Coming-of-age
Ongoing coverage on Coming-of-age.
Latest coverage
A Decade Later, Mob Psycho 100 Still Has Anime’s Most Quietly Devastating Line
A decade after its debut, Mob Psycho 100 continues to resonate for its unique take on the protagonist archetype, emphasizing personal growth over overwhelming power. The series subverts typical shonen tropes by focusing on the protagonist Shigeo 'Mob' Kageyama's journey of self-discovery and acceptance, rather than his immense psychic abilities. This focus on ordinary teenage struggles and the idea that one is the protagonist of their own life offers a quietly devastating message about self-worth.
Wednesday season 3 begins in senior year at Nevermore, and is all about being on the "precipice of adulthood"
Jenna Ortega, star of Netflix's Wednesday, has teased that the upcoming third season will focus on the characters being on the "precipice of adulthood" as they navigate their senior year at Nevermore Academy. The season will explore themes of family and the transition into adulthood, while also introducing new characters and resolving cliffhangers from season two.
Disney+’s 8-Episode Star Wars Series Blends Stranger Things With The Expanse
Disney+'s upcoming Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, blends elements of Stranger Things and The Expanse, following four kids stranded in space after discovering a derelict ship. Jude Law stars as a pirate with his own agenda. The series aims for a lighter tone than other recent Star Wars shows, focusing on character-driven adventure and a sense of wonder reminiscent of Amblin films.
Netflix in August: franchise overload, two new horrors, and a nine-year-old movie about a corpse
Netflix's August lineup features a heavy emphasis on franchises like Fast and Furious and Child's Play, alongside critically acclaimed films such as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Eighth Grade, and Swiss Army Man. The month also introduces two new horror originals, The Last House and The Whisper Man, and an adult animated series from Ricky Gervais.
12 Endings, One Birthday Party. Emotional Visual Novel Come to my Party! Debuts First Playable Demo!
The visual novel Come to my Party!, developed by SIMSANG YOON and published by LINE Games, has released its first playable demo on Steam. The game, which features 12 possible endings and is set in late 90s South Korea, allows players to experience the life of 10-year-old Jimin as she navigates school and family dynamics. The demo is fully localized in English and includes mini-games and relationship-building mechanics.
Come to my Party! Debuts First Demo, Bringing a Heartfelt 90s Korean Childhood Story to Steam
The narrative-driven visual novel Come to my Party!, developed by solo developer Simsang Yoon and published by Line Games, has released its first demo on Steam. The game explores a heartfelt story of a 10-year-old girl in late-1990s South Korea, featuring branching choices leading to 12 different endings. The demo offers players a glimpse into the game's themes of childhood, family pressure, and friendship, with a full release date yet to be announced.
RollerGirl Gets New Trailer at Black Voices in Gaming Showcase
A new trailer for the upcoming slice-of-life adventure game RollerGirl was debuted during the Black Voices in Gaming Showcase. The game follows 16-year-old Naomi as she helps her small town residents to earn money for car repairs, with player choices influencing her summer experience. RollerGirl is currently in development for PC.
Mixtape Isn't Just a Video Game
Mixtape is an artistic exploration of nostalgia and the coming-of-age experience, blurring lines between storytelling and multimedia art. Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game uses a curated soundtrack and vignettes to evoke the bittersweet emotions of youth and friendship. The article argues that such unique, artful experiences are vital for the evolution of the video game medium, even if they fall outside mainstream expectations.
Duck Side of the Moon Review – In space, no-one can hear you quack
Duck Side of the Moon is a cozy exploration game where players control Doug, a duck astronaut stranded on an alien planet. The game blends charming characters and emotional growth with a coming-of-age narrative, featuring a cute art style, good music, and engaging mini-games. While it offers a pleasant, low-challenge experience, minor bugs are being addressed by the developers.
