the-past-was-around-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-this-summer |archive-date=Jun 17, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} In November, video game publisher Chorus Worldwide announced a release for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in December 2020 by publisher Chorus Worldwide was announced in November 2020.{{Cite web |last=Romano |first=Sal |date=2020-11-18 |title=When the Past Was Around coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in mid-December |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/11/when-the-past-was-around-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-in-mid-december |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250123123937/https://www.gematsu.com/2020/11/when-the-past-was-around-coming-to-ps4-xbox-one-and-switch-in-mid-december |archive-date=January 23, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}} The game was published on the platforms from December 16 to 18, 2020.{{Cite web |last=Shearon |first=Andrea |date=2020-12-16 |title=Touching Point-And-Click Puzzler, When The Past Was Around, Available Today On Switch |url=https://www.thegamer.com/when-the-past-was-around-on-switch/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=TheGamer |language=en |archive-date=December 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216194913/https://www.thegamer.com/when-the-past-was-around-on-switch/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Dornbush |first=Jonathon |date=2020-12-15 |title=Among Us, Spelunky 2, and 17 Other Games Highlighted During December 15's Nintendo Indie World Showcase |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/among-us-spelunky-2-and-17-other-games-highlighted-during-december-15s-nintendo-indie-world-showcase |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=IGN |language=en |archive-date=September 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903093111/https://www.ign.com/articles/among-us-spelunky-2-and-17-other-games-highlighted-during-december-15s-nintendo-indie-world-showcase |url-status=live }}{{Cite magazine |last=卵を守る雨宮 |date=2021-01-08 |title="失くしたもの"がある大人たちに送る静かな感動作『When the Past Was Around 過去といた頃』【年末年始おすすめゲームレビュー】 |trans-title=A quiet, moving work for adults who have lost something: "When the Past Was Around" [New Year's recommended game review] |url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/202101/08212459.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114164241/https://www.famitsu.com/news/202101/08212459.html |archive-date=Jan 14, 2025 |access-date=2025-04-26 |magazine=Famitsu |language=ja}} A mobile version of the game was announced in September 2021.{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Rebekah |date=2021-08-31 |title=Coffee Talk Gets a Sequel, Glitchhikers Returns, and More From The Indie Houses Showcase |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/coffee-talk-glitchhikers-indie-houses-showcase |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213165752/https://www.ign.com/articles/coffee-talk-glitchhikers-indie-houses-showcase |archive-date=Feb 13, 2024 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=IGN |language=en}} It was released on iOS and Android on March 14, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Madnani |first=Mikhail |date=2022-03-15 |title=Point and Click Adventure Puzzler 'When the Past Was Around' Is Out Now on iOS and Android |url=https://toucharcade.com/2022/03/15/when-the-past-was-around-mobile-download-free-out-now-point-and-click-adventure-puzzler-toge-productions/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=TouchArcade |language=en-US |archive-date=September 23, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240923074332/https://toucharcade.com/2022/03/15/when-the-past-was-around-mobile-download-free-out-now-point-and-click-adventure-puzzler-toge-productions |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Hashim |first=Natasha |date=2022-03-08 |title=Indonesian-Made 'When The Past Was Around' Coming to Mobile |url=https://sea.ign.com/when-the-past-was-around-pc/182880/news/indonesian-made-when-the-past-was-around-coming-to-mobile |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=IGN Southeast Asia |language=en-sg |archive-date=March 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308143550/https://sea.ign.com/when-the-past-was-around-pc/182880/news/indonesian-made-when-the-past-was-around-coming-to-mobile |url-status=live }}

{{Video game reviews

| MC = (NS) 79/100{{Cite web |title=When the Past Was Around for Nintendo Switch reviews|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/when-the-past-was-around/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |access-date=Apr 26, 2025 |website=Metacritic |language=en}}
(PC) 77/100{{Cite web |title=When the Past Was Around for PC reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/when-the-past-was-around/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |access-date=Apr 26, 2025 |website=Metacritic |language=en }}
(PS4) 78/100{{Cite web |title=When the Past Was Around for PlayStation 4 reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/when-the-past-was-around/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |access-date=Apr 26, 2025 |website=Metacritic |language=en }}
(Xbox One) 73/100{{Cite web |title=When the Past Was Around for Xbox One reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/when-the-past-was-around/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |access-date=Apr 26, 2025 |website=Metacritic |language=en }}

| EuroG = 7/10

| NLife = {{rating|9|10}}

| PSQ = {{rating|7|10}}

| Gamezebo = 70/100

}}

When the Past Was Around received "generally positive" reviews according to review aggregate site Metacritic{{Cite web |title=When The Past Was Around Reviews |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/when-the-past-was-around/ |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Metacritic |language=en}} and won the Best Visual Art award in the 2019 SEA Game Awards.

