Games take time. We know this. Some people are able to complete games in a matter of minutes through speed-runs, or take their time and heavily explore which could take a few days. But needless to say, whichever way someone plays, it takes time. What about a game that can’t be speedrun, though? That’s what developer Kara Stone has managed to create in their game Ritual of the Moon.
Ritual of the Moon is a slow-paced narrative game that takes time. How much time? 28 days to be exact, a full lunar cycle. And it has a very heavy meditative experience as part of the game.
Players take on the role of a witch who was recently outed to the council about her powers. She is exiled to the moon, only being able to watch over the Earth, and the woman she loves. However, while up here, she has to reflect and make some drastic decisions. These decisions are a part of the 5-minute playable time each day, where players solve a meditational task, a memory game, drawing some symbols, or receiving a mantra. As well as making a choice on the fate of the Earth.
And each of these choices and patterns, the game tracks as a somewhat of a mood tracker. And based upon how the player is through the entire lunar cycle, they can experience one of the six different endings of the game. And if you want to play through a different ending, then it’s another 28 days to go through.
Another unique aspect about this game is the design. On the Steam description of the game, is described how the look of the game came to be. And several artists had come together using found objects, flowers, clay, paint, wire, the list goes on, and then combined them together to create this surreal and one-of-a-kind appearance.
Ritual of the Moon is currently available on PC for $16.99.