Wanderstop – Cozy simulacija pravljenja čaja s gorkim preokretom

• DEVELOPER: Ivy Road
• IZDAVAČ: Annapurna Interactive
• PLATFORME: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
• ŽANR: Cozy / Farming / Simulation
• DATUM IZLASKA: 11. ožujka 2025.
• POČETNA CIJENA: 22,99 €
• RECENZIRANA VERZIJA: PC

Wanderstop is not your typical cozy game. At first glance, it presents itself as a charming tea shop simulator set in a whimsical forest, complete with gardening, tea brewing, and customers. However, beneath its vibrant colors and soothing soundtrack lies a deeply introspective narrative about burnout, self-worth, and the struggle to let go of control. Created by Davey Wreden (of The Stanley Parable fame) and Karla Zimonja (co-creator of Gone Home), alongside the team at Ivy Road, Wanderstop blends cozy mechanics with a story that challenges you to rethink what it means to “play” a game.

Croatian translation coming soon!

It’s a game that mirrors real fatigue

You play as Alta, a once-undefeated warrior who has dedicated her life to mastering the art of combat. After a devastating losing streak shatters her identity, she sets out to find Master Winters, a legendary fighter who might restore her former glory. Exhausted and unable to even lift her sword, Alta collapses in a magical forest and is rescued by Boro, a gentle giant who runs Wanderstop, a tea shop nestled in a serene clearing. Boro offers her a chance to rest and work at the shop, but Alta resists, she’s a fighter, not a barista. Yet, every attempt to leave the forest ends with her collapsing again, forcing her to confront her burnout.

The narrative unfolds through Alta’s interactions with Boro, the travelers who visit the shop, and her own introspective moments. It’s a slow burn, punctuated by beautifully written dialogue that oscillates between humor and heartache. Alta’s journey is one of reluctantly letting go of her need to win, her self-imposed expectations, and her identity as a warrior. The game doesn’t shy away from the messiness of this process, offering no neat resolution but instead a meditative exploration of what it means to heal.

Brew, Pour and Farm

Mechanically, Wanderstop is a blend of tea shop management, light gardening, and exploration. The core loop revolves around brewing tea for customers who wander into the shop with their requests. To brew a cup, you climb a short ladder to pour water into the top, pump bellows to heat it, and then select ingredients from your inventory. These ingredients include standard tea leaves and fruits or herbs you’ve grown yourself, adding a personal touch to each brew. Once everything’s added, you pull a lever, watch the machine gurgle and steam, and pour the result into a mug for the customer.

Gardening adds another layer, as you plant seeds in hexagonal patterns to grow fruits with unique flavors and effects, some evoke memories, others shift moods. There’s no rush to these tasks; customers wait patiently, and there’s no penalty for mistakes. Planting is simple: you place seeds in the soil, water them with a can, and wait a short in-game moment for them to sprout.

There’s no fertilizer or complex crop rotation, just a straightforward cycle of plant, water, harvest. The game limits you to a small number of plots, so you’re encouraged to experiment with different combinations rather than mass-produce. You can also tidy the clearing, decorate with trinkets, or simply sit with a cup of tea to hear Alta’s reflections. The game actively resists traditional gaming elements, no currency, no leveling up, no permanent progress beyond the story itself. When you move to a new chapter, your garden resets.

Wanderstop is a tedious game

This lack of pressure is both the game’s strength and its potential weakness. It’s designed to mirror Alta’s forced rest, encouraging you to slow down and savor the moment. For some, this will feel liberating; for others, it might border on monotonous. The gameplay serves the narrative rather than standing alone, making Wanderstop more of an interactive story than a traditional sim.

Wanderstop tries to be relaxing, but its simple design and repeating tasks can get boring. Making tea is fun at first, but after making many cups, it feels the same every time. The steps never get more interesting, you keep doing the same actions over and over. While customers ask for different teas, making them stays exactly the same. There’s no way to speed things up or make it easier, you have to focus on every single cup, which starts to feel tedious after a while.

With only a small plot and no real challenge, tending the garden also feels like a chore. Watering each hexagon individually is slow, and since crops grow at a fixed rate with no variables to manipulate, there’s little strategy or reward beyond stocking your inventory. Beyond the core loop, the game’s pacing adds to the monotony. Alta’s story unfolds gradually, with long stretches of brewing and gardening punctuated by dialogue or introspection. If you’re not invested in her journey, these interludes drag, as there’s little else to do. The absence of side quests, mini-games, or even a broader world to explore leaves the experience feeling static.

Feast for the Senses

The forest clearing looks like a beautiful painting, full of bright colors. Every scene feels like a handmade drawing. The characters, especially big, gentle Boro and the quirky side characters are full of life and personality. The tea-making machine is a fun mix of steampunk and fantasy, and watching it work is charming and delightful. Small changes in the environment as the story moves forward make the world feel alive and connected to Alta’s emotional journey.

The music, made by C418 (who worked on Minecraft), mixes soft tunes with a hint of sadness, matching the game’s mood perfectly. Little sounds, like leaves rustling or tea bubbling, make the world feel warm and cozy. There’s not much voice acting, but what’s there is strong. Kimberly Woods does a great job as Alta, sounding frustrated, vulnerable, and slowly hopeful. It’s too bad other characters like Boro don’t speak more, but the writing is good enough to make up for it.

More Than a Cozy Game

What sets Wanderstop apart is its refusal to conform to cozy game norms. It’s a game about doing less, not more, a bold statement in a medium often obsessed with progression. Alta’s struggle with burnout and self-worth is mirrored in the gameplay’s rejection of optimization and grind, creating a rare instance of ludonarrative harmony. The game doesn’t just tell you to rest; it forces you to feel what rest entails, both its relief and its discomfort.

At first, Wanderstop’s tea-making and farming feel cozy and fun. The hands-on activities connect nicely to the story. But over time, these simple tasks start to feel repetitive, especially since the world feels empty and the game moves very slowly. The story is thoughtful and well-written, but it asks a lot from players emotionally. You’ll either love this game or find it boring. If you enjoy its quiet pushback against busy, stressful life, you’ll like it.

This approach won’t resonate with everyone. Players seeking challenge or a robust management sim might find Wanderstop too light, too aimless. But for those willing to lean into its message, it’s a powerful experience that lingers long after the credits roll. It’s not about “winning” or “fixing” Alta, it’s about sitting with her pain and finding peace in the process.

Recenzentski primjerak ustupio izdavač

3.8