Ever wondered what it would be like to relive your formative years, but this time with better dice rolls? Coming of Age, the new life simulation board game from Spanish publisher Ludonova, arrives at retail on April 10 for $54.99.
Designed for one to four players, Coming of Age has you starting as a child and shaping your life story across multiple rounds as your character grows up. You roll dice and assign them to locations around a city, with better results opening up richer experiences but also building frustration that can hold you back in future rounds. The game tracks motivation, frustration, and willpower alongside your progress towards personal life goals, weaving in friendships, relationships, and pivotal life moments along the way.
Ludonova says the concept took nine years to develop, and reading the designer diary on their website gives a sense of why. Balancing a life simulation that feels emotionally authentic without becoming mechanically bloated is a hard design problem. Play time lands at around 90 minutes.
Life simulation games have carved out a devoted niche in the hobby, from The Pursuit of Happiness to CV. Coming of Age looks to bring a more narrative-driven, Euro-flavoured take to the genre, meaning your choices drive the outcome rather than random card draws.
It hits shelves on April 10 through local game stores and online retailers. The emotional arc of shaping a life from childhood to adulthood, complete with the frustration tracking, suggests there could be real texture here for players who enjoy games with a personal narrative.