I Write Games Not Tragedies

About

I Write Games Not Tragedies is a single player action game. 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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Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 19 reviews

music5 positive mentions

The game features a charming art style and a heartfelt narrative that resonates with players, especially those who experienced the emo culture of the late 90s and 2000s.
The music is well-integrated into the story, with clever song sequences that enhance the emotional experience, making it a nostalgic and enjoyable journey.
Players appreciate the game's ability to tackle complex themes like addiction and adolescence in a sensitive manner, creating a relatable and impactful experience.

Some players found the rhythm game sections challenging and expressed a desire for better mic settings during the sing-along parts.
The game is relatively short, leaving some players wanting more content and additional songs to explore.
A few technical issues, such as audio bugs and script errors, were reported, although many were addressed promptly by the developers.

music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The music in the game is highly praised for its integral role in enhancing the story, with many users noting that the songs are enjoyable and well-complement the narrative. While the soundtrack is described as addictive and beautifully crafted, some players expressed a desire for more variety, wishing for additional exclusive tracks in the music mode to avoid repetition. Overall, the combination of great music and art contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
- “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.”
- “But, I feel like the way music was such an integral part of its themes makes it feel like it couldn't be anything else.”
- “The only other problem, which is not really a problem, is that there aren't more songs in the game.”
- “I eventually figured it out, 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, which made it unplayable for some odd reason. Those have been fixed at the time of this review's posting, which is not long after those were reported.”
- “I just wish there were some songs exclusive to the music mode so players aren't playing the same 4 songs many times.”
story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
31%
23%
The story is praised for its unique and poignant portrayal of a teenage emo's coming-of-age journey, effectively blending themes of addiction, adolescence, and self-expression. With strong narrative elements and relatable characters, it immerses players in the protagonist's struggles while incorporating music that enhances the storytelling. Although some find it a bit short, the multiple endings and emotional depth make it a standout example of effective 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.”
- “This is an indie title I say is an excellent example of what storytelling can be in video games.”
- “The narrative themes are really strong, and while I'm not familiar with emo and goth culture, it really feels like you don't have to understand it yourself to get what the story is trying to say.”
- “Although a little short, I did appreciate how the story elements hit hard and worked to immerse yourself in the mindset of the protagonist, all in a digestible and nicely wrapped up package.”
- “The characters feel real and pull you into the story!”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
12%
38%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique and vibrant art style that effectively captures the emo aesthetic and the protagonist's perspective, reminiscent of early 2000s flash games. Reviewers praised the artwork for its emotional resonance and nostalgic appeal, enhancing the overall experience of the coming-of-age narrative.
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “- vibrant, messy art style”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with a nuanced and heartfelt narrative that explores themes of addiction and adolescence. The story resonates on a personal level, evoking feelings of nostalgia and embarrassment while ultimately delivering a heartwarming experience that lingers long after the playthrough.
- “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 favorites.”
- “- Nuanced and heartfelt narrative.”
- “Just a touchingly raw story about addiction, adolescence, and wanting to be less of a dickhead.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The gameplay is praised for its fun and multi-faceted nature, with an unexpected blend of elements that surprisingly work well together, enhancing the overall experience.
- “Fun, multi-faceted gameplay.”
- “The unexpected blend of gameplay presented in this game, to my surprise, worked well together.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its beautiful art, captivating narration, and addictive sound design and music, all of which are enhanced by lively animated UI elements that contribute significantly 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.”