
What Never Was
What Never Was is a short, story-driven first-person game focused on exploration and puzzle-solving about Sarah, having to shoulder the arduous task of clearing out her grandfathers attic, and soon finds that not everything about the attic is what it seems.
Developer
Publisher
Release
January 11, 2019
7 years and 204 days ago
Steam Reviews
Very Positive5,092 reviews94.5%
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Game contextLatest: IGF Team
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|---|---|---|
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Updated: Jul 15, 2026Publisher scaleThe operating scale of the game's publisher. | ||
Updated: Jul 15, 2026Publisher statusHow the game's publishing relationship is classified. | ||
Updated: Jul 13, 2026Release statusWhether and how the game has been released. |
Media
7 itemsAbout the Game



Sometime in the late 2000s, Howard James Wright - an old but kind man - perishes. Leaving behind him many adventures, relics he's collected over the years as well as books authored, he is also leaving Sarah, his granddaughter behind.
Having to shoulder the arduous task of clearing out her grandfathers attic, she is soon to find that not everything about her grandfathers attic is what it seems.

What Never Was is a short, story-driven first-person game focused on exploration and puzzle-solving.
You play as Sarah Elizabeth Wright, exploring through your grandfathers attic, solving small puzzles and uncovering the story through gameplay. What Never Was aims to combine the gameplay of classic point-and-click games with the control schemes of modern adventure and walking sim games.
It is inspired by the likes of Myst, Indiana Jones and The Longest Journey and borrows themes from folklore, Norse mythology, and works from authors like H.P. Lovecraft.
The game is the first solo game and passion project of game developer Acke Hallgren with the support of a handful of supportive creatives.