In a landscape dominated by roguelikes and Metroidvanias, one of the year's standout indie titles takes a radically different path. Consume Me, a semi-autobiographical game about the trials of university life and personal struggle, has emerged as a critically acclaimed gem, winning the Grand Prize at the 2025 Independent Game Festival (IGF).
This PC-only title, developed primarily by Jenny Jiao Hsia with assistance from a small team, offers a poignant and witty simulation of teenage student life, focusing on a protagonist grappling with an eating disorder. Released on 24th September 2025 and priced at £12.79, it represents Jiao Hsia's most celebrated work to date.
A Deeply Personal Gameplay Experience
Players take on the role of a fictionalised teenage 'Jenny', managing a strict daily timetable to balance stats like mood, energy, and money. The core challenge revolves around meal times and exercise, directly reflecting the protagonist's disorder. Meal planning becomes an inventive minigame reminiscent of a Resident Evil 4 suitcase puzzle, where players must fit Tetris-shaped food items to hit energy goals while minimising 'bites'.
As the story progresses, Jenny's schedule becomes unmanageably busy, incorporating studying, chores for pocket money, and eventually dating. The game cleverly uses a variety of brief, WarioWare-style minigames to depict everyday activities, from applying makeup to social interactions, each capturing Jenny's rising frustration with charming absurdity.
More Than Just a 'Walking Sim'
While many narrative-driven games opt for passive 'walking simulator' formats, Consume Me is unapologetically a traditional video game. It demands strategic time management, where every choice carries weight. Players can unlock perks to streamline routines or extend available time, though actions like staying up late come with consequences.
The game deftly handles serious themes—societal pressure, an overbearing mother, and self-doubt—without becoming pretentious or preachy. Its low-tech, Microsoft Paint-esque visuals perfectly complement the honest and relatable tone. While the narrative features multiple endings and some pacing issues, the overall experience is uniquely compelling.
Why This Indie Title Deserves Your Attention
Consume Me succeeds as a funny, touching, and endearingly honest portrait of difficult youth. It fills a void in gaming by letting players step into the shoes of an ordinary person with real-world problems, a stark contrast to the industry's typical action heroes and gods.
Its strengths are clear:
- A premise that works: Life simulation blended with fun minigames and difficult scheduling.
- Serious yet accessible: It tackles heavy themes without being patronising.
- Authentic presentation: The simple graphics and tone are a perfect match.
Some repetition is inherent to the design, and the endings can feel anticlimactic, reflecting the game's message that life doesn't offer neat solutions. However, with a score of 8/10, Consume Me stands as a perfect example of the unique, meaningful experiences only indie development can provide, wholly divorced from the monetised cynicism of triple-A gaming. It is a title that truly deserves its accolades and a chance from players seeking something genuinely different.
