Growing Up

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,902 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
Growing Up Game Cover
Visual novel meets match 3 game where choices... somewhat matter.
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"Growing Up" is a narrative-driven simulation game that explores the complexities of adult life. Players manage various aspects of a character's existence, including relationships, career, and personal growth, while navigating various challenges and choices. The game features a unique art style and a branching storyline that changes based on player decisions.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,902 reviews
story144 positive mentions
grinding39 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming art style and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • Each character has unique and engaging storylines, making the game feel fresh with every playthrough.
  • The gameplay mechanics of balancing mental health and parental expectations add an interesting layer of strategy.
  • The game ends abruptly after high school, leaving players wanting more content and the ability to explore adulthood.
  • Repetitive dialogue from parents and characters can make the game feel stale after multiple playthroughs.
  • The reliance on luck in the exam mini-game can be frustrating, as it often determines the character's future despite their hard work.
  • story571 mentions

    The game's story is a blend of engaging character arcs and a coming-of-age narrative, with players experiencing various life stages and choices that impact their character's journey. While many players appreciate the diverse and often emotional storylines, some criticize the repetitiveness and lack of depth in character interactions, leading to a feeling of predictability after multiple playthroughs. Overall, the storytelling is enjoyable and offers replayability, but it could benefit from more intricate narratives and character development.

    • “The story is so different and your choices matter!”
    • “Each character has a story and some of them are really heartbreaking when faced for the first time!”
    • “The branching storylines are interesting and the characters all feel real, and their stories are so compelling.”
    • “If you're really focused on story (like I was), the plothole of the world and most characters staying the same over like 3 generations can be a bit annoying, as can some of the characters never aging.”
    • “The story is varied with some characters being more difficult than others, but the storylines are repetitive after a few plays, and the variety of impactful choices and career paths one can take makes the game fun and interesting!”
    • “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?'”
  • gameplay368 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is characterized by a mix of resource management, time management, and puzzle mechanics, which some players find engaging and addictive, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the balance between character development and parental expectations as a unique aspect, but also note that the gameplay can feel shallow and overly simplistic, especially after multiple playthroughs. Overall, while the mechanics are easy to learn and the art and music are praised, the gameplay experience can become monotonous, leading to mixed feelings about its replayability and overall enjoyment.

    • “As you progress, the game introduces more mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay hooked me, managing attributes, skills, money, pride amongst other things all on your journey from infancy to adulthood.”
    • “The mechanics are intuitive yet rewarding, striking the perfect balance between accessibility and depth.”
    • “But at the end of the day, nothing matters, like, at all, for the game that promises a legacy gameplay, it's unbearably shallow.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious and boring.”
    • “The gameplay gets repetitive very early on, and the gameplay loop is not all that fun.”
  • music367 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful and fitting soundtrack, which enhances the overall atmosphere and emotional depth of the gameplay. Many players describe it as relaxing, nostalgic, and even addictive, with some tracks featuring vocals that add a unique touch to the indie experience. While some found the music occasionally repetitive, the majority agree that it significantly elevates the game's charm and storytelling.

    • “The soundtrack is beyond amazing, it's honestly the best part of the game.”
    • “The music is just some of the most chill and relaxing music I've heard in quite some time, perfectly fitting for such a chill and relaxing game.”
    • “The music is incredible, the characters are compelling, and the only issue I had with the game was addressed and resolved in the very next patch!”
    • “The music at the infant stage is just way too kitsch.”
    • “The music and singing is loud and never feel like it matches the game.”
    • “Absolutely hated the music, though, especially the tracks with vocals.”
  • graphics160 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, which evokes nostalgia and enhances the overall atmosphere. Many players appreciate the vibrant visuals and charming character designs, complemented by a fitting soundtrack that elevates the gaming experience. However, some critiques mention a lack of character diversity in appearance and occasional inconsistencies in art quality, but these do not significantly detract from the game's appeal.

    • “The art style is beautiful and unique.”
    • “The graphics are well done, the music is good, and I'm particularly fond of the way they've managed to discuss sensitive topics in a way that isn't offensive or dismissive.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous, both with the characters and backgrounds.”
    • “I wasn't crazy about the art style, personally, and managing the parents' expectations came across as unrealistic at times.”
    • “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.”
    • “It lacks polish, with multiple art styles, translation errors, and opaque mechanics that make some elements frustrating.”
  • replayability134 mentions

    The game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability, with many players appreciating the variety of characters, skill paths, and multiple endings that encourage repeated playthroughs. However, some users noted that the experience can become repetitive due to limited character interactions and similar dialogues, leading to diminished interest after several runs. Overall, while the game offers significant replay value for those who enjoy exploring different storylines, it may not sustain long-term engagement for all players.

