The Art of Wanderstop: A Cosy Game with a Twist
After the acclaim of The Stanley Parable and the polarising response to The Beginner’s Guide, one thing you can be certain of is to expect the unexpected from game developer Davey Wreden’s narrative-based games. You just might not have expected that his next game, Wanderstop, developed under new studio Ivy Road, would be a cosy game about making tea.
Visual Scripting and Cosy Aesthetics
Wanderstop is another example of the visual scripting, or no-code game development. It’s putting more creativity in the hands of artists, like Temi Olujobi, the game’s art director, environment lead, and level designer. "I’ve made tons of games that maybe have ‘cosy’ elements. There might not be a win condition for the game, I’m really just crafting an experience for folks to complete, so there’s no more focus on spending time in the environment rather than competing," Olujobi explains.
The game’s art style is heavily influenced by historical Western art styles, notably impressionist art and art nouveau. "Impressionist art is used for our vegetation, and I think it works for cosy games really well, because it totally evokes a lot of feeling, you can almost feel the colours in the environment and feel the textures of them," Olujobi continues. "Art nouveau is a very decadent and indulgent style of art, making super intricate shapes and silhouettes, all based on natural forms and nature. And I think that also worked for Wanderstop, because the environment is like a character in the game."
Rube Goldberg-Style Tea Making
The centrepiece of Wanderstop is arguably the Rube Goldberg-inspired tea-making contraption that sits at the centre of the shop, simply referred to as the tea machine. It looks wonderfully complex, and quite deliberately so. "Initially, it was one orb, but Davey wanted to make it more elaborate, because that was the main core gameplay that we had at the time," Olujobi explains. "He started iterating on different numbers of orbs to have within the tea-making process. After much testing and feedback from folks on the team, he settled on three orbs, one for mixing, one for heating, and one for pouring."
Story and Ambiguity
Beneath the cosy aesthetic and charming mechanics, it’s all in service of a narrative that’s about a cosy setting that its protagonist Alta doesn’t want to be in. She’s a warrior who only cares about victory in battle, but after running into successive defeats is on her way to train with a master until she finds herself lost in a forest, exhausted and unable to even pick up her own sword. Rather than resting, relaxing, and brewing tea, she’s restless to get back out there. I then can’t help but wonder if there are visual signs that not all is as it seems. If Alta is unable to leave the shop and the forest surrounding it, is it not essentially a prison or purgatory? And what’s with the colour of the sky, which makes the time of day ambiguous?
Olujobi is naturally keen to keep schtum on the story, but not without humouring my theories. "Totally based on perspective, it could be a prison, it could also be sort of like a retreat space, but I think it’s funny that the tea shop that you play in could totally be seen as a panopticon," they tease. "It definitely wasn’t something I was intentionally thinking of, but I totally welcome the analogy!"
Conclusion
Wanderstop releases on 11 March 2025 for PS5 and PC. With its unique blend of visual scripting, cosy aesthetics, and Rube Goldberg-style gameplay, it’s an experience that’s sure to delight. Whether you’re a fan of Davey Wreden’s previous work or just looking for a relaxing game to unwind with, Wanderstop is definitely worth checking out.
FAQs
Q: What is Wanderstop?
A: Wanderstop is a cosy game about making tea, developed by Davey Wreden and published by Ivy Road.
Q: What is the gameplay like?
A: The gameplay is focused on crafting an experience, rather than competing, with a Rube Goldberg-style tea-making contraption at its centre.
Q: Is Wanderstop a relaxing game?
A: Yes, Wanderstop is designed to be a relaxing experience, with a focus on exploration and discovery rather than competition or conflict.
Q: Will Wanderstop be available on multiple platforms?
A: Yes, Wanderstop will be released on PS5 and PC on 11 March 2025.
