It’s extremely early in the morning. You’re awake, restless, and stressed. Too late to go back to bed, so you may as well face the day.
What about a trip down memory lane as you get ready? Respite lets you explore the memories of this sleepless apartment dweller via objects in the room.
Those who are not unfamiliar with waking up too early after working hard the previous night may find some comfort knowing that this video game encapsulates that lonely, strange feeling without you having to endure it yourself. You’ll be able to look around the empty apartment at various objects and remember the past experiences of the awoken person.
As you walk around the apartment, getting ready for the job that has you at your wit’s end, you’ll find notes from your roommates. You’ll discover the links between these people and what happened with them. You can even clean up their rooms and water their plants, since you have extra time to get ready. If you pay attention, you’ll be able to tell exactly what the problem is and you may be able to solve it. At least for this one person.
The central theme of the game revolves around taking you on a journey that shines a light on the importance of friends, family, and relationships, and how they shape our living spaces, even with just a few photos or plants. A lot of what you own will have a memory tied to it. Sometimes it’s painful, sometimes it’s funny – but it shapes us. Respite wants you to notice these small dashes of influence and remind you of what’s important in life. Even if it just means to slow down and take a rest.
Respite is available now on itch.io.
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