Night In The Woods has been praised as one of the best story-driven video games around since its initial release in 2017. The emotional single-player adventure soon garnered a dedicated fanbase due to a provoking mystery that unfolds throughout the story, an endearing cast of characters, and nuanced, relatable writing, that does an amazing job of addressing mental health struggles.

Players take control of a young girl named Mae who's recently returned to the quaint town of Possum Springs after suddenly leaving college. Feeling lost in place, she soon gets reacquainted with her home and old friends and discovers just how much has changed in the time she's been away. It's a story that will pull at your heartstrings. At its center are the longing for the nostalgia of easier days, the desire for purpose, and the comfort of forgetting the rest of the world with those you hold closest for just a little while. Needless to say, Night In The Woods features some wonderfully memorable quotes.

5 'Nothing is going to save us forever, but a lot of things can save us today.'

Night In The Woods official video game quote save us Mae Bea Gregg Angus

This quote comes right at the end of the gang's adventures. After the intense climatic events of the game, Mae takes one final walk through Possum Springs before meeting up with the gang in their group haunt, the Birthday Zone. As her friends filter in, Bea first soon followed by Angus, and Gregg, they discuss the revelations of the previous night.

Mae reflects on the events, claiming she made the decision not to die without a fight, and that 'Nothing is going to save us forever, but a lot of things can save us today.' A thoughtful nod to how the smaller things in life often keep us going every day.

4 'Got cups on my ears'

Night in the woods cups quote official video game screenshot Mae Gregg snack falcon

While this quote isn't nearly as poignant or meaningful as others on this list, it's significant in both showcasing Night In The Woods humor, which is balanced wonderfully with the heavier subject matter weaved within its characters and narrative. It's also a lovely summarisation of Gregg's personality.

Gregg's a friendly dude, who wants to do anything to make those around him smile. His friends are clearly what he cares about most in this world, demonstrated by the infectious excitement he exudes when Mae first arrives back home. Mischievous and delightful he's always looking for adventure and to entertain.

Later in the game, Mae learns that Gregg and Agnus are striving to leave Possum Springs which is why they've been working seven days a week. Like anybody stuck in a mundane day job it's unsurprising that Gregg would find any means to make his shifts more interesting, so why not put cups on your ears?

3 'I'm a total trash mammal, and nothing is ever going to work out.'

Night In The Woods official video game screenshoot Mae in middle of party

On her third day back in town, Mae attends a party in the woods with Bea, Gregg, and Angus. The car ride on the way is noticeably awkward between Bea and Mae, and once in the woods, Bea clearly doesn't want to talk to Mae at all. Gregg and Angus also seem to be in their own world and bubble, and to make the situation even more awkward Mae's ex-boyfriend, Cole, from high school is also attending the party.

After a standoff-ish conversation with Cole, Mae begins to down drinks throughout the night, which eventually cumulates in a drunken tirade that reveals the state of her self-esteem. It's both humorous and heartbreaking, and a fantastic early showcase of the nuanced standard of writing that holds up throughout the game.

2 'I believe in a universe that doesn't care, and people who do.'

Night In The Woods Universe People quote video game screenshot constellation sky Angus Mae conversation

Angus is a wonderful character that sadly doesn't get as much screentime as he deserves, though this is understandable due to the already in-depth paths you can take with either Gregg or Bea. In the late game, Mae finally has the chance to spend some one-on-one time with Angus when they investigate the park together. During their hike, they stop to admire the stars, and one of the most beautiful conversations of the game unfolds.

Angus begins to talk about his childhood, revealing that his parents were abusive and neglectful, his mother routinely shutting him in the kitchen pantry, sometimes for days at a time. He discusses how during his youth, he came to find comfort and hope through speculative communities online, going on to explain his worldview is that of 'a universe that doesn't care, and people who do.' Reaffirming that even when the universe doesn't care and life is beating you down, there will always be people in your corner. No matter how lonely life sometimes feels.

1 'I want it to hurt'

Night In The Woods I want it to hurt official quote video game screenshot Mae on bridge

This quote is a culmination of Mae's journey throughout Night In The Woods. Mae as a character is presented as an overall apathetic person for the majority of the game. We eventually learn that the reason she dropped out of college was due to her declining mental health, and it's heavily implied that she suffers from a type of dissociative personality disorder. She reveals to either Gregg or Bea (depending on who the player has spent more time with) that when these episodes occur she sees the world and people as merely inanimate shapes. Her struggles have understandably caused her to become numb to her own and other feelings over time, and this quote is the realization that she does want to feel again, no matter how much it hurts.

It's strikingly relatable because as humans, we want to feel the impact and implications of our emotions, especially in relation to those we're connected to. Even if it's painful it means something matters enough to hurt, and any feeling, even pain, is better than feeling nothing at all. It's poignant, thought-provoking, and revealing. Simply, it's a summarization of everything that makes Night In The Woods a truly incredible, narrative experience.

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