Minimum:
Système d'exploitation *: Windows 7 Service Pack 1 Processeur : 1.8 GHz or faster processor Mémoire vive : 1 GB de mémoire Graphiques : Direct X 9.0c compatible video card DirectX : Version 9.0c Espace disque : 2 GB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : Any
Recommended: Système d'exploitation : Windows 10 Processeur : 2.8 GHz or faster processor Mémoire vive : 1 GB de mémoire Graphiques : Direct X 9.0c compatible video card DirectX : Version 9.0c Espace disque : 2 GB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : Any
When The Past Was Around has captivated players with its emotional storytelling, garnering 143 positive mentions out of 153 for its story aspect. The game's ability to evoke emotions is further highlighted by the frequent use of keywords such as 'émotion', 'émouvant', and 'émotions', which appear 39, 21, and 12 times respectively. With an overwhelming positive rating of 95%, the game has clearly resonated with its audience.
What it's about: When the Past was Around est un jeu d’aventure et de résolution d’énigmes de type point-and-click qui a pour thèmes l’amour, le détachement, le fait de lâcher prise, ainsi que le bonheur et la tristesse qu’une personne peut éprouver aux différents stades d’une relation.
In-game
« Très joli jeu, poignant, au graphisme prenant et aux énigmes plutôt facile, donc rapide à jouer : bref, une jolie parenthèse très poétique et qui touche. »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played1« Learning to unlearn is the most painful feeling and this game just touch my deepest emotions. »👍 anonymous review · 3 h played2222« Very nice story line. I really enjoyed this game and I love how the puzzles really tie into the story and flow well with everything! »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played1« Amour, joie, chagrin, tendresse, nostalgie, le tout baigné dans la lumière et la musique. Dans notre monde de brutes et d'assassins c'est plutôt rafraîchissant. »👍 anonymous review · 3 h played« Touching, warmful, meaningful... What a poetic indie game... SUPPORT THEM! »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played« Merci pour cette oeuvre. Musique, illustration, gameplay. C'est un bijou de sensibilite. Merci pour les 2h d'emotion. »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played
« Si on veut contemplatif pourquoi pas, mais parler d'un jeu d'énigme est un bien grand mot. Je comprends que certaines personnes peuvent apprécier mais pour ma part je me suis ennuyé et au bout de 15min d'énignes simplissimes j'ai arrêté »👎 anonymous review · 0 h played« joli mais lent, trop simple, manque d'intéret global pour ce jeu de casse tête. Adapté aux jeunes adolescent(e)s »👎 anonymous review · 1 h played« Joli mais bizarre. La fille est amoureuse d'un hibou. C'est romantique et ça fini bizarrement... »👎 anonymous review · 2 h played« Boring story. Cheesy music. Stereotypical female character. Basic gameplay. Good art tho. »👎 anonymous review · 2 h played« Très bon jeu, très triste cependant, mais je vous le conseille sans hésiter une seul seconde »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played
In players' words
« Très joli jeu, poignant, au graphisme prenant et aux énigmes plutôt facile, donc rapide à jouer : bref, une jolie parenthèse très poétique et qui touche. »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played1« Si on veut contemplatif pourquoi pas, mais parler d'un jeu d'énigme est un bien grand mot. Je comprends que certaines personnes peuvent apprécier mais pour ma part je me suis ennuyé et au bout de 15min d'énignes simplissimes j'ai arrêté »👎 anonymous review · 0 h played« Learning to unlearn is the most painful feeling and this game just touch my deepest emotions. »👍 anonymous review · 3 h played2222« joli mais lent, trop simple, manque d'intéret global pour ce jeu de casse tête. Adapté aux jeunes adolescent(e)s »👎 anonymous review · 1 h played« Very nice story line. I really enjoyed this game and I love how the puzzles really tie into the story and flow well with everything! »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played1« Joli mais bizarre. La fille est amoureuse d'un hibou. C'est romantique et ça fini bizarrement... »👎 anonymous review · 2 h played« Amour, joie, chagrin, tendresse, nostalgie, le tout baigné dans la lumière et la musique. Dans notre monde de brutes et d'assassins c'est plutôt rafraîchissant. »👍 anonymous review · 3 h played« Boring story. Cheesy music. Stereotypical female character. Basic gameplay. Good art tho. »👎 anonymous review · 2 h played« Touching, warmful, meaningful... What a poetic indie game... SUPPORT THEM! »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played« Très bon jeu, très triste cependant, mais je vous le conseille sans hésiter une seul seconde »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played« Merci pour cette oeuvre. Musique, illustration, gameplay. C'est un bijou de sensibilite. Merci pour les 2h d'emotion. »👍 anonymous review · 2 h played
Anonymized excerpts from public Steam reviews — picked among those most voted "helpful" by the community.
What players say, by aspect
PositiveMixedNegative
Story / writing
93 % pos · n=153
Gameplay
89 % pos · n=93
Graphics / art
99 % pos · n=86
Audio / music
97 % pos · n=86
Content / longevity
60 % pos · n=10
Value for money
71 % pos · n=7
Performance
100 % pos · n=3
Stability / bugs
0 % pos · n=3
Interface / UX
0 % pos · n=1
Detailed data (table)
Aspect
Mentions
Positive
Mixed
Negative
Story / writing
153
143
4
6
Gameplay
93
83
4
6
Graphics / art
86
85
0
1
Audio / music
86
83
0
3
Content / longevity
10
6
2
2
Value for money
7
5
1
1
Performance
3
3
0
0
Stability / bugs
3
0
0
3
Interface / UX
1
0
0
1
Positive reviews by playtime
🎮 Players who like it have spent 2.2 h on median; those who dislike it: 2.3 h.
🪤 42 % of negative reviews come from players who left in under 2h — the game often disappoints right away.
<2h
92 % (n=177)
2-10h
93 % (n=296)
10-25h
100 % (n=6)
Fixed or still broken? Sentiment over time
➡️ Stable reception over time
% of positive reviews per month (months with ≥ 15 sample reviews).
100% completion difficulty ("platinum")
21 %Accessible
of players have unlocked the rarest achievement — the upper bound of those who "100%'d" it. 20 achievements in total; the median achievement is unlocked by 66,7 % of players.
The story is a major highlight, with 143 positive mentions out of 153, showcasing the game's ability to craft a compelling narrative.
The graphics have received widespread acclaim, with 85 positive mentions out of 86, demonstrating the game's visual appeal.
The audio design has also been praised, with 83 positive mentions out of 86, highlighting the game's effective use of sound and music.
Weaknesses
The game's short length has been a point of contention, with 21 mentions of the game being 'court', indicating that some players may find the experience too brief.
There have been a few mentions of bugs, with 3 negative mentions out of 3, suggesting that the game may not be entirely free of technical issues.
Who is it for?
When The Past Was Around is ideal for players who appreciate emotional storytelling, beautiful graphics, and a poignant narrative, making it a great fit for fans of adventure and indie games.
Is When The Past Was Around worth it in 2026?
Overall yes, the community is won over: 95% of 4,400 Steam reviews are positive (player score 91/100). Most-praised strength: The story is a major highlight. Current price: 4,67€ (40% off).
Verdict
With its captivating story, stunning visuals, and effective audio design, When The Past Was Around has earned its overwhelmingly positive rating of 95%. While it may be a short experience, the game's emotional impact and beautiful presentation make it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games. The post-release reception, with a 92% positive rating, further solidifies the game's quality and appeal.
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