While at this point going to college and my life before being married, having kids, and living as a full-time adult (sort of) is many decades in the rear view mirror, I do remember it as a time of many challenges. While high school was a gauntlet of social awkwardness, avoiding cliques, and simply trying to survive the best I could, being away from home at college opened the door to much more significant concerns. Trying to figure out what to do with my life, where and how I would work, and trying to find deeper relationships… It was an exciting but overwhelming time.

While my circumstances in life were obviously very different from those of the game’s protagonist, Mara Whitefish, having ended up with an English degree I can at least 100% appreciate some of her specific scholastic difficulties. As an aspiring writer she’s facing a number of challenges, whether involving a lack of confidence in herself, desperately searching for inspiration, and simply struggling to find her voice. It doesn’t help that on a general level Mara’s an absolute hot mess though, and obviously struggles with how to communicate effectively with the people around her. 

That obstacle actually serves as a great mechanism for driving a key aspect of the gameplay though, and that’s tied to her growing list of Topics that she’s comfortable discussing with the people she meets. Unlocked simply by exploring, talking to people, and taking the time to check out the things around you, these serve as a launching pad for your writing, so while you need to be careful with your managed time, it keeps the experience from feeling less linear. Throw in a variety of small, and often amusing, mini games, and this is a title that packs in a surprising amount of charm. Whether you’re currently trapped in the same situation as Mara, or at least have memories of the challenges of that time in your life, it can be very reflective and has a refreshingly candid take on the difficult road to becoming an adult.