Fun fact: King's Quest I, one of the very first games in the world to use graphics, had puzzles that could be solved in multiple ways. Taking a non-violent approach was the only way to max out your score however. For example, there's a giant you can kill with a slingshot, or you can tire him out and make him fall asleep for more points.

I love Wandersong so much. I've tried to put into words what makes this game different to every other game. It usually goes something like this.

Nearly every game is about winning. Some are about plumbers leaping their way to the flag pole. Some are about gun-wielding heroes shooting everything. Those are pretty obvious examples of games where the primary emotion is Fiero (the feeling of pride after accomplishment). But even games about cozily pushing blocks, or doing skateboard tricks, or running a successful shop are also predominantly about fiero.

Now, I agree that not all games are about this one emotion. Horror games feature fiero, but are mostly about exploring fear. And there are lots of games that explore other emotions as their primary goal. But the vast majority of games are about winning and the emotion of fiero.

Wandersong is about happiness and not fiero. It makes that perfectly clear in its opening moments. The protagonist is made (painfully?) aware that he is not the hero. The Bard goes on to have several conversations with other characters about happiness. The plot largely revolves around increasing happiness. And, in terms of gameplay, in almost all the places a typical game would offer players chances to feel fiero, this game offers the player opportunities to experience happiness instead.

If you're looking for it, it's clear that the game is occasionally working to prevent fiero and present happiness in its place. The game frequently puts the player in situations where there is no opportunity for them or The Bard to "win". Instead, they have the chance to help or to be helped. And sometimes even when things turn out well, it's despite The Bard and the player failing at their goal.

It's a unique game made with tons of love and I treasure it. I would recommend it to anyone with a heart.

Personally I've always wanted a game where I can talk to the raiders in the forest, tell them to stop raiding the nearby villages, then leave and come back later to find burnt ruins where a village used to be.

But this'll do.

I'm sure the coffee pirates are good pirates who respect other people's property. Coffee merchants in pirate costume.

Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/530320/Wandersong

I was enchanted by the game the moment I saw how it was played, I loved it as soon as I started playing, and I was captivated as soon as Ash's plot played out. At one point, the game said my life's philosophy in plain text, and another person said it was dumb and pointed out the flaws in that philosophy.

How good are the characters? As soon as I learned you can exhaust dialogue trees, there was not a soul I didn't wander next to to hear more dialogue.

How good is the soundtrack? I have learned how to play I Want To Be The Hero on ukulele.

I highly recommend Chicory from the same dev.

I also really enjoyed this one. Played it on Nintendo Switch.

Funny you compared the atmosphere to Night in the Woods, the same sound designer did both games.

I watched Super Sleepover Society's playthrough of this, and I debated if I'd enjoy the gameplay. The silly story is just my sort of thing, though.

Ask me about Loom