When it comes to storytelling, indie games have had a variety of approaches to choose from in this generation. On the one end of the spectrum there are outright visual novels, which can offer anything from no player agency up through many decision points where you’re able to change the course of what happens. On the other end, while you’d typically see stronger stories conveyed through RPGs or adventures, different developers have tried different ideas with varying degrees of success. 

In the case of While We Wait Here, the subgenre of choice appears to be a bit of a diner sim, with you working in a small local place with a consistent stream of regulars coming by. While normally, depending on the clientele, there can be characters and stories that can work well enough with just that to operate with, in this case the big hook is news of an imminent disaster, which is taken in a variety of ways by everyone present. The crux of the experience is then talking to everyone, seeing how they’re trying to cope, and perhaps helping to guide their remaining actions with some of your feedback.

While the premise is an interesting one, and some of the stories and lines of thinking that emerge provide some food for thought, what holds the experience back is how it generally plays. There’s just a clunkiness to moving around and trying to prepare food or drinks for people, and it can really stymie the momentum of play. What’s odd is that, in the end, I’m not entirely sure what building in the sim elements contributes positively to the formula. Even though I tend to not be a fan of visual novels I think that sticking exclusively to the stories and moral dilemmas would have been a better path. What you’re left with are story beats that work in spite of what gameplay there is, rather than being complimented by it. If the premise piques your interest, it may still be worth a look though.