SEASON: A letter to the future | PS5 Review

February 5, 2023 Alyssa White

We all have the power to write our own stories. Whether it be in life or fiction, we are the authors of each journey we go on. Scavenger Studios’ SEASON: A letter to the future is the ultimate reminder of this. It’s up to you, as the player, to construct the narrative of this beautiful game. You have the power to make it as detailed or as sparse as you wish.

We’re All Stories in the End

You are placed in the shoes of Estelle, a young woman who has never left her small village before this point in time. The current season is ending and a prophesied cataclysmic event is set to destroy the majority of life. Estelle and her mother craft a special pendant that will ensure Estelle’s survival, at the cost of her mother’s memories. You, as the player, must choose five keepsakes of Estelle’s to melt into the pendant. This poignant moment sets off the rest of SEASON: A letter to the future’s narrative.

As you ride your bike out of your village and explore the wider world, you are tasked with taking pictures, recording audio samples, and filling out a journal to document the current season so that people in the next season can understand what happened before the past was wiped away. You can decorate your journal however you see fit, and I had a blast customizing it just the way I wanted. When snapping photos, you can choose different filters to change the coloring of your images to add an extra layer of customization to your own personal journey.

The length of the game is entirely dependent on how much you want to explore and document. It took me close to five hours to complete my playthrough, but your experience could be shorter or longer. It’s all up to you, and you’re never rushed or prodded to complete an objective by a specific time. You’re encouraged to take your time, and you’re rewarded for it if you do.

Everyone Has Their Own Journey

As you explore this beautiful world, you encounter several different individuals along the way. Every character that I met had their own views on the world and current events, and they each had their personal struggles and tragedies that they were coming to terms with. Interacting with them and helping them find some peace was cathartic and tugged on my heartstrings (and tear ducts). They leave an imprint on you, and even though meeting some of these people is a completely optional task, I would advise finding them and hearing their stories.

You also shape your experience by making choices at different points. Some are as small as choosing the color of your bicycle; others are more along the lines of whether to keep your promise to your mother or trying to help others and becoming vulnerable yourself instead. No choice feels like the wrong decision, and the game does a wonderful job of making the player feel like they did what was best for them personally.

Sights and Sounds

SEASON: A letter to the future is an absolutely stunning game. It really shines on PS5, popping with vibrant colors and showing small details exquisitely. It feels wonderful to ride your bike through the desolate yet beautiful landscapes, watching the wind rushing past you as you glide along. The sound design is also excellent, making everything you encounter and every action you complete feel realistic.

My only real gripe with this game is the fact that the voice acting is a mixed bag. Every character is fully voice-acted except for Estelle, who only speaks in flashbacks and when making observations about objects you stumble across and investigate. Some of these performances are great, while others are somewhat lacking. This is a small nitpick in the grand scheme of things, but it did pull me out of the immersion at points.

The Final Verdict

SEASON: A letter to the future is an emotionally rich, aesthetically gorgeous game that is entirely shaped by the player. It’s your decision whether you want to rush through or if you want to explore and soak in the world. Taking photos, recording audio, and customizing Estelle’s journal satisfied a creative itch that I didn’t know I had, and I loved learning about the lives of the people I encountered. Not every player will appreciate this approach to storytelling, but if you’re an artistically inclined person and/or love a rich story that you have a hand in creating, I highly recommend this lovely experience.

To hear me talk more about SEASON: A letter to the future, be sure to listen to our February 9th episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast.

This review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy of SEASON: A letter to the future provided by Evolve PR for coverage purposes. It is also available on PlayStation 4 and PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.