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Growing Up

A creative take on a life simulation, Growing Up can feel repetitive but with numerous choices at the helm it can entrance players for hours.
Growing Up Game Cover
86%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, optimization
87% User Score Based on 2,362 reviews
Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

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Growing Up Game Cover

About

Growing Up is a single player casual role playing game with a drama theme. It was developed by Vile Monarch and was released on October 13, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

This is the story of your life. Experience the entire journey from toddler to adulthood. Go to schools, learn new things, meet new friends, and have wild adventures! Every choice you make will influence your future career, and decide who your romantic partner will be. Who will you become?

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Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
Growing Up screenshot
+7
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87%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,362 reviews
story184 positive mentions
grinding48 negative mentions
  • Engaging and addictive gameplay loop combining life simulation, stat building, and puzzles.
  • Deep and varied character stories with emotional, realistic themes and high replayability due to randomly assigned characters and multiple endings.
  • Charming 90s nostalgic art style, relaxing and fitting soundtrack, and inclusive LGBTQ+ representation.
  • Gameplay becomes repetitive and shallow after a few playthroughs with limited customization and little impact from choices on story or adult life.
  • Parents' approval mechanics are frustratingly punitive and lack personality, with unrealistic demands that conflict with character happiness.
  • Game ends at high school graduation with abrupt and sometimes illogical endings; no continuation into adulthood or legacy benefits.
  • story
    711 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story offers a charming coming-of-age narrative with diverse, emotionally engaging character arcs and multiple branching paths, but it is often criticized for being short, repetitive, and somewhat linear with limited meaningful player choice or character development. While the various NPC storylines provide interesting glimpses into their lives, the main character’s story feels predetermined and lacks depth, and interactions with parents and gameplay elements sometimes disrupt the storytelling flow. Despite these shortcomings, the rich characters, varied endings, and cozy atmosphere provide solid replay value and appeal to fans of light life sims and visual novels.

    • “The characters are quite diverse and have very compelling, deep and sometimes very raw story lines.”
    • “Each character is unique and has their own storyline you get to fully explore through each playthrough, and even in a short time, I found myself genuinely caring about each and every one of them, even the minor ones, like those who only really help you acquire skills.”
    • “The story starts out fantastic, with fun interactions with your parents, friends, and fellow city-dwellers that you can impact with your decisions.”
    • “Generally pretty fun initially but it becomes boring after a few playthroughs as it lacks story, meaningful moments or relationships, unbalanced mental health and parents satisfaction, very few choices to make your character your own, no content warnings (i.e. drugs, suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, etc.), your parents are awful at points (not to mention characters lose all of their personality and characterization), zero impact on generations, etc. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy this game and am likely to play again but it does get quite boring and repetitive after a while and becomes a stat-building sim.”
    • “The characters both NPC and yourself lack personality and depth; they have linear story quests. The game just leads you to a story with limited control over it. The parental quests are almost always the same. All the charm the characters had disappear; none of their hobbies or storylines really relate back to who they are and who they became now. There were many times I thought, "My character wouldn't act like that, and neither would Alicia (who I married my first playthrough) — especially after her story growth."”
    • “The amount of story you get with each individual character is incredibly minimal to the point where I was getting achievements for completing characters' stories and immediately thought, "Oh, that's it?" You don't really have any meaningful choice in the direction of the narration; that's not to say your choices don't matter but... it's more the plot happens at you, and you really don't get any say in the way you'd want it to go.”
  • gameplay
    469 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay centers on leveling six main stats through resource management, puzzle-like "brain map" mini-games, social interactions, and exams, creating an addictive yet simple loop. While the mechanics are well-designed, accessible, and provide a charming, cozy experience, many reviews cite repetitiveness and shallow depth, leading to diminished engagement after multiple playthroughs. Fans appreciate the unique blend of visual novel storytelling with strategic stat management, but desire more varied, meaningful mechanics and better integration between gameplay and narrative for longer-lasting replayability.

