Phenixx Gaming

In most cases, life doesn’t really turn out the way we think it will. We set a goal or an image in our heads of what our life will look like in 5 or 10 years, and when that time comes, it likely looks completely different. Wanderstop is a game that makes you ponder the questions “Do we have to remain the person we were before? Do we have to live up to the expectations we put on ourselves yesterday?”

In Wanderstop, you play as Alta, a fallen fighter who is somewhat forced to manage a tea shop in a mystical forest. Alta is used to using her strength to fight and win battles, not brewing tea and tending to customers. It is this change that sets Alta on a new path, a path you’ll join her on.

If you’re reading this review, you are probably already aware of the focus on the narrative in Wanderstop. However, if you aren’t aware, this is a brainchild created by the developers behind The Stanley Parable, Gone Home, and Bioshock 2’s “Minerva’s Den” DLC, among others. As such, be aware that this isn’t a simple story; there will be many emotions involved, and the developers are trying to impress something upon you, just as much as the game impresses something upon Alta.

Before we go further, I want to mention that the development team behind Wanderstop has done a fantastic job at offering accessibility options. From dyslexic fonts and colorblind options, all the way to options that make the tea-making process easier on the hands for those of us that have chronic conditions, there are a lot of options available. This, combined with the easy flow of gameplay, makes Wanderstop the perfect cozy game for an afternoon or late-night wind-down.

In Wanderstop, there is always something to do. Whether you are engaging with one of the many colorful, cute, and fun characters that come looking for tea or you’re getting rid of weeds, gardening, or sweeping up leaves, Alta’s experience at the Tea Shop always feels like there is something to do. Alternately, you could make yourself a cup of tea and sit on one of the benches, pondering Alta’s experiences.

The best part about Wanderstop is that there isn’t a time limit. There’s no pressing day/night cycle, and if you mess up a cup of tea, you can try again. None of your customers demand your time, there are no fail states, Wanderstop as a game is just as much of a chance to sit and relax as the tea shop is for Alta.

At the same time, gardening offers a lot of depth, as does the tea-making. From finding the right ingredients to grow for your customers to managing to make the perfect brew, there is a lot of skill to cultivate as you play. There is also a cute, Wonka-esque vibe to the tea shop that I adore.

In that way, Wanderstop feels like a different type of experience. It feels emotionally impactful to those of us who grew up feeling like we had to always achieve. I was one of those kids, so having a game sit and tell me, “You aren’t failing by taking a minute to breathe” is…therapy in a way.

Maybe that’s the meaning we should take away from Wanderstop. It is a sort of therapy that will give you a chance to breathe after an intense day of work. We can push ourselves to be the best that we can be, but even we need a chance to breathe sometimes. If you’re looking for a chill game that has a lot of fun characters and a great story, Wanderstop is perfect for you.

A PC Review Copy of Wanderstop was provided by Annapurna Interactive for the purposes of this review.

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Wanderstop

$29.99 USD

10

Score

10.0/10

Pros

• Impactful, Therapudic Narrative
• Wonka-Esque visuals for the Tea-Shop
• Fun Characters
• Lots of Accessibility Features
• Real Cozy sense of Relaxation

Cons

• No separate voice slider in settings