Tell Me Your Story, an upcoming title from RedDeer Games, stands poised to capture the hearts of players as cozy games seem to be on an uptick. This indie gem promises a relaxing escape by weaving brain-tickling puzzles related to the narrative within its charming world. With several unique twists on the cozy genre,Tell Me Your Storyhas all the makings of a standout title.
Tell Me Your Storycenters around Amelia, a curious young schoolgirl visiting her Grandma Rose for summer vacation. Inspired by the joy of visiting and sitting down with grandparents, Amelia explores Grandma Rose’s house, captivated by the exotic artifacts and souvenirs collected from her globetrotting past. However, as Amelia delves deeper into these treasures, players will soon come to realize that this is no ordinary granny. Paired with point-and-click gameplay,Tell Me Your Storyis a warm experienceakin to spending time with loved ones. Ahead ofTell Me Your Story’s April 26, Game Rant spoke with RedDeer Games about crafting this cozy experience.
Tell Me Your Story’s Focus on Cozy Vibes
Through the demo and gameplay trailer, it’s clear that Amelia is incredibly inquisitive, butsolving puzzles without directioncan be difficult. Fortunately, the developers have provided plenty of context clues such as the icons that will help players through over 70 different riddles and puzzles. Balancing the plot and puzzles was a careful counterbalance, according to RedDeer, but there was one point to it all:
“There were two aspects that needed balancing inTell Me Your Story- the plot of the game and the puzzles. They are deeply interconnected, so making sure that players understood what was being shown to them was a priority. Moreover, in classic point-and-click puzzle games there are possible game-overs, butTell Me Your Storyalways puts the relaxing and cozy vibes first.”
Inspired bygames likeA Little to the Left,Florence, andVenba,Tell Me Your Storyoffers a unique blend of interactive narrative and cozy puzzles. Unlike traditional storytelling, Amelia’s exploration of photo albums brings Grandma Rose’s memories vividly to life. Players can expect to explore vast rainforests in the Amazon, embark on a legendary railroad route, and even participate in traditional tea ceremonies.
Notably,Tell Me Your Storyaspires to be more than a relaxing pastime. The studio envisions it as a bridge between generations, fostering understanding through shared experiences:
“It’s an all-ages game for a reason, and we’d love it if people take inspiration from the game to spend more time with their loved ones and maybe even play some games with them.”
Adding to this sentiment, the studio shared that there are multiple layers to the narrative, which when hidden within simple gameplay “may not be visible at first glance.” The exact concept will remain unspoiled here, but if players focus on Grandma Rose’s past and upbringing, they should be able to pinpoint a recurring theme.
Tell Me Your Story And Its Vibrant Art Style
Since the premise of the game is for players to traverse through the images of Grandma Rose’s past, the art style becomes just as important as the narrative itself. When speaking on this topic, the team behindTell Me Your Storyexpressed excitement over the colorful hand-drawn art style they eventually settled on. With animated franchisessuch as Studio GhibliandWinnie The Poohat the forefront of the studio’s mind,the developers crafted a world filled with soft colors and inviting details. Interestingly, this artistic approach goes beyond an aesthetic:
“Though the color scheme is kept warm and bright throughout the game, each chapter of Rose’s life also has its own assigned tones.”
According to the creators, each chapter of Grandma Rose’s life is imbued with a unique color palette. Not only does this further immerse players in her memories, but it also helps serve as a way to differentiate between Amelia’s perspective and Rose’s recollections.
When looking to the future, the developers shared that a project related to Amelia’s grandfather, Clement, is already in the works. Unfortunately, not much information can be shared at this time, butRedDeer Games is extremely enthusiasticto see how cozy gamers respond toTell Me Your Storyand hope that it resonates with their audience.
Tell Me Your Storylaunches on April 26 for PC and Switch.
