Credits: Ivy Road

Wanderstop is a narrative game that focuses on quiet, reflective storytelling. It offers a meditative experience centered around tea, personal change, and unexpected transformations.

The game places players in a calm yet intricate world where every task and interaction carries emotional significance. Created by Davey Wreden, known for The Stanley Parable, and featuring a soundtrack by Minecraft composer C418, Wanderstop combines thoughtful storytelling with the calming process of tea-making.

At its core, Wanderstop is a cozy, narrative-driven game focused on themes of change, identity, and healing. You play as Alta, a former champion fighter who now runs a small tea shop in a magical forest. This new role is not one she embraces easily. For Alta, managing the tea shop feels unfamiliar and frustrating, highlighting her struggle to adapt to change.

In the game, you gather and grow tea ingredients from the surrounding forest. Using a whimsical tea-making device, you create custom brews for customers. Each visitor shares their story, and your task is to match the perfect cup of tea to their narrative. Through these interactions, the game gradually reveals Alta’s internal conflict between her past as a warrior and her present life in the tea shop.

Key Features

• Narrative Focus: The story, written by Davey Wreden and Karla Zimonja, explores trauma, burnout, and healing. It provides a thoughtful, character-driven experience that encourages self-reflection.
• Tea Brewing Gameplay: Players grow and harvest tea ingredients, then use a unique machine to blend and craft teas in an interactive, hands-on process.
• Relaxing Environment: Explore the tea shop grounds, decorate the interior, or rest in peaceful outdoor areas. These activities are designed to provide a calming experience.
• Dynamic Music: An original score by C418 adapts to your actions, creating an immersive and emotionally engaging atmosphere.
• Engaging Characters: Meet wandering travelers who share captivating stories, creating connections and adding depth to the game world.
• A Fresh Take on Cozy Games: Alta’s journey challenges traditional cozy game elements by showing how healing often involves more than completing tasks—it’s about navigating personal growth and change.

Wanderstop will launch on PC (via Steam) and PlayStation 5 on March 11, 2025. Whether you enjoy meditative gameplay or layered storytelling, this game offers a unique and memorable experience.

About Ivy Road

Ivy Road is an independent game development studio led by Davey Wreden (The Stanley Parable, The Beginner's Guide), Karla Zimonja (Gone Home, Bioshock 2: Minerva's Den), and C418 (Minecraft). Their first project as a team is Wanderstop, a game focused on themes of tea and change.

About Annapurna Interactive

Founded in 2016, Annapurna Interactive collaborates with game creators worldwide to develop and publish unique, personal gaming experiences. Their award-winning portfolio includes titles like Stray, Neon White, Outer Wilds, COCOON, Storyteller, and What Remains of Edith Finch. Other notable releases include Sayonara Wild Hearts, Thirsty Suitors, Lorelei and the Laser Eyes, Solar Ash, Flock, and A Memoir Blue. Upcoming projects include Forever Ago, Skin Deep, Bounty Star, Silent Hill: Townfall, Wanderstop, Mixtape, MORSELS, and more.