The Game Census
The Witness cover art

The Witness

Thekla, Inc. · 2016-01-26

SteamGOGPlayStation StoreEpic Games StoreMicrosoft Store

AdventureIndie

Modes: Single player

Releases: Sep 13, 2016 (Xbox One), Sep 21, 2017 (iOS), Jan 26, 2016 (PC (Microsoft Windows)), Mar 12, 2017 (Mac), Jan 26, 2016 (PlayStation 4)

You wake up, alone, on a strange island full of puzzles that will challenge and surprise you.

277
playing now
84%
positive of 21k reviews
Very Positive
steam rating
1,000,000–2,000,000
owners (SteamSpy est.)
88/100
critic score (12 outlets, IGDB)
82/100
IGDB user rating (521 ratings)
20h
to beat · completionist 35h
gold
deck/linux tier (ProtonDB)
$39.99
steam price (US)

277 players in-game as of 2026-08-30 17:00 UTC (census sample)

The Witness is a 2016 puzzle video game developed and published by Thekla, Inc. Inspired by Myst, the game involves the exploration of an open world island filled with natural and human-made structures. The player progresses by solving puzzles, which are based on interactions with grids presented on panels around the island or paths hidden within the environment. No direct instructions are provided for solving these puzzles, requiring the player to identify the meaning of symbols in the puzzles. A central design element was how these puzzles are presented so that the player can achieve a moment of inspiration through trial and error and gain that comprehension themselves.

Health check

Healthy
  • · 277 players in-game at the last census sample.
  • · 1,261 reviews in the last 8 weeks (~158/week).
  • · Review velocity up 31% vs the prior 8 weeks.
  • · Top 5% of 11,362 Adventure games in the census by review count.

Health tier since 2026-08-29

Estimated sales: 533k–1.3M copies

Review-multiple estimate from 21,307 total reviews — how this is computed.

Current store prices

GOG$39.99
lowest across shops (ITAD)$39.99
Microsoft Store$39.99

Deal snapshots via CheapShark, refreshed daily.

All-time low: $5.99 at Fanatical (2025-06-14) · bundled 10×via IsThereAnyDeal

12-month high $39.99 · on sale 16 of 30 observed days · $34.00 above the all-time low (census price snapshots)

