A Walk With Yiayia
a game by | Trent Garlipp |
Platform: | PC (2022) |
Editor Rating: | 8/10, based on 1 review |
User Rating: | 10.0/10 - 1 vote |
Rate this game: | |
See also: | Best Casual Games, RPGs, Pixel Art Games, Top Down Games, Isometric Games, Walking Simulator Games |
In most video games, there are incredibly high stakes and the player is typically responsible for saving a large group of people, or the entire world, from some kind of imminent doom. This concept works for an epic action game, but sometimes you might want to slow down and experience a more simple, heartfelt story. This is where Trent Garlipp’s visual novel A Walk With Yiayia comes in.
A Walk With Yiayia is an HD-2D adventure game/visual novel that tells the story of a young boy spending the day with his grandmother. Due to a recent event, the Greek matriarch is fearful, and it is your job as her grandson to help her gain her confidence back. If this simple, easy-going story sounds like the break from video games with cataclysmic consequences that you need, here is everything you need to know about A Walk With Yiayia.
A Tale of Intergenerational Bonding
Not everyone has a close relationship with their family, but many people grew up spending entire days with their grandparents. That warm, safe, comforting feeling is what A Walk With Yiayia attempts to capture through its gameplay and storytelling. Over the course of the titular walk, the protagonist will exchange stories and lessons with his grandmother. We all have things to share that can benefit the people around us, regardless of an age difference.
Perhaps there are things he has learned in his relatively few years of life that his grandmother can take to heart to help her overcome her own fears. Aging is a scary difficult process, but if you have loved ones by your side, maybe it won’t be so bad.
Adventure, On A Small Scale
A Walk With Yiayia’s scope consists of the neighborhood surrounding grandma’s house. Despite being a much smaller area than many other games, the environment is still packed with beautiful imagery that is brought to life with lovingly crafted HD-2D pixel art that is reminiscent of Octopath Traveler and Square Enix games done in the same style.
There is also plenty to do in addition to sharing delightful, insightful conversations with Yiayia. You will come across dozens of “microquests” as you traverse the neighborhood. These are extra things to do that will either help your neighbors out or deepen your bond with Yiayia. Even better, these activities have a wide range of objectives, so they will keep you engaged for the duration of the game’s story.
A Low-Stress Experience
The goal of A Walk With Yiayia is simply to convey a story between a first-generation Greek immigrant and her grandson.
So despite there being quests, there are no fail states or any extra features that would cause the player to be stressed or become disconnected from the story being told. This is relaxing gaming at its most focused.
Pros
- An endearing, well-written story between very different generations
- Lots of fun microquests
- Relaxing gameplay with no way to fail
Cons
- The game can be completed in a short amount of time
Download A Walk With Yiayia
System requirements:
- PC compatible
- Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP