This coming-of-age adventure game hit close to home.

There’s a lot to connect with in Perfect Tides: Station to Station’s protagonist, Mara. Like many of us, she’s made the leap from a quiet, rural life to the bustling “City,” and she shares my passion for writing. But it’s not just these details that resonate; it’s the game’s sharp, insightful writing that makes me feel seen in a way that’s both comforting and unsettling. While many characters in games exhibit social awkwardness, few are portrayed with such vivid detail.

This point-and-click adventure keeps its mechanics simple, primarily revolving around conversations, interspersed with puzzles and minigames. This isn’t a drawback; the real magic happens in the dialogue, where we get to know Mara deeply. She’s such a well-crafted character that I found myself clinging to our differences as a way to cope with the introspection the game provoked. For instance, I take pride in never having had a terrible boyfriend, which gave me a fleeting sense of superiority over Mara’s struggles.

The game thoughtfully explores Mara’s relationship with her controlling, long-distance partner. In one memorable conversation, a health bar appears, challenging you to navigate a tough discussion without losing all your hearts—some of which you can only earn by nurturing other relationships. This clever metaphor, combined with the sharp writing, led to a moment that made me exclaim, “oh, for fuck’s sake” in real life.

At that point, I was fully invested in Station to Station. I thought I understood the narrative: relatable Mara and her complicated relationships served as a buffer for my own feelings. But the game refused to settle for simplicity.

Aside from conversations, Mara’s writing is another key mechanic. She tackles school assignments, guest blog posts, and even a desperate forum post, requiring you to blend various topics like the city, music, and relationships to complete her pieces. This mechanic effectively illustrates how writing evolves through life experiences and the synthesis of ideas.

One particular piece stands out: Mara writes a story that serves as a thinly veiled reflection of her own life, only to receive harsh feedback from a tutor. This critique lingers throughout the game, reminding her that some issues can’t be resolved by simply combining thoughts. Instead, you chip away at them gradually. Without diving too deep into my own writing experiences, I found myself relating to Mara’s struggle, working on her story whenever possible, reminded of my own unfinished projects and the patience required to address them.

As the game progresses, it becomes clear that Mara’s partner isn’t her only challenge. Most of her interactions with other characters are fraught with tension. Personally, I would steer clear of these individuals! Yet, the game resists the urge to simplify. It presents harmful dynamics honestly, without excusing bad behavior, while also rejecting the notion of isolating oneself to avoid them. Doing so would mean missing out on joy, connection, and potential.

In one of the few straightforward and constructive conversations, a character advises Mara, “you just have to risk it with someone and see.” Station to Station repeatedly emphasizes that being open to others, despite the potential for awkwardness and mistreatment, is worthwhile. Mara may be naive and unsure of her desires, and she does face hurt, but she also experiences a richer life by embracing connections. She learns and grows through her experiences, and my initial sense of superiority in avoiding such risks was suddenly challenged by the game’s insights. It’s a thought that will linger with me for a long time.

There’s so much more to discuss, like the fantastic musical interludes and the exaggerated animations that are both expressive and humorous. I could even vent about some of the environmental puzzles that can halt the story if you miss a small interaction. However, what truly kept me reflecting on the game long after finishing it was its emotional honesty and the vulnerability it required from me as a player.

After completing the game, I found myself mulling over Mara, my own experiences, and a particularly memorable karaoke moment. Then it struck me: I never finished Mara’s rewrite. Despite feeling significant at the time, it turned out that what mattered more was both of us opening up and accepting the consequences, whether good or bad.

Perfect Tides: Station to Station is now available on PC.