New Bombshell from the Super Mario RPG Team: Stray Children
When nostalgia and innovation collide in the world of video games, unforgettable titles often emerge. Stray Children, a new project from the creators of the 90s classic Super Mario RPG, is poised to deliver just that. Developed by Onion Games, the game promises to be much more than just another role-playing game. Inviting players on an emotional journey straddling the fine line between childhood and adulthood, Stray Children will launch for Nintendo Switch and PC on October 30th.
Stray Children Turns the RPG Genre Upside Down
Onion Games officially unveiled Stray Children with the first trailer released on October 2nd. The studio’s history includes unforgettable titles like Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Chulip, and Super Mario RPG. This deep-rooted legacy is immediately palpable in Stray Children’s atmosphere. The development team has once again focused on the “anti-RPG” approach, subverting classic RPG conventions.
In the game, our character finds himself in a land of children. Outside this world, adults called “Olders” live. However, these adults have been transformed into grotesque creatures, crushed by their own fears and inadequacies. The player must choose between fighting these creatures or talking to them to save their souls.
Like Moon, Stray Children prioritizes empathy over violence. The game questions the “killing monsters” rule of classic RPGs and offers the player “talk” as a solution. In this respect, it continues a legacy that inspired Toby Fox’s Undertale series. The game’s story symbolically explores how childhood innocence is lost under the weight of the adult world.
The graphic style is as if it stepped out of a children’s book. Every scene in the world, adorned with colorful, hand-drawn textures, possesses a melancholic beauty. The music further enhances this feeling; the melodies heard in the trailer already convey the game’s melancholic yet hopeful atmosphere.
Stray Children will launch on October 30th for Nintendo Switch and PC (Steam). The game is described as one of Onion Games’ most personal and experimental projects to date. It promises to be a must-have for Moon fans and gamers who appreciate emotional stories.
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