Closer the Distance: A cozy life sim that pulls at your heartstrings

Closer the Distance, is a total rollercoaster of emotions. It’s one of those games that sticks with you. The game revolves around a small-town girl named Angela who, sadly, has passed away in a car accident. 

You begin your emotional journey playing the role of Angela’s sister, Conny. But as you progress, you won’t be playing as one person. You will switch between different characters, such as the village doctor, Angela’s boyfriend, and other townsfolk. This way, you will experience how everyone’s dealing with losing her.

No doubt that Closer the Distance is a cozy game. But be warned. It’s a tearjerker. It’s about death and grief, and also about hope and healing – A mix of Life is Strange and The Sims, but with a way more serious story.

I liked how you can make choices that change things for the characters. It feels like your actions matter a lot. And the music? Oh man, it’s beautiful and fits the mood.

Closer the Distance is a life sim game. So you’re running around, completing tasks for these NPCs. You will also need to keep an eye on how they’re feeling if they’re hungry, tired, or just plain stressed. I found it quite tough to balance everyone’s needs, especially when it came to that boat house place.

The low poly graphics complement well with the overall setting! It’s got this brilliant art style that’s different from most games I play. You can have a glimpse of every character in the house, their actions and behavior. The characters look so real, and the world feels alive. It’s like stepping into a painting.

If you’re into cozy games that make you feel something, Closer the Distance is definitely for you. Just be ready to cry. A lot.

Developed by Osmotic Studios and published by Skybound Games, Closer the Distance was released on August 2, 2024. It’s on Steam and was also launched on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Series S.