Stray Children

This certainly won't be a game for everyone. At times Stray Children can be frustratingly obtuse; backtracking is rarely possible and before you know it, you've missed an item that sheds light on the game's story, or have missed out on a condition to save an Older in three hours time. And yet, I still wholeheartedly adore this game. Stray Children is oozing with love. Accept the game on its terms, and you'll have an experience like no other. It's heartfelt, it's funny, it's gut-wrenching, it's beautiful. I found myself enamoured by each of its distinct kingdoms and their vibrant casts of characters. Despite the often dark atmosphere surrounding the Olders, Stray Children stays true to Moon's messages of kindness and compassion for one another in an increasingly hectic and demanding world. Also, the soundtrack is full of absolute bangers and I'm still humming the Frog Kingdom's theme to myself. As far as combat goes, I didn't find the bullet hell style dodging to be overly difficult. You easily rack up yenom and healing items are abundant in the case you find yourself taking hits. The talking sections can range from clever wordplay or riddles to frustratingly inscrutable - this is where I suppose most players will decide if Stray Children is the game for them or not. For those that know of, or have experienced, Moon and Chulip, this probably comes as no surprise. Thankfully, it is rare that you will be far from a save point, and a decent chunk of them will have a healing npc. All in all, I recommend Stray Children, especially to those who are willing to be patient and accept the game as it comes. It's certainly an experience that won't be leaving me any time soon.

It is frustrating and obtuse, but if you meet the game where it is at then you can almost learn to speak its language, and the result is all the more satisfying for the effort required. The vibes are on point and it is very thoughtfully composed. Strong recommendation for anyone with the patience to push past its restrictive nature, because those same pain points are their own kind of charming.

One of the only games that left me bawling my eyes out... The game really felt like an ode to life, with all the pain, happiness, sorrow, and laughter that comes with it. Just a really beautiful experience.