I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
- August 25, 2022
- Northway Games
- 19h median play time
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.
Get on Steam
Get on PS Store"I Was a Teenage Exocolonist" is a narrative-driven game where you grow up in humanity's first extrasolar space colony on the alien planet of Vertumna. Your choices will shape your life and the future of the colony as you explore, learn, form relationships, and face the consequences of your actions. With a watercolor aesthetic, the game emphasizes the importance of your experiences and decisions in shaping your future.
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Reviews
- Engaging and emotional storyline with well-developed characters.
- High replayability with multiple endings and choices that genuinely impact the narrative.
- Beautiful art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
- Some characters and relationships feel shallow or forced, leading to unsatisfying endings.
- The card game mechanics can become repetitive and may detract from the narrative experience.
- Certain events and outcomes can feel predetermined, reducing the sense of agency in some playthroughs.
- story1,592 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative 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 narrative-driven game genre. Players appreciate the intricate world-building and the impact of their choices on the storyline, which encourages multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes and character arcs. The game effectively combines elements of a visual novel with deck-building mechanics, creating a unique experience that resonates with themes of growth, loss, and community.
“The story is very well made and the characters are well built and likeable.”
“With myriad storylines, easy-to-understand gameplay loops, and novel worldbuilding and characters, this game is really excellent, especially for folks who enjoy visual novels but want more stimulation and challenge without going fully into a time-consuming open-world RPG.”
“The story is fantastic and you get to make a lot of difficult choices.”
“The story is the only thing it has going for it, and even that could use some tweaking (i.e. the characters are distinct but feel very distant and some later ones are very hard to take seriously).”
“The game doesn't respect players' time: it makes you walk everywhere to talk to people every month without a dash function, and the lifespan was far too long for the story it was trying to tell.”
“The random events start to repeat, the overall plot becomes strained and disjointed, huge world-altering character storylines are introduced and resolved in a single short story segment, the card game becomes trivially easy even on hard mode, the list goes on.”
- gameplay603 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "I Was a Teenage Exocolonist" is a unique blend of visual novel elements and card-based mechanics, offering a satisfying loop that encourages replayability through its innovative memory system. While the card mechanics are generally engaging, some players find them repetitive over time, especially during multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game successfully integrates its gameplay with a compelling narrative, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of story-driven games.
“I love the world, the characters, the writing, the art, and all the systems that work together so beautifully in a harmonious gameplay loop that I can't put down.”
“With myriad storylines, easy-to-understand gameplay loops, and novel worldbuilding and characters, this game is really excellent, especially for folks who enjoy visual novels but want more stimulation and challenge without going fully into a time-consuming open-world RPG.”
“The gameplay loop is a comfy process of going on adventures, raising your stats through classes and jobs, and talking to the other people in your colony.”
“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 core gameplay is decent as an idea, but ultimately ends up being tedious especially given the game wants you to replay it multiple times.”
“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.”
- music361 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful, atmospheric quality that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate how the soundtrack complements the art and narrative, creating an immersive environment that evokes strong emotions. While some noted that the music can become repetitive over extended play, the majority found it soothing and fitting for the game's themes, with several tracks becoming memorable favorites.
“The music adds another layer of immersion, enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes and making the overall experience even more enjoyable.”
“The soundtrack is fantastic, the visuals are stunning, the characters are so intriguing and don't get me started on the story!”
“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 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.”
“Only thing that I felt was lacking was the music, where if you've played for many hours it gets repetitive.”
- graphics306 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, which is described as beautiful, whimsical, and emotionally resonant. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character designs and environments, often noting how the visuals enhance the storytelling and overall atmosphere. While some mention minor issues with visual clarity in certain areas, the overwhelming sentiment is that the artwork significantly contributes to the game's charm and immersive experience.
“The artwork is gorgeous, the characters have personality, and your choices absolutely matter.”
“The art style is beautiful, with several drawings and backgrounds drawn for scenes that fit beautifully.”
“The graphics are astounding.”
“The graphics are cute, but the gameplay loop is addictive; I didn't encounter any bugs.”
“The art and soundtrack are both amazing, but my only nitpick is that the different art styles used on the cards can be a bit jarring.”
