Haven - First Impressions

Haven is an indie RPG adventure developed by French studio, The Game Bakers. The game follows a pair of lovers who gave up everything to escape to a lost planet to avoid being separated. In the game you can play solo or in co-op mode. In two player mode, play with a friend or significant other for an added level of immersion. Fight for your love and freedom in this gorgeous RPG adventure and discover if love really can conquer all.

Game Details

RPG | Adventure | Romance
Price: $24.99
ESRB: M (17+)
Where to Play: Nintendo Switch | Steam | Playstation | XBox

Story

Does love truly conquer all? Two lovers gave up everything, left their entire lives behind, and escaped to a lost planet to be together. Play these lovers, Yu and Kay, at the same time as they settle into an unknown and eerie world. Explore the planet searching for parts and material to fix their ship and make it a cozy home. Enjoy life together as a relatable couple cooking meals, crafting, collecting resources and engaging in meaningful conversations. Fight against those trying to tear them apart by synchronizing their actions in combat, finding the perfect timing and rhythm, while controlling both characters simultaneously. Glide through the mysterious landscape, explore a fragmented world and fight against what’s trying to tear them apart in this RPG adventure about love, rebellion, and freedom.

Features

Play two characters at the same time while exploring a fragmented planet, fending off enemies or building your relationship
Make the choice about what’s worth sacrificing to stay together, and if you’re willing to give up everything else for love
Glide over the grass, gather flow and clean the rust as you explore this dreamy planet and uncover secret areas
Meet the planet’s creatures, who are both friends and foes

Fight as the two characters in real time and relying on tactical sense and timing
Immerse yourself in a romantic space adventure, the saga of two lovers trying to stay together against all odds
Play a relatable couple in an intimate relationship, treated with maturity and humor
Immediate to play, accessible, a pause in a busy day, a game that will make you smile
A solo game that you can also play with a friend or romantic partner: a second player can join or drop out anytime in local co-op to share the adventure
The original soundtrack by renowned electro musician DANGER heightens the game’s emotional

Fight for your love

I’m not big on open world RPGs–mostly because I’m absolutely terrible with anything more complex than point-and-click mechanics or button mashing my way to victory in fighting games–but, I am a sucker for gorgeous art, so I went against brand and bought the Switch version of Haven. And let’s just say it was a huge learning curve, Haven is an RPG so it’s a bit more interactive than I’m used to with the visual novels I typically play. So, early on there was a lot of me fumbling my way through controls, especially navigating the expansive open world map (because I suck at thumb pads). But, once I got the hang of things I was able to appreciate just how unique of a game Haven really is.

The story follows two lovers, Yu and Kay, who give up everything to escape to an unknown planet just to be together. Much of the gameplay involves the pair exploring their new home, battling enemies, foraging for food and generally just trying to survive. But, what sets Haven apart from some of the other RPGs I have played, is that the story also dedicates a good chunk of gameplay to exploring Yu and Kay’s relationship, taking players through the more intimate slice-of-life moments in their lives. From making food to cleaning up the ship they’re inhabiting to petty arguments and sharing frustrations and even a little sexy times.

Both Yu and Kay have such dynamic personalities that are often at odds, but at the end of the day they each make up for what the other lacks and some of my favorite moments in the game were when the characters were just sitting around talking. The game doesn’t shy away from trying to portray a realistic relationship between Yu and Kay and that’s what kept me plugging through the game despite my ineptitude with the controls. Because the writers do a phenomenal job of getting you invested in these characters–exploring their wants and desires while also using their conversations to explain more about the world of the game in a way that feels organic. In March 2022, the devs added an update where players can enjoy their experience in the game as same-gender couples, making for a much more inclusive story.

As a complete RPG novice the gameplay was a bit of a challenge for me (thankfully you can set the difficulty levels early on), but once I figured things out I did have fun gliding around the gorgeous landscapes and interacting with the various creatures scattered around the planet. The battle sequences were fun and I liked that regardless of whether you play solo or with someone else you can synchronize your attacks to take down opponents. And the visuals are just gorgeous, bright vibrant colors, lush landscapes, and the lighting was just *chef’s kiss*.

Overall, Haven isn’t my usual jam, but I’m having fun with it and while I have no intention of finishing it anytime soon, I’m more than happy to take my time exploring all that the game has to offer. With it’s gorgeous visuals, unique blended gameplay and immersive storytelling, I definitely recommend giving Haven a play if you have the chance.