Fishbowl is short. Maybe two hours. But it does something in those two hours that most games don’t manage in twenty: it tells the truth about what starting over actually feels like. Not the inspirational version. The real one, where you’re sitting in a new city with your grandmother’s things and you don’t know what comes next.
I played it in one sitting and sat quietly for a while afterwards. That’s not a common experience for me. It earned it.
What it is
A narrative game about Aloe, who moves to a new city after losing her grandmother. You make choices about how she processes it: who she talks to, what she keeps, how she spends her time. Multiple endings. No wrong choices. Short enough to replay if you want to see how other paths feel.
Available on PC (Steam, Steam Deck verified) and PlayStation 5.
Why it helps when you’re running on empty
Fishbowl is emotionally specific in a way that feels rare. It’s gentle enough not to demand too much of you, but honest enough to make you feel something real. The choices matter but don’t punish. The story is short enough that you can hold the whole thing in one sitting. You might recognise yourself in it. That’s the point.
For anyone carrying something they haven’t quite named yet.
not sure if this is the right game for you right now? there’s a quiz that matches you to a cosy game based on how burnt out you are. two minutes.
