I’m an introvert and no, that doesn’t mean I’m at all shy. It’s that social interactions are draining even when they’re pleasant. My source of creativity and energy come from within. I’m not motivated by external interactions. Revitalization comes from being separated - apart from others. I can be alone for very long periods of time without feeling lonely. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever experienced loneliness.
Many years ago, a coworker asked me why all of the paintings in my office were distant landscapes with an isolated element - tree, lighthouse, cabin. I blinked and looked around, never having noticed it myself. My response? “Hrm. Uh, they look relaxing to me,” I shrugged.
I wasn’t consciously aware that there was a definition for this preference until I was in my late twenties and participated in a Dale Carnegie team building exercise sponsored by my employer. I just thought I was odd when as a child, I often had my parents tell friends I wasn’t at home if they came knocking. When I was in the mood for the chatter of others, I’d go find them. I bring up this topic as an introduction to Far: Lone Sails, a wonderful introvert’s adventure.
Longtime readers will know that I solo MMOs. That preference is not to the exclusion of all group content. I appreciate that too. I simply prefer to do more of it on my own. I typically end gaming sessions farming. Lavishing in the serenity of roaming fantastical landscapes in peace, savoring the world that’s taking place inside my head. The simplicity, combined with an aesthetic that removes the busyness, clatter, and bluster of the extrovert’s world, makes Lone Sails a soothing balm.
FAR: Lone Sails feels like the soul of an introvert’s journey. The perpetual task of collecting fuel and trinkets fades into the background. The puzzles you encounter along the way are brief and necessary interludes with the external, containing just enough complexity to make you think. Once accomplished, I clamber happily into my contraption and set off again.
If you’re not into repetitive tasks in a side-scroller, perhaps this isn’t the title for you. I was delighted when I unlocked the first ship upgrade, giggled when I connected the radio tower, gutted when I lost my first lantern and relieved when I found another.
What sets it apart for me, however, is the art style, animations and varied interactions needed to keep your home rolling along until you encounter the next roadblock. And somehow, they’ve managed to make the background an integral part of your environment, not just a backdrop. It feels present and alive.
If you’re looking for a game that’s entertaining, soothing and extremely casual, with a minimalist art style and pleasant soundtrack, definitely take a look at Far: Lone Sails.
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