Slice of life games are typically cosy farming and relationship-building jollies that perfectly accompany that under-the-blanket, vat of hot chocolate with the lights dimmed scenario where you can forget the harsh realities outside, and instead build a 'safe' version of you and your avatar in a safe environment. Miniatures is a slice of life, but the emphasis is on the meaning rather than the emerging genre.
Consisting of four self-contained stories, this somewhat experimental title takes snippets from the life and eyes of a child, covering all manner of content from loneliness to family, but only a glimpse. Unlike games such as Animal Crossing or SunnySide, these stories are brief and Miniatures can be completed in 45 minutes, though the themes and discussions (if you have any friends), will continue for much more time after its conclusion.
Jeitaro
Miniatures is an on-rails experience, though each story can be played in any order with a low demand, and depending on the themes and how they resonate with you, quite engaging in its storytelling. The first story was about the absence of a mother who ran off for a rendezvous with the Moon, another where a child is home alone collecting snails and learning the meaning of wabi sabi. A third tale is a Toy Story type musical piece on the beach, and the fourth is a very relatable flatpack furniture building exercise with family.
There's no question about it, the artwork in Miniatures is beautiful and bespoke. A bit of a cliche, but it's like playing an animated storybook, and with regards to the Moon romance, aside from clicking a few hotspots, you effectively scroll through the story (horizontally and vertically) as if fingering through the pages of a bedtime tale. The Last Sand Castle, arguably the best of the bunch, plays out like a hidden object game, The Paludarium is exploring a home whilst alone, and without any sign of booby traps, and Familiar is similar to those first-person simulations where you tap at a screw to do it up. The latter also has a very cool Bill Plympton illustration style, though the arms are very very loooooong.
Jeitaro
Other Tales have left Miniatures open for interpretation. Sure, they could tell you what it's all about, but your experiences will indicate how you feel about it. In close unison with the artwork, the themes are the standout. It could be said that these ideas are melancholy and bleak, but again, telling you that's what you'll feel could be totally different.
On the contrary, playing through Miniatures was upbeat, raised questions (not just about the secret lives of crustaceans), and even inspired an invigorated approach to art, encouraging this reviewer to take a step back from marketing for free and instead be creative for the fun of it. Thank you, Other Tales, very inspiring, and nice to be redirected to some positive childhood experiences.
