Review: Wandersong (2018)

Original post: https://misthold.dreamwidth.org/13645.html

Wandersong (2018) is a puzzle adventure game where you play as a bard trying to save the world despite not being the Hero. The game mechanics are focused around music (because you're a bard!), though Deaf/HoH and colorblind players can still enjoy the game because there are directional indicators that don't rely on hearing notes.

I really, really enjoyed this game! I loved the art, the characters, the music, and especially the little special sprinkles of joy throughout. There's multiple LGBTQ+ characters, including the Bard who is canon nonbinary, as well as characters of color and characters of all ages. A well-rounded cast of people to populate an adorable world.

The art is cute and colorful, and the colors shift slightly between each chapter of the game. Also, each “dungeon” area was different. My favorite was the Moon/Sun castle area– you have to jump at stars, sing to activate them, and then float through space to make it to the next ledge. Very pretty and super fun to play through.

The dialogue in particular was really well done: you can talk to over 100 characters and they each have something unique to say.

But more than that: they each have something INTERESTING to say. It's not just repeating three phrases, or random unhelpful info. These characters have EMOTIONS! They philosophize! They wonder about their life, the world, each other, etc. and they're actually personally interested in the Bard and want to be their friend. It's adorable, and it made the game much more enjoyable and impactful.

Alongside the dialogue thing is a well-written story. Saving the world isn't just about defeating bad guys and using a big sword; the actual Hero character is really mean, and Bard and their friends struggle to handle that situation alongside the inevitable end of the world. There are other, smaller stories happening too– two countries have been at war for so long that they've forgotten why, a pirate captain searches for his mermaid, some ghost infest a town and scare the neighbors.

Then there's the character growth and individual stories happening between the Bard, their friend(s), and the various people they meet. It's incredibly detailed and rich for a puzzle/adventure game, something on par with what I'd expect from a visual novel. There aren't any storyline choices, but if you choose to skip most of the dialogue then you'd miss a huge chunk of what's enjoyable about the game and story.

Wandersong is actually pretty simple and easy to play, and there's not really a “collect these things and level up” aspect or really anything beyond the main story. There's lots of cute puzzle games that are fun to play, but don't interest me beyond a few hours of play. Wandersong kept me hooked for three days! What makes it special is the story, and the fostering of deep emotional connections to the people who populate that world. It an INTENSE game and well worth picking up, especially if you enjoy games like Undertale or visual novel games.

I absolutely adored it!

Price: $19.99

Available for Windows, macOS, Playstation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch. I played the Switch version, which is currently on sale for a few more days.

After finishing Wandersong I went looking for “behind the scenes stuff” and found out that the creator was determined to make an uplifting game to make people feel better (paraphrased). It 100% worked and I'm so happy I played it.