The game is a third-person survival adventure, in which two deer — one adult deer, one fawn — embark on a long journey home across a world after human civilization has collapsed.
On the official website for the game, Tan describes his game as thus: “Two deer in a strange, abandoned world without humans must find their way home. Find food, shelter, safety, and answers on your way to the woods.”
Tan cites influences such as Hayao Miyazaki, in specific, films like Princess Mononoke and Spirited Away, as well as the acclaimed survival video game The Last of Us. He further cited “a lot of music” and artists, though Tan did not mention any specific musicians.
Like indie films and music, indie gaming is the perfect realm for a game like Way to the Woods. It’s not a full-blown, $60-at-retail experience, but an innocent detour into something else in between all the blockbuster mayhem.