Davey Wreden gained immense success with the Stanley Parable, a game that explores existential themes and narrative tricks involving a lonely office worker named Stanley. Wreden’s follow-up, the Beginner’s Guide, delved into the relationship between artist and audience. Wreden’s latest game, Wanderstop, embraces cozy gaming while weaving a trauma plot beneath its serene surface. Wanderstop challenges mainstream video-game norms by prioritizing dialogue and contemplation over violence. Wreden’s evolution as a game designer reflects a shift from the absurd to the practical, culminating in a desire to create games with therapeutic potential. Through his work, Wreden aims to explore complex themes and provoke meaningful reflection within the gaming community.
https://www.newyorker.com/culture/persons-of-interest/the-game-designer-playing-through-his-own-psyche