Walden, a game

Walden, a game is an exploratory narrative and open world simulation of the life of American philosopher Henry David Thoreau during his experiment in self-reliant living at Walden Pond. The game begins in the summer of 1845 when Thoreau moved to the Pond and built his cabin there.

Players follow in his footsteps, surviving in the woods by finding food and fuel and maintaining their shelter and clothing. At the same time, players are surrounded by the beauty of the woods and the Pond, which hold a promise of a sublime life beyond these basic needs. The game follows the loose narrative of Thoreau’s first year in the woods, with each season holding its own challenges for survival and possibilities for inspiration. 

The audience for the game is broad: from experimental game players to lovers of Thoreau and Transcendental literature. As such, the game offers more opportunities for reflective play than strategic challenge. The piece has a subtle narrative arc, in homage to the original text, which is not an adventure of the body pitted against nature, but of the mind and soul living in nature over the course of a New England year.

Available now for PS4 or PC and Mac at www.waldengame.com or gameinnovationlab.itch.io/walden! Winner of the Games for Change 2017 Most Significant Impact Awards and Game of the Year, as well as the IndieCade Developers Choice Award 2017.

Walden, a game was developed over the course of a decade at the Game Innovation Lab, supported by The National Endowment for the Humanities, The National Endowment for the Arts, the Sundance New Frontiers Storytelling Lab, and the USC Advancing Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences initiative.