Faraway Review: Worth the 16-Year Wait

First Released November 5, 2026 Systems Leave a Review Overview Score Published Nov 9, 2026, 12:06 PM EST The deceptively addictive, visually minimalist, and refined Faraway is one of the best indie titles of the year that pays off 16 years of development. The independent gaming space has evolved in fascinating ways in recent years, thanks to the rise of digital stores like Steam that give creators room to turn passion projects into reality. Hundreds of games are released on the platform regularly, with the annual rate of new indie games coming in around the 10,000 range. That includes Faraway. Standing out in that space can be tough, but the right developer can make even the simplest-sounding experiences sing. That's certainly the case for Faraway, the newest indie game to be published by Annapurna Interactive. The randomly generated, minimalist arcade-puzzle space game was created by solo developer Stephen Thirion, whose indie title Eliss remains a cult classic. The game has been in development for 16 years, underscoring just how much of themselves the solo developer put into the experience. Despite all the changes to gaming since development began, Faraway's timeless arcade approach is a genuine winner, delivering a perfectly simple-to-learn and hard-to-master gameplay balance that's bolstered by a gorgeous and understated art design. Faraway Is Streamlined Gaming At Its Best Faraway is the deceptively compelling brainchild of solo developer Steph Thirion. It's the kind of understated masterwork that rarely occurs in an industry too often defined by AAA budgets and scope. There's something to be said for something simple being done to perfection, which is what Faraway is. Faraway has no real plot, with only a single button needed for gameplay. Players control a shooting star that is making its way through the cosmos. A single button press will allow players to snag onto passing stars, orbiting around them to change direction or pick up speed. The objective is to move through space and connect stars, forming constellations. Success adds time to your otherwise short lifespan, with more complex constellations rewarding the player with score multipliers that can unlock larger areas. It's a deceptively simple gameplay loop, with an easy-to-learn mechanic that requires timing, awareness, and skill to master. Faraway Doesn't Hold Players' Hands It encourages experimentation, with plenty of room for players to create their own vision of the sky from disparate stars. The difficulty curve is real but not too punishing, with other modes like puzzle missions and high-score chases serving as a natural way for players to practice and hone their skills. Gameplay loops are a delicate and vital element of game design, as they need to be engaging and challenging without becoming overcomplicated or maddening. Faraway's simple approach to an addictive form of gameplay that blends traversal with combo meters and a ticking clock is a deeply satisfying experience. The mechanics are understatedly efficient, giving players plenty of room to discover new maneuvers on their own. It's the rare kind of game that has the calm confidence to give players the tools and let them figure it out for themselves, with a streamlined control setup that benefits greatly from that approach. The design's refinement makes it especially impressive. It's the sort of game that is hard to put down and even harder to get out of your head once you've gotten too into it. Faraway is one of those games that really works thanks to the craft that Thirion put into the experience. The Minimalist Beauty Of Faraway Beyond the strong gameplay that underscores Faraway, there's something to be said for the way that Thirion approaches the cosmos from a colorful but minimalist perspective. That minimalist approach delivers understated, gorgeous visuals, even if it's just a few stars or nearby worlds. It's an oddly soothing game, with its retro sound design and distinct color scheme making each potentially repetitive space feel new. It blends together with the gameplay to deliver an almost zen-like experience, where the objectives to earn points and simply explore merge into more than the sum of their parts. Players looking for a narrative journey or dizzying depth might want to look elsewhere, because there's not much of that in this title. However, if you're just looking for a game that you know you'll be playing non-stop, then Faraway is the kind of experience I can't recommend enough. It's retro enough to pluck those nostalgic heartstrings, with a refinement of design and effortlessly charming minimalist design that speaks to its forward-thinking approach. It's a game sixteen years in the making, where the success of the development is clear from the moment you first take over the constellation. Faraway is a genuine delight and one of the best indie titles of the year. Systems Released November 5, 2026 ESRB Everyone / No Descriptors Developer(s) Steph Thirion Publisher(s) Annapurna Interactive Number of Players Single-player Genre(s) Arcade, Puzzle, Casual