Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing

Ultimately, we have to ask ourselves one crucial question when it comes to Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing: do we really need yet another reminder of the truly awful situation we’re all still in? The story being told here is an uplifting one, but it’s also stuffed with terms we’ve become all too familiar with over the course of the past year: social distancing, flattening the curve, remote meetings… we could go on. Games are – perhaps more than ever – a means of escapism, and Serenity Forge’s new title strays a bit too close to reality for our liking. We’d probably recommend other developers try again in a few years time when the dust has settled.

Half Past Fate's pandemic themed addition to its romantic series is a nice little love story, but it doesn't have much in the way of player interaction and feels like it only scratches the surface of the emotional impact of looking for love in lockdown.

Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing isn't a bad game by any means. It tells an insightful narrative about a long-distance relationship during a lockdown. Unfortunately, it lacks any real nuance due to its short runtime and can often feel rushed.

Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing is a cute lockdown love story, with nice enough characters and the world building of Half Past Fate to rely on, but will disappoint those looking for a deeper romance.

In its brief runtime, Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing tries to tell a charming story of romance amid the pandemic, but it's just a waste of an hour instead. Give the original game a try in lieu of this.

Romantic Distancing is a clever sequel to one of my favorite indies of 2020. While it doesn't live up to the storytelling and pacing of the original game, as an hour-long bite-size adventure for about $5, I enjoyed my time with it. I was a bit disappointed by the abrupt ending but under the vignette, of a surprise side story in this universe I fell in love with, I still managed to have a good time. I just wish it was as great as the last one.

Right when Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing starts becoming interesting… it ends. It had so much potential, as this is a relatable story featuring some of the most likable characters I’ve seen in a while, but it ends so abruptly you can’t help but feel massively disappointed. This could (and should) have been a much better experience if it wasn’t just a mere hour long.

Half Past Fate: Romancing Distance is not a boring game, but I do wonder if it was a necessary one. I use games as a form of escapism, so I’m not really sure if I want to actively play a game where I am also living through a global pandemic that won’t let me leave my house or see the people I love.

From the art style to the overall story, Half Past Fate: Romantic Distancing is a short wholesome little rom-com. The game does everything I expected it to and does it well. I haven’t played the first game so it was a delight to be introduced to the Half Past Fate experience through this game. If you have played the first game I definitely recommend you should download and enjoy this mini-episode too!