I Was a Teenage Exocolonist

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,042 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist Game Cover
I was a Teenage Exocolonist is nothing short of amazing. Its complex inclusive characters, choice-driven gameplay, and immense potential for replay make it a must-have for any gamer.
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"I Was a Teenage Exocolonist" is a narrative-driven, life simulation game where your choices shape your character's development. As a teenager on a distant exoplanet, you'll manage resources, form relationships, and face challenges that determine your unique story. Every decision you make contributes to the person you become, offering a deeply personal and replayable experience.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,042 reviews
story749 positive mentions
grinding66 negative mentions
  • Incredible storytelling with deep, engaging characters that evoke strong emotions.
  • Beautiful art style and music that enhance the overall experience.
  • High replayability with multiple endings and choices that genuinely impact the narrative.
  • Some players may find the card game mechanics repetitive and not challenging enough.
  • Certain character arcs and relationships can feel unsatisfying or forced, leading to disappointment.
  • The pacing can be slow at times, especially during the first playthrough, which may deter some players.
  • story1,759 mentions

    The story of "I Was a Teenage Exocolonist" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging character development, making it a standout in the visual novel genre. Players appreciate the intricate narrative that evolves with each playthrough, allowing for significant choices that impact the storyline and character relationships. The game effectively combines themes of coming-of-age, survival, and the complexities of human interactions in a sci-fi setting, resulting in a rich and immersive storytelling experience that encourages multiple replays to uncover all possible outcomes.

    • “This game has everything: beautiful art, a touching, choices-matter story, excellent music, basically infinite replayability. If you think you might like it, you're already 80% of the way there.”
    • “The story is deeply engaging, so much so that it is a pleasure to explore all of the different endings.”
    • “The writing is stellar, so good that I was eager to go back and play it again to get different endings, which is a really tricky feat for multi-ending story games.”
    • “The story is a mess - it can't decide on the messages and morals it's trying to convey, and it is utterly inconsistent.”
    • “The story didn't grip me, therefore, I found myself unable to read all of the text.”
    • “The writing is filled with detail, backstories, world-building, different prospects and views, but the story sometimes feels almost at odds with the art style.”
  • gameplay666 mentions

    The gameplay of "I Was a Teenage Exocolonist" is a blend of visual novel storytelling and deck-building mechanics, offering a unique experience that emphasizes replayability through its time-loop system. While the card mechanics are generally simple and can become repetitive, they provide a satisfying challenge that complements the narrative, allowing players to explore various outcomes and character interactions. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging story, beautiful art, and the integration of gameplay elements that enhance the emotional depth of the experience.

    • “The interesting game mechanics really lend themselves to replayability and roleplaying various storylines.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but so well done, and there is so much replayability to try and get the ending you want.”
    • “The gameplay loop is pretty satisfying and rarely gets outright dull, especially thanks to the interactions with the characters.”
    • “Simply put, the card gameplay is tedious, repetitive, boring, and way too simple.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive (normal for visual novels), and the narrative is so opinionated on what the 'right' answer is that choice is just an illusion, because the only outcomes for 'wrong' answers are punishment/death/etc.”
    • “The gameplay shows its cracks on repeat playthroughs, and since repeat playthroughs are so prominent in the narrative, this is an important point to bring up.”
  • music411 mentions

    The music in "I Was a Teenage Exocolonist" has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful, atmospheric quality that enhances the game's emotional depth and immersive storytelling. Players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke feelings and complement the visuals, with many expressing a desire to listen to the music outside of gameplay. While some noted that the music can become repetitive over extended play, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and appeal.

    • “The music is beautifully tailored to every scene/scenario and I could listen to it doing any daily task and feel so at peace.”
    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal - just the perfect music for anything you could be doing.”
    • “The music adds another layer of immersion, enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes and making the overall experience even more enjoyable.”
    • “The only thing I would say is that while the music suits the game, it is really boring.”
    • “But at the same time, you have to listen to the music over and over again, since it's a game that's designed for you to spend literal real time days if you want to find everything.”
    • “The music is a mixed bag, because the actual soundtrack might be good, but it has the issue of only a few scenes being keyed to certain songs; this might not be bad for most people, but considering the quality of the whole game, this is a bit of a letdown for me.”
  • graphics340 mentions

    The graphics of the game have been widely praised for their stunning art style, which combines whimsical and ethereal elements to create a visually captivating experience. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character designs and environments, often describing the visuals as breathtaking and emotionally resonant, enhancing the overall storytelling. The soundtrack complements the graphics beautifully, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that keeps players engaged throughout their journey.

    • “The visuals are breathtaking.”
    • “The artwork is gorgeous, the characters have personality, and your choices absolutely matter.”
    • “The art style is beyond beautiful; it plays very well with the card game being fun, the characters all have beautiful designs and are interesting.”
    • “The only minor issue I've had is that, at times, I've had difficulty keeping my eyes focused while moving around certain maps, I think due to forced perspectives/depth of field (and probably my laptop's graphics settings).”
    • “I appreciate the game's politics, but not its aesthetic.”
    • “It's much sadder than the art style and first impression lets on, and the trigger warnings are there for good reason.”
  • emotional336 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with players frequently describing it as a rollercoaster of feelings that ranges from heartwarming to heartbreaking. Many reviewers noted that the narrative and character development evoke strong emotional responses, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. The game's ability to create deep emotional connections through its storytelling, art, and music has left a lasting impression on players, making it a standout experience in emotional gaming.

