The Longing Mobile in IOS

Adventure

Walkthrough, Guilds, Tips on this special game

Our Site Score

92/100

The Longing is one of the most unique and profoundly moving experiences on mobile. It is a game designed to be played over 400 real-world days. You play as a Shade, the last servant of a sleeping king, and your only task is to wait for him to wake up. It’s a slow, contemplative journey about loneliness, time, and find joy in the mundane.

What makes it brilliant as a mobile title is how it respects the player's life. The timer continues to count down even when the app is closed. You can decorate your cave, read real-world classic literature (like Moby Dick or Thus Spoke Zarathustra), and explore the vast underground kingdom at your own pace. It’s less of a game and more of a digital companion. It forces you to slow down and think, providing a rare sense of peace in a market filled with high-intensity titles. It is a masterpiece of atmospheric storytelling.

Reviewed on: Thu Mar 21 2024
Dinsun Avatar

Dinsun Review

This is a masterpiece of a very specific, slow variety. It’s a game that asks you *not* to play it, or at least, not to rush. In an age of instant gratification and battle passes, a game that takes 400 real-world days to finish is a bold, beautiful middle finger to modern trends. I respect that.

The art style is melancholic and perfectly captures the feeling of being trapped in a cavernous basement. It’s essentially a very complex tamagotchi where the pet is a depressed shadow. The mobile port is perfect for this—you check in, let your Shade read a book for two real-time hours, and come back later. It’s not for everyone—it’s slow, it’s lonely, and it can be frustrating—but it’s one of the most memorable things I’ve ever 'played.' It’s art, plain and simple.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

  • Profound and unique concept
  • Beautifully melancholic art and sound
  • Perfect fit for the mobile platform
  • Intentionally slow and tedious at times
  • Definitely not for players seeking 'action'
  • Controls can feel sluggish (by design)

Technical Report

Performance: Runs flawlessly; timer works accurately in the background.

Accessibility:
  • Idling mechanics
  • Atmospheric cues

Audience Fit

Buy if: You appreciate atmospheric storytelling and unique, experimental game design.

Skip if: You want excitement, fast movement, or a sense of urgency.

Similar Games:
  • Journey
  • Sky: Children of the Light
  • Tamagotchi

Reviewer Context

  • Reviewer: Dinsun
  • Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
  • Playtime: Checked in for 30 days hours
  • Status: Still waiting...

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

Version 1.3.5Thu Jan 08 2026

This version contains mainly minor bugfixes.


An unusual mix of adventure and idle game. In utter loneliness deep below the surface, it's your task to wait for the awakening of your king... for 400 days.

Play as a lonely Shade, the last servant of a king who once ruled an underground kingdom. The king's powers have faded and he falls asleep for 400 days to regain his might. It is your duty to stay in the earthen palace until he awakens.

As soon as you start, the game inevitably counts down the 400 days - even when you stop playing and exit the game.

It is now up to you to decide what to do with your solitary existence beneath the soil. Don't stress yourself, you have plenty of time.

Choose your playing style

Start the game and simply come back after 400 days to see how it ends. You actually don't have to play the game at all. But the Shade will be even more lonely without you.

Or explore the caves and collect items for your comfortable underground living room. Just send the Shade to take a stroll - the walking speed is slow, but luckily there is no need to hurry.

Read tons of classic literature from Nietzsche to Moby Dick right in the game - or at least have the shade read them. After all, time goes by faster if you learn to keep your mind occupied.

Ignore the king's commands and advance to the outer regions the cave. It will be a long and dangerous journey into darkness...

Features

• Slow exploration of a vast, hand-drawn cave.

• Atmospheric Dungeon Synth soundtrack.

• Various endings.

• Lots of well hidden secrets.

• Time-based puzzles.

• A lonely but cute protagonist.


Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

An unusual mix of adventure and idle game. In utter loneliness deep below the surface, it's your task to wait for the awakening of your king... for 400 days.

