Game Highlight: Rakuen

• Rakuen
  

  8 hours playtime

  12 of 15 achievements

These days I don’t really feel like writing “reviews” or give any kind of advice on whether you should or shouldn’t play something unless I think that the game warrants it, and this game sure does. It really is something special, at least to me, and here’s why.

When you’re feeling low, you often tend to seek out things that are just as sad and depressing as your mood since misery loves company. I’d argue that it might help somewhat, in a sense that it validates your feelings and allows you to get your fill of sadness and get over it as opposed to trying to suppress it (unsuccessfully), however, many mental health professionals would advise the opposite and tell you to seek out something cheerful that would lift your mood instead.

This game is both. It’s sweet, joyful, and compassionate. But it’s also very sad and heartbreaking.

“A hospitalized Boy comes to terms with his own story by traveling with his Mom to a beautiful fantasy world; ultimately helping his fellow patients find closure by walking a mile in their shoes.”

Without spoiling too much of the game, Rakuen doesn’t have some groundbreaking innovations in it or a plot that will blow your mind. Just your standard RPGMaker mechanics (but with custom assets) and a pretty simple story. If you’re heavily into storytelling like I am, you will find it to be quite predictable and full of cliches, but it will make you laugh and cry all the same. The game is beautiful, with its cute hand-drawn visuals and amazing music/songs, and that’s one of the things I like the most about Rakuen. It shows that you can create something impactful and extraordinary using simple tools. Not only did it distract me from my problems and sad thoughts like I wanted it to, it also touched me in a way no other game did.

I highly recommend this game to everyone, but especially to people who are looking for a game to take their mind off things or to cheer them up (no promises here, though, it might just break your heart in the end). It reminds me of To the Moon or Finding Paradise, except these two games seemed to be just sad, while Rakuen is bittersweet: both happy and sad. And unlike To The Moon, which everyone swore would make me cry (it didn’t, except maybe tearing up a little the second time I finished it. I’m a monster, I know), Rakuen made me break down in tears multiple times. So, uh, you might not want to play it around other people to avoid questions about why you’re crying. Just a piece of advice.