When The Past Was Around
Love, moving on, & letting go
Ratings
Age
4+
Category
Casual
Languages
English
Tue Aug 09 2022
Fix chapter select bugFix chapter progression bug
When the Past was Around is a silent narrative experience. Players interact with the environment to solve puzzles that represent the protagonist's memories of her lover. The game deals with themes of grief, moving on, and the beauty of shared moments, all told through hand-drawn art and a poignant musical score.
Dinsun Expert Review
Our Expert Score
When the Past was Around is an absolute masterclass in wordless storytelling. As an expert in narrative games, I am rarely moved to tears by a mobile title, but the relationship between Eda and The Owl is rendered with such heartbreaking sincerity through simple point-and-click interactions. The puzzle design is clever—never too difficult to impede the flow of the story, but tactile enough to make you feel like you are physically piecing together the fragments of a broken heart.
The violin-driven soundtrack is the real star here; it acts as the game's voice, shifting from light, airy trills during the honeymoon phase of the relationship to somber, haunting melodies as grief takes hold. The hand-drawn art style is consistently gorgeous, turning mundane objects into symbols of deep emotional weight. It is a short experience, yes, but it lingers in your mind far longer than most 40-hour epics. This is a must-play for anyone who values games as art.
Features
Beautiful hand-drawn illustrations
Wordless, emotional storytelling
Award-winning soundtrack
Thought-provoking puzzles
Tips & Walkthrough
Pay close attention to the musical notes that appear in the environment. Often, you'll need to replicate these melodies on a piano or violin to unlock the next memory.
Gameplays
Click on everyday objects like tea cups or scarves. Many of these items must be used in a specific sequence to 'clean' the room and progress to the next stage of life.
Screenshot
Q&A
It is a short, cinematic experience meant to be played in about 1-2 hours.
Ratings & Reviews
Invalid Date
Wonderful game
Wed Jan 07 2026 SupacalafradulisticThis game was beautiful. Super entertaining/ emotionally gripping. I finished the game in maybe three hours but was presently surprised with how much enjoyment I received while playing. Though a couple things I will say is there is a purchase option you’d have to pay In order to actually get the app but it was definitely worth it!! I just wish there was a little better detail to the story, like why are we finding feathers to “unlock the owl man” what’s the actual story and meaning behind some of the options?? Anyways you can kinda fill in those details yourself but I would highly recommend anyways!
Good game, but it feels like a scam
Sun Jun 11 2023 froogo is gayI started playing this game, and it was really good. The animation was amazing and the puzzles were the perfect mix of easy and hard to the point where it's still a challenge but not so frustrating that you stop playing the game or get mad. I was completing the prologue easily and was excited to continue playing whenever it appeared that the rest of the game cost two dollars. I know that isn't a lot, and these game companies need to make money somehow, but on the App Store it was free and then I had to pay money to play. It felt like a scam. Just list it as two dollars on the App Store. With this all being said, it was a great game from what I played, although the storyline didn't make the most sense, and was fun and entertaining. It just felt like a scam because I was happy that I finally found a great free game, and it ended up that the full experience costed money. Also as I said before, the storyline was confusing and didn't make sense. Eventually I figured that in the prologue we were collecting feathers, but there was no reason as to why. Who is this owl man? What are the characters motives? It really lacked on the storytelling. And this game appears to be one that is a story game, so it's very important that the story makes sense and is understandable. It's different than just solving puzzles. The animation was great, but that doesn't fix the games other problems. Overall, 6 out of 10. Good game, but some major problems held it back.
Absolutely immaculate.
Mon Jan 16 2023 Bigbumbo1When I downloaded this game, I wasn’t aware it had puzzles, but it surprised me in the best way possible. The puzzles took some thinking, but in no way difficult. The puzzle part of the game was just beautifully made, no complaints at all! The story and graphics and….everything was just beautifully created. I loved the colors, it was such a calm, peaceful game that I could play for hours nonstop. I haven’t decided if I’m going to buy the full version or not, I’m very tempted to but I’m not sure yet. (I probably will) the prologue was enough for me to want to continue playing and finish this story! I’ve learned from other reviews that buying the full version is very cheap, so I think it would most definitely be worth the money. Overall, download this game! Try it out! It’s hard for me to imagine someone not enjoying this game because of how amazingly gorgeous it is in every aspect. Best app I’ve gotten in awhile. Much love!
It’s worth it.
Fri Aug 23 2024 Hope Shaylin!I’m surprised that there’s any negative reviews at all about this game, the game itself is mildly short but it is so beautiful I’d call it more of an interactive story, I really loved this game and I believe it was absolutely worth the 1.99 I payed to play it, especially compared to all the more expensive games I’ve been playing recently this one is worth it the story is conveyed through sounds and music and it’s very calming the puzzles are straightforward but I needed a hint on some of them so I looked up a playthrough and just skipped to the specific part I needed help with such as some of the codes, the game is beautifully made and the art is gorgeous and simple I really enjoyed it it’s an emotional game and I’d absolutely recommend it I wish there were more games like it, if you’re debating getting it, do it!
my favorite frl
Wed Apr 05 2023 rosetoespetalsngl i been going through it and needed this sm. first of all the art is spectacular and the animation of the little things that trigger the next chapter are cool. the music was really calming to listen to. i always loved music and seeing how the violin is a big part in the story really made me feel happy. the different versions of the same tune throughout the whole game really stuck w me. the storyline itself made me really attached to this game. seeing how she was attached and finally let go in the end was a good thing to see. i really like how you guys used music notes and instruments and put them into the puzzles. i found it really interesting how attached i was to this game after playing. i will always remember it. i really enjoyed seeing the credits at the end as well i really appreciate every single person who had a part in creating this masterpiece. in the end i also got the extra achievements as well !! i loved that extra performance from the characters. this game will always hold a special place in my heart.
So beautiful, i cried.
Sun Apr 03 2022 Jumanh.kI like the game very much although I didn’t know how to solve some of the puzzles. The thing that I don’t like that sometimes it doesn’t save my progress and I have to start all over again also it’s stopped working and I have to exit and also lost my progress. It needs update and maybe some written content. Also would love it more if it was longer I finished it in 3 days. The music is so beautiful and calm and the drawing is AMAZING so lovely and detailed just so in love with the drawings. would love another chapter of this game.
It’s just clicking on everything until you get a result
Mon May 15 2023 NcadminSome inventory items are tiny and hard to see what they are on an iPhone. There’s no rhyme or reason to the puzzles. The storyline is almost nothing and the title doesn’t seem to match anything. Spoiler alert, not like you won’t click on it anyway since you’re clicking everything, why is the clock minute hand in the industrial fan, who put it there? Who would do that? Why is there an industrial fan in a kitchen? Why does putting bread crumbs on a plate bring me a letter in the mail, delivered to my window and not my mailbox? Why was the second hand in that letter? Was that convenient? Did a birdie bring it or does the mailman like breadcrumbs? Sorry to be harsh but it’s a click fest of nonsense and nothing more.
Well worth the $2
Wed May 18 2022 Pidge221The graphics, music, mechanics and obviously the story, there’s not much to say besides the fact that this game is beautiful in every sense of the word. There’s not a single word spoken, and yet it tells such a heartfelt story. As I said before, it’s well worth the $2 to be able to play the whole game. The puzzles are intuitive, and it doesn’t hold your hand when it comes to solving them, plus if you do get stuck there are hints as to what you can interact with. I truly loved every second of this game.