    • “Gameplay revolves around leveling up six main stats: intelligence, empathy, charisma, memory, physique, and imagination.”
    • “The gameplay loop consists of increasing these attributes through a brain map, going to various areas around town and school to participate in different activities, taking tests every few years, and repeating until high school graduation.”
    • “The gameplay is well balanced between dialogues and resource management, introducing new mechanics at each stage of life to create a personal and story-driven experience.”
    • “The gameplay is simple and super repetitive though, and I found myself groaning a lot toward the end when I was just trying to see the last few things I was missing.”
    • “Also, the gameplay, while initially engaging, lacks variation beyond the first playthrough, making subsequent runs feel like a tedious grind.”
    • “However, the game struggles to maintain this magic over the long haul, leading to repetitive gameplay and a noticeable decline in character writing quality later in the game.”
  • music
    432 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music is widely praised for its high quality, emotional depth, and nostalgic 90s-inspired vibe, often considered a standout feature that enhances the atmosphere and storytelling. The soundtrack includes a variety of original songs with vocals, creating a relaxing, catchy, and immersive experience that many players find memorable and worth purchasing separately. While some find the music repetitive or occasionally mismatched with gameplay, overall it strongly complements the art and narrative, making it a major highlight of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely outstanding and perfectly fits each stage of life that you pass through.”
    • “The music is just some of the most chill and relaxing music I heard in quite some time, perfectly fitting for such a chill and relaxing game, the music underlines the gameplay very well and hits great in the more serious beats too.”
    • “The soundtrack also deserves praise - chill, nostalgic, and really sets the mood.”
    • “This is just my personal taste, but I found the music and sound effects to be kind of terrible.”
    • “I feel like there's no reason for a visual novel level of reading to be accompanied by music with lyrics; I've literally never seen another game do this, and it was distracting.”
    • “Absolutely hated the music, especially the tracks with vocals.”
  • graphics
    199 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features a charming, cozy, and nostalgic 90s-inspired art style with clean, approachable 2D visuals that emphasize character personality and mood over realism. The artwork is widely praised for its expressiveness, variety of characters, and beautiful backgrounds, complemented by a fitting and highly appreciated soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in character looks and occasional repetitiveness, the graphics are generally considered a strong, defining aspect that greatly contributes to the game's cozy and immersive vibe.

    • “The artwork is super pleasant and cozy, both the characters and the overall environment, making it easy to get lost in the vibe of childhood and youth.”
    • “The art style is clean and approachable, with expressive character portraits and environments that evolve as your character ages.”
    • “The art style is absolutely gorgeous and breathtaking, very colorful and vibrant.”
    • “The graphics are aesthetically pleasing and help set the mood, though it is kinda lame that all of the characters in the game practically look the same.”
    • “Do not care for the layout with small icons for the important aspects and large artwork that does nothing.”
    • “It lacks polish, with multiple art styles, translation errors, and opaque mechanics that make some elements frustrating.”
  • replayability
    162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers strong replayability through multiple characters, diverse storylines, various skill paths, and numerous endings that encourage multiple playthroughs. While its short main story and some repetitive elements may reduce replay value after several runs, the variety of choices and randomized character encounters keep the experience engaging for most players. Overall, it provides substantial replay value, especially for those who enjoy life simulations and branching narratives.

    • “This constant juggling of time and moods really pulls you into the game, especially since you can’t unlock everything in one go, making the replay value pretty high.”
    • “The amount of skills you can pursue and how they affect your character's career choice at the ending, combined with the number of characters and storylines, gives the game great replay value.”
    • “The impressive amounts of endings and variations in-story between playthroughs lends itself to a very replayable experience.”
    • “What is stopping me from recommending this game is, it needs something more to encourage replayability.”
    • “It feels like they only allow you to meet three of the characters every run to force you to replay, but the replay value is bad, and the candy crush minigame kind of sucks too.”
    • “The replayability factor here doesn't excite me at all, as the game will end again when the character turns 18 years.”
  • emotional
    110 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    "Growing Up" offers a heartfelt, nostalgic, and emotionally resonant life-simulation experience, blending wholesome and sometimes heartbreaking stories that tackle both joyful milestones and serious, taboo topics. The game's emotional impact is enhanced by well-written, relatable characters and a soothing soundtrack, evoking reflection on childhood and personal growth. While it can feel emotionally heavy and occasionally repetitive, many players find it touching, thought-provoking, and deeply satisfying.

    • “Developed by Vile Monarch and published by Vile Monarch alongside Spiral Up Games, the title distinguishes itself by focusing not on fantasy or spectacle, but on the ordinary milestones of growing up—school, friendships, family expectations, hobbies, heartbreak, and self-discovery—framed through a nostalgic 1990s setting that lends the experience both warmth and emotional resonance.”
    • “Conversations, events, and personal moments are woven throughout each year, giving context and emotional weight to the numbers behind the scenes.”
    • “The characters in this game are realistic, heartwarming, and following them in their own path of growing up alongside your character is such a unique experience.”
  • grinding
    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game is widely viewed as tedious and repetitive, especially after the first playthrough, with players often having to re-level skills, manage parental approval, and complete similar tasks multiple times. While some find the grind addictive or fitting for fans of achievement farming and visual novel hybrids, many feel it hampers the pacing and enjoyment, making subsequent runs feel monotonous and overly time-consuming.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Also, the gameplay, while initially engaging, lacks variation beyond the first playthrough, making subsequent runs feel like a tedious grind.”
    • “Right now it feels like a $5 mobile game that is centered on grinding with not much of a goal in mind, rather than a fully fleshed out game.”
    • “I just spent 4.5 hours grinding just to lose track of my stress on accident and lose my entire first run 2 years before I saw my ending.”
  • character development
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game features strong and diverse character designs with well-crafted NPC stories and love interests, offering commendable and human-feeling character development. While many praise the art style and writing, some feel the romance routes and overall character development could be deeper and less predictable. Overall, it’s recognized as one of the better life-simulation games with engaging character interactions.

