Day Repeat Day

The game does everything I feel it’s sought out to do. I started out just having fun with the whimsical, match-3 type job and chatting with friends and coworkers without any thought of consequences of actions. Very quickly I ended up dreading every single match-3 game, just wanting to complete them quickly so I could have some sort of family or friend to text or number to call to break up the monotony of the pointless little job of a game. I put thought into every message between contacts, and the game almost immediately makes you feel the consequences of your choices. I played through once, trying to focus on my family, only for work to eventually take over my life. I played again, acting as their perfect little corporate slave and watching as my family and friends all got pushed away as a result. The results end nearly the same, withering away as just another cog in the machine. No matter my choices, no matter how different the story varied (and I was surprised by how much it did vary between every little choice), it always ended more or less the same. But I played again, persisted, and achieved what I believe is the true ending, and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same as a result. Truly a work of art.

At first this looks like a way to make match three have a bit more personality. Ok fun they made it your job. Then there is the chat box. You can choose to be the perfect employee and the dream spouse, a great friend and support your alcoholic brother or you can choose not to. 😈 The first time I played this I did my job, I was a nice person but a amazing as the game was, already 5 star worthy, I missed the best part. All those phone numbers. Smart, hilarious and a bit horrifying. Absolute perfection.

This is easily the most compelling writing I have seen in a game in 2021. Each choice feels weighty and difficult and the narrative never stops extolling the price for every choice you’ve made before. I’ve never played a match three game where I spend virtually every moment second-guessing everything I’ve done. The story will keep me up at night and I will return to this game for a second and third play through. This is time and money well spent.