In video games, protagonists come from all walks of life and ages. However, it isn’t common to find games that focus on college-age protagonists and their thoughts around schooling, society, and ambition. Considering how personal a character’s decisions can be through their final teen years and early twenties, video games that focus on this influential time often stand out and resonate with players.
There may not be many games with college-age protagonists, but they make the importance of young adulthood evident. Whether protagonists from these games are enrolled in school or pursuing another option, their position as young or inexperienced characters makes them compelling narrators for their stories.
7 In The Days Of My Life
In the Days of my Life is an indie game in development by Redamantine Studio. When the game is released, it will follow a young college student named Dewi, who has to overcome many personal and moral dilemmas as she studies to create a better future for herself.
Dewi’s story will take place in an Indonesian city, allowing many players to learn about popular Indonesian pastimes and the opportunities available to the average high school graduate. As she adjusts to city life after moving from the countryside, taking on jobs, making friends, and managing her mental health will open many challenging and rewarding paths.
6 Steins;Gate
While attending a meeting on time travel, the self-proclaimed mad scientist Rintaro Okabe finds the dead body of a young woman named Kurisu Makise. However, shortly after reporting her death, the world around him changes. People disappear, and Makise comes back to life. As they investigate the strange events together and experiment with inventions, Okabe and Makise realize they have the power to send messages to the past and influence reality.
Steins;Gate primarily focuses on the alternate timelines created by Okabe and Mikase throughout the visual novel. Although both are only eighteen, their determination, ambition, and intelligence determine the course of humanity.
5 Layton Brothers: Mystery Room
Layton Brothers: Mystery Room is a spin-off of the Professor Layton series. In Mystery Room, players solve complicated murders as the newest member of a specialized division of Scotland Yard, Lucy Baker. Having just completed her detective exams, Lucy is akin to a recent graduate with little experience in her role.
Luckily, she receives guidance from the intuitive Alfendi Layton. Together, they not only manage to find the culprit for each murder, but Lucy also helps Alfendi reconnect with a suppressed part of his personality.
4 Horizon Zero Dawn
Horizon Zero Dawn takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where herds of technological beasts roam around, attacking human villages where people prioritize their connection with nature. The game follows Aloy, a 19-year-old outcast who sees technology as a tool but wants to be accepted by others. To prove her worth to herself and others, she hones skills that the village values while exploring the world around her.
While traditional college no longer exists in the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, Aloy learns the secrets of the past that others have forgotten and uses them to help her form her identity. On her journey, she gains confidence, but not without the burden of doubt. In a way, Aloy still has a coming-of-age experience similar to college, even as she must acknowledge that that particular path is not an option for her.
3 Witchbrook
In contrast to many other games about college, Witchbrook has a more relaxed, life-simulator approach. In the magical indie game, players will control a witch-in-training who attends classes and extracurricular activities at Witchbrook College to improve their magical skills and befriend classmates.
As they explore the college’s seaside town, they will be able to gather plants, create potions, and form romantic relationships. After the college experience comes to a close, players can continue their studies by helping the townspeople with errands and favors that require a magical touch, showing a transition out of the school with ease.
2 Life Is Strange
Life is Strange is a popular butterfly-effect game where players control the actions of Maxine Caulfield, an aspiring photographer who realizes she has the power to control time after saving her childhood friend from being killed. Combining her ability with her love of photography, Max determines the fate of the town based on her relationships and values, reaffirming her desire to live a fulfilling life.
Although Max from Life is Strange is a traditional senior at Blackwell Academy, the school has a two-year program for seniors where students can continue to study under its famous teachers in exchange for college credit or professional experience. Before she begins manipulating time, Max is on track to transition into college-level courses and experiences soon, giving her a unique perspective on the world around her.
1 Night In The Woods
After three semesters in college, Mae Borowski returns home to the small town of Possum Springs to move in with her parents. As she walks down the streets of her childhood home, she reconnects with her friends but realizes their lives are going on without her. Plagued by mysterious dreams and cryptic happenings, Mae slowly reveals why she decided to drop out of college when her parents worked hard to provide her with the resources to grow and thrive elsewhere.
While Night in the Woods is known as a comforting game with a cozy autumn aesthetic, it delivers Mae’s mental health and conflicting feelings about growth in a realistic light. Her experiences lead her to the decisions she needs to make, even if others don’t always understand their importance.