OMORI

OMORI is one of those games that tricks you into thinking it's gonna be a cute adventure with your pals but then it slowly reveals it's actually a deep dive into trauma, grief and all that heavy stuff. The game is split between this vibrant dream world called HEADSPACE, where everything is colorful and your crew goes on fun RPG adventures and the real world, which is way more grounded and deals with the aftermath of something terrible that happened years ago. The art style is super charming and pastel-like, which makes the darker moments hit even harder, it's like the game lures you in with these adorable character designs before pulling the rug out from under you.

The combat system is actually pretty fresh and keeps things interesting without being overly complicated. Instead of the usual HP/MP, you've got HEART/JUICE and the whole emotion system where being HAPPY, SAD or ANGRY affects how battles play adds this strategic layer that's easy to grasp but fun to mess with. The follow up attacks and ultimate moves keep the fights feeling dynamic and honestly, it's cool how each character's skills reflect their personality, like HERO's cooking-based support moves or KEL's sports-themed attacks. The game doesn't bog you down with complex builds or spreadsheets so you can just vibe with the story while still enjoying the turn based action.

Now, the real world segments are where things get real. You've only got three days before OMORI's family moves and you can either have him do chores or hang out with his old friends but these moments are crucial because they impact on how he faces his fears, both in reality and in HEADSPACE, and this is where the BIG SECRET comes in and it's as heavy as it sounds. Without spoiling too much, the game deals with loss, depression and even suicide in a way that's raw but handled with care, the warnings before the title screen ain't kidding around. Some endings are absolutely devastating but they serve the story's message about confronting your past instead of burying it. So, if you're into RPGs with deep emotional cores like UNDERTALE or Yume Nikki, this is definitely worth your time.

Also, there's this demake for Windows 95 computers, and yes, it can run on the 3DS family, it only covers the first dream world segment before things get real, so it's like a tiny taste of HEADSPACE without the soul crushing reality checks.

The final door in BLACK SPACE creaks open and somewhere in the depths of HEADSPACE, SOMETHING stirs in the corner of your eye. The real world is waiting with its three day countdown,  hit that download button below if you've got the emotional bandwidth to handle existential dread, or go forth and face your fears via FBI Remote Install. Just remember, the truth about what happened that day is waiting.