I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is a game to get lost in, from its heartbreaking, hopeful storytelling to its engaging gameplay. I think it’s a shame that this title probably didn’t get as much widespread recognition as it deserves, because it has to have one of the most touching stories about what it means to be human that I’ve seen in games. I’m so thrilled that this title is meant to be played on a loop, because it’s a game I’m looking forward to returning to, and learning from, again and again.

It has been a particularly good year for narrative-focused video games. First, we got NORCO, a thrilling yet disturbing point-and-click adventure, and then a few months later Citizen Sleeper brought us a thoughtful sci-fi tale with multiple narrative threads. But quite unexpectedly, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist has come out of nowhere to steal the top spot as my personal favourite of them all so far. Set on an alien planet (seemingly) devoid of advanced life, it follows Earth’s first space c...

Have you ever wished you could relive your teen years? Yeah, I know, me either. Although, what if you got to do it on a distant planet, surrounded by trippy landscapes, weird-ass aliens, and genetically-altered classmates? What if you had real control over how you grow up and an endless supply of lives to get it right? That’s the pitch for I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, a unique mashup from Canadian indie developer Northway Games that combines elements of anime-flavored social sims and collectible card games.

If you thrive when immersed in a rich narrative and like the idea of shaping the life of a youngster growing up on an unknown planet, then I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is for you. This narrative RPG may be slow-paced, and its narrative can get rather dark at times, but it’s excellently written and filled with heart. Add to that some truly stunning artwork, and you’ll be compelled to see exactly how this teenage exocolonist’s life turns out – time and time again.

Northway: Meilee Chao did a knock-out job of the character and costume designs. Every character is colour-coded (eg "plant dad" wears green because he works as a cultivator in the Geoponics wing). Their clothes also tell the story of many Earth cultures joined together by their desire to explore and settle a new planet.

Exploring connections and dealing with gut-punching disasters are at the core I Was a Teenage Exocolonist experience. This card-based narrative adventure brings emotion in spades as it tells a touching story about life.