It's about time for all of us to drop everything and party, specifically, like we're in the bathroom of a Neko Case concert near midnight in September 2004. There's a Sad Girl in the bathroom. What do we do to comfort her? The spontaneous community that this game is intended to create is just delightful, and we cannot wait to embody these characters. Big bonus points for a variety of play options, including in-person, video call, and group text.

From a writerly standpoint, I love this game’s attention to period detail and intricate character sketches. And, from the standpoint of someone who was in college in the year 2004, I’m doubly intrigued by the opportunity to relive the era through fashion, music, and intimate conversations with strangers in the restroom of a music venue. I admire how this game celebrates community and caretaking, with all players collaborating to get “sad girl” back out there to enjoy the show. The most intense human dramas often unfold in such humble settings, after all.

For those of us who want an experience akin to Don Freeman's children's book Corduroy or, well, Toy Story over a hot beverage, this game promises a fun and odd afternoon. In the spirit of the best Mad Tea parties imbued with unmentionable and random existential worries, At the Doll Cafè takes Jacqueline Bryk's The Porch and makes it about doll things. And it may, indeed, be a commentary on you too, dear player. A clearly-written, well-organized game that promises a simple, effective existential crisis.