Perfect Tides: Station to Station

About

Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a single player action game with romance, drama and comedy themes. It was developed by Meredith Gran and was released on January 22, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Perfect Tides: Station to Station is a point-and-click adventure that follows 18-year-old Mara as she navigates young adulthood in a bustling city. Players explore over 60 environments using public transit, collecting items and building relationships while experiencing a cinematic, non-linear story with branching outcomes. The game emphasizes emotional growth through conversation, memory, and discovery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Perfect Tides: Station to Station screenshot

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 75 reviews

story9 positive mentions

The writing is exceptional, capturing the complexities of college life with humor and emotional depth, making it relatable and impactful.
The game features stunning pixel art and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating memorable moments throughout.
Mara is a well-developed and relatable protagonist, allowing players to connect with her journey of self-discovery and the challenges of young adulthood.

Some players miss the more exploratory elements of the first game, feeling that the sequel's more structured gameplay limits the sense of discovery.
There are occasional issues with the user interface and sound design, which can detract from the immersive experience.
The game may feel less impactful for those who did not resonate with the specific themes of college life and personal growth presented in the narrative.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
52%
12%
The game's story is a poignant and emotionally rich coming-of-age narrative that effectively blends humor and melancholy, capturing the complexities of adolescence and the transition from childhood to adulthood. Players appreciate the thoughtful writing and character development, particularly through the protagonist Mara's experiences, which resonate on both personal and universal levels. While the gameplay leans more towards a visual novel format, the integration of story and character insights enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in narrative-driven gaming.
- “A poignant, heart-wrenching, and humorous coming-of-age story as Mara navigates through college and the city.”
- “Rarely has a coming-of-age story felt more specific and universal at the same time than the story of Mara Whitefish, a depressed and lonely 14-year-old who lives on the titular resort island, Perfect Tides, in the early 2000s.”
- “The story is a real emotional gut punch, many times transporting me back to my own days as an awkward, introverted college freshman.”
- “Rarely has a coming-of-age story felt more specific and universal at the same time than the story of Mara Whitefish, a depressed and lonely 14-year-old who lives on the titular resort island Perfect Tides in the early 2000s.”
- “Don't feel put off by the notion of it being an adventure game; it's very chill and heavier on the plot and nostalgic vibes than the gameplay (which is still fun in and of itself).”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its blend of earnestness and wit, capturing the awkwardness and complexities of college life through beautifully written dialogue and expressive character animations. Players report laughing out loud at the relatable and often cringeworthy scenarios, while also experiencing poignant moments that evoke deeper emotions. Overall, the game's humor is described as both funny and heart-wrenching, showcasing a masterful balance of comedy and melancholy.
- “The writing and characterization are phenomenal; earnest, hilarious, and sad in equal measure.”
- “I'm only about halfway through but so far it's had me laughing out loud a lot, while cringing in recognition at the awful awkwardness of being a young human trying to navigate the world.”
- “I don't know how Meredith Gran manages to capture the humor, discomfort, and self-loathing that really encompass being 18 and trying to figure yourself out, but she's a master artist.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Perfect Tides: Station to Station" is deeply resonant, blending humor and heartbreak to authentically capture the complexities of college life. Players find themselves invested in the protagonist Mara's journey, experiencing a range of emotions from nostalgia to raw vulnerability, with the game's poignant storytelling and relatable characters leaving a lasting impact. The combination of stunning visuals, evocative music, and heartfelt narratives creates an immersive experience that evokes strong emotional responses, often prompting players to reflect on their own life experiences.
- “A poignant, heart-wrenching, and humorous coming of age story as Mara navigates through college and the city.”
- “The story is a real emotional gut punch, many times transporting me back to my own days as an awkward, introverted college freshman.”
- “When the final scene of Perfect Tides played, I cried rivers and replayed the whole thing immediately.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The music in "Station to Station" is widely praised for its quality and emotional resonance, enhancing the game's narrative and atmosphere. Players appreciate the nostalgic callbacks to songs and movies, which contribute to a cozy and relatable experience. However, some critiques mention that certain scenes feel lacking without music or ambient sounds, highlighting a disparity in the overall audio experience.
- “Still not done, but the scene where the game asks you to play music and time it with the game is probably one of the coolest moments I've experienced in a video game, also just a very pleasant experience to play while stuck at home during an ice storm.”
- “Powerful writing accompanied by wonderful animations, music, and humor.”
- “The art and music are great, the writing is extremely sharp, and the overall presentation steps itself up from the already good first game.”
- “The only critique I have at this point is that some scenes lack music or ambient sounds - making them feel empty compared to the scenes with sound which are very well scored.”
- “The perfect tides are the video game equivalent of Jackie Evans' music to me, particularly the song 'Sleep for Days'.”
- “The perfect tides are the video game equivalent of Jackie Evans' music to me, particularly the song 'Sleep for Days'.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
42%
25%
The gameplay is a refined blend of classic adventure mechanics and engaging narrative elements, encouraging players to interact with characters to enhance their knowledge and experience. While it retains a chill atmosphere, the sequel introduces more complex mechanics and a wider cast, enhancing both the fun and emotional depth. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its nostalgic charm, beautiful animation, and the seamless integration of writing and mechanics.
- “The classic adventure game mechanics and visual style are a throwback, but without all the confusion and frustration that often went with the experience.”
- “The expansion of gameplay mechanics by encouraging you to talk and question everyone to improve your knowledge is such a wonderful tie-in to her passion for writing and completing projects.”
- “The gameplay is quite simple, but it works.”
- “At the same time, Station to Station shifts gameplay from the first game.”
- “The mechanics have been significantly refined since the first entry in the series, and Meredith's writing remains as poignant and evocative as ever.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
The graphics in the game have received high praise for their beauty and artistic style, with many reviewers highlighting the effective use of old-school pixel art that complements the narrative themes. The visuals are described as vibrant and lively, enhancing the overall experience and resonating with the game's exploration of generational issues. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's emotional impact and storytelling.
- “Really nice graphics, the writing is amazing and some scenes will stick with me for a long time.”
- “The art style is fantastic.”
- “At the same time, the graphics are incredibly beautiful, the animations are full of life, the music is superb, and the script is laugh-out-loud funny at times.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “The character models are poorly designed, making it hard to connect with the story.”
- “The environments are bland and uninspired, failing to create an immersive experience.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews suggest that optimization is a subjective experience, emphasizing that individuals must define their own goals and manage their time according to personal circumstances, as there is no universal solution for optimizing life.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its exceptional writing and immersive atmosphere, creating a captivating experience for players.
- “An exceptionally well-written and atmospheric game.”