“It's much sadder than the art style and first impression lets on, and the trigger warnings are there for good reason.”
- emotional295 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players reporting deep emotional engagement that leads to tears of both joy and sadness throughout their playthroughs. The narrative is described as a powerful rollercoaster of feelings, featuring well-developed characters and impactful choices that resonate with players, often leaving them feeling heartbroken yet fulfilled. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, making it a memorable and touching experience.
“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 is a delightful act of storytelling that takes you through a tale that is an emotional roller coaster in the best possible way.”
“The emotional impact of this game can be pretty intense, especially if you had a rougher childhood.”
- replayability282 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its exceptional replayability, with many players highlighting the numerous choices, branching storylines, and multiple endings that encourage repeated playthroughs. Users report spending significant hours exploring different paths and outcomes, often returning for additional runs to uncover new content and deepen their understanding of the narrative. However, some players note that while the replay value is high, certain aspects can become tedious over time, suggesting a balance between engaging replayability and potential repetitiveness.
“I also love how this game has such great replayability; I am on my fourth time playing and I am still unlocking new storylines and cutscenes.”
“The replayability is insane; you'll want to beat the game more than once.”
“The game is built around being replayable more than once; the things you can do and say can change when you replay.”
“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.”
- grinding64 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, 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 game mechanics and stat grinding can become monotonous, detracting from the overall experience. Options to disable certain grinding elements are available, which some players found helpful, but the reliance on repeated gameplay for full content access remains a common point of frustration.
“This game is very text-heavy, and at times 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.”
“The core gameplay is decent as an idea, but ultimately ends up being tedious especially given the game wants you to replay it multiple times.”
“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 development55 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and emotional impact, with players noting the strong connections they form with characters through immersive storytelling and meaningful choices. The character designs are described as unique and visually appealing, contributing to the overall experience, while the game's replayability allows for exploration of different story paths and character arcs. However, some players mention that certain endings can feel unfulfilling, particularly regarding character development and romantic outcomes.
“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.”
- humor29 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a delightful blend of lightheartedness and tragedy, often catching players off guard with its witty scenarios and clever writing. Many reviewers appreciate the comedic elements intertwined with deeper themes, creating a unique experience that elicits both laughter and reflection. The characters and their interactions are frequently highlighted as sources of humor, making the game engaging and memorable.
“The writing is smart, funny, and heartbreaking.”
“The characters and writing are superb, at times incredibly moving and at times hilariously funny.”
“If you like your RPGs to have a well-written, funny, thoughtful story, this is it.”
- atmosphere26 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 19 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its engaging and immersive qualities, enhanced by a beautifully ethereal art style and a fitting, atmospheric soundtrack. Players appreciate the charming characters and distinct environments that contribute to a memorable experience, often drawing comparisons to beloved titles like Stardew Valley. Overall, the combination of art, music, and storytelling creates a captivating and cozy atmosphere that resonates with players.
“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 art is gorgeous, the music fits the atmosphere, and there's so much to learn that's presented in a very smooth way.”
“The characters are charming, the atmosphere is amazing and there are so many paths to explore that every playthrough becomes a uniquely rewarding experience.”
“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
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative 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 affect gameplay.
“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
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative 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.”
“The game is poorly optimized, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering even on high-end hardware.”
“I experienced significant lag and long loading times, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
“Despite having a powerful PC, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, making it frustrating to play.”
Critic Reviews
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist Review – The Space Kids Are Alright
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist is an engrossing social sim that offers up deep roleplaying and a wonderfully-realized universe, with fun collectible card game mechanics as a bonus. Perhaps more importantly, it’s one of the best distillations of growing up I’ve ever encountered in a video game. It doesn’t matter if you’ve left the era long behind, don’t miss out on getting these teenage kicks.
90%I Was a Teenage Exocolonist
Each life in I Was a Teenage Exocolonist could be an emotional rollercoaster, but it is a ride that everyone should take not just as a game, but as an essential reflection on life and the decisions we made that have led us to where we are.
93%I Was a Teenage Exocolonist Review
Part narrative RPG, part life-sim visual novel, I Was a Teenage Exocolonist isn’t exactly fast-paced, but its mixture of beautiful artwork and compelling narrative should be appealing to the right audience.
80%
