Station to Station: A Fresh Perspective on Point-and-Click Adventures

Oh man, so I ended up at PAX East 2025—that’s a story for another day—and stumbled upon Meredith Gran’s new game demo, “Perfect Tides: Station to Station.” Okay, picture this: you’re thrown into this game world where talking and making friends (or maybe more like awkwardly chatting, let’s be real) actually levels up your character. Wild, right?

So, you start as Mara, this 18-year-old writer who’s clumsily navigating big city life. And no worries if you missed the first game; this one stands alone. The game is like mixing those old-school point-and-click games with RPG vibes. You know, you mix ideas (recorded on your phone, kind of like Pokémon but with thoughts) with people, and bam, level up! It’s like adulting but with more control… or maybe less. Hmm.

Anyway, so I’m wandering the city, totally lost at one point (classic me). The controls were tweaked—no more of that “Look At” and “Talk To” stuff. It’s all about intuitive convo flow here. Decisions matter too; they shape Mara’s journey and endings. I had this quest to crash a party without even knowing the host. Typical teenage life, right? Such a nostalgia hit.

Honestly, it’s not just about the game mechanics. It’s also about Gran’s touch—this personal story shines through. It’s got that year-long, heartfelt arc that’s relatable yet… well, kinda nerdy in the best way. It’s coming to Nintendo Switch and PC soon-ish, and I can’t wait to see how other players get wrapped up in its quirks and feels.

Alright, enough rambling for now—which reminds me, I need to go find something else to distract myself with… maybe coffee?