Growing Up

Life simulation, role-playing

Growing Up is a life-simulation rpg that follows a character from childhood to adulthood, focusing on education, relationships, and personal development. Players allocate time to studying, hobbies, social interactions, and part-time work while shaping personality traits and long-term career paths. The core loop revolves around time management, branching life events, and skill growth across different life stages. Its tone is reflective and character-driven, emphasizing choices and consequences over mechanical challenge.

Growing Up
0
Developer:
Vile Monarch
Publisher:
Vile Monarch
Release Date:
October 13, 2021
Platforms:
PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Who Should Play:
Players who enjoy narrative-focused life simulations and choice-driven character development.
Who Should Skip:
Players seeking action-heavy gameplay, competitive systems, or deep economic management mechanics.

Ratings

Monetization

90
Premium

Solo Friendliness

95
Yes

Grind

65
Light

Complexity

85
Accessible

Time Commitment

Main Story Hours

15

Completionist Hours

30

Gameplay

Monetization

• The game is a one-time premium purchase without microtransactions.

• There are no live-service elements or paid progression boosts.

• All life paths and story branches are included in the base game.

Solo Friendliness

• The experience is entirely designed for single-player progression.

• All narrative branches and systems operate independently of multiplayer interaction.

• Pacing is fully controlled by the player through time management decisions.

Grind

• Progression is based on time allocation rather than repetitive farming mechanics.

• Multiple life paths encourage replayability without forcing grind loops.

• Skill growth occurs naturally through scheduled activities.

Complexity

• Core systems revolve around simple time allocation and skill tracking.

• Dialogue choices and branching events add narrative depth without mechanical overload.

• Trait interactions create moderate strategic considerations across life stages.

Gallery

Full Verdict

Growing Up offers a reflective life-simulation experience built around time management, branching choices, and long-term character development from childhood to adulthood. The campaign length is moderate, with replayability stemming from alternative life paths rather than repetitive grind systems. It functions entirely as a solo narrative experience and prioritizes personal storytelling over mechanical complexity. As a premium release without aggressive monetization layers, it provides solid value for players seeking a character-focused simulation rather than high-intensity gameplay.

Ideal For

• Players interested in character-driven life progression stories.

• Fans of time management systems with narrative branching.

• Those seeking a contained simulation experience under 30 hours.

Potential Drawbacks

• Replay value may diminish after exploring several life paths.

• Mechanical depth is limited compared to complex management simulations.

• The pacing can feel slow for players who prefer constant action.