Lovely, endearing, and earnest. Brought me back to the simple, inquisitive mentality of a kid without being infantilizing. It's a nostalgia bomb, but in a way that feels honest, pure, and celebratory of a moment in life as opposed to just pandering to your memories.

After the initial novelty wore off, I actually became a bit bored with the slow pace and lack of objectives until eventually getting into the groove of the core gameplay loop. At first I was under the impression that the game was just about meandering around the island, relaxing and doing whatever until all of the days pass. What I came to find though, and what ultimately hooked me on the game, was that there's a large focus on time management and making the most of each day before you have to go home (a la the life-sim portion of modern Persona games for example). I thought that a totally laid-back island sandbox experience was what I wanted, but after a few hours I was much happier to find that there is some tension-and-release gamification here through the time management and exploration.

Boku 2's action-less gameplay is made compelling by rewarding your exploration with excellent writing and atmosphere. Every character you meet on the island is likable with distinct personalities, motivations, and struggles that they'll clue you in on more and more as you visit them over the course of the month. While Boku 2 is a game about a child's experience and is written in a way that makes you feel as such, the dialogue is also incredibly realistic and willing to touch on heavier topics. I especially enjoyed Yoh and Yasuko's arc about overcoming their anxieties to rekindle their lost friendship. The writing helps make the game world feel so lived in, and the gorgeous still-camera locations + immaculate sound design seal the deal (I wanna live in Yasuko's observatory house so bad dude). Even the UI elements are made to be real-world objects further adding to the immersion of the island.

I love the way the game tickles your curiosity, hinting you towards things to find as you explore. A character may mention an item they left somewhere or an area you haven't been able to access yet offhand in a conversation. This is always in a way that feels natural; never feeling like a generic NPC pointing you towards an objective in a different game. Finally reaching these foretold areas or figuring out a secret and being rewarded with a delightful story event is where a lot of the joy of playing this game comes from. It delivers the sensations of freedom and discovery akin to other great exploration games like BotW or Outer Wilds (albeit with much lesser scope of course, but that's kind of the point).

Boku 2's a thought provoking game. It made me think about how I spend my time and cherish my days. It gives you a place where you feel a strong sense of belonging and only need to stress over whatever goals you set out for yourself. It made me think about what's important to me and simplifying my life. I loved that a portrayal of such a simple experience as going on childhood vacation made me this reflective.