Wednesdays

Wednesdays doesn't try to wow you with flashy gameplay or plot twists. It's a quiet, honest and emotional experience of facing the past and learning to heal. It's the kind of game you play when you want something more personal - something that says something and makes you feel something. If you like narrative games, or crave a story that goes beyond surface drama, Wednesdays is definitely worth playing. It won't appeal to everyone - especially if you need fast-paced action or super-complex gameplay - but if you're open to something slower and more meaningful, it's a little gem that deserves your attention. You won't soon forget it.

Wednesdays is a great example of how video games are an important vessel for different perspectives and awareness. Whilst it is more visual novel than actual game, just the simple act of clicking text boxes that maybe shy away from the topic or get straight to the point allows the player to control how they consume such a deep and nuanced topic. It’s definitely a game to give a chance to, especially when it won’t cost you a thing.

Wednesdays is a short, beautifully designed, thoughtful treatment of a heart-wrenching subject that is anything but a simple walk in the park.

Wednesdays isn’t a traditional video game that gives players a clear problem to solve using a particular set of mechanics. The title seeks to explore a very difficult theme, sexual abuse during childhood while giving players the space to process their own emotions. The entire effort is sustained by good writing and by a focus on healing and what the future has to offer. The Orca Park game-within-the-game is simplistic but works well as a framework for the conversations. Gameplay is easy to understand and serves the theme well. Wednesdays manages to explore Tim’s life without being preachy and without giving into despair, offering hope that healing is possible.