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I Write Games Not Tragedies

I Write Games Not Tragedies Game Cover
75%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
Most mentioned negative aspects:optimization
100% User Score Based on 26 reviews

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I Write Games Not Tragedies Game Cover

About I Write Games Not Tragedies

I Write Games Not Tragedies is a single player action game with romance, comedy and anime themes. It was developed by Studio Wife and was released on November 14, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

“Sometimes I wish all of my pain was fake” I Write Games Not Tragedies is a narrative-driven rhythm game that pays homage to British emo and goth subcultures. Follow Ash’s journey of self-discovery from young goth in the early 2000s to elder emo in the 2020s, via a battle with addiction in the 2010s. Welcome to the goth parade Like most baby bats, Ash’s secondary school life is not so gre…

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I Write Games Not Tragedies screenshot
I Write Games Not Tragedies screenshot
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I Write Games Not Tragedies screenshot
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Reviews

100%Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews
story6 positive mentions
  • Heartfelt and nostalgic storytelling that resonates deeply with those who experienced the emo phase or adolescence struggles.
  • Unique sketchy, zine-like art style that complements the personal and emotional tone of the game.
  • Engaging rhythm game elements integrated well with the story and music, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The game is relatively short, leaving some players wanting more content or additional songs.
  • Some minor technical issues like unclear microphone settings for singing sections and occasional audio bugs were reported.
  • Repetitive song selection during rhythm segments can feel limited due to a small number of tracks.

  • story

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    35% positive mentions, 47% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions

    The story is praised for its heartfelt, poignant, and well-written portrayal of teenage emo and goth culture, adolescent struggles, and self-expression, delivering strong narrative themes through relatable characters and multiple endings. Though relatively short, it offers an immersive and emotionally impactful experience complemented meaningfully by music and rhythm-based gameplay. Overall, it stands out as a unique and compelling example of storytelling in indie games.

    • “A fantastically unique and poignant visual novel (with rhythm-based mini-games) about a teenage emo's coming-of-age story filled with sketchbook graphics, secondary school drama, and millennial goth angst without going cringe.”
    • “I really enjoyed the story and related to the main protagonist, especially as he struggled to express himself and also the way he would react when he felt he was about to lose someone or hurt someone that he cared about.”
    • “The songs were fun to engage with and added an interesting interactive element to the gameplay, but your performance does not impact the story too much.”
    • “Although a little short, I did appreciate how the story elements hit hard and worked to immerse yourself in the mindset of the protagonist of the story, all in a digestible and nicely wrapped up package.”
    • “Although a little short, I did appreciate how the story elements hit hard and worked to immerse yourself in the mindset of the protagonist of the story, all in a digestible and nicely wrapped up package.”

  • music

    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    40% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 20% negative mentions

    The music in the game is highly praised for being catchy, integral to the story, and enhancing the overall atmosphere with its engaging and interactive elements. While some players wish for a greater variety of songs, the existing soundtrack is described as addictive and well-complemented by lovely art and sound design. Minor technical issues related to music mode have been addressed, ensuring a smooth experience.

    • “The songs were fun to engage with and added an interesting interactive element to the gameplay.”
    • “The art is beautiful, the narrator reads the lines perfectly, the sound design and music are addictive to listen to and the animated UI elements add so much life to the overall atmosphere it's insane.”
    • “Banger after banger in the soundtrack.”
    • “I sussed it out eventually, but a pointer to plug in a mic for the music sections would be handy.”
    • “However, there were a few issues like an error in the script for a scene and pausing during music mode making it unplayable for some odd reason, though those have been fixed at the time of this review.”
    • “Just wish there were some songs exclusive to the music mode so players aren't playing the same 4 songs many times.”

  • graphics

    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    36% positive mentions, 37% neutral mentions, 27% negative mentions

    The game features a distinctive emo-inspired, sketchy art style that evokes a nostalgic, personal journal feel reminiscent of 2000s flash games and Scott Pilgrim’s aesthetic. Its visuals effectively capture the emo and millennial goth vibes, creating a unique and engaging atmosphere that resonates deeply with players. The artwork not only enhances the narrative but also fosters a strong emotional connection to the characters.

    • “From start to finish the artwork was fantastic, they nailed the emo vibes, and I felt attached to the cast.”
    • “The art style for this game really makes the player feel like they're looking at the world through the main character, Ash's, eyes.”
    • “The emo art aesthetic is a real throwback, taking a sort of sketchy style that feels like a personal journal.”
    • “I must reiterate that the art style is what stood out most to me, bringing me back to the good old days of prehistoric social media and early internet flash games.”
    • “A fantastically unique and poignant visual novel (with rhythm-based mini-games) about a teenage emo's coming-of-age story filled with sketchbook graphics, secondary school drama, and millennial goth angst without going cringe.”

  • emotional

    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game delivers a deeply emotional and heartfelt narrative that resonates with themes of addiction, adolescence, and personal struggle. Players often find it poignantly raw and nostalgic, evoking strong, reflective feelings that linger long after playing. Many describe it as a powerful, impactful experience filled with moments that encourage empathy and introspection.

    • “From the get-go, 'I Write Games Not Tragedies' gripped me with its heartfelt storytelling that was painfully familiar from my younger years.”
    • “My playthrough only took around 90 minutes, and I know you can play it multiple times, but honestly, my first playthrough was so emotional and impactful that I could uninstall this game and never touch it again, and it'll still be on my mind when I think of my all-time favourites.”
    • “Plenty of emotionally raw moments, and even if it doesn't match your experiences exactly, I think it can make you think of similar times and connect.”

  • gameplay

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The gameplay is engaging and enjoyable, featuring a unique and unexpected blend of interactive elements that work well together, though player performance has minimal impact on the story.

    • “The songs were fun to engage with and added an interesting interactive element to the gameplay, but your performance does not impact the story too much.”
    • “Fun multi-faceted gameplay.”
    • “The unexpected blend of gameplay presented in this game, to my surprise, worked well together.”

  • optimization

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The optimization aspect is noted for its engaging and interactive songs that enhance gameplay, though user performance in these segments has minimal influence on the overall story.

  • atmosphere

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The atmosphere is highly praised for its beautiful art, perfect narration, and addictive sound design and music, with animated UI elements adding vibrant life to the overall experience.

    • “The art is beautiful, the narrator reads the lines perfectly, the sound design and music are addictive to listen to, and the animated UI elements add so much life to the overall atmosphere—it's insane.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

I Write Games Not Tragedies is a action game with romance, comedy and anime themes. Common tags for I Write Games Not Tragedies include gothic, indie, lgbtq+, 2.5d, emotional and others.

I Write Games Not Tragedies is available on PC and Windows.

I Write Games Not Tragedies was released on November 14, 2025.

I Write Games Not Tragedies was developed by Studio Wife.

I Write Games Not Tragedies has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked I Write Games Not Tragedies for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

I Write Games Not Tragedies is a single player game.

Similar games include Mesmalie, Perfect Tides: Station to Station, I Wani Hug that Gator!, Welcome to Elk, Afterlove EP and others.