You Don’t Need To Like Cozy Games To Like Steam’s Next Fest Standout, But You’ll Love It If You Do
As always, Steam's Next Fest has provided a variety of upcoming games and demos that let you try them out before you decide if you want to add them to your wishlist. While there's no shortage of cozy games, you don't have to be a fan of them to enjoy Wanderstop, even though it's categorized as one. It's poised to go beyond the idea of a simple cozy game, and all you need to do is look at the developer to get that feeling.
Next Fest on Steam is perfect for games to start gaining traction and getting added to wishlists, especially for indie developers that don't have the means to market traditionally. Wanderstop is the next game coming from a familiar developer of unusual games that subvert expectations. Between that knowledge and the fact that you don't have to pay for the demo, there's no reason not to give it a try.
Wanderstop Could Be A Cozy Game For Everyone
A Game About Tea And Change
Wanderstop is the newest game from the creator of The Stanley Parable, Davey Wreden, and it's currently set to release on Mar 11. You play as Alta, a fallen fighter now helping out at a tea shop. Unwilling to accept that she needs a break, she doesn't want to stay at the tea shop for long, hoping that she'll be able to return to training as soon as she can.
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This is a different approach to cozy games, which usually feature a character chasing their dreams, not one struggling to accept their failure to achieve them. As a result, Alta is more negative than you tend to see in the main characters of cozy games, but it also makes it easier to relate to her, since most people have experienced a similar situation at some point in their lives. It's easy to be bitter towards the world when your dream doesn't come true the way you wanted.
Wanderstop’s Creator Is Known For Experimentation
The Unusual Journey Of The Stanley Parable
Since Wanderstop is by the creator of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide, games heavily interested in subversion, it's possible that the game will take a turn later on. However, a track record of experimentation doesn't mean that Wanderstop will take the same route. Still, it might make the game stand out more among the many cozy games on the market if it does upend its core premise at some point.
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Wanderstop already has glowing reviews from players who have tried the demo. While it's perfect if you love cozy games and want to experience one with a character that has bitter vibes towards the work she does, you don't have to like cozy games to relate to her story. Among story-rich games, Wanderstopsets itself apart during Steam's Next Fest.
