An Everyday Story by Cactus Production

Sometimes memories are all we have. They shape us into who we become and can bring us so much joy and so much pain.

That’s what An Everyday Story aims to do: show the good and bad memories of an older man’s life.

The game is narrated by a father and a husband. It details various core memories in his life, outlining the struggles and happiness within each.

There is a snapshot quality to the game that shows these core memories which helped me understand the narrator more. From childhood memories of parents to pivotal moments in adult life, An Everyday Story does a great job developing the narrator’s character.

Memory Puzzles

An Everyday Story plays a lot like a standard 2D platformer. You play as an origami bat, a toy soldier, and a wooden boat, each object something significant from the narrator’s life and each with an ability to help with platforming or puzzle-solving.

The puzzles and platforming sequences offer just enough challenge. You will also have to find objects to get around obstacles, occasionally using abilities like the toy soldier, who lets you grapple and swing past high obstacles.

For the most part, it’s familiar territory and feels more like something to do while the story is being told.

While playing, the narrator recounts memories about his life, the people most important to him, and what they meant to him. Each level is designed around a core memory; one level takes place in a park, for example, while another takes place on a ship.

Each level becomes more fantastical and abstract, making each one feel more varied. This approach to storytelling is neat, and I really like the way it’s done.

I Can Dream of the Old Days

For the most part, the narrative is compelling. An Everyday Story doesn’t shy away from heavier topics – childhood upbringing, addiction, love, regret, and so forth – but doesn’t come across as too heavy-handed, either.

It’s moving enough that I felt something by the end of it. It really nails the feeling of someone pouring their heart out, hoping to be understood more, without being totally heartbreaking.

Some sequences are confusing, and there are moments when it’s unclear what to do next. Some interactive items don’t clearly stand out. The lighting makes many levels very dark, obscuring too much of the environment, and there are some platforming sequences where the jumping could use more polish.

These small issues add up and make playing the levels less enjoyable than learning more of the game’s narrative. But thankfully these issues don’t bring down the overall experience so much that it’s frustrating.

Overall, I had issues with the gameplay, but since An Everyday Story can be completed in around two hours, it wasn’t that big of a deal, especially since its narrative kept me engaged.

Visually, An Everyday Story conveys environments and details well, but a lot of it is obscured by low lighting. It makes each area feel gloomy, which is possibly by design but can make things feel too obscured.

The game features nice, fittingly slow piano music. The tracks complement the scenes well and make certain sequences feel sadder. An Everyday Story would feel very incomplete without its lovely music.

The Verdict

An Everyday Story’s core message is about cherishing memories and appreciating the good times and people in your life. One of the narrator’s opening lines is “I just want to remind you…how important it is to remember.”

Although we may look back on the past with regret, we should also appreciate all the happiness we’ve experienced. This is a message that will always resonate with me.

An Everyday Story is available via Steam.

Check out the official trailer for An Everyday Story below: