Wednesday for Windows

Keep trying to move forward

Wednesday is a free role-playing video game wherein you have to learn how to move on. Developed by sammy, this visual novel is a slice-of-life and text-based interactive fiction that features themes about LGBTQIA and mental health. In it, you play as a nameless transgender character who keeps trying to survive the stress of each day.

Similar to Watercolors, Wednesday mostly consists of narration and dialogue. You get some links whenever a key term is mentioned but instead of a new scene, it simply explains the term and even gives you legitimate links to websites.

Aim for Thursday

The story of Wednesday revolves around a transgender character whose mental health is slowly deteriorating as they battle stress and expectations laid upon them. Each day, the date changes but they still keep thinking that it’s still Wednesday—as if they can’t catch a break at all. This is shown by how certain parts of the day seem to repeat as a routine, even with slightly different narration.

The controls are simple here, as you just read the text and click on any of the colored text to progress. Some are embedded in the narration and dialogue and opening them will reveal more information about the term, as well as some links on their website to redirect you to health-related sectors. Unlike most visual novels, there’s no option to save or even go back to a previous point.

You only have to keep moving forward and find a compromise with your character’s life as they try to juggle work and personal life. While the word count here clocks at about 12,000 words, the game is actually pretty short. The only soundtrack being played is of the heavy harsh noise type—effectively simulating how much continuous stress your character is going through every day.

An eye-opening piece

All in all, Wednesday is the type of visual novel you try out if you’d like to explore themes of mental health and the struggles of the LGBTQIA community. While it doesn’t offer any way to backtrack properly to choose a different option, the story is short and linear enough that you don’t have to worry about unlocking any secrets in this slice-of-life plot.