Night in the Woods: A Lesson in Empathy

Night in the Woods (NITW) is a game that was released six years ago, and it has garnered praise for its exceptional dialogue system, explorative nature, and the combination of art style, soundtrack, and subtle game mechanics that give Possum Springs and its residents texture and authenticity. The game is a coming-of-age story that revolves around Mae Borowski, a punky college-dropout cat who returns to her hometown to find that life goes on in Possum Springs despite the passing years.

The Illusion of Control

The nature of many video games is that players can control an avatar, which encourages putting oneself in someone else’s shoes. This game, however, makes sure that players never feel like they are Mae, and this distance becomes wider as the game progresses. Night in the Woods is subtle and slow in its approach to this. Initially, players find out about Mae through her interactions with her parents, old pals, and random townsfolk. There is a welcoming, explorative phase that feels like unbounded freedom.

The Pervasive Lack of Agency

There is a lot of discourse around class struggles in Night in the Woods that is delicately played with between the dialogue and mini-game mechanics. It is most significantly expressed through Mae’s mental illness. A lot of excellent games have perfected the art of giving players a sense of freedom and choice in a world that must have rules and parameters. Night in the Woods gives players the illusion of choice in some ways, but blatantly takes it away when controlling Mae.

A Hard Lesson in Empathy

Night in the Woods is a hard lesson in empathy. The hardest part is accepting Mae for who she is currently and being okay with the absence of closure. The pacing of the game and the built environments keep players focused on the small, everyday things. It wants players to take things a day at a time out of necessity, but to also accept that change is slow and sometimes unrealistic.

Night in the Woods is a game that forces players to empathize with people who are not like them. It is a lesson in empathy that is hard-learned but is worth it in the end. The game is available on multiple platforms, including PC, Mac, Nintendo Switch, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One.