Stray Children
Top Critic Average
Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews for Stray Children
Stray Children is nothing if not opinionated. From its abrupt opening to its inscrutable mechanics, it outright refuses to hold your hand. This clarity of purpose builds a world that is totally captivating – if it gets its hooks into you.If you don't have the time and patience to explore and experiment while being labelled a "bad child", this may not be for you. However, if you're game for some surreal challenges, this is a memorable and ultimately optimistic adventure.
Stray Children is basically everything I wanted from a successor to Moon, and the people at Onion Games are some of the brightest creative voices in the business.
But the story? The story absolutely shines. It’s engrossing, introspective, and often existential. It makes you think. And while it’s not the next Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, it deserves attention for being a truly unforgettable experience.
Stray Children is one of those rare games that likely will be spoken about decades into the future among its cult following and in general cultural circles. Just like the game that most likely served as a foundational inspiration, EarthBound, it will likely not achieve widespread commercial success worldwide. It is like this great and now deeply recognised title used to be: too far ahead of its time. While not beneficial to the bottom line, it is probably for the better that Stray Children did not aim to be a crowdpleaser. As a game, it is great with some very odd and inconvenient choices. As a piece of art, it is masterfully and deliberately designed with atmosphere and worldbuilding in mind. All that is left to wish for is that it dared to take those final steps away from trying to be a great video game with some strange padding at the end, and instead fully embraced itself as a rebellious artistic experience, not giving a care in the world about boorish things like ”industry standards” and ”gameplay length”.
Stray Children is like a meteor blazing through the sky, meant only for those who truly appreciate the pure sincerity and childlike wonder of video games. No nonsense attached, just a game brought to life by those who understand the magic of classic RPGs, reminding all that creativity is what makes a game truly special, beyond tropes or clichés. It’s not a game for everyone. While it might seem warm and cuddly, it's unfair and unintuitive, much like life itself.
Stray Children is a beautiful and ambiguous game, capable of being both profound and simple, enjoyable and frustrating at the same time. Even with clear flaws, I couldn't stop playing until I reached the end. For those who don't want to decipher specific dialogue sequences or map dungeons from memory—something common in classic RPGs, it must be said—the experience can be exhausting, although still rewarding. Those who seek exactly that kind of challenge will find it a feast.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Not much in Stray Children is particularly new, but what isn't, is extremely well-made, managing to mark a grand evolution of the genre. It would be very easy to write a headline like "Stray Children is Undertale on steroids, much bigger and better," but the reality is that Stray Children is far beyond a simple Undertale clone, managing to be a completely original game that will certainly stay with me for many years.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Stray Children is a unique and special JRPG from developers known for PS1 obscure gems and aren’t afraid to embrace every element of that era.
