If you’ve watched E3 2019, you’re probably familiar with the one-minute trailer that charmed everyone. Lovingly dubbed “The Deer Game”, Way to the Woods is a passion project of indie game developer Anthony Tan. The game has supposedly been in development since 2019. However, fans are getting increasingly impatient (and excited) to finally play The Deer Game.
Anthony Tan started developing the game in late 2015 at just 16 years old! He shared some screenshots on Reddit of the game. The first screenshots were simple, but Tan secured a publishing deal in 2018. In 2019, his game trailer premiered alongside some big names in gaming such as Final Fantasy VII Remake and Halo Infinite. That’s quite a feat for an 18-year-old developer at the time.
https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/3qyylx/i_started_working_on_a_little_game_idea_where_you/
Of course, the developer had some of his own feelings about these developments. It was a great way for him to explore the world he was building, especially considering his characters weren’t humans. Other than the breathtaking scenery the game provides, it also presents a different perspective on a post-apocalyptic world.
If you’ve been looking for a fun game with a great aesthetic, Way to the Woods is the jackpot. We’ll have a look at the gameplay and release date for the game, so keep reading to learn more about The Deer Game!
What even is Way to the Woods!?
As the trailer shows, Way to the Woods is a game about two deer returning home. The beautiful aesthetics of the game and the interesting story are a clear testimony to Tan’s passion for art and video games. Although we don’t know too much about the plot, we know that this game will not disappoint, whenever it’s out!
Tan also has Steven Universe composers Aivi and Surasshu working on the music. If you’ve watched the show, you know we’re about to have some quality ambience on our hands.
Way to the Woods: Gameplay
Way to the Woods is a third-person adventure game, as shown in the gameplay trailer. It features an adult deer and a fawn traversing through various scenery.
In the trailer, we can see the adult deer pick up objects, break through glass, and use his horns to open a gate. This tells us that the game will probably involve some sort of puzzle solving and getting through the maps to get home.
Way to the Woods: Setting
The game’s setting is in a world where human civilization is collapsed. We see the player characters going through abandoned stations, stores, and railroads. The two deer must find their way back home, traversing through sometimes dark and abandoned environments.
It also seems like the game has some fantasy elements, as we see the deer’s horns glow in the dark. This is probably what the game’s trailer meant by “all of the lights will guide you home”. In addition, the trailer shows a huge cat staring down at our two protagonists in what seems to be a sewage. Can’t get more fantasy than that, right?
The game seems to pull a lot of inspiration from Hayao Miyazaki movies, and Tan even stated this in his first Reddit post. All things considered, we can expect to go on a fantastical adventure with the two protagonists, complete with breathtaking scenery and great music.
When will the Deer Game finally be released?
In short, the Deer Game has no exact release date.
The original release date Anthony Tan stated on his blog was early 2019. However, as the developer’s blog post from December 2020 states, “development began in earnest in 2019”. The next release date was put sometime in 2020. Considering it’s already 2022, we don’t really have any solid news on when Way to the Woods will come out.
However, we do have some guesses. Some sources such as Qisahn put the release date at December 2022. However, others such as Releases have yet to announce a date, although you can subscribe to receive an email for it.
What Platforms will Way to the Woods launch on?
The game was announced at E3 2019 as part of Microsoft’s games presentation, so we can be sure to play the game on Xbox. Way to the Woods will also probably launch on PC, as there has been no word about the game being an Xbox exclusive.
Overall, some sources state the game will release for the PC, PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. If you’re itching to play Way to the Woods, make sure to grab a hold of one of these platforms so you can play the Deer Game!
