For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for good soon and, for one reason or another, these eShop-exclusives are close to our hearts.

Today, Gavin picks out a fascinating console exclusive (it launched on iOS, PC and Mac) to grab while you still can...

So, what's it called?

Year Walk, and it launched on Wii U in 2015 following its iOS debut in 2013.

Who made it?

It was a collaboration between Simogo (Sayonara Wild Hearts) and DakkoDakko (Scram Kitty, Floating Cloud God).

What's the premise?

Year Walk is an unnerving first-person puzzle adventure based on Swedish folklore. Set in 19th-century Sweden, your character heads into the woods on a vision quest following 24 hours of fasting and sleep deprivation.

While on this 'year walk', you'll encounter cryptic clues to environmental puzzles, all doused in creepy goings-on. To say much more would be to spoil the experience, but we called it "an immensely satisfying masterclass in atmosphere and subtlety" in our review, and we stand by that.

Why should I play it?

As mentioned above, it's a console exclusive for Wii U that makes use of the console's bespoke features on the second screen, with gyro and audio features on the GamePad, plus the handy map/notepad/hints that you'd expect.

It'll only take you a couple of hours to get through, but given the atmosphere here, it feels like the perfect size. It's always refreshing to us when a game really knows what it is and doesn't outstay its welcome.

If you're after a sample of Year Walk's atmosphere, we'd recommend checking out the trailer at the top of the page first, and the lovely Alex-from-Nintendo-Life made this short gameplay video back in September 2015 if you're still curious.

Yes, seven-and-a-half years ago. Time, eh!?

How much is it?

$6.99 / £6.29 / 6,99€.

[Editor's note: It's been pointed out that Year Walk is one of several Wii U games that were delisted in the US some time ago and is no longer available to purchase in that territory. We can confirm that the game is still on the EU Wii U eShops.

Nintendo handily removed all Wii U games from its US site some time ago, which means checking the eShop on a US console itself is the only reliable way to confirm a game's price — or indeed existence — in that region, and the lovely Zion from our video team is the only staff member with a US Wii U. Apologies to our US readers who may have got their hopes up.]


We'll be back soon with another 3DS or Wii U eShop recommendation as part of this 'Countdown' series. Let us know below if you've already got this in your collection and share your thoughts.