A space station nestled in the clouds of Jupiter. A bizarre bazaar where a young, worried woman crafts entire universes in the palm of her hand. A mysterious cultist who's stripped the flesh from his bones in order to reach enlightenment. Here, there's a universe for sale. You buying?
The gameplay centers around exploring the unique sci-fi setting, interacting with diverse characters, and solving occasional light puzzles. While the gameplay is relatively simple, many players have found it to be an effective complement to the strong narrative and world-building.
As players navigate the cramped, visually-striking environments of the Jupiter-based setting, they can click on interactive elements to have the protagonist, Lila, examine or comment on them, often providing additional context and flavor to the world. Players can also engage in conversations with the colorful cast of characters, making dialogue choices that shape the narrative.
At several points in the story, the game tasks players with crafting custom universes for customers. This involves selecting different liquids and materials, then combining them in specific ways to produce the desired cosmological results. While simple, this minigame adds an engaging, hands-on element to the otherwise dialogue-driven gameplay, and serves as an inventive metaphor for the game's themes of creation and control.
In addition to exploration and universe creation, the game features occasional light puzzles for players to solve. These range from simple logic-based challenges to more open-ended tasks that require careful observation and experimentation. While not overly complicated, these puzzles help to break up the pacing and provide a sense of accomplishment as players progress.
Players have praised the game's accessible, user-friendly controls and interface. The point-and-click mechanics are straightforward and intuitive, allowing players to focus on the narrative without being hindered by complex or frustrating gameplay elements. Additionally, the ability to quickly skip through dialogue or repeat universe creation sequences helps to streamline the experience for those who wish to progress through the story at a brisk pace.