Millennials are taking on the task of capturing their generation's experience in games. A new genre is emerging, focusing on semi-autobiographical stories set in the early 2000s, a time when the internet was becoming more mainstream but before social media dominated people's lives.
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is one such game that explores the world of college students and young writers in New York City. It tackles topics such as intellectual curiosity, relationships, and the anxiety of growing up without being online. Mara, the protagonist, inhales everything around her – an anarchist philosophy book, music and movies, every conversation she has with other characters.
This game shares similarities with Consume Me, another game about a teen girl's struggles with disordered eating in the 00s. The pixel art aesthetic and earnest storytelling set these games apart from more contemporary releases. Perfect Tides is part of a long tradition of coming-of-age stories that appear throughout generations where young adults have had access to education.
As millennials create their own experiences, they are making sense of their generation's history through game development. This trend shows the evolution of the bildungsroman – the genre of youth novels and games – from its origins in the 19th century to the modern indie game of today.
The specificity of Perfect Tides makes it relatable and human, not necessarily tied to a specific generation but offering an insight into that era's art. Playing these millennial autofiction games can provide an understanding of someone else's experience during those years.
What to Play
For gamers looking for something different from the usual capitalist dystopia experiences, there are other options such as Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator and Parappa the Rapper, which include strategy elements, satire, and music-based gameplay.
What to Read
Readers may find articles about games such as Hollow Knight Silksong on feminist gaming, or a profile on Obsidian Studio by Bloomberg.
Question Block
The newsletter's question block features readers asking about physical game ownership versus digital downloads. A discussion around the pros and cons of each – including manufacturing costs for businesses and issues with digital code expiration – was provided in response to this inquiry.
Perfect Tides: Station to Station is one such game that explores the world of college students and young writers in New York City. It tackles topics such as intellectual curiosity, relationships, and the anxiety of growing up without being online. Mara, the protagonist, inhales everything around her – an anarchist philosophy book, music and movies, every conversation she has with other characters.
This game shares similarities with Consume Me, another game about a teen girl's struggles with disordered eating in the 00s. The pixel art aesthetic and earnest storytelling set these games apart from more contemporary releases. Perfect Tides is part of a long tradition of coming-of-age stories that appear throughout generations where young adults have had access to education.
As millennials create their own experiences, they are making sense of their generation's history through game development. This trend shows the evolution of the bildungsroman – the genre of youth novels and games – from its origins in the 19th century to the modern indie game of today.
The specificity of Perfect Tides makes it relatable and human, not necessarily tied to a specific generation but offering an insight into that era's art. Playing these millennial autofiction games can provide an understanding of someone else's experience during those years.
What to Play
For gamers looking for something different from the usual capitalist dystopia experiences, there are other options such as Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator and Parappa the Rapper, which include strategy elements, satire, and music-based gameplay.
What to Read
Readers may find articles about games such as Hollow Knight Silksong on feminist gaming, or a profile on Obsidian Studio by Bloomberg.
Question Block
The newsletter's question block features readers asking about physical game ownership versus digital downloads. A discussion around the pros and cons of each – including manufacturing costs for businesses and issues with digital code expiration – was provided in response to this inquiry.
. The pixel art aesthetic and storytelling in Perfect Tides: Station to Station really feels like a throwback to the early 2000s, you know? I love how it tackles real issues like anxiety and relationships without being too preachy or heavy-handed 
. And I think this trend is actually super valuable for understanding what life was like back then – it's not just about nostalgia, but also about context 
.
. Games like Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator and Parappa the Rapper are so much fun to play, and they're really pushing the boundaries of what games can be 
. And if you're looking for something different from the usual dystopian fare, there's definitely something out there for everyone 
.
. And who knows? Maybe this is the start of a whole new way of telling stories that feels authentic to our times 
.
"
! Games like Perfect Tides: Station to Station really capture the essence of being young and lost in the city, trying to figure out who you are and what's going on in this crazy world. It's like, they're not just playing around with pixel art for the sake of it, no way 
. They're using those retro aesthetics to tell real stories about growing up, relationships, and finding your own voice.
! Who wouldn't want to play a game that incorporates music-based gameplay and has you tapping your feet along with the beat?
.
. The pixel art aesthetic is so cool too - it feels super nostalgic for me 
. What I love about these games is how they're making sense of their generation's history in a way that's both personal and universal 
. It's like, you don't have to be from the same era to understand what's going on.
. Like, who knew our anxiety about growing up would be so compelling? It's like the gaming industry is saying, "Hey, we get that you're still trying to find your way in the world, and also on the internet." Perfect Tides: Station to Station sounds like a super relatable experience – I mean, who hasn't felt the urge to inhale every conversation they have? 
. And I gotta say, it's pretty cool to see millennials creating their own experiences that capture our generation's essence. It's like they're bottling up all these feelings and memories into games... it's just so relatable 
but seriously, i love how these games are focusing on semi-autobiographical stories about young adults struggling with identity and growing up without social media. it's like they're bottling up our generation's history and serving it with pixel art and earnest storytelling - a win-win for me 
perfect tides sounds like a relatable ride, can't wait to dive in!
. The pixel art style feels so nostalgic, like flipping through old photo albums. I loved how the game tackled those coming-of-age struggles, anxiety and all 
. As someone who grew up in a different era, it was interesting to see my parents' childhood experiences reflected in the game's characters and storylines 