Video games: Chicory and the ache of being an artist
Playing Chicory: A Colorful Tale “feels like a kind act of self-care,” said Shannon Liao in The Washington Post. Created by Greg Lobanov and published by the indie studio Finji, this soothing puzzle game about a dog with a magical paintbrush “reminds players to slow down, enjoy the finer things in life, take care of the community, but also, just do you.” The whimsical coloring-book adventure—“one of the best releases this year”—also explores mental health issues, and how they affect artists in particular. The title character, a rabbit, is a master brush wielder who is responsible for painting the world, said Rebekah Valentine in IGN.com. Chicory struggles with impostor syndrome, though, so she leaves her brush to you, a dog janitor you get to name yourself. Soon, you discover that a growing darkness tied to Chicory’s struggles is troubling people wherever you go. As you paint your way from town to town, restoring color to the world, you take part in “disarmingly real” but “always kind” conversations about issues such as workaholism and self-doubt. The advice you’ll hear “is at all times empathetic, but doesn’t sugarcoat.” When I played, my conversations with Chicory were “heartwrenchingly relatable,” said Ash Parrish in Kotaku.com. To you, she’s accomplished and creative, “so why does she talk down to herself, hate herself, and lash out at people who only want to help her?” The eventual resolution of the conflicts she generates feels uplifting yet authentic. “If you ever needed to know how to repair a relationship after a seemingly unforgivable rift, a couple of hours with Chicory will show you how.”