Follow the life of a cute doll

In momosdiary, you take the role of a confidant going through the diary of the titular Momo, a pretty doll with issues of her own. This free-to-play simulation lets you follow her daily struggles and the nagging feeling of being unable to connect with the people around her. It mostly works as a visual novel in terms of its format, using toys and other inanimate objects.

Note that momosdiary tackles sensitive issues pertaining to mental health, with a unique storytelling method that might be unsettling. Other games with a similar vibe include CURTAIN or Drive Me To The Moon.

An everyday story taking a dark turn

The first thing players should know about momosdiary is that it’s a linear, single-ending story—and it’s not pleasant. You basically follow Momo’s story and her interactions with other characters as she continues to spiral down. The game contains mature themes including self-harm. For people with particular triggers, it’s better to sit this one out. Otherwise, feel free to follow Momo’s diary entries.

Another divisive aspect of the game is that it lacks interactions with the player. It feels like the player is sent into the back seat as Momo narrates everything about her. Also, a particularly stressful element is its use of a lovely doll for the main character and cute representations of other characters in the game. There’s something unsettling about the child-friendly elements subjected to distressing scenarios.

In terms of the playthrough, there is enough material to last an hour of gameplay. Unfortunately, after your initial run of the sad story, there’s not much to go on. There are no other endings for you to explore. However, the developer offers closure on the story through a post-mortem post, which explains the even sadder story behind the game.

A personal, challenging tale

Overall, momosdiary is a challenging story to follow and take in. It uses cute and light characters to tell an exceedingly sad tale. Even worse, the developer later explains the inspiration behind the story. It will most certainly tug at your heartstrings and deliver emotions rarely touched in video games. However, if you’re uncomfortable about the issues of sadness and self-harm, it’s better to stay off this game.