Wanderstop
Release Date: March 11, 2025
Adventure, TPP, fantasy, life sim, indie games, cozy game, singleplayer
OpenCritic
Steam
A TPP adventure game with life simulator elements. In Wanderstop we play as a warrior named Alta. Instead of fighting the protagonist opens her own teashop in the magical forest. Our job is to obtain ingredients and serve the tea to our customers according to their preferences.
Wanderstop is a production combining elements of adventure games and life simulators, in which we run our own tea shop. The game was developed by Ivy Road - an independent studio founded by Davey Wreden (author of The Stanley Parable and The Beginner's Guide), Karla Zimonja (co-creator of Gone Home and Tacoma) and Daniel Rosenfeld (music composer for Minecraft).
Plot
Wanderstop takes us on a journey to a fantasy land. The main character of the game is a warrior named Alta, who, instead of throwing herself into adventure or seeking glory in the arena, must settle in a magical forest and run a teashop. Although the protagonist is not satisfied with what fate has dealt her, she gradually discovers that a quiet life also has its charm.
Gameplay
In Wanderstop we watch the action from a third-person perspective (TPP). During the game our main focus is the tea shop, the running of which requires us not only to operate a magical tea-brewing device, but also to cultivate the land and collect various ingredients necessary to brew tasty drinks. Of course, we are not doing this for ourselves - our place is visited by both travelers who are just passing by, and local residents. Each of the guests has their own story to tell and is willing to share it in exchange for a cup of the right tea.
It doesn't end there, because Alta can also spend time cleaning the clearing and decorating the teashop, exploring the picturesque world, and finally helping other characters solve the problems that bother them. When she doesn't feel like doing anything, she can simply sit on a bench with a cup of hot drink in their hands and... not do anything specific.
Graphics
The graphic design of Wanderstop is maintained in a cartoon style.
Videos and Screens
[1:46] Wanderstop - Release Date Trailer
[1:22] Wanderstop - Demo Trailer
Eurogamer: 3 / 5 by Chris Tapsell
Warm-hearted, funny, and never less than sincere, Wanderstop is a pleasant place to while away the time, though less successful as a vehicle for mindfulness in itself.
A Gaming Network: 10 / 10 by Sami-Jo Perruzza
This is more than a game... It's an experience that will stay with you long after you've brewed your last cup of tea.
TechRaptor: 8 / 10 by Ashley Erickson
Wanderstop is more a visual novel that uses making tea as a narrative break versus a shop management game.
Wanderstop Summary
Platforms:
PC / Windows
PlayStation 5
Xbox Series X/S
Developer: Ivy Road
Publisher: Annapurna Interactive
Age restrictions: none
Wanderstop System Requirements
PC / Windows
Minimum: (30 fps, 720p) Intel Core i5-750 / AMD Phenom II X2 565, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 2 GB GeForce GT 1030 / Radeon R7 370, 15 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
Recommended: (60 fps, 1080p) Intel Core i5-4570 / AMD Ryzen 3 1300X, 8 GB RAM, graphic card 4 GB GeForce GTX 970 / Radeon RX 480, 15 GB HDD, Windows 10 64-bit
All the indie games shown at today's Annapurna Interactive showcase
From the mysterious Wanderstop to the open-world biking game Wheel World, tons of great games were featured at today's Annapurna showcase.
video games
Matt Buckley
February 24, 2025