and Roger, the critically acclaimed visual novel from Japanese indie developer Yona, has launched on Nintendo Switch 2 and mobile devices. Originally released for PC and Nintendo Switch in July 2025, the game has won multiple awards and was nominated for the Game Beyond Entertainment category at this year's BAFTAs, losing to Despelote. Our review confirms it deserves all the praise, though explaining why without spoilers is challenging.
A Story Told Through Gameplay
The game begins with a young girl, Sofia, waking up to find her father missing and a stranger sleeping on her sofa. The eerie atmosphere intensifies as the stranger downplays her concerns and insists she take unspecified medicine, while Sofia's grasp on reality deteriorates. and Roger conveys her distress through oppressive music, a dark color palette, and simple art direction.
The core gameplay consists of minigames interspersed with short dialogue sequences. Unlike games like WarioWare, and Roger never tells you what to do; you must experiment to progress. Most minigames involve clicking unmarked buttons, dragging objects, or moving a cursor. This simplicity quickly makes you feel Sofia's confusion and panic.
Immersive Minigames and Emotional Impact
For example, brushing her teeth requires clicking buttons for each step without knowing their functions, leading to mistakes like brushing without toothpaste. During panicky moments, the game presents multiple non-functional buttons, forcing you to click frantically until you find the right one. Moments of calm feature brighter colors, softer music, and relaxing tasks like hoovering or finding a route to a bakery, but the darker mood inevitably returns.
The story's true nature and themes are subtly revealed as you progress, with the ending perhaps over-explaining but still delivering a poignant realization about the symbolism behind every minigame. According to Yona, the goal was to 'express the protagonist’s situation, the setting, and emotions not through words, but through gameplay itself.'
Short but Sweet: Length and Value
The entire game can be completed in less than an hour with almost no replay value, but it makes perfect use of its short runtime as a one-time experience. At only £4.29 (currently discounted to £3), it's incredibly affordable. While it controls fine with analog sticks, the Switch 2's mouse controls are ideal. Surprisingly, there's no touchscreen option, though the minigames would suit it well.
and Roger is an experience unique to video games; a short film or comic would lose its impact. Seeing Sofia's journey through her eyes and the game's obfuscation of its story make her emotions—anxiety, loneliness, frustration—palpable. Combined with its low price, there's no excuse not to play it.
and Roger Review Summary
In short: Despite its brevity, and Roger's subtle storytelling and immersive minigames create an accomplished interactive experience everyone can appreciate.
Pros: Fantastic, subtle storytelling; minigames rich with symbolism; charming, simplistic art conveying deep emotion; very low price.
Cons: Less subtle in final moments; zero replay value.
Score: 9/10
Formats: Nintendo Switch 2 (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, Android
Price: £4.29
Publisher: Kodansha
Developer: TearyHand Studio
Release Date: 17th July 2026
Age Rating: 7
