The Parenting Simulator

About

In "The Parenting Simulator," a 189,000-word interactive novel by Matt Simpson, you navigate the challenges of raising a child from newborn to adulthood. Your choices determine the outcomes of various events, including potty training, bullies, and driving tests. This text-based game encourages players to use their imagination to create a unique and heartfelt story of patience, love, and parenthood.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews

story10 positive mentions

graphics2 negative mentions

The game is a charming and engaging text-based simulator that allows for a variety of parenting choices, making it feel like a real emotional experience.
Players appreciate the well-written narrative and the ability to form attachments to their digital children, often leading to emotional moments throughout gameplay.
The game offers a good amount of replayability with different outcomes based on choices, and many players express a desire for more content and updates in the future.

Many players feel that the game lacks meaningful replay value, as different choices often lead to similar outcomes, diminishing the impact of their decisions.
Some users criticize the game for being overly American-centric, particularly regarding college admissions and financial aspects, which can feel unrealistic in other contexts.
The game is heavily text-based, which may not appeal to everyone, and some players found it tedious or boring due to the lack of visual elements or artwork.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
57%
10%
The game features a captivating choose-your-own-adventure narrative that blends heartwarming and heart-wrenching moments, allowing players to experience the emotional journey of parenting a digital child. While it is structured more as a series of vignettes than a fully fleshed-out story, the writing is praised for its charm and depth, making players feel a genuine connection to their character and the choices they make. Many reviewers express a desire for more story options and a longer narrative, highlighting its potential for even greater emotional impact.
- “But the game is a wonderful novel, a story which will make you cry at points and warm your heart at others.”
- “The writing and the story itself are captivating!”
- “The story is charming; it's easy to grow fond of your digital child, and the mechanics allow you to see how your parenting choices impact whether your 'child' will still want to even speak to you when they're grown.”
- “More a series of vignettes than a fully fleshed out story but achieves its goals well.”
- “Almost more of a complex choose-your-own story than a game.”
- “Would love to see more story options and perhaps even a longer story in general.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have found the emotional depth of the game to be profoundly impactful, often leading to tears and a memorable experience. The minimalist use of words instead of graphics enhances the storytelling, particularly the heart-wrenching narrative about single parenthood, which has resonated deeply with many, resulting in an emotional roller coaster that players are eager to revisit.
- “Only uses words instead of fancy graphics, but it's more touching than any other game I have played so far. 9/10 for me.”
- “The added storyline about why you're a single parent was heart-wrenching, and I'm glad I didn't opt out.”
- “It sent me on an emotional roller coaster I won't soon forget and will gladly ride again.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game primarily rely on text rather than visual artwork, which some players feel detracts from the overall experience. However, many appreciate the emotional depth conveyed through the writing, suggesting that the game's impact surpasses that of more graphically intensive titles.
- “It'd be a bit better in my opinion if there was any artwork or pictures of any kind to keep me interested.”
- “Only use words instead of fancy graphics, but more touching than any other game I have played so far, 9/10 for me.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Gameplay is engaging and emotionally resonant, allowing players to form a bond with their digital child while making impactful parenting choices that influence the child's future relationship with them. The mechanics effectively highlight the consequences of these choices, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The story is charming, and it's easy to grow fond of your digital child. The mechanics allow you to see how your parenting choices impact whether your 'child' will still want to even speak to you when they're grown.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users stating that while the initial experience is acceptable, there is little incentive to play it again.
- “It's okay the first time, but my opinion is that there is absolutely zero replay value.”