Glitchhikers: The Spaces Between is a story about stories. Your stories, other people’s, untold, and unfinished stories. It’s also about introspection, connection, choices, and journeys. The walking sim/visual novel from Silverstring Media Inc. and publisher Fellow Traveller has no goals, no objectives, only time.
You begin in a cosmic convenience store of sorts, unsure of where you are, how you got there, or why you are there. The vibes are very Douglas Adam’s The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe. It’s a modest place with oddly empty coolers and some random objects on pedestals. Some of which are randomly glitching. That’s probably fine.
The only other person there is the clerk; talking to them will somewhat enlighten you about what’s happening. You have arrived at a waypoint between journeys. The clerk explains that there are many journeys and conversations to be had. They tell you these conversations might be uncomfortable, but you can leave them anytime. Then there is a choice: will you take the train or drive alone on the highway?
Glitchhikers Offers A Personal Journey That Resonates Differently With Everyone
I chose the train. The only “objective” is to ride the train and talk to the few passengers aboard. You can speak to each person three times, and after each conversation, they will move further down the train. Also aboard the train is a musician. So the next time you are at the convenience store, look around before going in and find the busker around the side of the building.
It’s the musician from the train. They reveal they are wearing a mask, and you can come back and talk to them whenever you return to the store. The musician will talk to you about protecting yourself from tear gas and knowing your rights when dealing with police encounters. Unfortunately, these things are now a realistic part of many people’s lives and need to be considered. The musician quips, “There’s a reason I wear a mask.”
Back on the train, the driver will also announce points of interest you can view and the upcoming stops. You can also end your journey at any time. Otherwise, you advance down the train to find your conversation partners and continue your brief but existential dread-causing conversations. Sometimes you will exit a carriage only to find yourself outside. The musician is still there. Just head forward to the next door into a carriage, or you can look around at the scenery for a while.
This is just an example of a journey you can take. More options become available to you after your first. For example, you can drive the highway, where you will automatically pick up hitchhikers, and an airplane terminal and a park also open up to you. Each journey has a different way of interacting with the environment and people you meet. For example, while walking around the park, you can listen to meditative ponderings on the universe or choose not to. There is no set path to follow, and there are many sights to be seen.
Throughout all your journeys, you will encounter people you have met before and have the opportunity to continue your conversations and expand on topics you previously touched on. This is the core of the game. The people you meet will talk about a wide range of things. For example, you can discuss art and its meaning, the abstract idea of fragmented identity, the challenges that face people with disabilities, and a host of other topics that can be distressing depending on your mental state.
As someone who frequently deals with all of the issues above and more addressed in the Glitchhikers experience, I found it genuinely difficult. I have struggled with this review for about a week now. When you begin the game, it does forewarn you about the content within. It explains that it is a game for those who are hurt and/or healing but that your mental well-being is your own, and only you can know how to take care of your needs. It encourages you to step away if needed.
Glitchhikers Isn’t Afraid To Hit Hard
It’s hard to review the content of Glitchhikers because it is such a personal journey. The conversations you have with the people you meet will differ depending on your chosen options. It is designed to invite introspection and reflection. Along the way, there are resources and self-care tips for those struggling. The experience is carefully designed with the player’s well-being in mind, with plenty of options to end your journey and leave conversations if needed. You don’t even have to talk to anyone; you can just walk around in peace.
Having said that, the UI and look of the game, on the Nintendo Switch at least, need improvement. For example, some settings require you to navigate specifically to certain circles, as in a VR game. These instances can be fiddly with Switch controls because the Joy-Cons are designed for tiny hands that don’t have arthritis. It is also incredibly dark. It is so dark. The airport terminal, in particular, is dingy to the point of frustration. Yes, you can adjust the brightness, which I did, but it ends up blown out. Choose the form of your destructor; Impossible to see or all detail erased by bloom.
The actual character designs and environments are great. They have simple and polygonal backgrounds, but the different characters are interesting. They are colorful and strange, some with crescent moon heads, others that look like hacker lizards. However, they are easily recognizable, so you know what you will be talking about when you encounter them.
Wrapping Up
Overall, Glitchhikers is a profound experience that is designed to make you think not only about yourself but the struggles of others. Its only downfall is in some of the UI applications and visual elements.
