Wanderstop

Wanderstop (2025) is a narrative game about a tired hero forced to take time off adventuring to manage a tea shop in a magical forest. Play involves growing and brewing the ingredients needed to satisfy each passing traveller. It stands out for its take-a-break ethos that permeates not only the narrative but also the low-demand tasks you can take at your own pace.

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Set in a magical forest, you play a fallen fighter, Alta. You are overtired from your adventures, literally not able to lift your sword, so you have reluctantly taken on running a magical tea shop. You manage ingredients, fuel, and recipes to keep your shop ratings high. You grow new plants to unlock special teas and potions to please more customers. The catch is that Alta doesn't enjoy the easy life and longs to return to the arena she once fought in.

Progression is optional and doesn't accrue as in other games. In your downtime, you might tidy up around the clearing or decorate the shop in your style. But equally, you can also just sit on a bench with a cup of tea and listen to your own thoughts. Maybe doing nothing at all is okay! The various characters you interact with each have interesting stories to share, helping guide you through your own decisions.

The result is a cosy game about looking after not only the shop but yourself. Helping Alta slow down and recuperate rather than rushing back to adventuring depicts many tensions of modern life.

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Our examiner, Oli Hawkins, first checked Wanderstop 3 months ago. It was re-examined by Jo Robertson and updated 3 months ago.