Citizen Sleeper

[radiofloyd]

Creating a thread for this as it seems like it might be quite a bit meatier than some other games I’ve played recently. Citizen Sleeper is the latest game from the developers of In Other Waters, which I played recently and was quite good. I guess like In Other Waters, it involves a lot of reading and clicking on various menus. Not quite a visual novel, but an adjacent genre I guess.

 

 

You’re a “sleeper”, a robot of some sorts that escaped or survived some mysterious past and somehow gained sentience, which is apparently a big no-no, so shady characters are coming to put an end to you. You’ve wound up on some kind of space station called Havenage. Here you meet characters and complete tasks to achieve various goals.

 

I can’t describe it beyond that. It’s too complicated. But it’s quite unique and intriguing so far. Based on what I’ve played of this, and In Other Waters, the developers’ (Fellow Traveller) focus is clearly on telling unique stories in unique settings, with an emphasis on mystery and the unknown.

[one-armed dwarf]

Very interested in this one, actually made a start a few weeks ago but found the black and pink very hard to read on the oled tv. So will likely be a steam deck play through when I get back to it (or just regular monitor depending on text scaling)

[spatular]

oh yeah i played this last year, it was alright/pretty good at times/ also a bit too long/boring at times too. you sort of manage pie charts and choose what you spend time doing in game like do you explore, or work a job for money, and you'll progress the story or whatever. but yeah the story was pretty good at times, there's a few different endings, think i got most of them.

[radiofloyd]

About three hours in now, I’m pretty hooked on this. It’s easy to play for extended periods of time.

[radiofloyd]

Actually, this game is quite short. I’ve put a few 2 hour+ sessions into it and I’m up to 10 hours now. I think technically I’ve already finished it - I saw the credits roll, or at least met the criteria for one of the endings. I’m just mopping up some late game quests. The vanilla game was probably only 7 or 8 hours long but it seems like they’ve added some content to it. The extra content is quite meaty so that’s been taking up most of my time.

 

As for how good it is, I’d say it’s a solid 8/10. It’s a small step up from In Other Waters in terms of scope, but overall I would say they are similar. I hope the game sold well enough to allow them to keep making more ambitious games.

[radiofloyd]

Done with this for now. I’ve seen the credits roll multiple times (every ending I’ve been “offered” I’ve rejected so far). I’ve completed part one and two of the free DLC and I’ll play the third part when it comes out. There’s nothing left for me to do at the moment. 

 

The developer Fellow Traveler is only one guy (he used to write for Eurogamer, RPS and Edge apparently), so while I’d like to see his games get more ambitious and include things like voice acting, I’m guessing that’s not on the cards. Impressive stuff for a one man team though.

[shinymcshine]

Been playing this for about 5 hrs (Series S, Gamepass) and once you get over the text heavy narrative and familiar with the dice allocation system, it's a great cyberpunk themed RPG.

 

It's probably a good example of the Hot Topic discussion from the other week, re. the relative importance (or not) of graphical presentation - as this could certainly have been from the 8/16 bit era (or PC with EGA graphics) - and that's certainly no put down as the gameplay and narrative engages & involves you.

[shinymcshine]

Another 90 mins today and feel I've made loads of positive progress - levelling up to get the dice modifiers and also the karma reroll makes things a lot easier.

 

Whilst I recognise it's not a perfect guide, especially for games on Gamepass, I've unlocked a number of achievements that have <10% completion, so it must be a sign that I'm going about things okay.

 

Not too sure if I'll go on with the DLC area (I've got sufficient items to unlock it now) but want to wrap up the main story.

 

Spoiler

I've done the bit with Feng hacking into the Consec system etc so think I'm just waiting for a time pass before that wraps up.

 

I've grown the special mushrooms in the Greenway for Emphis, so just waiting on that sequence to wrap too.

 

I helped Lem & Mina on their way, and I've progressed some of the Bliss mission (until just after someone steals the first contact payment) - preceded by doing the NeoVend quest.

 

Completed the Ethan & Maywick quest line

 

So things are going well.

 

[Maryokutai]

I started this about a week ago but I think I might not have been in the right mindset, because it didn't really grab me and I felt a bit lost, too, despite it being a game I think I should like and also one that probably shouldn't be that hard to grasp even though it drowns you in its own terminology. I think it's the latter part that made it a bit hard for me to get into, especially as the writing style is also quite a bit more nuanced and lively than your usual videogame/VN.

 

Put it back on the digital shelf to maybe try again in a few weeks.

[shinymcshine]

TBH I gave it an initial attempt, ~1 hr, didn't really understand too much about how it all worked and felt a tad indifferent to it, went back the next day, started a new game, and it all clicked that time around.

[Maryokutai]

Well, that first part definitely sounds like my experience, maybe the second part will, too.

[shinymcshine]

I think my main tips for the early game would be:

Spoiler

Don't let energy or condition drop too low, as they restrict the amount of dice you'll get (try not to drop lower than 3 dice).

 

The Noodle bar has an option that always gives you energy back (even for a low dice value, otherwise the 2 energy for Bar rations (10c)  and 3 energy (15c) at Mushroom shack are good options.

 

You need to regularly get 100c for the stabiliser (condition) so the Trader Market 'gamble' is worth saving those 5 & 6 dice for (as you can get around 20c for a success).

 

Use low value dice, 1 & 2s, to collect Data (on the other world view screen).

 

Getting the perk for the reroll is pretty useful (think it'll cost 1+1+2 exp).

 

[shinymcshine]

Credits rolling (twice) so think I'm done - enjoyed that !

Spoiler

Planted the seed, did the gardener & crown part, then ultimately went off with Bliss on the Amber

 

[mfnick]

On 03/01/2025 at 15:20, Maryokutai said:

hard to grasp even though it drowns you in its own terminology. I think it's the latter part that made it a bit hard for me to get into,

I’ve started this. A couple of hours in. It's not grabbing me really mostly because of this what Mary says. Doesn’t help I’ve got no memory so keep forgetting which all of these names and terms mean. I’ve basically got no idea what’s going on or what things I should be putting my dice rolls into in level of importance/usefulness. All feels a bit aimless and I’m not enjoying the story at all because of the nonsense words getting bandied about. Think I’ll be dumping it soon unfortunately.

[mfnick]

I’ve put a bit more time into it and glad I stuck with it a bit longer. Don’t get me wrong I’m not as enamoured as a lot of people. But I’m definitely finding enjoyment in it now as a chill evening game. Some of the terminology and names are starting to finally stick too.