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 23 reviews

story5 positive mentions

Sojourner offers a charming and humorous experience, reminiscent of classic JRPGs, with a well-crafted story and engaging gameplay.
The game features a variety of character classes and encourages multiple playthroughs, providing significant replay value and customization options.
Developed by a single individual, the game showcases impressive quality in art, music, and design, making it a delightful homage to retro RPGs.

Gameplay balance issues exist, particularly with certain classes being less effective than others, which can affect overall enjoyment.
Some mechanics, such as random encounters and damage calculations, feel outdated and can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The graphics may not appeal to everyone, as they are reminiscent of older 8-bit games, which could deter players looking for modern visuals.

story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The story is described as cute, fun, and a heartfelt homage to classic RPGs like Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy Tactics, featuring high-quality artwork and decent music. While the narrative is light and optimistic, it offers thought-provoking moments during key battles with the villain, although some gameplay mechanics detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging world and consistent worldbuilding, making it accessible for a new generation of players.
- “The storyline is cute and fun to experience, and the game was clearly a labor of love from its developer, Michael Squirrel.”
- “The story is fairly light, but its message of positivity and optimism is a welcome change from the modern trend of overly complex narratives.”
- “I loved the storyline of this game, the variety of the world and enemies, and all the ways I could organize my team.”
- “But this game's world and story are simple, and 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, leading to a very interesting and thought-provoking narrative on the nature of 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.”
- “I grew up with 8-bit RPGs on Sega like Phantasy Star and games like Final Fantasy on NES, and this game feels like a lampoon of that era, but in a weird way, it's kind of better.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, with players noting that it elicits genuine laughter through self-aware writing and charming characters. The humor is described as both nostalgic and clever, effectively riffing on classic RPG tropes while maintaining a light-hearted tone. Overall, it combines engaging gameplay with a witty narrative that resonates with both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- “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.”
- “Instead, I got a rather charming and earnest RPG with humorous writing, good gameplay depth, and a fair difficulty pace for newcomers and JRPG veterans alike.”
- “With plenty of humor and humility, the developer riffs on classic games by providing a unique party system and quality of life features.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Gameplay reviews highlight a mix of experiences, with some players finding the class-changing system confusing due to a lack of clarity on skill acquisition, detracting from enjoyment. Conversely, others appreciate the depth and customization of mechanics, praising the balance of difficulty for both newcomers and veterans, as well as the inclusion of an "auto" mode for combat that caters to different playstyles. Overall, while the gameplay has its flaws, it also offers engaging elements that contribute to a rewarding RPG experience.
- “Instead, I got a rather charming and earnest RPG with humorous writing, good gameplay depth, and a fair difficulty pace for newcomers and JRPG veterans alike.”
- “The mechanics are interesting and the playstyle is customizable, so I had to do a fair amount of strategizing to defeat the final boss, which actually felt like a huge accomplishment.”
- “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 being advised 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 obtained the final skill for a class.”
- “For every flavor-of-the-month tryhard meta product, and for every 50 puzzle-based exploration games, one RPG Maker game gets a good story, good pacing, consistent worldbuilding, and, most importantly, tight gameplay.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
20%
40%
The graphics are a nostalgic nod to classic NES games, appealing to those with fond memories of that era, but they lack modern polish and refinement. While the artwork is generally high quality, some players feel that the visuals could benefit from additional enhancements to match the game's otherwise strong soundtrack and engaging storyline. Overall, the graphics evoke a sense of nostalgia but may not meet the expectations of players seeking contemporary visuals.
- “The artwork is high quality, the music is more than decent, and the storyline is cute.”
- “The music and the graphics are done in the style of the old NES games that many of us millennials loved.”
- “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.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its quality and nostalgic appeal, reminiscent of classic NES games, and is complemented by a great soundtrack that reflects careful thought and affection. Overall, it enhances the cute storyline and pairs well with the visuals.
- “The artwork is high quality, the music is more than decent, and the storyline is cute.”
- “It's paired with okay graphics and a great soundtrack that clearly has a lot of love and forethought.”
- “The music and the graphics are done in the style of the old NES games that many of us millennials loved.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a strong emotional response through its wholesome and heartwarming narrative, despite its nostalgic graphics. Its absurdist tone is balanced by genuine moments that resonate with players, making it a touching and enjoyable experience.
- “Though the tone is overall absurdist, there is a genuineness to everything I found really touching.”
- “If you did, you'd be missing out on a heartwarming, fourth-wall shattering, and just straight-up fun 8-bit JRPG.”
- “Wholesome and addicting, once you get past a set of graphics that only nostalgia could love.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game offers significant replayability due to the option to choose from a variety of different classes at the start, encouraging players to experience diverse gameplay styles.
- “There is a lot of replay value here because you can start as one of many different classes.”
- “Each playthrough feels unique due to the diverse choices and paths available.”
- “The game encourages multiple runs with its branching storylines and varied character builds.”
- “The game lacks meaningful choices, making replaying it feel tedious rather than exciting.”
- “Once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “The limited variety in quests and environments makes replayability a chore.”