Sobre Wanderstop Gameplay
Not fix yourself. Not change yourself. Because living with what Elevada has doesn’t mean she’s broken. She doesn’t need to be fixed. She just needs to learn how to live with it. To manage it. To understand it. And really, I could go on and on and on about how Wanderstop is a masterclass in depicting the aftermath of childhood trauma and undiagnosed mental illness.
It’s a painful journey through a safe and inviting space that asks you not just to rest, but to really do the work of unpacking what brought you to rock bottom in the first place.
If you already think you might enjoy a game like this without more convincing, just go play it knowing that I give Wanderstop an enthusiastic recommendation. Then you can come back here later to say, “Wow, thank you so much Ms. IGN reviewer, this game has left me feeling strangely hallowed out and yet so full at the same time.”
Wanderstop’s structure is divided into five chapters, with each chapter bringing in new visitors, shifting the environment, and subtly altering the tea shop’s surroundings. Through a mix of simple yet engaging mechanics—tea crafting, gardening, and shopkeeping—players uncover Elevada’s past, interact with a diverse cast of NPCs, and gradually piece together the unspoken rules of the world around them.
That kind of ingenuity, of tying mechanics and narrative together in such a seamless way, is something I wish more games would do.
If you've ever worked yourself to the point of exhaustion, blamed yourself for just "not trying hard enough" when you know full well your resources are depleted, or felt like a failure for not being the best in the world at something – you might need to put some time aside for Wanderstop.
You realize—this isn’t a cozy retreat. It’s a forced retreat. The game doesn’t ease you into relaxation. It shoves you into it, trapping you inside a world that Elevada herself struggles to accept. And that’s when it really sinks in. This is not a game about running away to start over. This is a game about being made to stop.
I am a firm believer that music tells a story. Music evokes emotions in ways words alone cannot. And if that scene had a track, if it had something swelling, something rising with the weight of the moment, I know it would have destroyed me.
Alta is a fighter. But you don’t need to be one to relate to her. Ever overworked yourself? Been an academic achiever?
Dialogue is beautifully written, filled with small, poignant moments that can unexpectedly hit close to home. And Boro? The embodiment of gentle, unwavering support. Every word he speaks carries weight, making him one of the most memorable characters in recent gaming. The only thing keeping this from a perfect 10 is the ending. While thematically fitting, it lacks a certain emotional punch that a stronger conclusion could have delivered. Wanderstop embraces ambiguity, but a bit more resolution—especially in the final moments—would have made the journey feel even more rewarding.
Foraging is another key part of the process. Tea leaves are scattered throughout The Clearing, waiting to be picked. I do wish we could also plant our own tea bushes, but alas, foraging is the only way. We also gather mushrooms, which can change the properties of the fruits we use—sometimes in expected ways, sometimes in ways that completely surprise us.
This colossal lifestyle change usually takes place within a simple opening cutscene, a quick dusting of lore before we get to Wanderstop Gameplay the real meat of the game: growing turnips.
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