I woke up wet in a field of sheep, the result of choices whose effects I could barely imagine at the time. The only reason I know it was a field of sheep is because some of the most curious woolly beasts brushed my face and made sheep noises.
Otherwise, it was far too dark to make out my surroundings or even if I was safe, although my wanderlust instincts – and a shred of common sense – told me that assassins and bandits don't usually hide among farm animals in the middle of nowhere.
Luckily a friendly shepherd approached and pointed me in the right direction, so I set off on another journey. Or rather, off Bahvet the Wanderer is gone, in just one of the countless adventures in Might and Delight's travel book.
I was lucky enough to spend several hours in the TMORPG (tiny online multiplayer RPG) before it launched in early access on Steam, and I can say without hesitation that Book of Travels is unlike anything I've experienced. before in the best possible way.
Book of Travels EA Review: A Road Worth Taking
Your time in Braided Shore begins the same as in many other deep RPGs. The game master tasks you with choosing a character, an origin story – you can even create your own – and some unique characteristics. I was expecting something like Divinity: Original Sin 2, an interesting backstory that shapes your early hours, as well as skills that sometimes influence your conversations and not much more.
I was so wrong.
I opted for the wanderer archetype, a seasoned traveler who is always restless and prides himself on being a good judge of character. It's romantic and absolutely unnecessary to wake up soaked and sick in a sheepfold.
Needless to say, I didn't dwell on it long. With just my clothes – crude clothes, according to the in-game description – in my name, I set off towards the settlement of Crossroads in search of something or nothing.
It wasn't just a role-playing decision, either. Book of Travels is one of the most open experiences I have ever come across. The smart thing to do was find Crossroads, but I could have gone the opposite direction or even just fought another traveler (which I did anyway and lost).
BoT gradually told me enough about the world to get me started with brief explanations of Knots – a kind of magic – very important tea rituals and teahouses, and how to get what I needed all the way through bartering .
The fields I walked through were dark and empty as time normally passes in Braided Shore. People resumed their journey once the sun rose, but I was content with the brief glimpses of starlight glinting through the trees and the glow of torches telling me I was headed in the right direction .
The occasional person I met was always ready for a short chat, which gave me a welcome boost of experience that I could eventually use to learn new skills. I could gushed over and over how much I love the way Book of Travels handles skills and experiences. It's one of the most organic and intuitive games I've played.
Your memory capacity determines how many skills you can hold at any given time. Using a skill helps to hone it, but if you don't use it often, it gradually weakens and could eventually be replaced. The experience comes from anything, whether it's completing tasks or just talking to people, and it exemplifies Book of Travels' smart approach to design in general.
Like any multiplayer RPG, you can party with others if you want, and sometimes you'll need an extra helping hand to complete certain tasks. As it just entered Early Access on October 11, the number of other players I encountered was understandably low, and I was pleased to see that it had little effect on what my unfortunate wanderer could accomplish if he wanted to.
There is always another road to take or another task to complete, even if the companions cannot be found.
The party process is also quick and organic. I met a fellow traveler named Kirk at the train station, and we exchanged friendly emotes before deciding to join forces. I had a ferry to catch, however, and although the two-man camaraderie didn't last long, I suspect Bahvet preferred it that way.
Some may find the open approach off-putting, and you find yourself at a dead end quite often, especially in some of the large empty areas. It's worth it, though. There are few other joys in the game, like seeing your choices pay off in unexpected ways or discovering a subtle hint of what you might do next and stumbling upon a new adventure in the process.
I've never felt so invested in the role-playing experience as in Book of Travels. Bahvet's journey feels like a real adventure, where I learn about the world and what I can do in it at the same pace as him. I'm curious to see what big events there might be later, but I'm also perfectly happy with the myriad of little moments that have marked my time so far.
As with any good trip, these moments define the experience more than any massive showpiece could – losing to a duelist by the railroad, missing my ferry, and getting lost in conversation with the dockworkers at Instead, being passed over for naval recruiting because I clearly looked like a landsman. I've barely scratched the surface, and Book of Travels is already unforgettable.
The best part is that it feels more like my journey than I can tell for most similar RPGs. I know others who chose different skills had very different early hours, especially those who prioritized the mystical side of the skill tree. Clues to the effects of your choices also dot the landscape, from landmarks you don't know how to interact with to machines that are out of your league until later.
Book of Travels has been a truly magical adventure so far. In a landscape filled with big games screaming their expansive content at you, it's a quiet voice delivering something different and meaningful, part travel simulator part casual RPG experience.
There is nothing else like it. I don't know what awaits Bahvet and where his journey might take him, but that's okay. Either way, we'll get there eventually.
[Note: Might and Delight provided the copy of Book of Travels used for this Early Access review.]
