- A watercolor-inspired healing puzzle that reconstructs life while sorting through the deceased’s belongings
- Between what to discard and what to keep… Stimulating emotions with a story of life and death contained in a puzzle
UK-based developer Lab42 Games and publisher Secret Mode present ‘A Storyd Life: Tabitha,’ an emotional narrative puzzle game where you rewrite a person’s life while sorting through the deceased’s belongings. Released ‘(A Storied Life: Tabitha)’ on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
The game is a quiet yet deeply resonant work that combines a unique structure where the protagonist’s life changes depending on the player’s choices with watercolor-style art and delicate sound.
Rewriting Her Life While Organizing the Deceased’s Home
The game begins with a visit to the mansion left behind by the late elderly woman, Tabitha. She had soon signed a contract with a publisher to publish her memoirs, but the manuscript was damaged in an unfortunate accident. The player must explore the house, organize her belongings, and fill in the blanks of the memoirs based on the memories contained within her mementos.
After examining the items in each room, you must choose whether to keep them, sell them at auction, or recycle them. Since you can only hold memories in a single box, careful consideration is required regarding what to keep and what to give up.
Memories contained in a single box… A combination of physics puzzles and narrative
Items must be rotated or arranged to pack the box as efficiently as possible. Flexible items, such as letters, can be folded to save space, and in some cases, the box must be reinforced with tape due to weight limits. Fragile items should be placed among soft items or wrapped in bubble wrap. Sometimes, new stories are revealed as items get damaged.
Each item placed in a box is assigned an associated set of words, and the story is completed by combining these words to fill in the blanks of Tabitha’s memoirs. Depending on the player’s choices, Tabitha can be portrayed as a loving mother, a passionate botanist, or a figure immersed in mysticism.
A cozy English countryside crafted with watercolor sensibility
The game conveys a visually comfortable atmosphere through a hand-drawn art style complete with clean lines and warm colors. The English country cottage, depicted with picture-like detail, features delicate sound design elements such as creaking cupboard doors and the soft rustling of a sweater, providing an immersive experience that feels like exploring a real space.
The visual effect of the space appearing increasingly empty as rooms are cleared out one by one quietly emphasizes the game’s theme. Both the art and the soundtrack are praised for fitting well with the overall atmosphere.
Developer Lab42 Games × Publisher Secret Mode
The game originated from an idea by writer Cherish Goldstraw. She brought the concept to Studio Director Terry Goodwin, which led to the formation of a team within Lab42 Games, and subsequently, a publishing contract was signed with Secret Mode.
Lab42 Games is a UK-based studio under Sumo Digital that has been responsible for porting various titles, including Sonic Mania, Forza Motorsport, A Little to the Left, and Metal: Hellsinger VR. Secret Mode is also a partner that has already built a relationship of trust with Lab42 through its publishing experience with titles such as A Little to the Left and Wobble Dogs.
Media & Community… ‘Thumbs up’ for emotional narrative and unique puzzle structure
Overseas media outlets took note of the emotional narrative and unique puzzle structure. Along with expectations that it would provide an impressive experience on Steam Deck, reviews continued to highlight the game’s standout method of gradually building up emotions.
One media outlet gave a favorable review, stating, “The game handled the somewhat heavy themes of death and what is left behind with dignity and succeeded in turning sadness in a positive direction,” and particularly praised how the hand-drawn art and sound design completed a sentimental atmosphere.
Positive initial reactions have been continuing on the Steam community since launch, with reviews such as “a healing hidden object, a game that has carved out a unique niche in the unboxing genre” being posted. The development team also expressed gratitude for the users’ appreciation, calling it “the most rewarding project.”
Information regarding ‘A Storied Life: Tabitha’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Lab42 Games (UK Remington Spa, under Sumo Digital) |
| Publisher | Secret Mode |
| Genre | Narrative Puzzle, Cozy |
| Release platform | PC (Steam), Nintendo Switch |
| Release date | April 14, 2026 |
| price | $14.99 / £12.99 (10% Steam launch discount applied) |
| background | Yorkshire, UK, Lavender Lace cottage |
| core system | Puzzle of sorting and storing遺品, completion of the memoir, multiple endings |
| Steam Page | https://store.steampowered.com/app/3749330/A_Storied_Life_Tabitha/ |
