In this installment, we take a look at the best games that focus on coming of age. These games offer a unique perspective on the world around us, and can help you find your place in the world. Whether you’re looking for a story to tell yourself or something to explore, these games are sure to have you entertained.
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The Last of Us: Left Behind
In the game, Ellie is a survivor who has to fight her way through a zombie-infested world. With danger surrounding her at every turn, the odds of surviving the next day would be less than 20%. With that thought, imagine enduring this trauma as a child, and you may find yourself in Ellie’s predicament.
In the first entry, players could control Ellie’s character sometimes, but the story leaned more toward Joel’s hardships. However, its Left Behind DLC allowed players to immerse themselves in the world through Ellie’s eyes best. The coming-of-age trope shines through in Left Behind’s combat, cinematics, and varied activities involving Ellie and her friend Riley.
The DLC for The Last of Us is set before Ellie’s inevitable encounter with Joel. Players will see how Ellie’s naive, child-like demeanour spirals down a path of hardness and maturity later on. The game establishes Ellie’s teenage behavior early with her ignorance of firearms and participation in delinquent activity with Riley. In essence, it portrays her as a happy-go-lucky girl whose just looking to have a fun time.
In Ellie and Riley’s separation, Ellie begins to change her personality. She becomes more strategic and instinctual, instead of the emotional and reckless she was before. This is evident in her interactions with zombies and enemies, as she commands them to do things like make adult-like decisions.
The downloadable content for “The Last of Us” expands on the game’s existing gameplay mechanics while also telling a different narrative concerning Ellie’s growth. ..
In our video game review of The Last of Us II, we give you our thoughts on the game and how it compares to the original.
Earthbound
Earthbound is one of the most important video games of all time. It was released on the Super Nintendo in 1995, but it wasn’t a console selling title because of poor marketing. Instead, Earthbound found its audience with its compelling coming-of-age narrative, colorful characters, and quirky humor. ..
Earthbound is an RPG game for the Nintendo 64 that follows the story of a boy named Ness who travels to different planets in search of eight melodies that will help him stop an evil alien named Giygas. The game features unique characters, a deep and engaging storyline, and challenging combat. ..
Ness and his friends find themselves in strange and often dangerous situations. They must fight evil robots, visit a town filled with deranged cultists, and deal with difficult financial challenges. These experiences will test Ness’ courage, his strength, and his ability to think on his feet.
Earthbound is a game that is full of absurdity. Many of the jokes will land for a younger audience, but the game has adult-oriented jokes like a zombie insurance gag that’ll leave older folks chuckling. Earthbound truly captures the experience not many children encounter at Ness’s age, and it’s that component that makes it a well-crafted game.
Pokémon Red & Blue
Pokémon Red and Blue were the first games to achieve this feat. They targeted adolescents, who were then the target audience for the Pokémon franchise.
The game begins with the player character, a young boy or girl, choosing one of three starter Pokémon. These Pokémon are the basic form of the game’s protagonist: a Pikachu, a Snorlax, or a Gyarados. The player then must defeat eight gym leaders and four elite four members in order to become the best Trainer in the region. However, there are many other trainers who will challenge you and try to stop you from becoming the best Trainer in the region. There is also an evil organization aiming to cause chaos which will try to stop you from becoming the best Trainer in the region.
As a 10-13-year-old, you will have to compete against adults in order to become a gym leader. This indicates that your skills are growing and your intellect is also increasing. ..
Your rival may become more humble after you beat them in the Pokémon League.
Pokémon: The Game of Life tells the story of a young boy, Ash, as he grows up in a world where Pokémon are all gone and humans are the only ones left. Ash’s journey takes him from his home in the Johto region to Sinnoh, where he meets new friends and battles powerful Pokémon. Along the way, Ash learns about life and the people around him. He also comes to understand that there is more to Pokémon than meets the eye.
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The game begins with the player character, Zelda, waking up in a strange place. She is surrounded by symbols that she can’t understand. Zelda goes to find her sister, Link, and they go on a journey to find the Triforce of Wisdom. Along the way they meet many interesting characters and face many challenges. The game is full of suspense and excitement, making it one of the most popular entries in the series.
This game is a classic coming-of-age story about warlocks, princesses, and growing up. It follows Link as he leaves his home in Kokiri Forest to save the land of Hyrule from the evil wizard, Ganondorf. Link must defeat supernatural entities, explore dangerous dungeons, and collect the legendary Master Sword to accomplish this goal.
Link is a lovable protagonist who suffers from a setback in his development, but he shows signs of maturity near the game’s second half. Whether as an adult or child, Link takes on many responsibilities in the game. Some tasks range from gathering chickens for farmers to fighting freakish one-eyed monsters to restore peace.
This title offers a unique and exciting experience for gamers. Many times, players must collect rupees and spend them on powerful weapons to help them in their journey. Link must become trustworthy in order to gain access to certain areas, which test his worthiness.
Link has a lot of responsibilities and tasks that he must complete in order to grow as a character. This growth is commendable, as Link demonstrates his dedication and commitment to the game by working hard.
Oxenfree
In Oxenfree, the player’s goal is to create their own destiny. Alex is the mastermind behind her actions, and her story is one of self-discovery.
