Growing Up

About Growing Up

Growing Up drops you into the role of a character starting as a toddler and growing all the way to adulthood. Vile Monarch released this hybrid title on PC and iOS in October 2021. It mixes arcade action with simulator mechanics and visual novel storytelling to track your life span. You navigate school days, manage daily schedules, and explore an open city while developing skills. Every decision shapes your career path and romantic future. The loop does not end when you become an adult either because the game lets you live through your child's life. This setup creates a generational saga where your early choices ripple forward. It feels like a personal story engine rather than a standard simulation with fixed objectives.

Gameplay

Your day begins with a schedule you must fill. You choose between homework, play, chores, or exploring the city outside. These actions raise stats for things like intelligence or fitness. The game uses point-and-click navigation where you move your avatar through different locations to trigger events. School scenes involve quick timing tests or simple puzzles during class. Social interactions happen through dialogue trees that determine friendship levels or romance chances. Once you hit adulthood, the focus shifts to career progression and finding a partner. Having a child unlocks a new playthrough with your offspring. The controls remain simple throughout these transitions. You spend most of your time making micro-decisions about how to spend your limited daily hours.

What Players Think

PlayPile data shows IGDB users rated this game 79.4 out of 100 based on seventeen reviews. Most players spend between fifteen and twenty hours in a single session before moving to the next generation. The community mood leans toward nostalgic appreciation with frequent mentions of emotional moments during character death or family milestones. Review snippets highlight the satisfaction of seeing long-term consequences from toddler choices. Completion rates suggest many players finish at least one full lifecycle, though finishing three generations remains a niche goal. Some critics note the game can feel repetitive after the first adult cycle. Despite this, the high engagement numbers indicate players return to experiment with different career paths and relationship outcomes.

PlayPile's Take

This title is worth buying if you enjoy long-form narrative simulations over fast-paced arcade challenges. The cheapest price sits around 12.79 dollars on Green Man Gaming which fits a budget indie purchase. You will unlock several achievements for completing specific family milestones or reaching certain career levels. Players who prefer short sessions might find the generational loop too slow. Those interested in seeing how small choices alter a character's entire life trajectory should try it. The game lacks polished graphics but delivers a compelling story engine that stands out from typical sims. Go for this if you want to build a family tree and watch it unfold over multiple playthroughs.

Storyline

Experience the entire journey from toddler to adulthood as you learn new skills, participate in various activities, develop your mind, manage your daily schedule, explore the city, forge friendships, and survive through school. Upon reaching adulthood, your future career, as well as your romantic partner will be revealed to you as you continue the legacy of your family by having a child of your own! And then... experience the life of your child, as the cycle begins anew, and brand new adventures await you!