Borstal

[h1] Seems boring like waiting for a train... [/h1]

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Borstal is an unusual blend of genres that feels like a forgotten interactive paperback brought to life. Developed and published by The Secret Pie, the game combines survival mechanics, procedural generation, and narrative-driven decision-making into a compact package that is more interested in tension and atmosphere than flashy presentation. Released during a period when survival games were largely focused on crafting and open worlds, Borstal instead takes a minimalist approach, asking players to survive through careful choices and adaptability. It presents itself as a collection of short survival stories, each designed to be replayed multiple times, and while its ambitions occasionally exceed its scope, there is a distinct identity here that separates it from more conventional indie releases. The game features two separate adventures, each centered around an isolated struggle against nature. The first follows a young boy in 1926 who becomes stranded on a mysterious island while searching for his missing father. The second shifts to the role of a climber attempting to survive the ascent of a towering mountain. Both scenarios emphasize vulnerability and uncertainty, making every a…

I hate this game with all of my heart. RNG slop. No skill required except elementary pattern recognition. Insanely hard ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ game. But. Its a good game.

I am 32 years old. My ex-wife and I have a daughter together, and we adopted our son together. Both are now 4 years old. When we were going through our separation, I felt lost and unhappy. I was self-destructive. One day, I was so angry with everything spiraling out of control that I punched a concrete wall in a moment of overwhelming emotion. This resulted in breaking my fifth metacarpal in my right hand—the hand I worked with, played games with, and used to carry my children to bed—the hand I desperately needed to ensure I could continue providing. Upon learning the severity of the self-inflicted damage, I became almost suicidal. Keep in mind that just a few months before this, I was the happiest man, with no history of depression or anxiety. I had never experienced anger outbursts, nor was I the type to break down and cry, but I was in a tough situation that truly prevented me from seeing the light on the other side. With nothing better to do, I looked for a game I could play WITH ONE HAND while recovering. Somehow, I stumbled upon this game and read some of the comments. I decided it was worth a try... I must admit I didn't beat the game, nor did I play as much as some of y…

Decision based roguelike. With heavy focus on repeating runs. Don't delve long on lost run.