Wanderlust Travel Stories isn’t like other games; it’s closer to being a playable novel. I’m a big fan of visual novels, but that isn’t what that is. This game plays out as a novel but also plays out as a sim of sorts. Players will navigate story sections that strictly tell stories. But also will dive into the events surrounding the story. It’s whimsical; yet grounded, a game that will bring the player to places they might never see. The game begins on an island, where a group of tourists is staying. They just met that day, and for some reason, end up talking. The first character the player controls is a barkeep on the island. This character always pays attention to groups of tourists and selects a main character to follow. This moment is where the playthroughs can split as players choose who to follow. Playing for the first time, I picked this woman named Martine and soon flew from this island to Thailand.
The game provides quite a detailed story that also actually occurred. Players can select choices which change how the protagonist sees the world and the people around them. It isn’t so important in the initial choices to choose the right dialogue. Players need to feel out the characters and try to live honestly. Things do take a turn though when the characters begin telling their own story. Pretty quickly, Martine decided to tell her story. That is when two bars appeared, one for stress and one for fatigue. The choices I made suddenly became all the more real as I guided Martine on her Thailand adventure. This adventure is what would lead her to the tropical island. It was an adventure of self-discovery, one that would change her.
The game doesn’t have a lot of imagery to guide the player, and that’s okay. Lovely ambient noise and music are playing in the background, and it settles the player in such a peaceful way. Players will also get to see some subtle photography that highlights where the character is. This game is rather beautiful in a simple way, and I appreciate its subtlety. The whole aura of this game is peaceful and yet powerful. The character’s emotions will change based on the player’s actions. Their emotions will change how they view the world too. What might be a positive moment when Martine is happy could become a sour one. For instance, there is an early conversation between Martine and another person on holiday in Thailand. If she is happy, it goes okay, though if she gets annoyed with him, she becomes a little jaded.
Teams of writers lovingly crafted each of the stories. Each of the stories knows who their characters are. It is up to the player to mine out that information. The characters might be game characters, but they feel and think, it’s magical. This game has game elements, but at the end of the day, it’s playing a living story. Discovering a world through the eyes of another is great, and this game exemplifies this idea. Never be distraught that the main character is sad. That is a valid emotion; the character doesn’t need to be happy all the time. In the end, they will make it to the island to tell their story. The fact that they make it no matter what should bring a smile to the player’s face. They might be battered and bruised, but they will get to the island and finally tell these marvelous stories. We all are like these heroes because one day we will find the magic place we are meant to find and tell our stories.
Wanderlust Travel Stories isn’t like other games. It definitely won’t be for everyone, but for the right people, it will be amazing. The stories are detailed and engrossing. Playing this in between some big action-packed game will scratch an itch. I honestly don’t read like I used to, so interactive books and stories are right up my alley. While I’d rather play a visual novel, this game was just different enough that I enjoyed my time with it. If the player has ever wanted to see through the eyes of others, this might be the game for them. There’s an island where four people are staying, is the player up to learning their stories?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided