Sojourner

About

Sojourner is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Madison Squirrel and was released on July 17, 2017. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Simultaneously a love letter to and a parody of classic role-playing games, Sojourner is the retro RPG that the world has been craving. Sojourner gracefully features everything you loved from the 8-bit RPGs of your childhood and leaves behind everything you didn't.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 28 reviews

story6 positive mentions

grinding1 negative mentions

Sojourner offers a charming and heartfelt homage to classic 8-bit RPGs with modern conveniences, balancing nostalgia with humor and self-awareness.
The game features well-designed party customization with 10 unique classes, monster recruitment, and a balanced difficulty that encourages strategic play and multiple playthroughs.
The pixel art, soundtrack, and writing combine to create a warm, engaging atmosphere with tongue-in-cheek humor and meaningful storytelling, making it both relaxing and rewarding.

Combat mechanics are simplistic and occasionally unbalanced, with issues such as uneven damage formulas, ineffective abilities, and random enemy targeting that may frustrate some players.
As an RPG Maker game, it retains some dated design elements like random misses/crits and turn-based command input without knowing enemy actions, which can lead to frustrating deaths and progress loss.
Some players may find the graphics intentionally minimalistic or certain enemy sprites off-putting, and the humor and lighthearted tone may not appeal to those seeking a serious or deeply complex RPG experience.

story
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The story is praised for its affectionate parody, emotional undertones, and nostalgic homage to classic RPGs like Dragon Quest, offering a cute, fun, and thought-provoking narrative with positive messages. Multiple endings and side quests enhance replay value, though some gameplay elements and lack of clarity on progression slightly hinder the overall experience. Fans appreciate the consistent worldbuilding and heartfelt effort behind the storytelling.
- “Yet despite its parody elements, the game still offers enough genuine storytelling and emotional undertones to avoid feeling like a joke; it is affectionate rather than mocking.”
- “The inclusion of side quests and multiple endings adds replay value, giving players reasons to revisit the story with different party compositions or choices.”
- “But this game's world and story are simple; during each of the three big fights (since there are 3 major sections of the game), there's a long talk between you and the 'villain' for the act, and the game goes on a very interesting and thought-provoking narrative on the nature of just how things are.”
- “But this game's world and story are simple but during each of the three big fights (since there's 3 major sections of the game) there's a long talk between you and the 'villain' for the act and the game goes on a very interesting and thought provoking narrative on the nature of just how things are.”
- “The story is fairly light, but its message of positivity and optimism is a welcome change from the modern trend of overly complex meta stories.”
- “(Incidentally, developers: if players want to turn off a core gameplay feature, that’s a sign it shouldn’t be there in the first place.) You get the ability to change classes a la Dragon Quest III, but despite advising you to wait until you get all the skills for a class first (since they transfer), the game gives you no way of knowing when you’ve gotten the final skill for a class.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a witty, self-aware humor that playfully satirizes classic RPG tropes while balancing affectionate nostalgia with modern sensibilities. Its clever writing and humorous tone provide genuine laughs and charm, making it appealing for both newcomers and veterans seeking a lighthearted yet earnest fantasy experience.
- “It manages to balance affection for the genre with gentle satire, turning familiar tropes into opportunities for both humor and reinvention.”
- “This game legitimately made me laugh out loud several times and scratched the Dragon Warrior 1/Final Fantasy 1/Ultima 1 itch I didn't even realize I had.”
- “With plenty of humor and humility, the developer riffs on classic games by providing a unique party system and quality of life features.”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The graphics embrace a nostalgic, retro aesthetic reminiscent of early console games, intentionally crafted with a charming, vintage style that some may find unpolished but endearing. Paired with a thoughtful soundtrack, the visuals create a comforting and immersive experience that invites players to appreciate its unique, old-school appeal.
- “It embraces the aesthetic and design philosophy of the early console era, yet layers it with modern conveniences and a wry sense of humor.”
- “Visually, Sojourner nails its chosen aesthetic.”
- “Together, the visuals and music create a comforting familiarity that invites players to slow down and enjoy the journey.”
- “Overall, this is a great game with intentionally bad graphics that I kind of adore.”
- “I think the only thing the game needs is a special edition, with a bit more polish to some of the graphics.”
- “The music and the graphics are done in the style of the old NES games so many of us millennials loved.”
gameplay
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
11%
22%
The gameplay is praised for its simplicity, clarity, and lack of unnecessary filler, offering tight and well-executed mechanics that balance accessibility with strategic depth. While some players may find the mechanics too light or unclear—such as the unclear class skill progression—the game provides customizable playstyles, a fair difficulty curve, and enjoyable combat with an optional auto mode, resulting in a satisfying and engaging experience.
- “What makes the design so effective is its restraint; there is no endless grinding, no bloated mechanics, and no unnecessary filler.”
- “What’s more impressive is that the game’s presentation serves its mechanics perfectly—everything is clear, readable, and functional, proving that simplicity can be elegant when executed with care.”
- “The mechanics are interesting and the playstyle is customizable so that I had to do a fair amount of strategizing to defeat the final boss, which actually felt like a huge accomplishment.”
- “Players looking for complex tactical depth or intricate character builds may find the mechanics too light.”
- “If players want to turn off a core gameplay feature, that’s a sign it shouldn’t be there in the first place. You get the ability to change classes like in Dragon Quest III, but despite advising you to wait until you get all the skills for a class first (since they transfer), the game gives you no way of knowing when you’ve gotten the final skill for a class.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Sojourner delivers a heartfelt and genuinely touching emotional experience, blending affectionate humor with nostalgic 8-bit storytelling. Despite its absurdist tone and parody elements, the game maintains a wholesome and sincere atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.
- “Sojourner, developed and published by Madison Squirrel, is a heartfelt indie role-playing game that both celebrates and pokes fun at the golden age of 8-bit adventures.”
- “Yet despite its parody elements, the game still offers enough genuine storytelling and emotional undertones to avoid feeling like a joke; it is affectionate rather than mocking.”
- “Though the tone is overall absurdist, there is a genuineness to everything I found really touching.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music features catchy, nostalgic chiptune melodies reminiscent of late 1980s NES games, enhancing the retro atmosphere. It is well-crafted, inviting players to enjoy a comforting and familiar journey. Overall, the soundtrack is praised for its quality and thoughtful composition.
- “The soundtrack reinforces that nostalgia, with catchy chiptune melodies that sound as though they could have come straight from a cartridge in the late 1980s.”
- “Together, the visuals and music create a comforting familiarity that invites players to slow down and enjoy the journey.”
- “It's paired with okay graphics and a great soundtrack that clearly has a lot of love and forethought.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers strong replayability through multiple endings, side quests, and a variety of playable classes, encouraging players to revisit the story with different choices and party compositions.
- “The inclusion of side quests and multiple endings adds replay value, giving players reasons to revisit the story with different party compositions or choices.”
- “There is a lot of replay value here because you can start as one of many different classes.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s grinding is well-balanced and effective, avoiding endless repetition, bloated mechanics, and unnecessary filler, making progression feel purposeful and engaging.