    • “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 replay value is exciting because with each playthrough you meet new characters and explore different paths/events.”
    • “This game is super fun and has a lot of replayability!”
    • “The only thing it lacks is the replayability factor; it gets boring after the 3rd playthrough or so.”
    • “From lacking personalization or true optional storylines, it's just repetitive and loses replay value very quickly.”
    • “The game is not very replayable because so much of the dialogue from the parents is exactly the same, so playing as the kid of your own character doesn't feel right at all.”
  • emotional73 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartwarming and relatable storytelling, with many players expressing that they experienced genuine tears during key moments. Characters are described as well-rounded and their stories often touch on heavy themes like familial issues and personal growth, creating a nostalgic and immersive experience. Overall, the game is seen as a wholesome journey that effectively balances lightheartedness with deeper emotional engagement.

    • “A delightful game that has endless paths to choose from, all the characters feel well-rounded and the whole experience is heartwarming and even emotional at times.”
    • “Growing Up Great delivers a heartwarming gaming experience that combines enjoyable mechanics with a compelling narrative.”
    • “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.”
  • grinding44 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly after the initial playthrough. While some appreciate the cozy storytelling and character interactions, others feel that the gameplay becomes overly grindy and lacks meaningful goals, leading to frustration. Overall, the game may appeal to those who enjoy grinding mechanics, but it risks alienating players seeking a more dynamic and engaging experience.

    • “The gameplay is tedious and boring.”
    • “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 development28 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed feedback, with some players praising the depth and variety of NPC stories and romance routes, particularly highlighting characters like Alicia and Daz. However, many express a desire for more substantial character growth and less predictability, noting that while the character designs are visually appealing, the development can feel rushed or lacking in depth. Overall, the game is appreciated for its art style and engaging storytelling, but improvements in character development are a common request among players.

    • “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 on inspiration from the games that preceded it and simultaneously expanding on the romance routes, giving more varied romances and deeper character development for the love interests.”
    • “The gameplay is great and the character development is beautiful.”
    • “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.”
  • humor22 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of absurdity and relatable situations, with players finding comedic moments in character interactions and unexpected outcomes, such as a child outsmarting adults or humorous commentary on life choices. While some players appreciate the lightheartedness and funny dialogue, others feel it could benefit from more comedic elements akin to previous games like "Chinese Parents." Overall, the humor adds a charming layer to the gameplay, making it enjoyable despite some critiques on its depth.

    • “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 music soundtrack is nice, the character stories are interesting, and the dialogue was sweet and funny, and I enjoyed reading it.”
    • “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.”
    • “Nope, you're going to work at a tech store for your entire life dealing with unfunny 13-year-olds blasting phonk drift music on the phones you put on wires for people to try out.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its diverse and engaging music, which complements the art style and enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the cozy, nostalgic vibe that evokes a sense of relatability and charm, despite some critiques of character depth and writing. Overall, the combination of art, music, and character interactions creates a relaxing and immersive environment that resonates with players.

    • “Each area has different music which suits the atmosphere.”
    • “The music is great and atmospheric, almost addictive.”
    • “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.”
    • “The art creates a cozy atmosphere.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The game's optimization aspect has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the strategic depth and potential for optimization in gameplay, while others criticize the lack of engaging challenges and the game's tendency to drain system resources unexpectedly. Additionally, the mechanics may not appeal to those who dislike management and optimization genres, suggesting a need for players to try the demo before committing.

    • “The minigames are simple, but they are based on fairly tried and true formulas and have enough room for optimization that strategy gamers may find it fun.”
    • “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.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Users report experiencing glitches and visual freezes, particularly when navigating the brain map, which detracts from the overall stability of the game. While some players appreciate the storyline and choice options, the presence of these bugs indicates that stability remains a concern.

    • “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.”
    • “It is really hard to find a good solid game without glitches, a good storyline, and flexible choice options where you can control your own path that is not The Sims or a farming game.”
    • “I have found parent's expectations to be kind of buggy at times.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    Players express concerns about the monetization strategy, feeling misled by advertisements that promise 19 unique characters, which they perceive as deceptive and akin to a scam.

    • “I assume these were included in the game's advertisement of 19 unique characters, which I feel is a bit of a scam, if I'm honest.”
    • “I mean it matches the advertisements on the store page pretty perfectly.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

78% average critic score

Buy Growing Up

Play time

14hMedian play time
16hAverage play time
8-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 29 analyzed playthroughs

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