Spend your teenage years on an alien planet in this narrative RPG with card-based battles. Explore, grow up, and fall in love. The choices you make and skills you master over ten years will determine the course of your life and the survival of your colony.
The game's developers have crafted an exceptionally well-written narrative that drives the experience. Players follow the protagonist's growth from age 10 to 20 as they grow up on an alien colony, making choices that profoundly impact the lives of their friends, the colony, and the planet itself. Reviewers highlight the quality of the writing, noting that it reads like a well-crafted novel, with dynamic and unique characters that feel like real people.
In addition to the narrative focus, the game features a deckbuilding and card-based challenge system that seamlessly integrates with the story. As the protagonist grows, they acquire various memories and experiences, represented by collectible cards. Players then use these cards to overcome challenges, such as academic tests, dangerous encounters, or social interactions. Reviewers describe the card system as a fun and rewarding mechanic that adds an extra layer of strategy and replayability to the game.
The game features a robust skill system, with 12 different attributes that the protagonist can develop over the course of their 10-year journey. These skills, ranging from bravery and toughness to empathy and organization, not only affect the protagonist's abilities but also unlock new narrative paths and events. This depth of customization, combined with the numerous branching storylines and 29 possible endings, make the game highly replayable.
A key strength of the game's design is the way it seamlessly blends the narrative and gameplay elements. The card-based challenges, skill development, and relationship-building all serve to propel the story forward in meaningful ways, with each aspect complementing the others. Reviewers highlight how the game avoids feeling like a simple "choose your own adventure" visual novel, as the gameplay mechanics are deeply intertwined with the unfolding narrative.
The game also earns praise for its thoughtful approach to accessibility and customization. It offers options to disable the card-based combat system for players who prefer a more narrative-focused experience, as well as content warnings for sensitive topics. Additionally, the game provides a gender slider and the ability to use they/them pronouns for the protagonist, allowing players to tailor the experience to their preferences.