Avinash Rohra Introduction – Hurry Up and Wait!
If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your phone in a long grocery line or drumming your fingers on a desk while waiting for a download to finish, While Waiting might just be the most relatable game you’ll ever play. Developed by Optillusion, the same studio behind the mind-bending Moncage, this game flips the idea of traditional gameplay on its head. Instead of rushing through levels, defeating enemies, or solving puzzles, While Waiting asks you to embrace the stillness of life’s in-between moments.
But is waiting actually fun? Can a game where the primary mechanic is literally “doing nothing” hold your attention? Or does it simply make time feel even slower? Let’s dive into the experience of While Waiting and find out whether it’s a quiet masterpiece or just an extended loading screen.
What Is the Game About? – The Zen of Standing in Line
At its core, While Waiting is a minimalist, narrative-driven experience that explores the everyday moments of patience we all endure. The game consists of 100 short levels, each depicting a different waiting scenario—waiting for a bus, waiting in a doctor’s office, waiting for a phone call, and even waiting to forget an ex (ouch). Every scene presents players with a few possible objectives, ranging from mischievous distractions to complete stillness.
Unlike most games, While Waiting doesn’t pressure you to complete anything. You can interact with the world around you in small ways, like fiddling with objects, observing people’s behaviors, or finding ways to entertain yourself. Or, you can do absolutely nothing and simply watch time pass. Either way, the level eventually ends, and you move on to the next stage of life’s great waiting game.
Story – A Life in Loading Screens
Rather than a conventional plot, While Waiting presents a loose narrative following an unnamed protagonist from childhood to old age. These snapshots of waiting become a subtle reflection on life itself—how time moves forward whether we’re actively engaged or not.
There’s no dialogue or exposition; instead, the game uses its charming, comic-book-inspired visuals to tell its story. You’ll witness small but poignant moments: a child waiting for their turn in a game of hide-and-seek, a teenager waiting for a crush to text back, an adult stuck in rush-hour traffic. Over time, you begin to see how waiting itself changes as the protagonist grows older—how excitement turns to impatience, impatience turns to routine, and routine eventually turns to nostalgia.
It’s a bittersweet way to tell a story, and while it doesn’t hit the emotional highs of something like To the Moon or Spiritfarer, it still manages to tug at your heartstrings in its own quiet way.
Gameplay – Doing Nothing Has Never Been So Engaging (Or Has It?)
Press X to Wait
The primary mechanic of While Waiting is, unsurprisingly, waiting. However, each level offers different ways to engage (or disengage) with the world around you:
- Active Objectives: Some levels challenge you to find hidden interactions, like discovering an easter egg in a waiting room magazine or sneakily cutting in line.
- Mischievous Distractions: You can choose to be a little troublemaker—pressing all the buttons in an elevator, sabotaging a friend’s board game, or causing a minor scene in a waiting room.
- The “Do Nothing” Challenge: Nearly every level includes a “do nothing” objective, rewarding patience and stillness.
Control Issues – Waiting for Precision
The game is played entirely with the keyboard, using simple WASD controls and a space bar for interactions. While this works for most levels, some objectives—especially those involving precise movement—can feel a bit clunky. A point-and-click system might have been more intuitive for some of the minigames.
Who Is It For? – Patience Required
While Waiting is not for everyone. If you’re looking for an adrenaline-fueled experience or a game with deep mechanics, this isn’t it. However, if you enjoy slow, introspective games like A Short Hike, Unpacking, or Florence, you’ll likely appreciate what this game has to offer.
This is also a great game for those who enjoy completionist challenges, as each level has multiple objectives that encourage replaying scenes in different ways. Plus, if you ever find yourself needing a calming, meditative gaming experience between high-intensity sessions, this is the perfect palate cleanser.
Final Verdict – A Thoughtful Time-Killer
While Waiting is a fascinating experiment in game design—one that turns mundane moments into interactive storytelling. It’s an experience that makes you reflect on patience, boredom, and how we choose to fill the quiet spaces in our lives.
It’s not a game for everyone, and there are times when the waiting can feel a little too real. But for those willing to slow down and embrace its quiet charm, While Waiting is a reminder that sometimes, the in-between moments of life are just as meaningful as the big ones.
[This review is based on a press build of the game provided by the publisher. The Game has been reviewed on PC Platform]
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