A Boy Gets Sucked Into a Retro Game
Stray Children opened October 30th on Steam and Nintendo Switch, and it’s exactly the kind of game you either immediately fall in love with or scratch your head wondering what you just played. The premise alone tells you what you’re getting – a young boy flips the switch on a dusty old console and gets sucked through the screen into a never-released retro RPG. When he wakes up, he’s standing in a land where only children live. Outside their protective walls lurks The Olders – monstrous adults twisted by stress, self-doubt, and all the baggage that comes with growing up.
Who’s Behind This Strange World
Onion Games, a Tokyo-based indie studio, developed Stray Children. You might not know the name, but you absolutely know their work. The team includes former members who created Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Rule of Rose, Little King’s Story, Chulip, and Super Mario RPG. These aren’t mainstream developers – they’re industry veterans known for making bizarre, emotionally resonant games that stick with you long after credits roll.
The studio first released Stray Children in Japan on Nintendo Switch back in December 2024. The worldwide English version arriving now on both Switch and Steam represents a definitive version with tweaks, updates, and full English localization. Onion Games spent over a year perfecting it, and you can feel that care in every quirky detail.
Combat Through Words, Not Just Weapons
The turn-based combat system is where Stray Children gets creative. You can fight The Olders with traditional weapons, sure. But the game encourages something more interesting – you can defeat them with words. A well-worded whisper becomes a crushing blow that pierces through their defenses. Each adult you encounter carries emotional baggage that manifests as attacks you must dodge. Discover their hidden secrets, touch their corrupted hearts with your words, and you might just save their souls instead of destroying them.
This isn’t just flavor text either. The game takes a hard look at contemporary adult struggles – workplace burnout, obsession with social media status, financial ruin through stock market addiction, relationship desperation. Instead of treating these issues as punchlines, Stray Children explores how these problems affect children watching their parents spiral.
A Spinning Roulette Shapes Your Fate
The game uses something called a “Spinning Roulette” mechanic that influences your choices and destiny. It sounds gimmicky but works as a brilliant narrative device. Sometimes you get lucky. Sometimes the wheel lands against you. It mirrors real life – we’re not entirely in control, and randomness plays a bigger role than we admit. Your story won’t play out exactly like anyone else’s, which gives Stray Children serious replay value.
The writing is genuinely impressive. Dialogue mixes wacky humor with poignant observations about becoming an adult. Characters bounce between ridiculous situations and moments that make you think about your own growing up. It’s like if adventure games and therapy sessions had a baby.
Visuals and Vibes Are Peak
Reviewers keep describing Stray Children’s vibes as “peak loved alike” – meaning the aesthetic, art direction, and overall atmosphere are hitting just right. The game looks intentionally dated in places, playing with retro RPG aesthetics while still feeling fresh. The world design rewards exploration without forcing it down your throat. There’s a lightness to how the game presents itself, which makes the heavier themes hit harder when they arrive.
The music and sound design contribute massively to this atmosphere. Every area feels distinct, every NPC has personality through their writing and presentation. Even when you’re dealing with genuinely uncomfortable subject matter, the game wraps it in a layer of strangeness that makes it digestible without feeling preachy.
Price and Availability
Stray Children costs $29.99 on Steam and Nintendo Switch, with a launch-week discount of 10% off. If you’re new to Onion Games, they’re also running 30% discounts on their other titles – Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Dandy Dungeon, Mon Amour, and Black Bird. The game is fully playable on Steam Deck, making it accessible whether you prefer handheld or desktop gaming.
There’s no multiplayer. This is a single-player experience designed for you to take at your own pace. Some puzzles are optional, and the game actively encourages you not to stress about getting 100% completion. Just experience the story, engage with the world, and let it hit you emotionally when it does.
FAQs About Stray Children
What kind of game is Stray Children exactly?
Stray Children is a turn-based RPG with adventure game elements. You explore a strange world, engage in turn-based combat, make dialogue choices that matter, solve puzzles, and experience a narrative that tackles both whimsy and serious themes about adulthood.
How long is Stray Children?
There’s no official playtime listed, but based on reviews and typical Onion Games releases, expect 15-25 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore and whether you pursue optional content. It’s a game worth taking your time with.
Do I need to play other Onion Games titles before playing Stray Children?
Absolutely not. Stray Children is a standalone experience. While the developers have worked on previous cult classics, you don’t need to know anything about them to enjoy this game. Each Onion Games project exists in its own world.
Is Stray Children appropriate for kids?
Not really. While it features children as the main characters and uses whimsical art style, the game tackles adult themes – depression, burnout, relationship issues, financial anxiety. It’s designed for mature audiences who can appreciate the nuance in how these topics are explored.
Can I play Stray Children on handheld?
Yes. It’s available on Nintendo Switch and fully playable on Steam Deck. The turn-based nature makes it perfect for handheld gaming – you can play at your own pace without pressure from time limits.
What makes Stray Children different from other RPGs?
The dialogue-based combat system, the focus on words as weapons, the emotional depth of how it handles adult issues, and the Spinning Roulette mechanic all combine to create something you won’t find in mainstream RPGs. It’s weird, thoughtful, and genuinely funny.
Is there a physical version for Switch?
As of release, only digital versions are available. Physical releases haven’t been announced, though Onion Games may release one down the line if the game performs well.
Conclusion
Stray Children is the kind of game that reminds you why indie developers matter. It swings for the fences thematically while maintaining a playful tone that keeps everything from becoming too heavy. You get weird humor, genuine emotion, creative combat mechanics, and a world that feels lived-in despite being completely fantastical. Is it perfect? No – some puzzles can feel obtuse, and the pacing occasionally stumbles. But those minor issues pale against what Onion Games has created. If you appreciate games that tackle growing up with both humor and heart, games that treat player choice seriously, or games that simply dare to be different – Stray Children absolutely deserves your attention. It’s available now on Steam and Nintendo Switch for $29.99. Take the leap into that strange digital world. You won’t regret it.