The exploration genre often has this difficult battle to fight between telling a good story and keeping the gameplay interesting. Case in point, many called Firewatch a walking simulator because while the story was entertaining, the gameplay was often boring and offered little challenge. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter faced similar criticisms, and yet it had some puzzle-solving elements to it that made it more than merely walking through the woods. Valley exhibits the finest balance of gameplay and story I have ever experienced in this genre. It’s not a walking simulator, it’s not a platformer, and it definitely doesn’t have a story that is thrown together. Valley won’t speak to just one type of gamer; it will strike a chord with all walks, especially since gamers can make it as challenging as they wish. In fact, Valley does so much so well that it’s definitely a contender for Game of the Year. An Accidental Tourist
After setting out to discover the legendary “Life Seed,” a naturally born seed that reportedly contains extraordinary power, an archaeologist stumbles across a beautiful, hidden valley in the middle of the Rocky Mountains. The valley appears to be full of vibrant life, and yet there are so many dead trees standing as if they were suddenly struck down by magic. Ruins of an ancient and yet unknown civilization decorate the region, and there are signs that this archaeologist is not the first American to explore th...