Journey

Crossing the sands in Journey

Journey begins with a robed figure in a desert and a mountain on the horizon. There is no dialogue and almost no text. You walk, slide down dunes, gather glowing fragments that let you fly for short bursts and piece together the history of a fallen civilisation from murals in the ruins.

The publisher describes it simply: explore an ancient, mysterious world, soar above ruins and glide across sands to discover its secrets. The controls are minimal, which makes it approachable for people who rarely play games.

It is a compact game, which is part of its appeal for a calm library: it never asks for a long commitment.

The journey has a clear beginning and end. In our editorial view, it is best remembered as a single, complete experience rather than a game to keep returning to.

The minimal controls also make Journey a good choice for anyone who finds busy menus and long tutorials off-putting. There is very little to learn before you can simply enjoy the scenery and the music.

Journey's score and why it suits a quiet room

Journey's music is central to the experience, and the publisher notes that the score was nominated for a Grammy. The soundtrack responds to what you do on screen, swelling as you fly and settling as you walk.

For that reason we have placed it under music in our library. It is worth playing with headphones or decent speakers and with notifications switched off. Our guide to playing without pressure covers how to silence the usual interruptions on consoles and phones.

A practical idea is to set aside one uninterrupted evening for it, or two shorter ones, with the phone in another room. Because the game is so brief, it is easy to protect the time.

Sharing the path with another traveller

Journey can be played alone or, as the official listing puts it, in the company of a fellow traveller. On connected platforms, another player may appear in your world, and you can explore together.

The developer describes Journey as an anonymous adventure with the chance to connect with companions along the way, and PlayStation UK lists support for up to two online players with PS Plus. There are no scores or rankings, and you can simply carry on alone if you prefer.

It is one of the picks in our play together softly playlist, where we suggest passing the controller back and forth on the sofa.

If you would rather not meet anyone online at all, playing offline keeps the experience to yourself. On PlayStation, online companions require PS Plus, so without it you will travel alone.

Journey's rating and the tense moments to expect

The PEGI database lists Journey on PlayStation 3 (2012) and PlayStation 4 (2014) with a PEGI 7 rating and violence and fear descriptors, and the PlayStation UK store page adds an online descriptor. The official pages focus on exploration rather than fighting, but the rating tells you there are tense moments, so it is worth knowing before you share it with a young child.

PlayStation UK notes the PS4 version is playable on PS5, though some PS4 features may be absent.

Journey is also listed on Steam for Windows PC and on the UK App Store for iPhone and iPad, published there by Annapurna. It appears in our rainy Sunday and after a long day playlists.

If its mood appeals, Flower comes from the same studio and is even more relaxed.

Because it has no in-game purchases and no ongoing content, Journey is also one of the simplest games here to hand to a teenager or an older relative: buy it once, and the whole experience is there.