Play as a lonely Shade, the last servant of a king who once ruled an underground kingdom. The king's powers have faded and he falls asleep for 400 days to regain his might. It is your duty to stay in the earthen palace until he awakens.

As soon as you start, the game inevitably counts down the 400 days - even when you stop playing and exit the game.

It is now up to you to decide what to do with your solitary existence beneath the soil. Don't stress yourself, you have plenty of time.

Choose your playing style

Start the game and simply come back after 400 days to see how it ends. You actually don't have to play the game at all. But the Shade will be even more lonely without you.

Or explore the caves and collect items for your comfortable underground living room. Just send the Shade to take a stroll - the walking speed is slow, but luckily there is no need to hurry.

Read tons of classic literature from Nietzsche to Moby Dick right in the game - or at least have the shade read them. After all, time goes by faster if you learn to keep your mind occupied.

Ignore the king's commands and advance to the outer regions the cave. It will be a long and dangerous journey into darkness...

Features

• Slow exploration of a vast, hand-drawn cave.

• Atmospheric Dungeon Synth soundtrack.

• Various endings.

• Lots of well hidden secrets.

• Time-based puzzles.

• A lonely but cute protagonist.


Ratings & Reviews

4.6 out of 5 with 90 Counts
Age Rating 9+

Screenshots

The Longing Mobile screenshot 1The Longing Mobile screenshot 2The Longing Mobile screenshot 3The Longing Mobile screenshot 4The Longing Mobile screenshot 5The Longing Mobile screenshot 6The Longing Mobile screenshot 7The Longing Mobile screenshot 8The Longing Mobile screenshot 9The Longing Mobile screenshot 10The Longing Mobile screenshot 11The Longing Mobile screenshot 12The Longing Mobile screenshot 13The Longing Mobile screenshot 14The Longing Mobile screenshot 15The Longing Mobile screenshot 16The Longing Mobile screenshot 17The Longing Mobile screenshot 18The Longing Mobile screenshot 19

THE LONGING is a one-of-a-kind idle adventure that challenges your perception of time. You play as a lonely Shade, tasked by the King to wait 400 real-time days within a vast, hand-drawn underground kingdom. The timer counts down even when you are not playing. How you spend your time is up to you: explore the dark and silent caves, gather items to make your room cozy, or read entire books from a provided library of classics. With multiple endings and a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere, THE LONGING is a slow-burn journey of patience and self-discovery.

Features

1

Unique 400-day real-time gameplay mechanic

2

Vast, beautiful hand-drawn underground world

3

Full library of classic literature to read in-game

4

Multiple endings based on your actions

5

A peaceful and contemplative atmospheric experience

Tips

Promotion Videos

The Longing Mobile Trailer - YouTube

Related Videos

News on this game

Universal - The Longing Mobile (by ASH Software)

Link: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/the-longing-mobile/id1664728844. The Longing Mobile. Application Systems Heidelberg Software GmbH.

TouchArcade - Wed Apr 02 2025

The Longing Review - Review

Studio Seufz sold the concept of The Longing as a game that takes 400 real-life days to finish. This isn't really true, though.

Nintendo World Report - Tue Aug 02 2022

Gameplays

Q&A

No, the 400-day countdown continues automatically in the background even when the app is closed.

More by Developer

83
78
6 takes!
Last Update: Fri Dec 05 2025
89
74
Sonority mobile
Last Update: Thu Jan 15 2026

You Might Also Like

88
74
Boxville
Last Update: Thu Jan 11 2024
94
88
Afterplace
Last Update: Sat Feb 14 2026

All Categories

Puzzle Game

Action Game

Simulation Game

Casual Game

Adventure Game

Card Game

Roleplaying Game

Board Game

Sports Game

Strategy Game

Racing Game

Family Game

Casino Game

Music Game

Word Game

Trivia Game

Education Game

Games Game

Entertainment Game

Utilities Game

Social Networking Game

Books Game

Health & Fitness Game

Lifestyle Game