I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

At first it may come off as a lighthearted game. It is not. I appreciate the dynamics and the themes that hit differently for someone who's interested in politics and human rights. Even tho it displays difficult topics it truly is nice to play, the music, the scenery, it's just so relaxing and fun. Just finished my first run and can't wait to start the second.

This barely hits the mark for me, I like many aspects of it such as the characters, some of the story, and the unique setting. what I don't like is how similar to undertale though not to the same extent it forces it's values on the player, despite repay value being a huge part of the game it's hard to justify another playthrough due to you just doing the same things again and again, It's a good game but I got it on sale and wouldn't personally pay full price for this game.

It's been a while since I played! This was a rollercoaster of emotions for me... Someone broke my heart really bad and I ugly cried myself to sleep (for real) Couldn't even stand looking at the game around that time 😂 Highly recommend

SPOILER MENTIONS: This game is hands down one of my absolute favourites. The art is phenomenal and Mei did a fantastic job bringing the characters, the illustrations, backgrounds and xenoflora/xenofauna to life. The characters are fantastic and diverse, they are so incredibly human. What that means to me is, they can make some awful choices but also while doing so want to take care of, protect, show love for others. No character is 100% bad (maybe besides Lum but that's fine) OR 100% good (although, Tammy is a super sweetheart). They just exist and are trying to survive and it leads to show what humans can do when but in these situations. Your choices are important, incredibly so and the thing I enjoy is that, you can play according to your own moral compass but you also can challenge yourself by choosing the opposite (and if you wanna 100% this game, unfortunately, you gotta become a fascist and have the potential to bully other characters). It's a safe way to show humanity with all its faults and all its strength. There's extremists in every direction, there's characters who aren't the same after events. SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! ||If you don't manage to save your father by curing the shimmer but are able to stop the famine and save your mother, she will never be quite the same and will refuse to mourn or talk with you about your dad, she'll just continue to work and work which can leave Sol feeling abandoned. (I could be mistaken and this happens eventually but to my knowledge this does not happen.) If you save your dad but not your mother, he'll mourn with you, he'll chat with you and continue to be cheerful (after a period of time post mourning) and be your biggest support. I think people unfairly dislike Flulu because of this, I love her character more because to me, she's doing her best with the skills and resources she has. Unfortunately, there is very limited mental health support for the people of Stratos and Flulu has so much trauma, pain and grief she just puts everything into her work. Workaholism is seen in most characters in my opinion. There is no one to do councilling for a long while with Stratos because of the unfortunate and untimely demise of the woman who had that job.|| You have characters who are hypocritical, characters that are incredibly extreme in some of their actions but you have the constant choice to try to solve and help mend issues in-between characters. You as the player have that power, your choices matter. You will not like everyone, that's by design but I can tell you that if you don't keep playing and playing, challenging your prespections of those characters, you will never fully comprehend the utter beauty and sheer humanity of them and the world. I think some people want their characters incredibly black and white, good or evil but you're not going to fi d that here. What you're going to find is the grey, the middle ground, the true meanings of Ying & Yang. All of it in a fantastical melancholic package of total emotional turmoil and an ambition to replay, again and again and again. I cannot praise this game enough. Please do yourself a favour and play this game. Play it as much as you can and explore all of the routes, challenge your biases and own morals to have fun in this fictional masterpiece.

Jogo muito divertido e viciante. Já estou na segunda run e não consigo largar

What a remarkable game. The title is misleading (to me); this is a triumph of storytelling, world building, and thoughtful design. I've played it through probably 6 times and although I definitely have uncovered the major stuff, I love finding new things each go-around. My main critique is that the politics and heavy-hitting topics are very weakly addressed. There are mentions of mutual aid, capitalism, climate crisis, and power structures, but none of them are fully fleshed out, there are very few actual consequences to anything, and the discussions take a full backseat to the interpersonal dynamics between characters. What initially appeared to be a game about revolution, living harmoniously with nature, and rectifying failed practices on Earth ended up very much feeling like a cozy game all the way through. I think the developers are capable of amazing things and I really hope they take their skills and be BOLD with their messaging in future games. These are important topics, and there's a huge audience of players looking for them. No more milquetoast politics!

This tiny game feels so self-contained on the first playthrough. You do some science, make some friends, and lose a lot of people to a planet that seems both beautiful and dangerous. If you stop here, it is a lovely little tale of humanity overcoming sorrow. Don't stop there. Play again, please. Immediately after you start again, the world opens up and expands until it is so large you can barely believe you got a glimpse of it the first time.

I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is a captivating narrative deck-builder that hooks you from the start. While its charming art style and simple card mechanics are solid, the game’s absolute highlight is its masterfully written story, deep character relationships, and the incredible freedom you are given to choose your own path on the alien world of Vertumna. PROS: - Simple, Effective Mechanics: Intuitive card-game system that is easy to pick up and fun to play. - Deep Character Bonds: Highly detailed, meaningful relationships with companions who grow alongside you. - Fascinating Lore: Rich, intriguing world-building that makes exploring the planet rewarding. - Realistic Progression: Nuanced and believable character growth from childhood to adulthood. - Satisfying Outcomes: A massive variety of fulfilling endings, careers, and unique dialogue. - High Emotional Stakes: Blends romance, tragedy, life, and loss seamlessly. - Gorgeous Artwork: Stunning character illustrations and event art throughout. CONS: -Underwhelming Exploration: Planetary exploration feels a bit bare-bones and lacks depth over time. -Repetitive Early Game: Replaying the first few colony years can feel tedious by your second or third run. -Grindy for Completionists: Unlocking 100% of the cards and endings requires a lot of effort and patience. -Untraditional Romance: Not for those seeking sweet, simple love stories; many arcs involve polyamory, tragic endings, or complex dynamics.