Review: Haven

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One (Reviewed), Xbox Series S|X, PC
• Developer:  The Game Bakers
• Publisher: The Game Bakers
• Release Date: December 3rd, 2020

Haven is an idyllic RPG developed and published by The Game Bakers where you play as Lu and Kay, a young couple surviving out in space together. The two fled from their oppressive home planet known as the “Apiary” to a bright and unfortunately rust-covered world called Source. As you explore Source together, you forage for materials, battle various creatures, and clear the rust plaguing the land. The true strength of this game, however, lies within its main characters. Unlike other games that present relationships between protagonists, these two lovers’ interactions feel natural. The voice acting by Janine Harouni and Christopher Lew Kum Hoi feels like a genuine relationship, and the writers did an incredible job naturally strengthening their bond. Even the loading screens reflect artistic stills depicting moments between Kay and Lu, turning what could have been a dull waiting period between planets into a vehicle helping the player understand the deeper nuances of their relationship.

The Nest serves as your home base and naturally becomes more useful along your journey. You two can cook together in the kitchen, craft concoctions in the living room, or shower and heal up in the bathroom before your next adventure. Though there are options to camp around the Source, this place does uniquely feel like home. You’re encouraged to return every so often to cook new meals together, give a few scratches to your beloved pet Oink, or celebrate a successful day with a glass of brewed appledews. 

With that in mind, the world of the Source still has plenty for you to explore. Lu and Kay’s anti-gravity boots allow you to glide from planet to planet, discovering new mysteries along the way. The map’s UI is a bit confusing at first but easy to pick up over time. Both Lu and Kay keep a “log” of the planets they’ve visited, allowing the player to track which ones have been fully explored or completely cleared of rust. 

While the entire duration of your 15-hour gameplay will consist of these two coupled up, they both still feel like unique and individual characters. Kay, who has a background in biological sciences, identifies new plants for recipes and studies the molecular components of the rust. Lu, on the other hand, has a knack for crafting and ship repair. The player learns that their success on the Source thus far has not been due to one person alone, but rather, their combined efforts. You’re able to select dialogue intermittently in their conversations, allowing the player to feel like they’re watching these two grow together firsthand. While these dialogue options don’t appear to impact the overall story, they still serve as an active plot device to make you feel closer to both individuals and their longevity. These two share a lot of sweet moments throughout the game, and it’s hilarious that the way you both “level up” is by drinking together. Though there may be a corny moment here or there, the bond shared by Lu and Kay feels sincere and authentic. 

While this game excels in narration and storytelling, the gameplay mechanics leave a lot to be desired. The Game Bakers’ take on turn-based combat is engaging but starts feeling repetitive over time, even with new power-ups. Additionally, while gliding around the Source is enjoyable, it would be nice for you to at least have the ability to sprint rather than just walk. Instead, you trudge laboriously around the Source anytime you aren’t flying alongside a flow thread. I also found myself desperately wishing to control the camera at many points while playing. Sometimes there would be a missed item or glowing pool of rust and all I wanted was to nudge the camera a bit for a better look. 

Despite these pitfalls, this game was still a delight to play. I wasn’t expecting much when I initially downloaded Haven off Xbox Game Pass, but I was surprised by a touching and heartfelt story about two lovers surviving in space. I’m excited to see what The Game Bakers release in the future. If you’re looking for your next indie adventure with a bit of romance sprinkled in, Haven is the game for you. Plus, there’s a ton of ways you can play this game – on Xbox with Game Pass, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, PC with Steam (save 30% off right now), and Nintendo Switch.