Consume Me

Consume Me is an autobiographical, life-sim strategy game that blends time management and minigames to depict the protagonist Jenny's struggles with dieting, body image, and the pressures of teenage life as a child of immigrant Asian parents. Players juggle daily tasks, balancing stats like hunger, energy, and happiness, while pursuing goals that grow increasingly challenging from high school through college. The gameplay is engaging and cleverly tied to the narrative, providing a satisfying yet stressful experience that captures the anxiety and complexity of adolescence.

The game is praised for its unique art style, witty writing, and evocative soundtrack, which together create a charming and heartfelt atmosphere. However, a significant portion of players express discomfort with a sudden shift in tone during the later chapters, where religious themes and unskippable church scenes are introduced without prior warning. This shift, coupled with perceived narrative shortcomings in exploring eating disorder consequences and an abrupt ending, divides player opinion. Despite these criticisms, Consume Me remains a memorable and impactful indie title that resonates deeply with many players.

Highlights

Players highly praise Consume Me's innovative gameplay mechanics that combine life-sim scheduling with WarioWare-style minigames, creating a compelling and relatable experience. The game's unique and charming art style, blending pixel and 3D elements, alongside a catchy and fitting soundtrack, enhances immersion. The autobiographical storyline effectively portrays the pressures of adolescence, body image issues, and cultural expectations, often striking an emotional chord. Many appreciate how gameplay and narrative intertwine seamlessly, offering both humor and heartfelt moments. The game's depiction of anxiety and burnout through mechanics is noted as particularly clever and authentic.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the abrupt introduction of Christian religious themes late in the game, which some players found jarring, preachy, or triggering, especially given the lack of content warnings. The final chapters reduce gameplay significantly, replaced by lengthy unskippable cutscenes and meta-narrative elements that some found disengaging. Several reviewers felt the game underexplored the serious consequences of eating disorders, sometimes rewarding perfectionism in a way that contradicts its themes. The repetitive nature of minigames and occasional narrative inconsistencies also drew mild complaints. Overall, the ending and religious content are the main sources of dissatisfaction.