High Times PC (Goldberg)

Decorate your shop and help customers navigate life, love, and heartbreak—one bite at a time. In a world where you can literally eat your feelings, you work at The Hotbox, a special donut shop where every donut is infused with mood enhancers that can change your customers’ emotions. But people don’t always know what they need, so from flavors that give them courage to ones that lift their spirits, it’s up to you to choose the right mood and help each troubled customer. Listen to their stories, offer advice in the form of donuts, and help mend broken relationships.

For a game at this price, the developers really exceeded expectations with the number of features included, from the way donut moods influence each character’s storyline to the enjoyable donut-making mechanics. The cast is very likable, and it’s refreshing that the main character has an established personality and backstory while still allowing for character customization. Giving the protagonist a defined role in the story makes them feel much more meaningful than a blank-slate character at High Times.

As for a few nitpicks, High Times remains enjoyable despite these minor issues, and the developers’ strong vision is evident, especially considering their previous work on The Letter, where the multiple-POV gameplay of High Times was particularly impressive. The donut-making aspect was the biggest draw, but unfortunately there isn’t much flexibility in the system, which is a shame since it’s High Times’s primary gameplay mechanic. More depth and variety would have made it feel less repetitive, although trying to guess each customer’s order can still be enjoyable at times.