Video games often lean into fantasy—dragons, epic wars, supernatural powers. But Consume Me, an award-winning indie title from Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson, takes the opposite route. Instead of escapism, it drops players into the everyday battles of adolescence: dieting culture, body image, academic stress, and the search for identity.
This semi-autobiographical life sim, which won the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival, uses playful mechanics and zany WarioWare-style minigames to tell a deeply personal story. It’s not always comfortable, but it is honest, witty, and unlike anything else in gaming.
Story and Themes
At its core, Consume Me follows Jenny, a teenager in New York City navigating the pressures of high school, relationships, and her own insecurities. Her obsession with dieting begins as the central hook—players monitor “Bites” instead of calories, trying to keep meals under par for weekly weigh-ins.
But the game quickly broadens. Dieting soon takes a back seat to a cascade of responsibilities: chores, studying, dating, college prep, even spiritual exploration. Each chapter covers a different stage of Jenny’s adolescence, balancing humor with raw depictions of eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and the weight of parental expectations.
What makes the narrative powerful is its refusal to fit into a neat arc. There is no tidy climax or moralizing finale. Instead, Jenny evolves naturally, her goals shifting as life does. This messy honesty gives Consume Me its resonance—life rarely resolves cleanly, and the game embraces that truth.
Consume Me Gameplay
Mechanically, Consume Me is part life sim, part minigame collection. Players juggle Jenny’s time, energy, mood, guts (fullness), and bite count on a strict daily schedule. Every choice—whether to study, exercise, or spend time with a boyfriend—has trade-offs.
Food Management
- Meals are puzzles where tetromino-like food pieces must fit neatly into a lunchbox.
- Each food has a Bite value; going over risks binge-eating penalties, while under-eating triggers hunger spirals.
- Feeding items to Jenny’s dog can relieve pressure, but it’s still a game of chance.
Minigames
Every responsibility comes alive through quirky microgames:
- Yoga: Match poses with Jenny’s wobbly limbs.
- Laundry: Nail timing to fold clothes properly.
- Dog Walking: Dodge poop and bananas while grabbing cash.
- Studying: Align Jenny’s darting gaze with textbook pages.
The design cleverly mirrors teenage chaos. Like WarioWare, you’re constantly pulled from one task to the next, barely able to catch your breath. The repetition can feel tiring, but that fatigue is intentional—it reflects Jenny’s overwhelming schedule.
Presentation and Style
Visually, Consume Me bursts with pastel colors, doodle-like art, and playful animations that contrast its heavy subject matter. The entire game feels like flipping through a teenager’s scrapbook, complete with scribbled notes and whimsical sketches.
The audio complements the vibe with bouncy, slightly offbeat tunes and charming “Peanuts-style” muffled voices. The overall presentation leans into wit and absurdity, softening the edges of an otherwise heavy story.
Strengths
- Authenticity: Jenny’s perspective feels deeply personal without being preachy.
- Creative Minigames: Everyday tasks become inventive and symbolic gameplay loops.
- Visual Charm: Bright, playful art direction balances the darker themes.
- Layered Systems: Time, mood, and resource management add depth to the narrative.
Weaknesses
- Repetitiveness: Some minigames overstay their welcome, making chapters drag.
- Tone Shifts: Later story elements—like Jenny’s flirtation with religion—may feel abrupt for some players.
- Gameplay vs. Narrative: The realism of stressful repetition can border on tedious, testing patience.
Final Verdict
Consume Me isn’t a traditional “fun” game—it’s a personal, semi-autobiographical work that challenges players to inhabit the pressures of teenage life. Its combination of heartfelt storytelling, inventive mechanics, and scrapbook-like presentation makes it one of the most distinctive indie releases of the year.
It may not be for everyone. Those seeking a breezy life sim might find its cycles draining, while others will be moved by its honesty and wit. But if you’re open to a game that blurs the line between autobiography and interactive art, Consume Me is an experience worth sitting with. Play Now!
Score: 8/10 – Honest, stressful, and uniquely heartfelt.
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