Review momentum

PositiveNegative
31531520182026Week of 2018-01-01: 227 positiveWeek of 2018-01-01: 73 negativeWeek of 2018-02-01: 127 positiveWeek of 2018-02-01: 36 negativeWeek of 2018-03-01: 96 positiveWeek of 2018-03-01: 15 negativeWeek of 2018-04-01: 67 positiveWeek of 2018-04-01: 11 negativeWeek of 2018-05-01: 58 positiveWeek of 2018-05-01: 5 negativeWeek of 2018-06-01: 69 positiveWeek of 2018-06-01: 10 negativeWeek of 2018-07-01: 142 positiveWeek of 2018-07-01: 46 negativeWeek of 2018-08-01: 56 positiveWeek of 2018-08-01: 10 negativeWeek of 2018-09-01: 48 positiveWeek of 2018-09-01: 10 negativeWeek of 2018-10-01: 31 positiveWeek of 2018-10-01: 8 negativeWeek of 2018-11-01: 262 positiveWeek of 2018-11-01: 5 negativeWeek of 2018-12-01: 55 positiveWeek of 2018-12-01: 13 negativeWeek of 2019-01-01: 72 positiveWeek of 2019-01-01: 27 negativeWeek of 2019-02-01: 38 positiveWeek of 2019-02-01: 8 negativeWeek of 2019-03-01: 39 positiveWeek of 2019-03-01: 11 negativeWeek of 2019-04-01: 23 positiveWeek of 2019-04-01: 13 negativeWeek of 2019-05-01: 24 positiveWeek of 2019-05-01: 8 negativeWeek of 2019-06-01: 124 positiveWeek of 2019-06-01: 14 negativeWeek of 2019-07-01: 141 positiveWeek of 2019-07-01: 14 negativeWeek of 2019-08-01: 20 positiveWeek of 2019-08-01: 8 negativeWeek of 2019-09-01: 26 positiveWeek of 2019-09-01: 2 negativeWeek of 2019-10-01: 34 positiveWeek of 2019-10-01: 11 negativeWeek of 2019-11-01: 94 positiveWeek of 2019-11-01: 11 negativeWeek of 2019-12-01: 128 positiveWeek of 2019-12-01: 16 negativeWeek of 2020-01-01: 151 positiveWeek of 2020-01-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2020-02-01: 125 positiveWeek of 2020-02-01: 8 negativeWeek of 2020-03-01: 210 positiveWeek of 2020-03-01: 17 negativeWeek of 2020-04-01: 132 positiveWeek of 2020-04-01: 18 negativeWeek of 2020-05-01: 87 positiveWeek of 2020-05-01: 12 negativeWeek of 2020-06-01: 97 positiveWeek of 2020-06-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2020-07-01: 315 positiveWeek of 2020-07-01: 39 negativeWeek of 2020-08-01: 119 positiveWeek of 2020-08-01: 12 negativeWeek of 2020-09-01: 91 positiveWeek of 2020-09-01: 11 negativeWeek of 2020-10-01: 77 positiveWeek of 2020-10-01: 10 negativeWeek of 2020-11-01: 121 positiveWeek of 2020-11-01: 14 negativeWeek of 2020-12-01: 208 positiveWeek of 2020-12-01: 28 negativeWeek of 2021-01-01: 174 positiveWeek of 2021-01-01: 27 negativeWeek of 2021-02-01: 173 positiveWeek of 2021-02-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2021-03-01: 123 positiveWeek of 2021-03-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2021-04-01: 172 positiveWeek of 2021-04-01: 19 negativeWeek of 2021-05-01: 118 positiveWeek of 2021-05-01: 21 negativeWeek of 2021-06-01: 166 positiveWeek of 2021-06-01: 28 negativeWeek of 2021-07-01: 118 positiveWeek of 2021-07-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2021-08-01: 153 positiveWeek of 2021-08-01: 26 negativeWeek of 2021-09-01: 92 positiveWeek of 2021-09-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2021-10-01: 79 positiveWeek of 2021-10-01: 21 negativeWeek of 2021-11-01: 110 positiveWeek of 2021-11-01: 21 negativeWeek of 2021-12-01: 120 positiveWeek of 2021-12-01: 19 negativeWeek of 2022-01-01: 120 positiveWeek of 2022-01-01: 22 negativeWeek of 2022-02-01: 75 positiveWeek of 2022-02-01: 5 negativeWeek of 2022-03-01: 90 positiveWeek of 2022-03-01: 11 negativeWeek of 2022-04-01: 110 