Info about Wanderlust: Travel Stories: Official game description: Buzz ==== More from our friends ===================== About the Game ============== **In a bar, on the world's most remote island, a group of strangers share their stories. Step into their shoes and experience travel from distinct perspectives. This collection of playable novels is inspired by real events and places—but the course of each journey depends on your choices.** **A bridge between literature and gaming** ------------------------------------------ Wanderlust: Travel Stories is a book that you shape. If you’re seeking something a little bit different it is for you—and if you can read this, you have all you need to get started. **An anthology of travel stories** ---------------------------------- Four long stories and five short ones, each written by its own team of authors. Every journey offers a unique playstyle as you experience travel through the eyes of distinct individuals. Like an idealistic student, a jaded reporter, or a man who’s simply a terrible planner. **Authentic, grounded and well researched** ------------------------------------------- Inspired by true stories and set in real places. Travel to the mysterious statues of Rapa Nui, bustling streets of Bangkok, pristine expanses of the Antarctic, grasslands of the Serengeti, and more. Dive into tales created by passionate travelers and experienced reporters, see the world they saw throughout their journeys. **Emotions color perception** ----------------------------- Your choices shape the characters’ mood. This, in turn, changes how you see the world. All emotions are valid: happiness or enthusiasm aren’t everything, feeling sad or fatigued is perfectly natural. **Minimalism** -------------- Tasteful aesthetic, bespoke photography, and immersive soundscapes set the tone. Just enough to stir your own memories or feed the imagination. **Introducing Slow Gaming** --------------------------- Like a peaceful afternoon with a cup of tea and a novel, it’s a slow-paced and meditative experience. You don’t have to rush or fight, you can take in every moment at your own pace. If this is what you seek, check out our Slow Gaming Manifesto. **From the creators of The Witcher, Dying Light and Hitman** ------------------------------------------------------------ We sail into uncharted waters with this experimental playable travel documentary. We would love you to join us on the journey. **Follow us** ------------- For more travel stories, follow our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Release date: Sep 26, 2019 Categories: Visual Novel, Choice-based Narrative, Interactive Fiction, Slow Gaming, Relaxation, Narrative-driven Gameplay, Travel Simulation, Story-driven Gameplay - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00 - Reasoning: The reviews indicate a mixed sentiment about the game's value. Some users find the game worth the money for the adventures and tales, while others compare it to the cost of an Audible subscription, suggesting that the game's full price may not offer as much value. Additionally, the mention of the game going on sale for as low as $2 suggests that the perceived value is significantly lower than the current base price. The positive reviews highlight the game's worth, but the critical reviews suggest that the game may not be worth its full price. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 6.5h - Story completion: 3.0h - Session length: 1.0h - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provides various indications of playtime. The first quote mentions that stories can range from an hour to five hours, which helps estimate session length and story completion time. The second quote directly states a total playtime of 6.5 hours for completing the game, which is useful for estimating game completion time. The third quote supports the idea that stories can take several hours, reinforcing the session length and story completion metrics. The fourth quote, while not directly mentioning playtime, supports the idea of deep engagement, which can imply longer play sessions. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game's slow pacing and lack of traditional gameplay loops initially hinder fun for many players, but those who enjoy a relaxed experience may find it enjoyable immediately. - Stance: Fun immediately for some, never clicks for others - Anchor: N/A - Time to anchor: 0h 0m - Friction: slow pacing; lack of traditional gameplay loops; disengaging for players expecting interactivity - Unlock drivers: appreciation for deliberate pacing; enjoyment of relaxed gameplay - Conditions: relaxed mindset; enjoyment of slow-paced games; appreciation for storytelling - Player Archetypes: - Story-Seeking Relaxer (buy) - Motivation: Immersion in beautiful and meaningful stories. - Playstyle: Casual and reflective, focusing on reading and experiencing narratives. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Sensitive soul; Reader; Travel enthusiast - Reference games: 80 Days; Sunless Sea - Nostalgic Text-Adventure Fan (sale) - Motivation: Nostalgia and appreciation for text-based adventure games. - Playstyle: Exploratory and narrative-driven, with a focus on text and storytelling. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Old-school gamer; Text-adventure fan; Narrative enthusiast - Reference games: Mystery House; Sherlock: Riddle of The Crown Jewels; 80 Days; Sunless Sea - Avid Reader (buy) - Motivation: Engagement with well-written and immersive stories. - Playstyle: Reading-focused, with an emphasis on narrative and literary quality. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: Book lover; Story enthusiast; Casual gamer - Reference games: 80 Days; Sunless Sea Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Varied and engaging stories (weight 0.97): The game offers a wide range of stories with different settings, themes, and complex characters. These stories are well-written and capture the spirit of adventure, making players reflect on their own travel memories. - Relaxing and immersive experience (weight 0.67): Players find the game to be a soothing and introspective experience, with relaxing music and an immersive atmosphere that makes them feel like they are traveling with the characters. - Beautiful photography and visuals (weight 0.63): The game features stunning and original photography from around the world, complemented by a minimalist visual style and high-quality photographic backdrops. - Exploration of human emotions and cultures (weight 0.39): The stories explore human emotions, social relations, and various aspects of different cultures and regions, providing an educational and respectful commentary on traditions and tourism. - Unique and bold concept (weight 0.37): The game presents a unique and engaging experience, combining travel stories with interactive elements and a variety of multimedia, including photographs, maps, and sound effects. - Meaningful choices and interactivity (weight 0.31): The game offers a variety of choices that change the story, giving players the freedom to engage with the narratives in different ways and experience meaningful impacts on the storyline. - Recommended for readers and travel enthusiasts (weight 0.19): The game is highly recommended for those who enjoy reading and travel stories, offering a unique blend of narrative-driven gameplay and travel experiences. - Management of stress and fatigue (weight 0.12): The game includes elements of stress and fatigue management, adding a layer of realism and challenge to the gameplay experience. - Authentic representation of locations (weight 0.12): The game provides an authentic representation of various travel destinations, particularly noted for its accurate depiction of Thailand and the backpacker experience. - Educational and entertaining (weight 0.1): The game is noted for being both entertaining and educational, providing players with insights into different cultures and regions while keeping them engaged. Common complaints: - Game is boring (weight 0.5): Many players found the game to be boring and uninteresting, with some stories and content failing to engage them. - Inconsequential choices (weight 0.49): Players noted that many choices in the game appear to have little to no impact on the story or gameplay, making them feel inconsequential. - Writing and language issues (weight 0.35): The game has been criticized for its writing quality, including low-level spelling errors, typos, grammar mistakes, and poor word choices. - Pacing issues (weight 0.34): The game has been criticized for its pacing, with some stories feeling too slow and others having inconsistent progression. - Lack of depth and authenticity (weight 0.33): Players have noted that the game lacks depth in its stories and characters, and it fails to provide an authentic travelogue experience. - Inconsistent story quality (weight 0.31): The quality of the stories varies, with some feeling less tightly constructed and more linear, while others are more engaging. - Lack of emotional connection (weight 0.27): Many players felt a lack of emotional connection to the characters and stories, making the game less engaging. - Preachy and political content (weight 0.24): Some players felt that the game focuses too much on preaching morals, ethics, and political agendas, which can be off-putting. - Frustrating mechanics (weight 0.18): Players have found certain mechanics in the game to be frustrating, including decision-making and mood systems. - Low replayability (weight 0.16): Players have expressed that the game has limited replay value, making it less playable over time. - Disappointing character development (weight 0.15): Many players found the character development to be disappointing and lacking in depth. - High price for content (weight 0.13): Some players feel that the game is overpriced for the amount and quality of content it offers. - Mismatched visuals and descriptions (weight 0.13): There are instances where the photographs and images do not closely match the vivid descriptions provided in the game. - Lack of language support (weight 0.1): The game has been criticized for its lack of support for non-English languages, making it less accessible to a global audience. - Limited save system (weight 0.05): The game's save system has been criticized for supporting only one save, which can be limiting for players. - NSFW content concerns (weight 0.04): Some players have noted that the game contains NSFW content, which may not be suitable for very young players. Gameplay feedback: - Choice-driven narrative experience (weight 0.74): The game offers a rich narrative experience where player choices significantly impact the story. This includes branching narratives and moral decisions that shape the storyline and character development. - Interconnected travel stories (weight 0.66): The game features a collection of interconnected travel stories set in various locations worldwide. Each story is told from the perspective of different characters, offering unique experiences and emotional depth. - Visual novel gameplay (weight 0.38): The game is described as a visual novel with novel-like gameplay. It includes branching