Heart-wrenching narrative-driven platformer To Leave explores the lyrical side of mental health – dealing with depression, self harm, and the search for deeper meaning. Developed by Ecuadorian studio Freaky Creations, the game’s unorthodox level design, animated cutscenes, and deeply emotional universe are fueled by pain and driven by an inspiring, obsessive attention to detail.
He starts the hard work of the imagination, learning to minister to the new dream.
– “The Big Loser” (Max Ritvo)
In To Leave, the player inhabits Harm – a character who is suffering from manic depression. In possession of a magical flying door, Harm makes his way through expansive, vivid levels akin to an Ayahuasca trip in order to fulfill his Plan – a way to harvest the souls of his homeworld so that everyone can leave this world and enter Heaven.
With the ability to move left and right and fly upward with the help of his door, Harm must traverse each level collecting Vibrance – a type of energy – while avoiding hazards and deadly falls. Slow, methodical movement is the way to go here: If all Vibrance is lost, Harm is sent “home” – exhausted and filled with despair. Flying between immense, powerful rocks that function as checkpoints, Harm can open his magical door to parts unknown – eventually arriving at the many Harvesting Shrines that hold the key to redemption. Reaching all of them and activating the Origin Gate is the only way out.
Available on Steam and the PlayStation Store, To Leave has been featured in a number of outlets – including The Gaming Ground, Dragon Blogger Technology, Only Single Player, AiPT!, GAMING TREND, and WCC Tech.
Read more about To Leave and Freaky Creations here.