Wanderstop is smart in how it directly calls out this toxic loop of relentless productivity. You can’t just stumble into a magical tea shop, help some other people solve their own problems, and then be “fixed” yourself. At one point, Alta says, “even relaxing feels like a job.” She’s not wrong. We’ve turned relaxing into a chore, something that must be filled with tasks: satisfying and productive.

If you go into it expecting a narrative-driven game that explores difficult themes with care and honesty, you'll be genuinely touched by what Wanderstop has to offer. If you just want to make tea, farm collectables, and vibe – you'll find some of what you seek here, but it might not quite hit the mark.

Like I mentioned before, the game moves in chapters—five in Perfeito. Each chapter marks a change in The Clearing, the quiet, almost magical space in the forest where Wanderstop resides.

It’s about finally breaking free and starting something of our own, whether it’s a coffee shop, a bakery, a bookstore, a flower shop, or some delightful hybrid of all of the above. Something that’s ours, away from the relentless grip of shareholders and quarterly profit margins.

Another thing the game teaches us is that we can’t rely on others to heal us. There is a collective consciousness Elevada meets named Zenith, and immediately, she places everything on her.

This is the starting premise: we take control of an overworked, overachieving fighter whose own body is forcing her to stop. And the analogy? It’s sharp. It’s real.

Wanderstop excels in storytelling in a way that few games do. It doesn’t just present a narrative, it makes you feel it, live it, and reflect on it. Elevada’s journey is deeply personal yet universally relatable, especially for those who have struggled with burnout, emotional dysregulation, or the crushing weight of expectations. The slow unraveling of her past and her mental state is handled with nuance. The use of open-ended narratives might frustrate some players, but it serves an important purpose: reminding us that we don’t always get closure.

Your browser isn’t supported anymore. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn more

I loved the characters in this game in ways I didn’t anticipate, from the adorkable pretend-knight Gerald and his overbearing love for his son, to the boisterous Nana, whose fiercely competitive nature lands her shop on Wanderstop’s doorstep to try and “run you out of Wanderstop Gameplay business.

What’s great about Elevada as a main character is that you get plenty of opportunities to choose interesting paths of dialogue throughout your time at Wanderstop. At first, your options might be limited to either a mean answer or a snarky answer, but as time goes on, you’ll get to choose between options that reveal a streak of humor under all of Alta’s steely resolve.

Next, you climb back up, kick a lever, and the water drains into the next pot. Swing that ladder around, and it’s time to throw your tea and other ingredients in. Then all that’s left is to kick the lever to release it and pour it into a mug. The movement is so fun that you start to feel like a pro by the end, even though the tea making itself is otherwise quite simple.

I want to know that they all reunite in the real world. I want to know that Alta gets to see Gerald again, and the Demon Hunter, and Nana and Monster, and Zenith, and Boro. I want to know what happens to them. But it’s out of my hands. And that’s the whole point.

Some teas make her reminisce about her best friend. Some make her dwell on the people who have wronged her. And through all of them, one truth becomes painfully, unmistakably clear: Alta has been alone.

The creator of upcoming life sim Inzoi says he was "recklessly brave to even think about creating a game of this scale"