REVIEW / Closer the Distance (PC)

A tragedy has just struck the idyllic, coastal town of Yesterby. A hit-and-run has taken the life of Angela, a beloved daughter, sister, girlfriend, and neighbor. In Closer the Distance you’re presented with the unique opportunity to play as Angela, as she watches and guides her loved ones through their grief. Angela was the glue that held this decaying town together; can you help them to move on, and keep Yesterby alive? From Skybound Games and German game developer Osmotic Studios comes this heartfelt, cozy life-simulator, where this tiny town of 14 people has just been knocked down to 13, and their fates are in your hands.

Welcome to Yesterby

The atmosphere and art style of Closer the Distance does a phenomenal job of immediately pulling you in, wrapping you up in its bucolic charm, sudden rain showers, pretty landscape, and close-knit community. A town nestled in the countryside turns this life sim into a cozy-fest that keeps you wanting to come back for more. The sets are carefully built with so much detail and character, each home and building unique in a way that makes it clear the development of Yesterby has been a labor of love. The detail of each character’s portrait brings so much life to them as well. One thing Closer the Distance is not is bland, its art style and visuals breathing life into the town and people of Yesterby.

The game also features an original soundtrack to act as the backdrop, matching the beautiful art style. It all simply fits like a glove for the town and people that inhabit it, making it difficult to leave when your time there is over. The impression this game leaves wouldn’t be the same without the mood it sets just with its atmosphere.

Tragedy has struck the people of Yesterby, and it’s your responsibility to help them

The game opens up on a family home, its inhabitants wondering the whereabouts of their older daughter, Angela. It’s quickly revealed that unfortunately, there’s been an accident: Angela is dead, but peculiarly, not quite gone. As the news unravels, you hear Angela’s voice as she speaks to her younger sister Conny, as they try to piece together what’s happening–Angela’s memory is fuzzy. Quickly, however, the truth comes out: “I’m dead, aren’t I?” she asks. This line is something that pulls you in right away.

Closer the Distance is pulling no punches, as well as taking a unique approach to the death of someone who had such a profound impact on everyone around her. You play as Angela, as she speaks directly to her sister–the only one who can hear her, rather than feel her–and tries to mend the people of Yesterby. As the story unfolds, you entangle yourself with more of Angela’s loved ones who have been left behind, as you try to guide them in the face of devastation as well as their personal struggles.

The people of Yesterby are fragile, and in your hands

The town of Yesterby is inhabited by 13 people–12 of which are old friends who have built families together after moving to Yesterby, and one who is an old, original resident of what used to be a fishing town–and you are given the unique ability to control 5 of them. Of course, one of these people is a later addition to the town, totaling this ensemble cast to 14.

Playing this game has caused me to care so deeply about the little people in my screen; their stress is my stress, their hurt is my hurt. In Conny and Angela’s desperate attempts to help these people, I truly feel the desperation and the struggle. The feeling of helplessness permeates through the screen; the people of Yesterby become your responsibility, and it’s a responsibility you take very seriously.

I actually feel as though I’m missing closure for some of these people. The trajectories you’ve set your playable characters on is clear, but everyone else in Yesterby is still dealing with their own struggles, and your choices affect them regardless of their playability. How these choices affected them in the end, however, is more unclear than I would like. It brings to mind another Skybound title, The Walking Dead: The Final Season, in which at the end of the game you’re given an entire summary of how your choices effected another character and what direction you’ve set them on in life. This is something I think Closer the Distance would greatly benefit from. I’m desperate to know more about where the other members of Yesterby are heading, with all of the decisions I made having steered them in ways that are unique to my playthrough.

A heartfelt story told through moments of dialogue, introspection, and memories tugs at your heart strings and will even bring tears to your eyes. My total cries for this game racked up to two instances, which I never expected from a cozy life-simulator. Given the choice-based aspect of this game, I know I’ll be visiting Yesterby again to see how else I can help these people, and what can be done differently.

Gameplay that has you wanting to come back for more, despite the emotional turmoil

If you’ve ever spent even an hour playing The Sims, working with the basics of the UI will be like riding a bike. Your entire cast of characters at the bottom, all selectable and followable, their needs and wishes listed in a panel, the camera movement intuitive and unlimited, and fast-forward at your disposal. With all of this familiarity, it made the unfamiliar a lot easier to grasp; plus, pop-up tutorials give you quick and digestible information on each new aspect of gameplay you encounter. My only wish is as the tutorials rack up, there should be a menu option to go back and review them; once that tutorial pop-up is gone, it’s gone.

Being in control of multiple people becomes overwhelming, but not in a frustrating way; it makes the experience of the game that much more realistic. The endeavor of mending Yesterby is not an easy one, and the importance of it seeps throughout your playthrough. Making it easy for the player would be an injustice. Regardless of their playability, each character has unique needs past just “hunger” and “sleep” that you sometimes find yourself scrambling to fill, as well as wishes that range from general tasks to bone-deep desires. Your use of playable characters can help fulfill the wishes of characters outside of your control, making the effect of your actions palpable and real.

Something I love is how any important moment for a character is signified by a red exclamation point over their portrait in the UI. Even better, until you click on it, the moment will not start. If there are multiple notifications at once, time will freeze after one event ends, signifying you’re safe to move to the next. The only issue is sometimes if characters are within the same location, all moments will trigger at once.

Times like this make me wish for a dialogue history box such as what you find in Baldur’s Gate 3, but it’s luckily a rare occurrence and one you can attempt mitigate if you’re aware of the risk. You can separate the characters by sending them on tasks in different locations if you know they will trigger events. All-in-all, the gameplay is addictive; regardless of the stress or emotional turmoil this game elicits, I find myself excited to dive back in.

Closer the Distance is bound for success

I honestly cannot wait to do my next playthrough of this game, while at the same time knowing I need time away from it because it is such an emotional endeavor. It’s beautiful, heartfelt, and an absolute tearjerker. The town of Yesterby welcomes you, wrapping you in a cozy blanket of gorgeous visuals, gentle music, and gameplay that will hook you from the start. I can’t recommend it enough. Your time in Yesterby will be special and unforgettable, and an experience you’ll want to dive back into the moment it ends.

Closer the Distance can be found on Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

This review is based on a retail copy of the game provided by the publisher.