Passage app for iPhone and iPad

4.5 ( 4325 ratings )

Games Entertainment Adventure Strategy
Developer: Jason Rohrer

0.99 USD

Current version: 3.1, last update: 7 years ago
First release : 23 Dec 2008
App size: 72.58 Kb

The critically-acclaimed breakout-hit from art game designer Jason Rohrer. Passage is a tiny, touching, five-minute game about life.

"More than any game Ive ever played, it illustrates how a game can be a fantastically expressive, artistic vehicle for exploring the human condition." -- Clive Thompson, Wired

"Passage may look primitive but its an absolute pinnacle of videogame development." --Andy Chalk, The Escapist

"Portal is a fine game---nothing less than excellent... Passage is even better." --Nick Montfort, MIT

You can read an in-depth profile of Jason Rohrer, along with an extensive discussion of Passage, in Esquire Magazines December 2008 "Genius" issue.

Pros and cons of Passage app for iPhone and iPad

Passage app good for

I wish I could play this again for the first time. Even though I have it on my mac I felt the urge to "donate" the small fee and get it for the iPhone so I can carry it along with me wherever I go and give it to people and watch their reaction. Unfortunately though, however high my apreciation for the game is, I believe the controls in this version do get in the way of the experience considerably. If you could aply a control method that doesnt force the player to look where he needs to place the finger to move the character then one could focus on the experience and what the game is trying to say instead of having to constantly think about the controls. Maybe tilt control? Or the way "Dropship" does it but without the HUD? Other than that its sublime as ever!

Among other things, we can think of games as ways to waste time or enhance it. Passage will never find itself in the former category. It may find itself in the latter category for people who are interested in exploring the interstices of media (new or old) and their experiences. Think of Shakespeare hired to author "Dick and Jane" primers... or of prog-rockers speculating on the nature of the universe with three chords and limited poetic vocabularies...

This simple little game with pixelated graphics and simplistic (but beautiful) music has struck a real chord with me. I urge you not to find out anything else about the game, youll just ruin the experience for yourself. If you are looking for a twitcher, slasher, or bubble-popping game then keep moving. If you are looking for a short (5min), sweet experience that could well change your life, then give it a shot. It may well be the first game Ive ever played (and Im a near-40-gamer) that I can honestly describe as "art" in the truest sense of the word.

It is a ART work, rather than a game. The music is GREAT! I really enjoy this mini game, and i was really sad when my "wife"dead.....

Poetic and charming. If youre just looking for fun, you should look elsewhere. However, if youre interested in games as art, you may enjoy this.

If you are over 25 you will probably appreciate this game for its simplistic beauty and artistic style. If you want a fast action arcade game look elsewhere.

Some bad moments

I just bought Passage for my IPhone 5s and it crash at the beginning... And their is no one to contact so I guess it will stay like that.

Pointless, poorly executed game. Calling it a game is kind. Save you dollar and go buy some gum at the store...it lasts longer. The game should be free and even then it would suck.

Just downloaded this today. Didnt realize this game was so old. It just quits immediately when I try to open it. Guessing its been obsoleted by newer versions of iOS. Oh well.

Would love to lay this but it needs to be updated so that it actually works on the latest devices.

I came across this video game on a cool documentary on Netflix. The developer seemed cool, and the premise tot he game sounded deep though life altering. So I bought it. Now lets play!!! [click]. . . [click].... Nothing, wont open. Guess apple doesnt look after this stuff if the developer dosnt.

I have tried repeatedly, but the game will not open. Every time I tap on the icon, it reverts to my home screen. I have deleted and re-downloaded the game, restarted my iPhone, etc. It still will not open.

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