One Step After Fall Review

One Step After Fall

Release: April 17, 2025
Publisher: QUByte Interactive
Developer: The Bergson’s Games Studios
Genre: Adventure, Horror, PlayStation 5 Reviews
PEGI: 16
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In a gaming landscape dominated by high-octane action and sprawling open worlds, One Step After Fall dares to slow things down. It’s a quiet, introspective walking simulator that trades combat and puzzles for emotional storytelling and minimalist design. But does this subdued approach deliver a meaningful experience—or does it stumble under the weight of its own ambition?

At the heart of One Step After Fall is Steve Robinson, a once-successful writer now grappling with depression and personal loss. The game invites players to walk through Steve’s memories—childhood homes, forest paths, and other emotionally charged spaces—as he reflects on the events that led to his breakdown.

The narrative is delivered through internal monologues and environmental cues. It’s a deeply personal story, one that touches on themes of grief, regret, and the search for redemption. While the writing is sincere, it often lacks the subtlety needed to truly resonate. Emotional beats are sometimes spelled out too plainly, leaving little room for interpretation or player connection.

Still, there are moments of genuine poignancy. A quiet pause in a snowy field. A memory triggered by a familiar object. These instances hint at the emotional depth the game strives for, even if it doesn’t always reach it. As a walking simulator, One Step After Fall is exactly what it sounds like. You walk. You listen. You absorb. There are no puzzles to solve, no enemies to fight, and no choices to make. The experience is linear and lasts about an hour.

This stripped-down approach can be meditative for some and monotonous for others.The environments, while thematically appropriate, are often sparse and repetitive. Without meaningful interaction or visual variety, the game risks losing the player’s attention before its emotional message can fully land.

Visually, the game is modest. It doesn’t push the PlayStation 5’s hardware, nor does it try to. The muted color palette and minimalistic design reflect the protagonist’s emotional state, but they also contribute to a sense of visual blandness.  The audio design is similarly restrained. A soft piano score and ambient sounds accompany Steve’s narration, creating a somber atmosphere. Voice acting is present but uneven—at times heartfelt, at others flat and unconvincing. It’s clear the developers aimed for emotional authenticity, but the delivery doesn’t always support the weight of the script.

Critics have been divided. Some appreciate the game’s attempt to tackle mental health themes with sincerity, while others find the execution lacking. Common criticisms include the overly simplistic gameplay, underdeveloped narrative, and lack of polish in both visuals and voice work.

One reviewer described it as “a painful one-hour stroll,” while another noted that it “fizzled under the weight of its many glaring failures.” These harsh takes reflect a broader sentiment: One Step After Fall has its heart in the right place, but its delivery doesn’t quite match its ambition. One Step After Fall is a game that wants to say something important. It wants to explore the quiet, painful moments that shape a person’s life. And in some ways, it succeeds.

There’s a sincerity here that’s hard to ignore. But sincerity alone isn’t enough. The story needs more nuance. The gameplay needs more engagement. The world needs more detail. For players who enjoy slow, reflective experiences and are willing to overlook some rough edges, this might be a worthwhile hour. For everyone else, there are more polished and emotionally resonant titles in the genre.

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