Mixtape review – Vibes-Based Mixing
Mixtape is a narrative-driven game from Beethoven & Dinosaur that explores themes of growing up and friendship through memories and music. While it excels in its writing, presentation, and emotional resonance, its gameplay mechanics are light and it may not resonate with all players due to its specific cultural references. The game features a strong soundtrack with licensed tracks and a visually appealing art style.
Mixtape Review – Thanks For The Memories
Mixtape is a narrative-driven game that explores themes of nostalgia, friendship, and the bittersweet experience of growing up and moving on. Players experience memories through the eyes of Stacey, a teenager pursuing a music career, with each memory tied to a curated song. While light on challenging gameplay, the game excels at creating relatable characters and evoking strong emotions, making it a memorable, albeit short, experience.
IGF Award-Winner Perfect Tides: Station to Station Pulls Up to Nintendo Switch 1|2 today
The IGF Award-winning narrative adventure Perfect Tides: Station to Station is now available on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2. Developed by Three Bees and creator Meredith Gran, the game follows Mara Whitefish's journey through her first year of college, focusing on relationships, authentic mid-2000s experiences, and writing assignments. The game also features PC and Mac versions available via Steam.
Från rys till mys i Core Keeper
This review discusses Core Keeper, highlighting its strong coming-of-age narrative set in 1990s America. The story explores themes of music, friendship, love, belonging, fear, jealousy, and the process of growing up.
Mixtape review
Mixtape is a three-hour coming-of-age narrative set in '90s suburbia, featuring a superb soundtrack and sharp writing. Developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, the game follows three friends on their last day of high school. While praised for its story and presentation, the review notes that the game occasionally falters by not fully leveraging its interactive medium to enhance the narrative experience.
Recension – Mixtape
Mixtape is a coming-of-age narrative experience developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur, set in the 1990s. The game focuses on three teenagers, their friendships, music, and the end of summer before they go their separate ways. It features a unique art style and a soundtrack that is central to the storytelling, with gameplay consisting of creative, often short-lived, interactive segments.
Indiana Jones whips into this week’s Nintendo eShop roundup
The Nintendo eShop has received new releases including Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Mixtape, both available on Nintendo Switch 2. The roundup also highlights various games suitable for Mother's Day celebrations and ongoing in-game events for Pokémon Pokopia and Donkey Kong Bananza.
Mixtape launch trailer – narrative-driven adventure game comes to Nintendo Switch 2
Annapurna Interactive and Beethoven & Dinosaur have released a launch trailer for their narrative-driven adventure game, Mixtape, now available on Nintendo Switch. The game follows three friends on their last night together, reliving formative memories through a curated mixtape soundtrack and diverse gameplay vignettes.
With Mixtape out today, the tiny number of coming of age games gets just that little bit bigger
The newly released game Mixtape, developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, highlights the underutilization of the 'coming of age' genre in video games. While games like Life is Strange and Night in the Woods have explored this theme, Mixtape's focus on music and formative memories offers a refreshing perspective. The developers have opted against a DMCA-safe mode, emphasizing the importance of the licensed soundtrack to the game's experience.
Mixtape Review - Teenage Dirtbag
Mixtape is a coming-of-age adventure game developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur that explores themes of nostalgia, friendship, and the anxiety of growing up. Released on May 7, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, the game features a narrative told through fragmented memories and a soundtrack of 90s music. While praised for its emotional impact and immersive gameplay, some critics noted that the dialogue can feel overly Americanized and one character lacks depth.
Mixtape Review – An unforgettable blend of music, magic and memories
Mixtape, developed by Beethoven & Dinosaur and published by Annapurna Interactive, is a coming-of-age game that captures the spirit of 1980s John Hughes films and the music of the era. Players experience the final night of three American teens through a series of interactive memories, presented as tracks on a mixtape, exploring themes of friendship, rebellion, and the end of childhood. The game features a distinctive stop-motion animation style and a curated soundtrack that enhances its personal and poignant narrative.
