Recent reviews by the creature known as 'ruby'

absolute bloody masterpiece

if you've ever wanted a game that not only changes the way you think about playing games, but also the way you think about your actual day-to-day life, wanderstop is that game. it's an experience that tells you two things: you should use the finite time you have in this world to do things that make you happy, and you should also just chill the ♥♥♥♥ out before you work yourself into an early grave.

first off, the gardening and tea-making process is just great. it all feels really balanced, and kinda forces you to not try to speed through the whole process and just relish in taking your time. this is the point of the game. relish in the mundane, it might just be exactly what your heart needs.

there's a lot of other good to this game, from the sweet visuals to the beautiful soundtrack, but where wanderstop really shines is its writing. the characters, while sometimes whimsical and other-worldly, are all endearing in their own way and encourage you to learn more about them. in terms of the story, not only is the writing impeccable from a comedic standpoint (please read every dirk warhard book), but its emotional moments are refreshingly sincere and invite real-life self reflection. i'm one of the many people that's been irony-poisoned by years of being online, and this game managed to hit me in a way i haven't been hit by a game in a very, very long time.

of course its no surprise that davey wreden wrote a great story for a game. what IS the surprise here is just how much of an effect it can have on you if you let it. slow down, be kind to yourself, and get some ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ rest. oh, and play this game. it rocks.

THIS is the perfect farming sim for anybody who loved stardew valley but wanted it to look more like a magical girl anime from the 80s/90s

particular loves:
- adorable character customisation (thank u so much for having long hair options that are actually cute)
- an aesthetic dream (there is not a single part of this game that looks bad)
- villager portraits are amazing, plus it feels like they all have unique personalities
- gorgeous music everywhere you go
- YOU CAN JUMP?? AND SWIM??

my only con-thats-not-really-a-con is it would be GREAT to have the ability to change the day speed in the accessibility options? wylde flowers implemented this really well!

also please let me romance elsie. please

i started this game on steam and ended up finishing it on switch. what a truly special game. its a slow paced experience that really revels in the beauty of human connection. its a game that rewards you for digging deeper and playing it over and over again. its a game that made me want to call my grandma.