Someday You'll Return is a peaceful, yet unsettling descent into the madness of one man's mind. The experiences it's most like are SOMA and Through the Woods, which is high praise. Like those titles, SYR weaves together breathtaking vistas, great music, Czech folklore, Czech countryside, and a dark story to make a really affective and memorable journey.
The elements SYR brings together are remarkable. A large part of the adventure involves hiking a gorgeously rendered countryside, which is really peaceful and detailed, including trail maps and informative poster boards that highlight local flora, fauna, and landmarks. But it also includes cool mechanics like brewing magic potions and climbing walls realistically.
Another brave and beautiful choice is to have the gamer control an anti-hero avatar. So many games make us the hero of the story. But Daniel is offensive and sometimes downright evil. Not only does this allow for distinct storytelling possibilities, but it also is just refreshing to be a flawed and unlikeable character for a change, however much the final chapters prove redemptive.
Some players have complained about the stealth mechanics in chapters with enemies, but the comparison to the other games above is crucial. SYR is not attempting to be Outlast. If you don't treat this as an outwit the monsters game, and instead just follow the in-game instructions provided, most enemy-laden areas are easy to pass through. That is because the aim of this game in part is atmosphere and immersion, not anxiety-inducing terror. The developers want to draw you into this forbidding world, not make you flee for your life.
It's not perfect, and some of the story is a bit opaque, but the strong voice acting and excellent music choices keep the emotional power present enough that I was engrossed the whole way through. Czech fairy tales and monsters are awesome, and I hope CBE makes another title like this one!
