Thirsty Suitors
- November 2, 2023
- Outerloop Games
- 10h median play time
A memorable experience that left me wanting more (in a good way).
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Get on PS Store"Thirsty Suitors" is a narrative-driven game where you play as a young woman returning home and facing her past relationships. The game features a unique blend of cooking mechanics, turn-based battles, and skateboarding action. Through engaging storytelling and strategic gameplay, navigate the ups and downs of love, family, and self-discovery.
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Reviews
- The game features a vibrant art style and an excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The storytelling is engaging, with relatable characters and themes of family drama and cultural struggles, particularly for queer individuals.
- The mix of gameplay genres, including turn-based combat, cooking mini-games, and optional skateboarding, provides a unique and entertaining experience.
- The turn-based combat can become repetitive and lacks depth, with some players finding it stale after a while.
- The skateboarding mechanics are clunky and frustrating for some, leading to a less enjoyable experience during those segments.
- The ending leaves many questions unanswered and feels abrupt, which may disappoint players looking for a more conclusive resolution.
- story77 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Thirsty Suitors" is praised for its engaging characters and cultural representation, blending humor with themes of family, generational trauma, and personal growth. While the narrative is compelling and emotionally resonant, some players noted abrupt character arcs and unresolved plot points, suggesting that certain elements could have been expanded. Overall, the game is celebrated for its unique storytelling approach, combining various gameplay mechanics to enhance the narrative experience.
“But yeah, I really liked the story and I loved how the game shares with us a culture that is seldom represented in video games, let alone Western media.”
“A beautiful, chaotic, aesthetic, comical, intense, heartbreaking and heartwarming ride along a complex story of mutual understanding and reconciliations, hurt and care.”
“The real appeal of this game, and the gold that it strikes, is in using these influences as a way to dig into and explore the specific cultural touchstones the game's story is built around.”
“The game throws you into the story as if you have missed something in the beginning, only to then not explain what Jala has actually done wrong.”
“Some of the character arcs are also pretty abrupt, and it's really hard to tell what impact your choices - if any - have on the characters or the story without a second playthrough, especially when all the relationships are left positive but pretty open-ended by the end of my first go around.”
“The plot and the characters had all the humor and fun I had been hoping for when I first wishlisted this game, but I also have a nagging feeling it was supposed to be bigger.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a unique blend of genres, combining elements of RPGs, skateboarding, and quick-time events, which some players find engaging and fun, while others feel it lacks depth and polish. The turn-based combat and rhythm mechanics are praised for their creativity and integration with the narrative, though the skateboarding challenges can be frustrating and not as refined as dedicated skating games. Overall, while the gameplay serves the story well and offers a lighthearted experience, it may not satisfy those seeking depth in either combat or skating mechanics.
“A truly wild, unique gameplay experience, with very varied mechanics.”
“The way lots of different mechanics and genres are mixed together is beautiful, both because it works from the mere point of view of the entertainment it offers, but also because their style and functions interlace so well with the overall experience of the game.”
“I deeply enjoyed the mechanic of resolving differences through turn-based combat, with beautiful animation and creative storytelling.”
“I did find some of the skateboarding challenges to be a bit frustrating, and some of them to be just downright impossible for me to do mechanically.”
“There is, admittedly, plenty of shakiness throughout both the narrative and the gameplay - the minigames are barebones, the stat building felt like it didn't affect anything, you settle into a rhythm with the combat right away and don't really need to deviate from it, and even though the game does take place over the span of a couple days, the pacing felt very herky-jerky, advancing rapidly in some chapters and dragging along in others.”
“I initially gave this game a positive review, but it pains me to say, the gameplay is not good.”
- humor28 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in *Thirsty Suitors* is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging dialogue, and relatable characters, resulting in numerous laugh-out-loud moments throughout the game. Players appreciate the blend of humor with serious themes, as well as the entertaining mix of gameplay genres, which enhances the overall experience. The game's vibrant art style and strong voice acting further elevate its comedic elements, making it a standout in the narrative-driven genre.
“Just finished the game, tons of laugh-out-loud moments and hilarious boss fights.”
“The dialogue is funny, witty, emotional, the characters are lovable and definitely hate-able.”
“Incredible writing; sharp, funny, and a level of heartfelt sincerity that completely catches you off guard.”
- music25 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its vibrant and engaging soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players have noted that the music complements the art style and gameplay, creating an enjoyable atmosphere while skating and exploring. However, a few critiques mention that while the music is strong, the storytelling could be improved, leaving some aspects feeling unresolved.
“The soundtrack for this game is killer!”
“The music is cool too, love the jam that plays when you're skating around town.”
“A well-crafted indie game with beautiful graphics and a great soundtrack.”
“Short and to the point is this game's biggest strength, followed by its visual representation and voice acting, didn't like the music though.”
“The story, dialogue, art, music, interactions you can have with some objects (like the dog petting QTE) and boss battle are all top tier.”
“Also the music fucking whips.”
- emotional25 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its witty and heartfelt dialogue, relatable characters, and deeply resonant themes of reconciliation and personal growth. Players report a rollercoaster of emotions, experiencing laughter and tears as they navigate complex relationships and heartfelt interactions, particularly with family. The narrative's ability to evoke genuine feelings and foster a connection with the characters is consistently praised, making it a compelling and memorable experience.
“This was a magnificent, emotionally compelling story.”
“A beautiful, chaotic, aesthetic, comical, intense, heartbreaking and heartwarming ride along a complex story of mutual understanding and reconciliations, hurt and care.”
“Thirsty Suitors is an abundantly stylish game whose nevertheless unflinchingly raw, emotionally earnest and powerful writing left me in an emotional tailspin.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and unique art style, characterized by flashy animations and a beautiful color palette. Reviewers highlight the engaging visuals and excellent soundtrack, noting that the aesthetic enhances the overall experience and complements the game's themes and humor. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its charm and appeal, making it a standout in the indie game scene.
“The art style and soundtrack are great!”
“The art style is probably one of the first things you see about this game, and for good reason: the art is vibrant, the color palette and animations are flashy.”
“The visuals are fresh; I loved the whole premise, and the voiceover is excellent.”
“What if you took Scott Pilgrim, made it very gay and queer (in the most positive way possible), added in Cooking Mama, striking visuals, JoJo posing, and Persona 5, and then just blended it all together with a nice seasoning of generational trauma and the plight of first-generation American children.”
“I love the visual aesthetic in this game, very stylish.”
“Aesthetic: I love the graphics and art style.”
- character development5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its imaginative and visually appealing designs, highlighting the fun and engaging nature of the characters. The overall atmosphere, combined with a compelling story and entertaining gameplay mechanics, enhances the enjoyment of the characters.
“Character designs were clearly lovingly imagined.”
“Lovely atmosphere, great story, great character designs, fun combat, and a cooking mechanic!”
“Love the character designs; Sergio is visually hilarious.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, with some expressing frustration over unintentional actions, such as character snapping to locations instead of interacting with NPCs. While the grind can be challenging and even damaging to controllers, many feel that the effort is ultimately worthwhile, particularly for achievements like winning 50 battles.
“Jala snaps to locations even though you want to talk to the NPC in front of you; but oh well, I guess you are rail grinding now.”
“It's really grindy and almost cost me my controller, but it's worth a try.”
“The most tedious achievement was winning 50 battles.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is praised for its charm, enhanced by a compelling story, appealing character designs, and engaging gameplay elements like fun combat and a cooking mechanic.
“The atmosphere is simply enchanting, drawing you into a beautifully crafted world.”
“The game's atmosphere perfectly complements the narrative, creating an immersive experience.”
“Every detail in the environment contributes to a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
Critic Reviews
Thirsty Suitors (PC) Review
Overall, Thirsty Suitors is a fun experience. If you can overlook the rough skateboarding sections and repetitive encounters, there is a good coming-of-age story and some fantastic music and mini-games.
75%Thirsty Suitors Review
Thirsty Suitors is a great example of what happens when a developer's ambition outstrips the ability to fully realise that vision, for whatever reason. The story and visual style here are top-notch, but the actual mechanics lack the depth needed to make this one of the best indie games on Switch. Despite its flaws, the heart and humour of these characters still make it one of the most fun narratives of the year.
70%Thirsty Suitors Review – Jala’s Ex-Hausting Adventure
Thirsty Suitors may seem like a bizarre, quirky, chaotic mess, but that's exactly what makes it so special. Never have I experienced a game that can so continuously catch me off-guard and make me laugh out loud with ridiculous one-liners and character interactions. The story is simple, hilarious, and easy to follow along, making it an enjoyable tale to explore. The soundtrack also creates a unique vibe, combining Hip-Hop tunes with South-Asian music influences to create some intense battle themes and catchy skateboarding tunes.
80%