narratives and interactive storytelling elements, providing a unique blend of reading and gaming experiences. - Fatigue and stress mechanics (weight 0.37): The game incorporates fatigue and stress management mechanics, which add a layer of strategy and realism. Players must manage these factors as they influence the outcomes of choices and the overall gameplay experience. - Slow-paced emotional storytelling (weight 0.15): The game emphasizes a slow-paced, emotional storytelling approach. This allows players to immerse themselves deeply in the narrative and connect with the characters on a more personal level. - Money tracking system (weight 0.11): The game includes a money tracking system, which adds an element of resource management. Players need to keep track of their finances as they progress through the story. Performance notes: No performancepoints Recommendations: - Recommended for reading enthusiasts (weight 0.13): The game is highly recommended for players who enjoy reading and can overlook some rough edges. It offers a rich narrative experience that appeals to those who love to read. - Players want a sequel (weight 0.12): There is a strong desire among players for a sequel or more stories from the developers. Players are eager for more content and continued experiences. - Good for learning English (weight 0.11): The game is suggested for players who want to improve their English skills. It provides an immersive environment that can help with language learning. - Travel as self-discovery (weight 0.07): The game is designed for those who view travel as a form of self-discovery. It offers a unique experience that resonates with players seeking personal growth through their in-game travels. - Free Bangkok chapter available (weight 0.06): The Bangkok chapter of the game is available for free, encouraging interested players to try it out. This provides a risk-free opportunity to experience the game. - Worth playing (weight 0.06): The game is considered worth playing by many reviewers. It offers a valuable experience that players find enjoyable and engaging. Other player notes: - Add Korean language support (weight 0.08): Players have requested the addition of Korean language support to make the game more accessible to Korean-speaking audiences. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.14): Players feel let down by the game's execution, including spelling errors, lack of impactful gameplay mechanics, and weak narrative development. The lack of meaningful choices, unrelatable characters, and low replayability contribute to this sentiment. - Engagement (weight 0.1): Players are drawn in by the game's interesting and immersive narrative, engaging stories, and unique mechanics. The effective use of soundtrack and images, along with emotionally impactful stories, keeps players engaged. - Frustration (weight 0.08): Players are frustrated by the lack of depth in stories and characters, pacing issues, and the absence of an undo option for decisions. Inconsistent systems and language barriers also contribute to this frustration. - Nostalgia (weight 0.08): The game evokes a sense of nostalgia through its stories and characters, reminding players of their own travel memories and experiences. The similarity to classic text games like 80 Days also triggers this emotion. - Relaxation (weight 0.07): Players find the game relaxing due to its excellent soundtrack, travel stories, and chill pace. The immersive experience and thematic music contribute to a calming atmosphere. - Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the high-quality photographic backdrops, ambient soundscapes, and beautiful presentation. The excellent writing and immersive photos and soundtrack are also highly valued. - Boredom (weight 0.06): Players experience boredom due to uninteresting scenarios, dry stories, and lack of engaging content. Amateurish writing and lack of engagement contribute to this feeling. - Excitement (weight 0.05): Players are excited by the unique and emotional experience, addictive gameplay, and variety of stories. Interesting choices and cool surprises add to the excitement. - Enjoyment (weight 0.05): Players enjoy the engaging stories, character reflection, and awesome scenery. The game's music, clothing system, and personal stories contribute to their enjoyment. - Interest (weight 0.05): Players are interested in the engaging stories, varied gameplay mechanics, and unique mix of adventure and exploration. The engaging characters and varied themes keep players interested. - Admiration (weight 0.04): Players admire the skilful writing, exploration of human emotions, and well-written, immersive stories. The unique and bold concept of the game is also admired. - Hope (weight 0.04): Players hope for potential patches, more stories or sequels, and localized versions of the game. They desire more thrilling stories and choices. - Joy (weight 0.02): Players experience joy from the immersive experience, beautiful photos, and excellent soundtrack. The emotional depth and personal growth of the characters also bring joy. - Satisfaction (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied with the engaging characters and storylines. The recommendation for a unique visual novel adds to their satisfaction. - Surprise (weight 0.02): Players are surprised by the unique choice system and the game's impact on personal reflection. The unexpected elements of the game contribute to this feeling. - Immersion (weight 0.01): Players feel transported to the places and experience the events alongside the characters, creating a strong sense of immersion.}