Wanderstop review

• Available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC
• Released on 11 March 2025
• Developed by Ivy Road

Alta used to be a warrior. That’s all she ever was, and all she ever wanted to be. But one day, mid-battle in a forest, something happens. She goes to lift her sword, and she just can’t. Not because it’s heavy, not because she’s injured: she’s simply done. Burned out. And for a warrior who’s built her entire identity around strength and grit, that’s terrifying.

Enter a mysterious tea shop tucked away in the forest, run by a kindly man who might remind you a little of Gru from Despicable Me. He offers Alta a place to stay and recover. She refuses at first, because resting isn’t something she does. But with no other option, she finds herself behind the counter, learning the art of making tea from scratch. It’s a far cry from slaying monsters.

It’s a bizarre setup, but one that immediately hits home. Wanderstop is all about what happens when the person you’ve always been just… isn’t who you are anymore. It uses its whimsical world to explore very real feelings: burnout, identity loss, and learning to slow down. Alta’s sword isn’t enchanted. It’s just too heavy because she’s mentally and emotionally drained. That’s a feeling many of us know all too well.

The tea shop becomes the heart of the game, and it’s surprisingly hands-on. You’ll be brewing tea using a huge steampunk-style contraption, complete with bellows, ladders, and pipes. It’s not instant, but that’s the point. There’s a rhythm to it that feels both satisfying and meditative once you get the hang of it.

You’ll also need to grow your own ingredients. Tea bushes replenish themselves, but fruits require a bit more effort. There’s no waiting around for crops to bloom, though. Just plant your seeds in the right pattern, water them, and harvest what you need. Figuring out which seed combos yield which fruits adds a nice little puzzle element.

Beyond the tea-making, what really makes Wanderstop shine is its storytelling. Through conversations with customers and your fellow tea shop inhabitant, you’ll learn more about Alta and the people passing through. The dialogue is sharp, warm, and often funny. Every character has their own arc, and getting to know them becomes as much of a reward as mastering your tea recipes.

There’s a bit of repetition in tending the shop — growing ingredients, brewing drinks, tidying up — but it suits the tone of the game. You’re not rushing through quests. You’re building a routine, healing slowly. The game even encourages you to sit and enjoy a cup of tea yourself now and then, and it’s in those moments of stillness that you learn the most about Alta.

Visually, Wanderstop is stunning. Its bold colors and dreamy designs pull you right into its gentle world. It’s cozy without being overly saccharine, and the atmosphere goes a long way in making you want to linger just a little longer in this peaceful forest clearing.

If you love narrative games or anything that falls under the “cozy” banner, Wanderstop is easy to recommend. It doesn’t ask for much, just your time and attention, and what it gives back is a heartfelt story with a powerful message. Sometimes, putting down your sword is the bravest thing you can do.