Boyhood's End

About

Boyhood's End is a narrative-driven adventure where a boy with the lowest possible human score escapes his torment at school by boarding a rogue intergalactic train. Giovanni faces relentless bullying and forced experiments meant to make him "more human" when a chaotic genius named Campanella recruits him for a heist on a driverless railroad. The duo's mission: find the Crimson Southern Cross, a legendary artifact at the universe's edge. Their journey takes them through surreal encounters with warped historical figures, destructive pranks, and existential questions about identity. Puzzle elements and dialogue choices shape their path as they figure out a story about growing up in a world that sees people as data points. The game's bold premise, bullying as systemic dehumanization, with a train ride as a metaphor for adolescence, sets it apart from typical school-set stories. With a runtime around 10-12 hours, it leans into absurdist humor and philosophical themes, offering a niche but memorable experience. Early access feedback highlights the writing's sharp edge and the train's evolving atmosphere, though some note the pacing can feel uneven during side detours. Best for players who enjoy character-driven tales with a touch of cosmic chaos.

Storyline

The protagonist, Giovanni, has the lowest human score among the entire human race. Every day, he receives "special treatment" for everything including his meals and classes. On top of that, he gets bullied relentlessly by his classmates at the School, both in real life and online. But one day, everything and everyone in the school starts attacking Giovanni, trying to "remake" him and raise his human score by making him "more human". A senior student, the famously eccentric genius Campanella, reaches out to Giovanni, and they hop onto (and take over) a driverless train on the galactic railroad. And so, Giovanni gets swept up in a journey to find the "Crimson Southern Cross", located at the farthest edge of the universe. On their journey, the boys will meet great leaders of the past and pull reckless and destructive "pranks" on them all. Through their encounters with the history, twisted mysteries, and various horrors of the world, they will eventually have to confront the end of their own childhood. Oh, did you hear that? The boys are (pointlessly) sounding the train whistle. Looks like it's time for the galactic express to depart.