When The Past Was Around similar games & best alternatives
When The Past Was Around
2020
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Quick resume
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.
Global score
95/100
Genres
Adventure, Casual, Indie, Point-and-click, Puzzle, Music
Pros
- Beautiful hand-drawn art
- Emotional and poignant story
- Soothing and memorable soundtrack
- Accessible yet thoughtful puzzles
- Meaningful exploration of grief and healing
Cons
- Short gameplay length
- Some puzzles can be too easy or slightly unclear
- Repetitive soundtrack for some players
- Limited replay value beyond achievements
- Lack of explicit narrative clarity for some
Motivations
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Autonomy3
"Players direct their own actions through point-and-click puzzles and exploration, with freedom to interact with many objects and revisit chapters."
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Competence2
"Puzzles provide moderate challenge and require some problem solving, but are generally accessible and not overly difficult."
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Competition-5
"No competitive elements; focus is on personal emotional experience and story."
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Continuation1
"Short game with some replay value for achievements and emotional revisiting, but overall brief play sessions."
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Cooperation-5
"Single-player experience focused on individual reflection and story engagement."
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Creativity1
"Players solve puzzles creatively and explore symbolic elements, though within a structured narrative."
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Domination-5
"No elements of control or superiority over others; experience is personal and empathetic."
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Escapism4
"Strong emotional immersion offering escape into a poignant narrative about grief and healing."
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Expectation-4
"Players engage voluntarily driven by personal interest in emotional storytelling and art."
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Experimenting2
"Players explore puzzles and symbolic interactions, encouraging experimentation within the game world."
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Exploration2
"Players discover new scenes, objects, and memories, encouraging curiosity and discovery."
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Expression2
"Artistic style and symbolic storytelling allow personal interpretation and emotional expression."
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Fantasy1
"Contains some surreal and symbolic elements (e.g., Owl character), blending realistic emotional themes with imaginative presentation."
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Fellowship-5
"Primarily a solitary experience focused on personal emotional journey."
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Growth3
"Players experience emotional growth and reflection on grief and healing through narrative progression."
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Health-5
"Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity involved."
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Idle-3
"Requires focused attention to solve puzzles and engage with story; not a background or idle game."
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Intimacy4
"Strong emotional connection to characters and story, evoking empathy and personal reflection."
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Leadership-5
"No leadership or group management elements; purely individual experience."
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Progression3
"Narrative and puzzle progression advance the story and emotional development."
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Relaxation3
"Calm, soothing music and gentle pacing create a relaxing atmosphere despite emotional themes."
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Sensation3
"Enjoyable sensory experience through beautiful art and evocative music."
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Status-5
"No social recognition or status elements present."
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Story5
"Core focus on narrative immersion telling a poignant story of love, loss, and healing without words."
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Strategy1
"Puzzles require some problem solving and logical thinking but are generally straightforward."
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Thrill-3
"Emotional tension present but no suspense or risk-based thrills."
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Value2
"Good perceived value for emotional impact and artistic quality, though some note short length."
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Violence-5
"No violence; focus on constructive emotional experience."
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Survival-5
"No survival or threat avoidance mechanics."
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Last update: 06/03/2026