Faraway, the latest game from solo developer Steph Thirion, is the result of a 16-year development process. Published by Annapurna Interactive, the minimalist arcade game asks players to guide a shooting star through space and build constellations before time runs out.
The controls are built around a single button. Holding it while passing a star makes the player’s shooting star orbit around it; releasing the button sends it off in a new direction. Players use this movement to travel through zones filled with stars and link them together without crossing existing lines. Longer connections earn points, while closing loops adds a score multiplier. More complex constellations can also extend the star’s limited lifespan and unlock larger zones during a round.
The simple premise leaves room for a demanding skill curve. Players must judge when to leave an orbit and plan routes through crowded clusters, where they cannot choose which star they attach to. Puzzle missions unlock as scores improve in the main mode, offering more intricate constellation challenges and opportunities to practice advanced moves.
Faraway follows Thirion’s 2009 iOS puzzle game Eliss. Its restrained design puts the focus on movement, spatial planning, and the atmosphere created by its repeating gameplay loop rather than a narrative-led presentation.
Faraway is scheduled to release November 5 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X.
Sources: Polygon.