    • “There are some I like such as your classmate Alicia and the magician Daz that have commendable character development and discussion.”
    • “It very much has its own spin on the genre of stat-building games, drawing inspiration from previous games and simultaneously expanding on the romance routes, giving more varied romances and deeper character development for the love interests.”
    • “Some more serious than others, but all and all the character development is awesome and feels very human.”
    • “It gets a bit boring and predictable when you play it for the 20th time, and character development for sure can be improved, but still it's one of the best life simulations I've ever played.”
    • “I wish there was more character development; the romance routes are rushed and lackluster.”
    • “Not enough romance or character development.”
  • humor
    26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's humor is a mix of quirky, ironic, and situational comedy that players find amusing and relatable, often enhanced by memorable characters and unexpected scenarios. While some appreciate its sweet and funny dialogue and unique moments, others feel it is less consistently humorous compared to similar games like Chinese Parents. Overall, the humor adds charm and enjoyment, even if it occasionally leans on cultural specifics or edgy jokes.

    • “Sometimes the first meeting may be quite hilarious, like some dude trying to bum some cigarettes from a 9-year old in a bowling alley!”
    • “The strike system is hilarious but a good way of helping players manage entertainment and parent satisfaction; I can't count how many times those first two saved me.”
    • “I busted out laughing at a debate tournament when I was playing this during the downtime because I became a female American football player and I thought it was hilarious.”
  • atmosphere
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, nostalgic, and chill vibe, enhanced by a fitting art style and catchy, thematic music that deeply complements the setting. Players appreciate how the game's ambiance evokes familiarity and relaxation, making it an engaging slice-of-life experience with relatable characters and a strong sense of place.

    • “It may be a slightly idealized view of school and nature, but it really adds to the atmosphere.”
    • “The visual style, music, and atmosphere of the small American town of the 90s are well maintained.”
    • “As I mentioned - all of this is accompanied by great background music and thematic songs, really ear-catching and building an amazing atmosphere during the game (and staying with you even after you stop playing).”
    • “It's almost like they tried to make them 'redeeming', but missed the mark by an atmosphere.”
    • “But other than that, the gameplay's pretty solid if you're bored out of your mind and want some slice of life atmosphere.”
    • “I’d say I enjoyed growing up more partly due to just enjoying the game better in terms of mechanics, stories & dialogue, and the art & atmosphere, and that it is more relatable and enjoyable for people who have no ties or cultural connections with what Chinese parents is based around.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization aspect is a mixed bag, with minigames offering strategic depth and opportunities for optimization that appeal to management sim fans, though they may feel bland or repetitive to others. However, some users report performance issues, such as the game running in the background and draining system resources unexpectedly. Overall, while optimization mechanics add engaging complexity, the experience may vary depending on player preference and system impact.

    • “The minigames are simple but based on tried and true formulas, offering enough room for optimization that strategy gamers may find them fun.”
    • “While not all minigames are equally engaging, they serve their purpose by breaking up the rhythm of stat allocation and reinforcing the idea that life occasionally demands focus and performance rather than quiet planning.”
    • “It's bland for me, and that's something management sims always rejuvenate constantly by focusing on optimization.”
    • “The game ran silently in the background without my knowledge, even when Steam was off, causing a drain on system resources and impacting the performance of my device.”
    • “Or that I optimized out the challenge of the stats-based interaction.”
  • stability
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game experiences occasional glitches, including one that can break gameplay and visual freezes on the brain map. While some users report buggy moments, others have had a smooth, glitch-free experience, indicating inconsistent stability across different playthroughs.

    • “There are two glitches I encountered while playing the game, and one of them is game breaking.”
    • “So editing my review; ran into one glitchy issue where I'll be on the brain map and it'll sort of freeze visually but if I click on anything it'll sound off like it's working, if I tab out and come back the screen looks super buggy.”
    • “I have found parent's expectations to be kinda buggy at times.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users feel the game's monetization is misleading, as the advertised 19 unique characters seem inconsistent with the actual in-game content, giving a sense of being scammed despite matching the store page description.

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80%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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14h Median play time
19h Average play time
6-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 33 analyzed playthroughs
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Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Growing Up is a casual role playing game with drama theme.

Growing Up is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 19 hours playing Growing Up.

Growing Up was released on October 13, 2021.

Growing Up was developed by Vile Monarch.

Growing Up has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Growing Up is a single player game.

Similar games include Chinese Parents, Volcano Princess, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, Magical Diary: Horse Hall, Growing Up: Life of the ’90s and others.