Emily is Away

Emily Is Away, a game released to Steam in 2015, is going to bring you back to a time before Facebook even existed with the instant messenger on Windows XP. Of course, the developers don't have the right to use AOL Instant Messenger or Windows XP but the interface of the game clearly mimics it.

Very Simply Game

You're not going to shoot monsters or solve puzzles, you're simply going to play a game where you click multiple-choice options to respond to an old-school AOL-style instant messenger chat. In fact, the entire game is played just by having instant messaging conversations.

You’re Going To Feel Nostalgic

If Emily Is Away accomplishes anything it's the fact that it's going to make you feel completely nostalgic. If you're old enough to remember what Windows XP was or AOL Instant Messenger, then this game really will feel different to you. The art style mimics the two as much as possible but it still takes an indie-game pixel-art spin on them. If you're familiar with the Tiny Tower games, then you'll know the aesthetic the game is looking for. You will be transported back to a time when you spent hours a day chatting with your friends.

There Is Some Semblance Of A Story

You’re not just going to open Emily Is Away and start randomly chatting with strangers on the internet. There is some semblance of a story. Unfortunately, the game is only half an hour long. Fortunately, it is free-to-play so you’re not wasting anything other than your time and your computer’s hard drive space.

You play a protagonist who is in love with this girl named Emily in your school. You’re trying to stay in contact with her after you both go your separate ways in college. There really is no deviation to the story, unfortunately, so it’s just a visual novel that has maybe one or two alternatives.

Pros

• Nostalgic
• Free-to-play
• Simple

Cons

• Too short
• No variation in the story based on decision-making
• Characters are too one-dimensional