Reviewers gave positive reception on the game's hand-drawn visuals and sound. {{Cite web |last=Netti |first=Stefania |date=September 22, 2020 |title=When The Past Was Around - recensione |trans-title=When The Past Was Around - review |url=https://www.eurogamer.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230602144808/https://www.eurogamer.it/when-the-past-was-around-recensione |archive-date=June 2, 2023 |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Eurogamer |language=italian}} Nintendo Life's Stuart Gipp compared the art style to a children's book, and noted that the game's use of autumnal colors prevented it from being excessively cute "or esoteric for the sake of it" Critics also praised the sound effects and the piano and string-heavy soundtrack, which emulated "authentic, intimate spaces" and a "comfortable, inquisitive tone that immediately puts you at ease", Katherine Castle from Rock Paper Shotgun would write.{{Cite news |last=Castle |first=Katharine |last2= |first2= |date=2021-06-16 |title=Have You Played... When The Past Was Around? |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/have-you-played-when-the-past-was-around |access-date=2025-04-26 |work=Rock Paper Shotgun |language=en |archive-date=April 3, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220403011032/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/have-you-played-when-the-past-was-around |url-status=live }} The lack of dialogue allowed the player to immerse in the soundtrack's piano and violin for Famitsu's "Amemiya".

Reviewers saw the point-and-click gameplay as "pretty standard"{{Cite web |last=Blagg |first=Melanie |date=2020-10-19 |title=When the Past Was Around review |url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/when-the-past-was-around |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Adventure Gamers |language=en |archive-date=November 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117143921/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/when-the-past-was-around |url-status=live }} and consisting of "fairly rudimentary puzzles". Most of the game's puzzles, which eventually become sophisticated as the game progresses, remained straightforward. Most of the gameplay felt rote or underwhelming for Gamezebo's Maria Alexander. Alexander was also disappointed that gameplay coincided with the characters' emotions and narrative in only a few occasions, which made the game "never feel like a complete experience".{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Maria |date=2020-12-21 |title=When The Past Was Around [Switch] Review - Owl By Yourself |url=https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/when-the-past-was-around-switch-review-owl-by-yourself/ |access-date=2025-04-27 |website=Gamezebo |language=en-GB |archive-date=June 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604200224/https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/when-the-past-was-around-switch-review-owl-by-yourself/ |url-status=live }} Some reviewers also criticized the lack of an autosave feature between chapters. Reviewers finished the game within one to three hours. The game was brief and thus had an unrealized potential for Push Square's Graham Banks. Melanie Blagg of Adventure Gamers informed experienced players that they may not find the puzzles challenging, but recommended the game for its visuals, music, and emotional story.

Nintendo Life's Stuart Gipp calls the game a "pretty straightforward tale of grief and loss", although its "dreamy and [...] vague presentation" allowed any open interpretation. They also commended the game's possibility for open interpretation despite its rigid structure and linear narrative.{{Cite web |last=Gipp |first=Stuart |date=2020-12-25 |title=Review: When The Past Was Around (Switch) - The Perfect Video Game Tonic For 2020 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/when_the_past_was_around |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Nintendo Life |language=en-GB |archive-date=February 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206092839/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/when_the_past_was_around |url-status=live }} Reviewers saw the scenes of the game disjointed, but become clearer as the game progresses as "touching, bittersweet experience".{{Cite web |last=Polis |first=Annette |date=2020-12-25 |title=When the Past Was Around Explores Love and Loss |url=https://www.siliconera.com/when-the-past-was-around-playtest/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=Siliconera |language=en-US |archive-date=January 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210103091524/https://www.siliconera.com/when-the-past-was-around-playtest/ |url-status=live }} When The Past Was Around "hits your emotions with all the feels" despite its "bright and breezy art style", Castle wrote.

{{Reflist}}

• [https://chorusworldwide.com/when-the-past-was-around/ When the Past Was Around] at Chorus Worldwide
• [https://www.togeproductions.com/project/when-the-past-was-around/ When the Past Was Around] at Toge Productions
• [https://mojiken.itch.io/when-the-past-was-around Demo download] at itch.io

Category:2020 video games

Category:Android (operating system) games

Category:Chorus Worldwide games

Category:Indie games

Category:iOS games

Category:Mojiken Studio games

Category:Nintendo Switch games

Category:PlayStation 4 games

Category:Point-and-click adventure games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Toge Productions games

Category:Video games developed in Indonesia

Category:Windows games

Category:Xbox One games