Wanderstop Reviews
Funny and enjoyable as Wanderstop may be, it suffers from its inability to juxtapose Alta’s healing process with any of the hardship that made healing so necessary in the first place.
After all that gushing about what makes Wanderstop great, I’m now kind of lost for words. This game takes the conventions of the much-loved cozy genre and turns it into an emotional experience that touches on some very real issues.
Wanderstop is more a visual novel that uses making tea as a narrative break versus a shop management game.
There are a few blemishes that could be buffed out, but the blend that Ivy Road has brewed for us here is well worth savoring.
Wanderstop often feels like a diversion from any traditional standards a player may expect from a game, even one so cozy or hinting at purported narrative subterfuge. But in abandoning expectations, it truly thrives.
Whereas it is a worthy experiment and a cozy game deserving of a recommendation, Wanderstop ultimately struggles to live up to its creators' illustrious reputations.
Wanderstop is a fascinating exploration of letting go: if many games are exercises in overstimulation that play like Red Bull being poured down your gullet, then this one is more akin to having a calming sip of tea.
Wanderstop remains incredibly sincere and thoughtful with its biting story cooked up by Ivy Road without being overly sentimental or too delicate. Not afraid to show its teeth (including occasional gameplay obstacles), within is a stellar story about learning self-care and slowing down, a refreshing narrative departure for Davey Wreden in particular, bolstered by the co-writing of Karla Zimonja and moving performance by Kimberley Woods. Present also is a vibrant, whimsical and pragmatic take on the familiar shop-running and farming hybrid genre, told all through the lens of helping out a quaint tea shop with thoughtful and bespoke mechanics and interactivity. It's dangerous to go alone. Why don't you stay a while and have a nice cup of Earl Grey?
Wanderstop's absolute-tea intriguing meta introspections add some unique flavor, but certain design & story fumbles leave a conflicting aftertaste.
Wanderstop is a well-intentioned take on the personal weight of societal burnout and the issues typically found in the cozy genre but struggles to find much ground beyond its initial premise as surface-level commentary and frustrating, awkward gameplay spoils the brew.
Wanderstop flows by in an ordinary way and, a little bitterly, we can say that it is "only" a pleasant cozy game with an excellent story and a first-rate supporting cast.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Wanderstop is phenomenal for many reasons, including its characters, world, gameplay, and message of mental health and hygiene.
Wanderstop sets out to deliver a relaxing narrative experience – and absolutely nails it. Needless to say, it’s the barista life for us in Wanderstop.
It’s imperfect although I wish there were more things to do and details to explore in this game. It’s not for everyone. If you want a fast-paced or action-packed game, you may need to look elsewhere. This game is all about the quiet moments and the slow deliberate process of healing. It asked me to slow down and reflect, which surprisingly was effective during my play. Wanderstop dared to be different and it succeeded. It reminded me that true strength is not always by yielding a sword but by being brave enough to start over again.
Wanderstop offers a relaxing yet repetitive experience, where tea preparation becomes a metaphor for inner discovery. With well-written characters and enchanting atmosphere, the game stands out for its originality despite a slow pace that might not appeal to everyone.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Wanderstop is a lesson in stopping to smell the roses and how important it is to look inwards when faced with life's difficulties. Its mixture of lighthearted humour and tranquil themes will leave any player feeling more relaxed after each gaming session. ☕
517 / 5,000 The way Wanderstop presents the pain caused by trauma and the healing power of a gentle, relaxing environment that, despite everything, can't completely cure it resonated deeply with me. This is a fantastic work that uses humor, tragedy, and absolutely charismatic characters to present complex realities that aren't always solvable. Depending on your own experience, you may love this game or you may find it confusing and boring, but it's worth a look.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
While its gameplay is sometimes a bit too involved relative to its themes and narrative, Wanderstop is a wonderful experience that overcomes that flaw through its touching cast, fantastic writing, and engaging mechanics that are all set within an incredibly inviting and cozy world. Wanderstop is a shining example of how powerful video games are when utilized to address real-world problems, and if Wanderstop aims to encourage people to look inward and ask its players to shift their perspectives on life, then that mission has been fully accomplished in a heartwarming fashion.
Ivy Road has created a fantastic amalgamation of genres in a cozy game that teaches you how to sit back and relax. With an intriguing tale of self-reflection mixed with calming music and colourful landscapes, this is nothing short of a gorgeous experience. Even if you don’t like cozy games or simulators, this ascends those constraints and has a variable gameplay which provides a certain type of freedom not found anywhere else. The narrative is so personal yet so broad, it’s open to all kinds of players, even if the ending is left a bit open for you to infer. If you are tapped out with big games, trophy hunting, online losses or simply want a chill game, then Wanderstop should be your very next stop.
Wanderstop is about burnout, recovery, and taking a break. It’s something a lot of us forget to do. You’re not chasing upgrades or grinding for rewards. You’re just making tea, talking to people, and letting things settle. It’s quiet, thoughtful, and sometimes exactly what you need.