positiveWeek of 2022-04-01: 23 negativeWeek of 2022-05-01: 89 positiveWeek of 2022-05-01: 13 negativeWeek of 2022-06-01: 102 positiveWeek of 2022-06-01: 27 negativeWeek of 2022-07-01: 148 positiveWeek of 2022-07-01: 38 negativeWeek of 2022-08-01: 128 positiveWeek of 2022-08-01: 25 negativeWeek of 2022-09-01: 87 positiveWeek of 2022-09-01: 18 negativeWeek of 2022-10-01: 59 positiveWeek of 2022-10-01: 10 negativeWeek of 2022-11-01: 82 positiveWeek of 2022-11-01: 12 negativeWeek of 2022-12-01: 98 positiveWeek of 2022-12-01: 14 negativeWeek of 2023-01-01: 100 positiveWeek of 2023-01-01: 21 negativeWeek of 2023-02-01: 72 positiveWeek of 2023-02-01: 15 negativeWeek of 2023-03-01: 83 positiveWeek of 2023-03-01: 17 negativeWeek of 2023-04-01: 97 positiveWeek of 2023-04-01: 22 negativeWeek of 2023-05-01: 125 positiveWeek of 2023-05-01: 45 negativeWeek of 2023-06-01: 86 positiveWeek of 2023-06-01: 25 negativeWeek of 2023-07-01: 149 positiveWeek of 2023-07-01: 31 negativeWeek of 2023-08-01: 70 positiveWeek of 2023-08-01: 13 negativeWeek of 2023-09-01: 69 positiveWeek of 2023-09-01: 10 negativeWeek of 2023-10-01: 122 positiveWeek of 2023-10-01: 23 negativeWeek of 2023-11-01: 174 positiveWeek of 2023-11-01: 23 negativeWeek of 2023-12-01: 161 positiveWeek of 2023-12-01: 24 negativeWeek of 2024-01-01: 152 positiveWeek of 2024-01-01: 22 negativeWeek of 2024-02-01: 107 positiveWeek of 2024-02-01: 17 negativeWeek of 2024-03-01: 132 positiveWeek of 2024-03-01: 22 negativeWeek of 2024-04-01: 80 positiveWeek of 2024-04-01: 19 negativeWeek of 2024-05-01: 71 positiveWeek of 2024-05-01: 17 negativeWeek of 2024-06-01: 88 positiveWeek of 2024-06-01: 12 negativeWeek of 2024-07-01: 121 positiveWeek of 2024-07-01: 26 negativeWeek of 2024-08-01: 174 positiveWeek of 2024-08-01: 45 negativeWeek of 2024-09-01: 92 positiveWeek of 2024-09-01: 21 negativeWeek of 2024-10-01: 75 positiveWeek of 2024-10-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2024-11-01: 90 positiveWeek of 2024-11-01: 15 negativeWeek of 2024-12-01: 133 positiveWeek of 2024-12-01: 24 negativeWeek of 2025-01-01: 150 positiveWeek of 2025-01-01: 34 negativeWeek of 2025-02-01: 93 positiveWeek of 2025-02-01: 17 negativeWeek of 2025-03-01: 107 positiveWeek of 2025-03-01: 16 negativeWeek of 2025-04-01: 83 positiveWeek of 2025-04-01: 21 negativeWeek of 2025-05-01: 111 positiveWeek of 2025-05-01: 22 negativeWeek of 2025-06-01: 86 positiveWeek of 2025-06-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2025-07-01: 124 positiveWeek of 2025-07-01: 42 negativeWeek of 2025-08-01: 87 positiveWeek of 2025-08-01: 16 negativeWeek of 2025-09-01: 83 positiveWeek of 2025-09-01: 14 negativeWeek of 2025-10-01: 80 positiveWeek of 2025-10-01: 29 negativeWeek of 2025-11-01: 119 positiveWeek of 2025-11-01: 26 negativeWeek of 2025-12-01: 114 positiveWeek of 2025-12-01: 29 negativeWeek of 2026-01-01: 171 positiveWeek of 2026-01-01: 28 negativeWeek of 2026-02-01: 109 positiveWeek of 2026-02-01: 26 negativeWeek of 2026-03-01: 141 positiveWeek of 2026-03-01: 40 negativeWeek of 2026-04-01: 113 positiveWeek of 2026-04-01: 20 negativeWeek of 2026-05-01: 112 positiveWeek of 2026-05-01: 17 negativeWeek of 2026-06-01: 157 positiveWeek of 2026-06-01: 38 negativeWeek of 2026-07-01: 120 positiveWeek of 2026-07-01: 26 negativeWeek of 2026-08-01: 121 positiveWeek of 2026-08-01: 26 negative
Weekly review counts (Steam review histogram). Positive above the line, negative below.

