Fishbowl

Fishbowl is a strong debut game with an enjoyable cast and a touching journey through a young woman's grief.

Fishbowl was well worth the wait, a narrative experience that is painful both in its relevance in a time of prevailing loneliness that still ripples out from the COVID-19 pandemic and in its honest and vulnerable exploration of grief. At the time of playing, I ran into a crashing issue that dampened the game's emotional final chapter, but a few hiccups along the way don't diminish the shine of imissmyfriends.studio's debut. It is an easy recommendation for those gamers among us who aren't afraid to get a little weepy and to let games remind us of the good and bad of our lives.

Fishbowl is a heartfelt and intimate slice-of-life adventure that tackles mental health, grief, and everyday routines with warmth, charm, and a strong sense of empathy. Its cozy pixel art, likable characters, clever minigames, and touching atmosphere make it easy to connect with, even if some of its core mechanics could have explored the weight of repetition and daily struggle with more depth.

There is so much trauma in this game that it sometimes feels a little unfocused. There’s enough for me to deal with in Alo’s challenges to think about side characters’ LGBTQ+ issues, funding problems to continue teaching deprived children, and finding new passions after retirement (to name just a few). It was overwhelming, and I think I lost track of where I needed Alo to be in her life. All this being said, Fishbowl is a very effective game. It got me emotional (no tears) on a couple of occasions, and that’s not easy to do. The narrative is where these games thrive or die, though, and this one certainly resonated with me. It transported me back to 2020, living in isolation, trying to find a new passion or reigniting an old one. But it was also… a lot. I’m not going to say you’re going to have a fun time with this game, but you will feel something.

In the end the game stands out for its heartfelt and thoughtful portrayal of grief and loss delivering a quiet emotional journey that connects with players on a genuine level Had its gameplay and overall pacing been more refined it would have undoubtedly ranked among the biggest surprises of the year.

Grief is something we often hide from. We run from it, not wanting to feel it or deal with it. Alo is very human in that regard, not knowing how to deal with the huge amount of emotions coming her way as she deals with the love of her Jaja, the pandemic, and the new start she’s making away from home. But, together with Paplet, she goes on a journey to move beyond the running, beyond the hiding. And it sees her bloom. If you’ve been struggling with moving forward in life, I strongly suggest playing this game and letting it allow you to go on a path of self-discovery too. That’s how good this game is. Thank you, Alo.

Fishbowl is an extremely well-executed pixel art narrative about a child facing loss and adulthood in the worst conditions possible. You journey along her story, overcoming the grief one memory at a time, all the while handling your daily life, job, and remorse. Unfortunately, the pacing feels too slow for things to open up, and once they do, it proceeds to get even slower to reach the end. But for the quality, writing, and depth the game has to offer at a perfectly priced price tag, this is definitely a must-play for any story enjoyer.

Fishbowl is an exceptional title. It features a powerful story, believable characters, and realistic problems. Above all, however, it has the ability to emotionally resonate and make players reflect on their own lives.

Fishbowl is not an easy game to pick up, and it’s not always one you want to play. The discomfort of the game is seemingly intentional, asking you to sit with Aloo’s grief as she lives through this part of her life. You can’t run, or hide, or distract yourself. As the days pass, Aloo confronts more of the memories she thought she’d forgotten, and, in doing so, she starts to heal.

Fishbowl is a heartfelt story about dealing with many different life changes and traumas at once, all while finding a way forward.