At first, it feels charming and introspective, but the spell ends up soon being broken. The game is repetitive and it presents a plot that is tragic but is presented in a somewhat superficial way. It fails to bring depth to the characters to give the players any emotional response to the story. Then there are the bugs. I played this for just 50 minutes, yet I ran into quite a few issues, including one that forced a full restart. And apparently, quitting the game between chapters (even after the saving icon appears) sends you back to the beginning of the chapter. For such a short experience, it is surprisingly underwhelming and even frustrating if you like playing in small bursts. I ended up refunding it. Hard pass.
When The Past Was Around
- Release Date:
- Sep 22, 2020
- Metacritic:
- 77
- Developer:
- Mojiken
- Publisher:
- Toge Productions
- Platforms:
- Windows Mac
Game Tags
About This Game

From Brigitta Rena, the creator of A Raven Monologue and She & The Light Bearer.
When the Past was Around is an adventure point-and-click puzzle game about love, moving on, letting go, and the joy and pain of everything in between.
This is the story of Eda, a girl in her early 20s.
Like anyone in her age, she’s lost.
She lost her way in the journey to achieve her dreams.
She lost her way in the journey to find love.
That until she met The Owl.
The man that would help her burn her passion,
the man that would help her find the spark in a relationship,
and also the man that would teach her about heartbreak.
The game tells a bittersweet tale between a girl and her lover in a surreal world consisting of disjointed rooms from memories and time. With each gathered clue, solved puzzles, and unlocked door, the girl will find her way, unraveling the secrets between her and her lover, the secrets which she used to know.

Features:
- A picture speaks a thousand words.
Experience the game’s story not through words nor dialogues but beautifully hand-drawn art created by famous Indonesian artist, Brigitta Rena. - A short, sweet and whimsical journey.
Explore a bittersweet tale between a girl and her lover in a surreal world consisting of disjointed rooms of memories and time. - Personal and ubiquitous.
a game about overcoming the past and finding the self. - Solve brain-teasing puzzles.
Various intriguing puzzles to solve and stories to uncover. - Let the music guide you.
Atmospheric violin music will accompany you from the peaceful days to the angstiest moments
When The Past Was Around is a short silent narrative experience that can be finished in less than 2 hours. Even though it is a short game, we’ve put all our hearts into delivering a deep and meaningful experience for you. We hope that the brief moment you spend with Eda and Owl would be priceless and unforgettable.
Screenshots
User Reviews
I am sucker for a beautiful and bittersweet game. I love the art, the music, the story. It made me go hug my partner real real tight and anything that reminds me how precious life and memory is time well spent. Thank you.
a short cute point and click game. cute yet heartbreaking story line. So you know its sad from the beginning but as the game progresses you can see how it all happens before you actually reach the end. this is a cathartic and consoling game
A cute short point and click adventure game. The music is beautiful
really good game not that replayable or long but fun and though the story is simple you can understand it.
It's fun and easy game. You can play it after working and it feels great spending the time playing this game. The artwork and the music is nice and warm, make you feel more into this game.
The way they incorporated music into the point-and-click game play really got my eyes twitching since the music in the background is out of tune with the SFX when I click on the floating notes. The soundtrack is mediocre and doesn't evoke much emotion that I expected from a girl grieving for her deceased lover. The music falls short compared to its counterpart: Venba, a cooking game.
An absolutely beautiful game
.
this is the first review i ever make on a game... and the first time i cry so much over puzzles. its so beautiful and sad and the artsyle is just fantastic <3
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System Requirements
Minimum
- OS *: Windows 7 Service Pack 1
- Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster processor
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compatible video card
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: Any
Recommended
- OS: Windows 10
- Processor: 2.8 GHz or faster processor
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compatible video card
- DirectX: Version 9.0c
- Storage: 2 GB available space
- Sound Card: Any
FAQ
How much does When The Past Was Around cost?
When The Past Was Around costs $7.99.
What are the system requirements for When The Past Was Around?
Minimum: Minimum: OS *: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster processor Memory: 1 GB RAM Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compatible video card DirectX: Version 9.0c Storage: 2 GB available space Sound Card: Any Recommended: Recommended: OS: Windows 10 Processor: 2.8 GHz or faster processor Memory: 1 GB RAM Graphics: Direct X 9.0c compatible video card DirectX: Version 9.0c Storage: 2 GB available space Sound Card: Any
What platforms is When The Past Was Around available on?
When The Past Was Around is available on Windows PC, macOS.
Is When The Past Was Around worth buying?
When The Past Was Around has 78% positive reviews from 23 players. Metacritic score: 77/100.
When was When The Past Was Around released?
When The Past Was Around was released on Sep 22, 2020.
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