Dear Agony Aunt (2021)

Developer: Faye Strawberry
Platforms: Windows, Linux
Genres: Indie, Simulation
Rating: 4.8 of 5, 27 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 52 minutes
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

You read and reply to heartfelt emails in a retro 2006 interface, with low-stakes choices that feel cozy and kind.

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What players say

Players love the nostalgic trip back to a 2006 Windows XP email interface and find the stories heartwarming. The game is short, about an hour or two, with binary choice responses that some wish were more expansive. Players are split on the replay value: some say it is rewarding to see different endings, others find the limited interactivity holds it back.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.