    • “Words cannot even begin to describe the pure emotional rollercoaster that is this game.”
    • “The story it tells and the characters it tells it with are really engaging, and it's hard not to get emotional at the epilogues sometimes.”
    • “This game made me cry so many times, and laugh, and translates binary to laugh again.”
  • replayability316 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players noting the vast number of choices, branching storylines, and multiple endings that encourage repeated playthroughs. The integration of a "new game+" mechanic allows players to carry over knowledge from previous runs, enhancing the experience and making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. Overall, it is considered one of the most replayable games in its genre, offering a rich narrative experience that invites exploration and experimentation.

    • “This game has everything: beautiful art, a touching, choices-matter story, excellent music, basically infinite replayability. If you think you might like it, you're already 80% of the way there.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but so well done, and there is so much replayability to try and get the ending you want. It's not a very long game, which makes playing through it multiple times so much easier.”
    • “The replayability is insane, you'll want to beat the game more than once.”
    • “But the replayability sucks.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is about replayability, but successive replays feel like a chore.”
    • “The game does emphasize one replayability but I don't want to have a second run just to lose them again.”
  • grinding71 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially during multiple playthroughs. While some appreciate the depth it adds to character interactions and story exploration, others feel that the card mechanics and stat farming can become monotonous, detracting from the overall experience. Options to disable certain grinding elements are available, which some players find helpful, but the reliance on repeated tasks for progression remains a common point of frustration.

    • “This game is very text-heavy, though at times it feels like you're just reading a book. If you're in the mood for something with more action, then you might want something else. However, this fits the cozy gaming vibe I wanted, and I'd recommend it if that's the vibe you want as well.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I generally enjoy visual novel-like games, and I enjoy quite a few grindy games, but damn, this is just tedious and egregious.”
    • “The main con is that the game relies on repeat playthroughs to explore all the content, which are very grindy due to the amount of time it takes to re-increase the skills.”
  • character development61 mentions

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players noting the diverse and thoughtful character designs that enhance replayability. The narrative intertwines player choices with character growth, allowing for multiple story paths and endings, which keeps the experience fresh and engaging. Overall, the combination of beautiful art, compelling storytelling, and meaningful character interactions creates a rich and immersive gaming experience.

    • “I get very immersed in the character development, and I connect strongly with the realities of trauma and tragedy, but also with a strong desire to do better with my own life.”
    • “This game wonderfully mixes character development and player consequences to create a gaming experience you'll never forget.”
    • “The specific moments you can get highlighting the designs of each of the characters as well as the artwork are truly astounding and I could look at this game for days and still be able to find new details in the backgrounds or character designs, which are so full of personality and life that you can get a great sense of who each character is just by looking at them.”
    • “The game is, self-admittedly, very blue hair and pronouns: if you don't like queer, left-leaning 'tumblr'-esque character design and political charge, you are going to feel a lot of friction with this game's language, design, and overall themes.”
    • “My one big problem was that quite a few of the endings were unfulfilling, especially around character development and romantic fulfillment.”
    • “Similarly, the whole experience of character development was almost purely stressful, in that I always felt like I wasn't using my time well.”
  • humor31 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a blend of clever wit and situational comedy, often juxtaposed with deeper emotional themes, creating a unique experience that elicits both laughter and reflection. Players appreciate the smart writing and funny character interactions, which enhance the overall narrative while addressing serious topics without losing the lighthearted tone. The game's ability to evoke a range of emotions—from joy to sorrow—through its humor is frequently highlighted, making it a memorable and engaging experience.

    • “The writing is smart, funny, and heartbreaking.”
    • “The characters and writing are superb, at times incredibly moving and at times hilariously funny.”
    • “It's cute, funny, shocking, devastating, heartfelt, and a really creative and interesting take on a dating sim and what life as an exocolonist would be like.”
  • atmosphere30 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning art and fitting soundtrack, creating an immersive and ethereal experience. Reviewers highlight the depth of character development, engaging world-building, and a cozy, dream-like environment that enhances gameplay. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, atmospheric music, and compelling storytelling contributes to a memorable and emotionally resonant atmosphere.

    • “The atmosphere is fantastic, the gameplay is surprisingly engaging for what I assumed would just be a simple visual novel, all of the characters are at the very minimum sympathetic.”
    • “The depth of the characters, the world-building, and the overall atmosphere are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive experience that is hard to put down.”
    • “The art is gorgeous, the music fits the atmosphere, and there's so much to learn that's presented in a very smooth way.”
    • “Adjusting the soundtrack to the situations and also bringing more soundtrack would also serve the atmosphere.”
    • “Music is great, it really feels otherworldly while having a kind of nostalgic feel to it that fits the sci-fi setting as well as the atmosphere they wanted the game to have.”
    • “Backgrounds, character sprites, ending arts, cut scenes, user interface - all of them are working together to really drive home this alien atmosphere.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game is praised for its attractive visuals and relatively bug-free performance, particularly on the Steam Deck. However, users have reported issues with buggy music and some general bugs that detract from the experience.

    • “On the upside, the visuals are pretty, and the game is relatively bug-free.”
    • “Also runs great on the Steam Deck!”
    • “I would say the biggest problem I have run into is that the music seems very buggy.”
    • “I really like this game; however, it's buggy as hell.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The game is praised for its strong optimization, offering various options to enhance performance, and users report no performance issues, even on lower-end devices like the Steam Deck.

    • “The game is also well optimized with many options to increase performance.”
    • “No issues with performance at all on Steam Deck; it's a 1.5GB game, lol.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

89% average critic score

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Play time

19hMedian play time
38hAverage play time
9-55hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 34 analyzed playthroughs

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