Players online

329852026-08-06 21:00 — 140 players2026-08-07 05:00 — 85 players2026-08-07 13:00 — 182 players2026-08-07 21:00 — 175 players2026-08-08 05:00 — 112 players2026-08-08 13:00 — 193 players2026-08-08 21:00 — 176 players2026-08-09 05:00 — 145 players2026-08-09 13:00 — 227 players2026-08-09 21:00 — 201 players2026-08-10 05:00 — 93 players2026-08-10 13:00 — 188 players2026-08-10 21:00 — 195 players2026-08-11 05:00 — 119 players2026-08-11 13:00 — 233 players2026-08-12 21:00 — 227 players2026-08-14 05:00 — 169 players2026-08-15 12:00 — 269 players2026-08-16 20:00 — 324 players2026-08-18 04:00 — 175 players2026-08-19 11:00 — 235 players2026-08-20 19:00 — 272 players2026-08-22 02:00 — 212 players2026-08-23 10:00 — 272 players2026-08-24 18:00 — 296 players2026-08-26 02:00 — 175 players2026-08-27 10:00 — 165 players2026-08-28 17:00 — 244 players2026-08-30 01:00 — 163 players2026-08-30 17:00 — 277 players
Concurrent players, hourly average, last 30 days (census samples).

Price history

$39.99$7.992016-01-192026-08-302016-01-19 — best price $39.992016-06-06 — best price $39.992016-11-14 — best price $39.992017-01-26 — best price $19.992017-04-03 — best price $19.992017-06-22 — best price $19.992017-09-07 — best price $15.992017-11-22 — best price $15.992018-01-11 — best price $17.992018-04-10 — best price $15.992018-07-06 — best price $11.992018-09-17 — best price $39.992019-01-23 — best price $9.992019-05-16 — best price $9.992019-11-22 — best price $9.992020-01-02 — best price $39.992020-07-09 — best price $39.992020-12-01 — best price $39.992021-05-20 — best price $9.992021-08-16 — best price $9.592021-11-23 — best price $9.992021-12-22 — best price $9.992022-04-25 — best price $39.992022-06-17 — best price $39.992022-11-29 — best price $39.992023-04-07 — best price $39.992023-10-02 — best price $39.992024-02-19 — best price $39.992024-06-27 — best price $9.992024-11-27 — best price $9.992025-04-03 — best price $39.992025-06-12 — best price $39.992025-09-18 — best price $39.992026-01-31 — best price $39.992026-04-30 — best price $39.992026-08-13 — best price $9.992026-08-30 — best price $39.99
Lowest recorded price across tracked stores, per day (census snapshots).

Attention

9822722026-05-31 — 357 pageviews2026-06-03 — 380 pageviews2026-06-06 — 564 pageviews2026-06-09 — 574 pageviews2026-06-12 — 362 pageviews2026-06-15 — 426 pageviews2026-06-18 — 432 pageviews2026-06-21 — 426 pageviews2026-06-24 — 344 pageviews2026-06-27 — 364 pageviews2026-06-30 — 308 pageviews2026-07-03 — 323 pageviews2026-07-06 — 311 pageviews2026-07-09 — 339 pageviews2026-07-12 — 425 pageviews2026-07-15 — 279 pageviews2026-07-18 — 278 pageviews2026-07-21 — 457 pageviews2026-07-24 — 326 pageviews2026-07-27 — 306 pageviews2026-07-30 — 298 pageviews2026-08-02 — 297 pageviews2026-08-05 — 322 pageviews2026-08-08 — 982 pageviews2026-08-11 — 319 pageviews2026-08-14 — 348 pageviews2026-08-17 — 643 pageviews2026-08-20 — 425 pageviews2026-08-23 — 371 pageviews2026-08-26 — 333 pageviews2026-08-28 — 323 pageviews
Daily Wikipedia pageviews (attention proxy, census-recorded).

Completion

2
achievements tracked
18.8%
earned "Endgame"
5.4%
median achievement earned by

Global achievement rates from Steam.

Details

WindowsmacOSSingle-playerSteam AchievementsCaptions availablePartial Controller SupportSteam CloudRemote Play on PhoneRemote Play on TabletFamily Sharing

14 supported languages: English, French, Italian, German, Spanish - Spain, Polish, Portuguese - Portugal, Portuguese - Brazil, Russian, Arabic, Japanese, Simplified Chinese…

Console footprint

PlatformPlayers trackedCompletionTrophies/achievements
PS4 (PlayStation)44,64319%14
Xbox One (Xbox)10,3257%13
Steam (Steam)9,79940%2

Players tracked by Exophase (achievement/trophy trackers) — a sample of the player base, not total sales.

Player tags

IndiePuzzleMysteryColorfulRelaxingAdventureDifficultNonlinearOpen WorldAtmospheric

Census log

Computed from census-recorded observations only — dates are observation dates.

Players also track

Gone HomeAmnesia: A Machine for PigsThe Talos PrincipleThe Vanishing of Ethan CarterNo Man's SkySOMAINSIDEFirewatch

Similarity via IGDB.

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