Stray Children

Stray Children is nothing if not opinionated. From its abrupt opening to its inscrutable mechanics, it outright refuses to hold your hand. This clarity of purpose builds a world that is totally captivating – if it gets its hooks into you.If you don't have the time and patience to explore and experiment while being labelled a "bad child", this may not be for you. However, if you're game for some surreal challenges, this is a memorable and ultimately optimistic adventure.

Stray Children is basically everything I wanted from a successor to Moon, and the people at Onion Games are some of the brightest creative voices in the business.

One of the most emotionally devastating games I've ever played, rendered in a world worth every second spent exploring it. I only wish I didn't have to leave, but then again, saying goodbye is the point.

But the story? The story absolutely shines. It’s engrossing, introspective, and often existential. It makes you think. And while it’s not the next Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, it deserves attention for being a truly unforgettable experience.

Stray Children is a beautiful and ambiguous game, capable of being both profound and simple, enjoyable and frustrating at the same time. Even with clear flaws, I couldn't stop playing until I reached the end. For those who don't want to decipher specific dialogue sequences or map dungeons from memory—something common in classic RPGs, it must be said—the experience can be exhausting, although still rewarding. Those who seek exactly that kind of challenge will find it a feast.

Stray Children is like a meteor blazing through the sky, meant only for those who truly appreciate the pure sincerity and childlike wonder of video games. No nonsense attached, just a game brought to life by those who understand the magic of classic RPGs, reminding all that creativity is what makes a game truly special, beyond tropes or clichés. It’s not a game for everyone. While it might seem warm and cuddly, it's unfair and unintuitive, much like life itself.

This is Onion Games’ opus, and I hope they’re proud of what they’ve accomplished. On nights of sonder and existential loneliness, remember that we have all been, at one time or another, stray children. I hope it comforts you.

Stray Children is one of those games where part of the fun comes from playing it without knowing much about it. It's a game where those who play without worrying about completing as much as possible will be less frustrated than I was and will also have a more fluid experience. But I don't think they'll have such an impactful experience, for better or for worse. Stray Children is frustrating, obtuse, and sometimes even unfair and cruel, but so is life, and yet it's still worth it.

Not much in Stray Children is particularly new, but what isn't, is extremely well-made, managing to mark a grand evolution of the genre. It would be very easy to write a headline like "Stray Children is Undertale on steroids, much bigger and better," but the reality is that Stray Children is far beyond a simple Undertale clone, managing to be a completely original game that will certainly stay with me for many years.

But regardless of how other people might feel about it, Chulip is among my favourite games. I can hear and understand the criticism toward it, but I don’t care. And that’s how I feel about Stray Children. I’m not ready to put it among my favourite games. That will become clearer with time. For me, I know that despite all the trials, I walked away feeling I gained something. I’m not happy. I’m moved. The walls of my heart have been broken.