On first appearance, Wanderstop looks like your average wholesome, low-stakes indie game with easy-going objectives and enjoyable, soothing tasks to perform. While the game is exactly that, it layers on top a story that hones in on the central character’s mental state, and it’s an effective combination.
Alta is a fighter who’s always strived to be the very best she can be, but after some setbacks, finds herself seeking further training to become even stronger. Instead, her sword becomes too heavy to carry and she collapses, winding up at the titular tea shop, where proprietor Boro suggests she lend a helping hand in order to recuperate.
The moment-to-moment gameplay is a mix of growing plants and harvesting ingredients, speaking with patrons, fulfilling their orders, and keeping the clearing tidy. While some of this can initially feel tedious and a little fiddly, it quite quickly becomes easy to manage, and you’ll never really be short on supply of anything. There’s zero pressure; you can meet the needs of customers in your own time, and are free to explore and experiment in each chapter.
Speaking of which, some of the game’s most impactful moments come during transitional meditations, delving into Alta’s psyche before you’re placed back at the tea shop, where its state has somewhat reset. To say much more might spoil things, but maybe don’t get too attached to the plants you’re growing or the trinkets you’ve collected.
Concocting magical brews is really a means to engage with the cast of charming characters, most of whom have some fantastic dialogue. The writing is broadly the best aspect of Wanderstop, which somehow manages to balance topics like mental fatigue, trauma, and the importance of self-care with some genuinely hilarious interludes.
It’s a clever mix of genre and story, because it provides a cosy space to immerse yourself in while also highlighting the reasons why people play things like this in the first place — to unwind, to take a break with something relaxing. Alta is forced to slow down and reflect on her issues, and through conversations and moments of introspection, the game delivers a thoughtful, emotive tale that may well hit home for many.
