Wanderstop

Far from just another “cozy” game, Wanderstop invites you into a colorful world filled with quirky characters and bizarrely flavored tea at the price of some uncomfortably insightful introspection.

Wanderstop is endlessly charming and necessary. It is a game as much about making tea as it is about finding yourself.

Wanderstop's gorgeous visuals, solid character writing, and relaxing workaday gameplay routine brew up a wonderful experience.

Slow and steady.

Sharing too much about Wanderstop’s narrative would be doing it a disservice, but it contained more surprises than expected in a game that seemed from the start to be on the more simplistic side. This isn't a title for everyone, but it's impossible not to recommend it to everyone. A dozen hours is a small price to pay for a little sanity and quiet, and even those who prefer more active and demandi...

Wanderstop has officially pulled me into the cozy game genre and is a beautifully moving game which realistically portrays the long and difficult journey of burnout recovery, while also being as hilarious as you would expect from the creator of The Stanley Parable.

On first appearance, Wanderstop looks like your average wholesome, low-stakes indie game with easy-going objectives and enjoyable, soothing tasks to perform. While the game is exactly that, it layers on top a story that hones in on the central character's mental state, and it's an effective combination.

Alta's reluctance to be in her own cozy game brings a tender and sometimes sharp flavor to an otherwise calming brew of farming and cafe management. Wanderstop is a beautiful and balanced combination of sweet and savoury on the palate of the overworked, exalting the transformative power of tea.

Whereas it is a worthy experiment and a cozy game deserving of a recommendation, Wanderstop ultimately struggles to live up to its creators’ illustrious reputations.

I had just spent a year fighting to push back a spreading political ideology that threatened to hurt my loved ones and countless more. Every day felt like a battle against a rising tide of hatred. The constant effort culminated in crushing defeat at the ballot box. By the time January rolled around, I was despondent. There was no fight left in me and it felt like there never would be again.

I believe there are many people who will love and identify with Wanderstop! I just found it clunky, broken on PS5, and far from cozy.

The future I dream of isn’t one without friction, but one that ensures a slower, happier life for my community, even if that means doing the work. Wanderstop feels the most meaningful when it focuses on that.