Game intel
While Waiting
While Waiting is a single-player story and exploration game which utilises one single space to reveal a fascinating story to you, the player. You play as Henry…
There’s no shortage of indie adventures vying for attention, but Optillusion’s latest Kickstarter, “While Waiting,” stands out by turning patience into its core mechanic. Coming from the team behind the clever visual puzzles of Moncage, this title asks whether the simple act of waiting can offer genuine engagement rather than just a novelty hook.
“While Waiting” reframes everyday pauses—waiting for a bus, sitting in an airport lounge, or standing in line—into interactive vignettes. Instead of fast-paced challenges or timed puzzles, the design focuses on subtle micro-interactions: rearranging objects, tracing comic panels, and following sensory cues that evolve slowly. By comparison, titles like A Short Hike or Kind Words use gentle progression to soothe players; here, patience itself becomes the reward. The risk is obvious: without meaningful feedback loops, long pauses can feel like tedium rather than reflection. Success depends on balancing ambient pacing with small, satisfying discoveries.
The game’s visuals lean heavily on children’s comics, with rounded lines, muted palettes, and episodic panels that evoke innocence and nostalgia. Fans of Gris or Amanita Design’s work will appreciate the handcrafted feel and emotional subtext woven into each scene. Early teasers suggest the art will amplify the mood swings of anticipation—hope, anxiety, boredom—without relying on dialogue. If executed well, this visual language could deepen the meditative atmosphere and give players an unexpected emotional payoff.
The campaign offers a range of rewards: digital and physical comic anthologies, art prints, and enamel pins dominate the lower tiers, while the game itself appears in mid-to-upper packages. This emphasis on merch over gameplay access signals where the developers expect their core supporters to come from—collectors and art game enthusiasts. Backers seeking a gameplay-first experience should note that most sub-$45 tiers focus on art assets. Stretch goals aim to expand language support and add alternate endings, but details remain sparse. Future updates would benefit from clearer breakdowns of how funding will enhance both visual content and core mechanics.
“While Waiting” joins a growing roster of reflective indies that trade action for atmosphere. Journey, A Short Hike, and Kind Words found success by making tranquility a feature, not a bug. Moncage demonstrated Optillusion’s talent for marrying visual novelty with interactivity; if this new project can tap that same ingenuity—transforming idle moments into meaningful gameplay—it could reshape expectations for slow-burn titles.
For players craving a break from constant stimulus, “While Waiting” promises a deliberate, art-driven pause. Its success will hinge on whether the mechanics reward patience with genuine discoveries or leave players watching a screensaver. If you appreciate hand-crafted visuals and are open to an experimental narrative, this Kickstarter warrants a look. Just remember to back with measured expectations: the real test will be turning the simple act of waiting into something unexpectedly profound.
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