Free Will is one of those mind-bending experiences that comes at the best price – free! Developed by Kipps in a Bix, Free Will is a short but well-crafted RPG that asks players to take on dual roles—that of Will and that of themselves. There is something terribly wrong in Will’s world, and the game itself has tasked you with helping Will to fix it. Players will soon find that there are more insidious forces at work, however.
To explain more than that would, frankly, be devaluing the story. Free Will will not take players too long to complete (in fact, it would probably take longer to watch the entire movie, Free Willy!), but that short timespan will leave an impact. Even some time after, some of the images and dialogue are living rent-free in my head. This is also not a feel-good kind of story, being more a horror/psychological drama tale, so beware that you will not exactly see the happiest of endings (multiple ones at that!).
Gameplay-wise, Free Will plays simply enough with keyboard and mouse controls. Movement happens with the arrow keys, and you are given rein to explore rooms of the house as the story unfolds. If you have played any type of RPG, even Pokémon, it will be easy enough to get into. What really makes the game interesting and a great experience is how it makes you play with the actual files and software of the game. It’s a great meta technique that I have not seen in other games (and if they are there, it’s extremely rare) and is definitely memorable.
Free Will is one hundred percent worth your time. At the price of $0.00 and the time to download it, you get a well-crafted and refreshing take on the genre. Kipps in a Box should be commended for telling a new type of tale that contains a variety of disturbing situations and images that will stay with you long after you turn off the game. It may not leave you smiling and effervescent, but Free Will will be an experience you never forget!
Rating: 9/10
Free Will is available for PC via Steam.
Related: Reviews by Matt O’Toole
Your local neighborhood nutjob, gamer, and teacher! I'm an avid fan of many genres such as platformers, shooters, horror, etc. I am also an avid tabletop gamer - hugely into the worlds of Warhammer and all of their spinoffs. I'm a big believer in being objective - even if something is not my cup of tea, I want to talk about it on the objective level - is it well made, crafted with love, and with care for the fans? If so, that's a good game in my book for someone and well worth their hard earned dollarydoos!
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