I love a good story. Seriously, who doesn’t? From wrestling to real life to gacha games and more, a good story is hard to come by. Regardless of its content, transcending differences and making it relatable adds up to its depth in a meaningful way. I never expected myself to want more out of a demo, but here we are now.
Recently, on the PhilStar Tech Facebook page, I played through the demo of Jeepney Stories, and it was a delightful hodgepodge of cozy vibes, fun dialogue, and an underlying plot. It actually made me and the other viewers genuinely frustrated with the cliffhanger at the end.
What even is Jeepney Stories, you may ask? As per the Jeepney Stories page over on itch.io and Steam, it’s a heartwarming, slice-of-life, funny, and chill visual novel about family, chances, getting old, and living in the third world, set in the bustling city of Manila, Philippines.
It hits close to home in all the right places with random conversations ranging from having pancit canton and pandesal to the daily commute, even with a storm. The writing was endearing, with the Jeepney’s driver, Mang Paldo, being a charismatic senior doing his best with the situation. I could feel the Filipino sense of resilience in him through his general demeanor and dad jokes along the way.
Speaking of comfort, the art and music were the definition of cozy. Each drawing was hand-drawn through Procreate, giving a fun, quirky aesthetic. I was genuinely amused with the facade of the Jeep moving to and from each stop. On the topic of the musical choices used for the demo, there were genuine moments when I had to stop and appreciate it for a good minute. I rarely, if ever, lull into a daze while streaming, but the game got me good that way.
I almost forgot to mention what piqued my interest after a playthrough of the game, and that’s the story being told. You see, as a Jeepney driver in Jeepney Stories, you’ll have to make decisions on whether or not you’ll give the right change, and apparently, it alters the game’s trajectory. While I went the safe route in my playthrough and gave exact change, I’m sure this will be explored in the final version.
Jeepney Stories is a fun visual novel that hits close to home, bundled in a cozy little package. If you’re interested in trying out the demo or seeing more from the Kuyi Mobile team, check out their itch.io links, wishlist Jeepney Stories on Steam, and try out more games from Kuyi Mobile like Clinko down below.
- https://kuyimobile.itch.io/jeepney
- https://store.steampowered.com/app/3203470/Jeepney_Stories/
- https://kuyimobile.itch.io/clinko
Speaking of Clinko…
If you’re looking for another fun and addictive game from Kuyi Mobile, Clinko offers an arcade-style experience that combines strategy and pure luck. Inspired by classic pachinko machines, this casual game challenges you to drop balls strategically to maximize your score while unlocking power-ups and bonuses along the way. It’s a perfect pick-up-and-play game for when you need a quick gaming fix!
To share the love, we’re hosting a Clinko giveaway where three (3) lucky winners will receive game codes to unlock the full version of Clinko! Joining is easy — simply enter the raffle below and follow the instructions for a chance to win. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to try out Clinko and experience its unique charm firsthand.
GAME CODE GIVEAWAY: CLINKOGood luck, and happy gaming!