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Stray Children

Stray Children

Released: 10/30/2025

From the creators of beloved cult-classic videogames including Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Chulip, and Rule of Rose, comes Stray Children: a bittersweet fairy tale adventure that will change the way you think about “children” and “adults”. What would you do if all the adults you know suddenly started attacking you? This is the story of children who try to survive and thrive in a world just like this, every day of their lives. Somewhere, in our world, there’s a secret room, in a secret place, filled top to bottom with ancient technology. When one young boy flips the switch on a curious old console, they’re suddenly whisked away, through the screen, into a very strange somewhere else: a long-since forgotten role playing game. Blinking awake in this peculiar new place, they find themselves in a land of children. Outside this stronghold’s walls lurk The Olders: monstrous adults, carrying the heavy load of their own inadequacies, self-doubt, and all of the grievances that grown-ups gather. Rumor has it that these creatures are starving for something, and that — out there — no one and nowhere is safe. Can you survive in this world where half-crazed adults lurk around every corner? It’s here — in this funny, mysterious, and wildly dangerous domain — that your story begins. As you explore the world of Stray Children, you’ll do turn-based battle with these oddball Olders, where you can choose to fearlessly fight or use your words as weapons, landing a crushing blow with just a well-worded whisper. Deftly dodge the relentless barrage of their bottled-up emotions, and discover the source of their strange stories. By touching their heart with your words, you might just be able to save their souls. What other mysteries await you in this weird new world? Find out in Stray Children — an unfamiliar place, with all-too-familiar troubles. We hope you’ll have fun discovering all the secrets of Stray Children, but we have one final request for anyone and everyone who finishes the game: please keep the ending a secret!

From the creators of beloved cult-classic videogames including Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Chulip, and Rule of Rose, comes Stray Children: a bittersweet fairy tale adventure that will change the way you think about “children” and “adults”. What would you do if all the adults you know suddenly started attacking you? This is the story of children who try to survive and thrive in a world just like this, every day of their lives. Somewhere, in our world, there’s a secret room, in a secret place, filled top to bottom with ancient technology. When one young boy flips the switch on a curious old console, they’re suddenly whisked away, through the screen, into a very strange somewhere else: a long-since forgotten role playing game. Blinking awake in this peculiar new place, they find themselves in a land of children. Outside this stronghold’s walls lurk The Olders: monstrous adults, carrying the heavy load of their own inadequacies, self-doubt, and all of the grievances that grown-ups gather. Rumor has it that these creatures are starving for something, and that — out there — no one and nowhere is safe. Can you survive in this world where half-crazed adults lurk around every corner? It’s here — in this funny, mysterious, and wildly dangerous domain — that your story begins. As you explore the world of Stray Children, you’ll do turn-based battle with these oddball Olders, where you can choose to fearlessly fight or use your words as weapons, landing a crushing blow with just a well-worded whisper. Deftly dodge the relentless barrage of their bottled-up emotions, and discover the source of their strange stories. By touching their heart with your words, you might just be able to save their souls. What other mysteries await you in this weird new world? Find out in Stray Children — an unfamiliar place, with all-too-familiar troubles. We hope you’ll have fun discovering all the secrets of Stray Children, but we have one final request for anyone and everyone who finishes the game: please keep the ending a secret!

From the creators of beloved cult-classic videogames including Moon: Remix RPG Adventure, Chulip, and Rule of Rose, comes Stray Children: a bittersweet fairy tale adventure that will change the way you think about “children” and “adults”. What would you do if all the adults you know suddenly started attacking you? This is the story of children who try to survive and thrive in a world just like this, every day of their lives. Somewhere, in our world, there’s a secret room, in a secret place, filled top to bottom with ancient technology. When one young boy flips the switch on a curious old console, they’re suddenly whisked away, through the screen, into a very strange somewhere else: a long-since forgotten role playing game. Blinking awake in this peculiar new place, they find themselves in a land of children. Outside this stronghold’s walls lurk The Olders: monstrous adults, carrying the heavy load of their own inadequacies, self-doubt, and all of the grievances that grown-ups gather. Rumor has it that these creatures are starving for something, and that — out there — no one and nowhere is safe. Can you survive in this world where half-crazed adults lurk around every corner? It’s here — in this funny, mysterious, and wildly dangerous domain — that your story begins. As you explore the world of Stray Children, you’ll do turn-based battle with these oddball Olders, where you can choose to fearlessly fight or use your words as weapons, landing a crushing blow with just a well-worded whisper. Deftly dodge the relentless barrage of their bottled-up emotions, and discover the source of their strange stories. By touching their heart with your words, you might just be able to save their souls. What other mysteries await you in this weird new world? Find out in Stray Children — an unfamiliar place, with all-too-familiar troubles. We hope you’ll have fun discovering all the secrets of Stray Children, but we have one final request for anyone and everyone who finishes the game: please keep the ending a secret!

Critics
87
Steam
80

Score Breakdown

87.0

Critic Average

10 reviews

80

Steam User Score

199 reviews

N/A

Metacritic User Score

Less than 20 reviews

Disparity Breakdown

Steam Disparity
+7.1
Metacritic Disparity
N/A
Combined Disparity
+7.1

Average of both sources

Review Timing

9 launch window (90%)1 late (10%)

Review summary

Updated Oct 19, 2026

Based on 10 scored critic reviews, critics give this game an average score of 87.0/100. Critics score this game 7.1 points higher than Steam users.

How these comparisons are calculated
Sources behind this summary(5 recent of 10)+
  1. Throgmorton BelmontviaNiche Gamer
    Jan 9, 2026·Late review
    90/100View review
    Steam 79.9/100 · +10.1 pts
  2. Roland IngramviaNintendo Life
    Dec 25, 2025·Launch window
    80/100View review
    Steam 79.9/100 · +0.1 pts
  3. Matheus AlexandreviaNintendo Blast
    Nov 23, 2025·Launch window
    75/100View review
    Steam 79.9/100 · -4.9 pts
  4. Coller EntragianviaCubed3
    Nov 19, 2025·Launch window
    80/100View review
    Steam 79.9/100 · +0.1 pts
  5. Oliver ShelldingviaWayTooManyGames
    Nov 14, 2025·Launch window
    95/100View review
    Steam 79.9/100 · +15.1 pts