Underplayed Gems

What Never Was (2019)

What Never Was cover
Developer
Acke Hallgren
Platforms
Windows, macOS, Linux
Genres
Adventure, Casual, Free To Play, Indie
Rating
4.7 of 5, 5,085 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 37 minutes
Where to get it
Steam
The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A gentle, story-driven exploration through a grandfather's attic, with light puzzles and a wistful sense of nostalgia.

relaxingatmosphericstory richmysteriousgentlenostalgicshortcozy

What players say

Players consistently call this a very short puzzle game, often finished in 15 to 30 minutes with only two puzzles. Many describe it as feeling like a prologue or demo and say they are waiting for a sequel.

Screenshots

What Never Was screenshot 1What Never Was screenshot 2What Never Was screenshot 3What Never Was screenshot 4What Never Was screenshot 5What Never Was screenshot 6

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.