Wanderstop Review

In my Wanderstop review, I take a look at the latest game from Davey Wreden—the creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide—alongside the teams at Ivy Road and Annapurna Interactive.

Wanderstop is a cozy game that allows its players to go beyond the nitty-gritty of farming, brewing tea, and running a tea shop. It also lets them experience a tranquil and reflective journey through its profound storytelling and compelling main character.       

Game Overview

In this game, players will assume the role of Alta, a once mighty warrior who could wield the sword and defeat her enemies. But nowadays, she’s grappling with burnout after experiencing numerous losses and setbacks. She journeys to find a solution in the form of a legendary fighter who could “fix” her problem. 

While traveling, she collapses and passes out in the forest. She awakens to find Boro, the owner of a whimsical tea shop, and his invitation to rest and make tea for a bit. Alta agrees to stay. This begins a different type of journey for her—one that leads toward healing and self-discovery.

Game Mechanics

Wanderstop’s core mechanics revolve around making tea for various customers. Here, players will meet characters like Gerald (a pretend knight), Nana (a wannabe competitor), and other clients. Each has its history, dialogue, delightful secrets, and preference for the tea Alta should serve them.

However, they won’t directly tell players what they want. Players would need to listen to their stories and connect with them deeper. Only then can they figure out the exact ingredients for the tea, gather them, and start brewing the correct infusion. 

Aside from tea-making, players can expect other tasks such as tea shop management and farming/gardening. Most of these challenges won’t pressure players by adding a timer. This allows players to fully immerse themselves in and enjoy the game without stressing out about time.      

My Review

To start, the game’s visuals are beautiful. Players are thrust into a colorfully vibrant environment that sometimes borders on the psychedelic.

The experience is also enhanced by the mesmerizing soundtrack composed by C418, which some players might recognize for his work on Minecraft.

Every scene is accompanied by music that melodiously shifts from soothing to unsettling when needed. Each customer is given their own distinctive theme, making the game more enjoyable and immersive. 

Praise should also be given to its deep narrative and character development. It’s not just a cozy game designed to pass the time by doing whimsical tasks like brewing tea leaves or tidying up weeds in the garden.

Instead, Wanderstop skillfully blends its gameplay mechanics with its brilliant storytelling, allowing Alta to experience an emotional journey that deals with real-world situations like burnout and the need for healing.

Through Alta’s escapades in-game, players are also encouraged to contemplate their own experiences regarding personal growth. 

Wanderstop itself is quite short, taking only about 10 to 11 hours to complete—though it can go a bit longer if players opt to complete optional content. This makes it a well-paced, compact game, delivering emotionally resonant content without necessarily overstaying its welcome.  

It’s worth noting that, as with some farming simulation games, the tea-making mechanic can become repetitive, even monotonous. As a “cozy” game, it offers a serene atmosphere and tranquil gaming experience, focusing more on telling its story at a leisurely pace.

Players who enjoy doing more complex game tasks or those looking for a challenging, more action-oriented experience might not find these factors appealing.

But those looking for a stress-free, enjoyable, and deeply profound cozy game within the adventure genre might find Wanderstop an absolute pleasure to play! I know I did.

It’s available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.