You can play this on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and your goal? Simply to brew a decent cup of tea.
The anticipation for Wanderstop has been building for me, and it’s not just any game. Its description on Steam touts themes of “change and tea,” which immediately piqued my interest. This game is a debut from Ivy Road, the brainchild of Davey Wreden. Wreden’s track record includes gems like The Stanley Parable and The Beginner’s Guide, games that are unparalleled in originality and creativity. Judging by the trailers, on the surface, Wanderstop presents itself as your typical “cozy game”—the kind where you lose yourself in delightful ambiance while managing a business, here, a quaint tea shop. However, knowing Wreden’s flair for the unexpected, I suspect this game hides more beneath its charming exterior. Perhaps it’s all set to throw a curveball my way, surprising me in the same way his previous titles have. And that’s exactly what I’m after—a game that surprises and challenges my expectations.
Another reason Wanderstop has caught my attention is the diverse critical reception it’s gathered. The feedback ranges from moderate praise to outright acclaim. I’ve purposefully avoided delving into these reviews, preferring to embark on this journey without preconceived notions. Yet, the variety of opinions signals to me that Wanderstop is stirring the pot in unique ways. I wish more games received such a spectrum of reviews. Unfortunately, mainstream critiques often veer toward uniformity, so when a game deviates and prompts a broad array of responses, it’s usually doing something right—or at the very least, something intriguing.
That doesn’t automatically mean Wanderstop will captivate me. It might, and it might not. But even if it doesn’t hit the mark for me personally, chances are, it will still manage to fail in a fascinating way. I prefer diving into games that ambitiously reach beyond the norm—even if they stumble—over ones that stick to traditional formulas and succeed. Who knows, maybe I’ll end up loving Wanderstop. This weekend, I plan to discover just how it lands for me. There’s a special excitement in this moment, at the edge before you leap into a new game, utterly in the dark about the journey you’re about to embark upon. — Carolyn Petit