Oxenfree is a psychological horror game set on an abandoned military island. You play as Alex, a new girl who goes to the island party with her stepbrother Jonas. While everything seems normal at first, Alex unknowingly causes a ghostly rift that leads to dangerous consequences. To make matters worse, Alex and her friends find themselves trapped in a deadly game with an unknown entity with sinister intentions. ..
Oxenfree is a game that is simple to play. Players only need to walk around and talk to individuals to gain new information. The information collected affects Alex’s relationships with her friends and stepbrother detrimentally. This means players can expect to replay the game to access its different endgame scenarios.
This title implies that the player’s growth as a person is not determined by Alex’s physical growth, but rather by the player’s choices.
If Alex’s friends and stepbrother don’t act like idiots, he’ll probably be okay.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a new and exciting installment in the Dragon Quest series. It picks up where the previous game left off, with players taking control of a young boy named Rufus as he travels through time to stop an evil being from taking over the world. This is a must-play for any RPG fan.
The protagonist, a young man, visits Erdrea in the 11th entry in the Dragon Quest franchise. King Carnelian does not welcome him with open arms when he visits. King Carnelian commands his army to hunt the man after calling him “the Darkspawn.” To clear his name, the protagonist assembles a group of wholesome travelers. Unbeknownst to them, several powerful entities await them.
Dragon Quest XI is a dark and emotional game that tackles themes of reconciliation and forgiveness. It also addresses darker topics such as death, exploitation, and heartbreak. The protagonist is silent throughout the game, but he develops alongside the side characters who join him. ..
In a scene that highlights his intelligence, the protagonist time travels to change a critical event that led to a friend’s death. The protagonist also makes difficult choices that involve erasing a version of reality to make room for a new one.
Night In The Woods
Many teenagers desire independence and freedom, which is why college is such a great outlet for them. College allows them to pursue their dreams, live on their own, and make new friends. ..
Mae Borowski, a college dropout, returns to her home in Possum Springs to reclaim her former lifestyle. As time passes, Mae notices many things have changed regarding friends and the town’s mood, and it is her task to learn and adapt to it all.
Night in the Woods is an interactive drama comic with a side of finding one’s life purpose. The game encourages players to discuss matters with Mae’s former friends and record how she responds to what they share. The game also dives into sexuality, tragedy, and mental health. ..
Mae’s life is complicated by her issues of finding a middle ground between childhood and adulthood. The game helps her find her life’s purpose and change her ways to reach it.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons
When their father is killed, the brothers are left to fend for themselves. They must learn to work together and accept that there will be times when they will have to fight for each other.
The brothers in this game are trying to find a cure for their father’s illness, but one of them is notoriously weaker than the other. This makes the game an emotional roller coaster that leans more towards visual storytelling than the norm.
The game features a foreign language and does not offer subtitles. The decision was made to encourage players to gaze upon the characters’ expressions and reactions to their world. While the world appears pleasant, players reach areas filled with bloody rivers, dangerous water life, and bleak prisons.
The scenery in the game helps players identify how unfamiliar the brothers are with the world around them, highlighting their innocence. The puzzles and side quests aren’t necessary to complete the game, but those that tackle them will feel more immersed in the world. It also elevates the brother’s understanding of the world, which is great in and of itself. ..
Child of Light
In the game Child of Light, players are given an organism with the intent of returning what’s rightfully theirs. The organism is magical, and as a result can cause many unexpected shenanigans. For the magical land of Lemuria, they end up receiving an organism with the intent of returning what’s rightfully theirs.
Aurora wakes up in a world of darkness. She knows that she is the daughter of an Austrian noble, and that her home is in Lemuria. After hearing about the Queen of the Night’s theft of light sources, Aurora and her new companions set out to stop her. It’s a game with a remarkable coming-of-age tale and beautiful art style.
Aurora’s mission is to secure lights, but she only chooses to claim the pure ones after noticing there are dark ones not worth reclaiming. Aurora also matures during the game regarding the comrades she recruits. While she enjoys their company, she knows that they won’t be with her forever.
Aurora convinces her friends to travel to Lemuria with her despite the fact that they don’t want to. They see what’s happening before their eyes and eventually change their minds. Unfortunately, it’s not long before they’re forced back into Aurora’s plan.
Never Alone
In the game, the player controls a spirit guide named Alakazam who takes them on a journey through the world of Never Alone to learn more about its magical properties. Along the way, they encounter strange creatures and must use their knowledge of the land to survive.
In Never Alone, you play as Nuna, a young Alaskan Native man who is on a journey to find the eternal blizzard. The blizzard is planning to threaten all walks of life and that’s what drives Nuna and his fox on their adventure. Along the way, they will face many challenges that will test their skills and courage.
The emotional narrative and brief knowledge drops from Iñupiat Alaskan Natives allow this game to stand out from most coming-of-age centric games. The interviews with real-life Iñupiat Alaskan Native help immerse players into the game’s world. ..
Nuna’s character also experiences some growth from a child to youth with excellent survival prowess. Nuna also meets a few legendary beings from the Iñupiat mythos, who sharpen her and the player’s knowledge of Iñupiat folklore. She also takes on various quests for people to show her excellence in responsibility.
Our picks for the best laptops for students are based on our research and personal experience. We took into account features, performance, and price to come up with our recommendations. Do you have any other suggestions? Let us know in the comments below!
