Contemplative simulator

Where The Goats Are is a simulation game by Memory of God. The game allows you to play Tikvah, an elderly, non-athletic woman who tends to a goat farm in the middle of nowhere. It features endearing flat graphics. Yet, you can sense that there is something wrong. There is a sense of impending doom as you complete chores on your peaceful farm. The game appeals to those looking for an escapist fantasy game. Although being an elderly farmer is not a mainstream fantasy, Tikvah is the gateway to a life in solitude while impending doom looms over the city.

Innovative compact game 

The game begins with Tikvah working on her daily chores. You can choose to milk the goats, collect eggs from the coop, churn goat cheese, tend to your garden, or just play with a stick. This non-action, non-objective approach to the game may not appeal to all players, but it masterfully delivers Tikvah’s lonely existence. 

The only other character that is visible is the postman. He is in charge of delivering the letters to Tikvah. The letters are your only contact with your relatives. These play a vital role in piecing together the events outside of your farm. You have no way of acting on these events; you are in charge of how you use your time in this world. Essentially, there is no right or wrong in Where the Goats are. 

Where The Goats Are is a simulator that offers a unique perspective on post-apocalyptic games. The only way that something terrible is happening is through the letters. To solidify the isolated life of Tikvah, the game does not feature a timer. You will know that time is passing when the sun begins to set, or rather the light turns yellow to a rich deep gold. This artistic choice encapsulates Tikvah’s way of life: peaceful but melancholic.