It's not often that we review video games here at Edith & George, but Bundle of Joy, an often hilarious and sometimes poignant take on the daily trials of being a new father, is one that really caught our attention. So much so that I played through the entire demo in one sitting. My own children are a little older now, but I remember all too well the sleep deprivation, the tiny human explosions, and the overwhelming love that comes with being a consciously incompetent dad to a newborn. This game captures it all with surprising accuracy and a healthy dose of humour.
Developed by Nicholas O'Brien, the game was born (forgive the pun) during the pandemic, when Nicholas became father to a newborn during lockdown. We were lucky enough to be able to chat with Nicholas and get his take on the game, its development and what it was like becoming a father during lockdown. We started by asking about the sense of isolation through some of the narrative elements of the game and how Nicholas felt that the pandemic influenced his experience of new fatherhood and maybe even the concept for the game.
“I definitely think it changed how I thought about raising our kid “in a community.” When we were expecting, we had these ideas of bringing them to art shows, taking them to a local bar, having friends babysit for us, and overall just celebrating our new kiddo with others. Instead it took almost a year for some of our closest friends to hold our daughter. So we had A LOT of time at home to feel all the feels of new parenthood. I really got into my own head during that first summer of COVID. Questions about self-worth, my ability to care for myself and others, and what I really valued as an individual. So in some ways that was really tough, but in other ways I think I had a lot of processing time that new dads maybe aren’t always afforded. I grew a lot during the 0-3 month phase, but I don’t think I really appreciated that growth until much later.”
If you’re familiar with games and gaming or you have a notion of what a video game might be, then Bundle of Joy is almost certainly not that! Forget epic quests and fantastical worlds. Bundle of Joy grounds itself in the everyday realities of caring for a newborn. The gameplay revolves around a series of mini-games that depict common parenting tasks: changing nappies (and the associated…mess), feeding the baby (and hoping they don't spit it back up… everywhere), trimming those tiny, surprisingly sharp and constantly moving nails, and, of course, the crucial art of burping. These minigames aren't just simple button-mashers; they require a delicate touch and a bit of strategy, somehow mirroring the real-life challenges of caring for a newborn. The focus of the game (and the only character you can play as) is the ‘new dad’, we asked Nicholas if it was a conscious choice to write only from his direct experience:
“Absolutely. I actually got great advice from my partner early on in the development process. We were talking about the narrative and writing the partner’s perspective in the game, and I was really struggling to do that justice. My partner recommended focusing on what I knew, and to delve deeper into the feelings I had as a dad and to solicit stories from other dads. It really helped sharpen the narrative, and my partner’s advice was spot on (as usual!).”
As I played through the demo, the minigame format made perfect sense to me, and brought back plenty of memories, (many of them fond, the odd one mildly traumatic!). The minigame format is an interesting choice in terms of game design and so we asked Nicholas if this was how the game was initially conceived (there’s that sneaky pun again) or if the format developed over time:
“This is maybe the second or third pass at this material. Initially, I made a prototype that was much more of a walking simulator and was MUCH more somber in tone and feeling. In that prototype, there was a minigame you played that sparked some inner monolog and I got really into that central design loop. Designer Margaret Robertson gave me some instrumental feedback about that prototype and recommended I focus on the minigame more (clearly I was also enjoying that process). So I started making more minigames and that’s how the current design of Bundle of Joy came to be.”
A key part of the Bundle of Joy experience is its clever "stress" mechanic. Successfully completing mini-games keeps your stress levels down, but failing them (which, let's be honest, happens to all of us, in-game and in real life!) sends your stress soaring. Reach the breaking point, and you're forced to take a "time out" with another mini-game centred around a calming breathing exercise. This is brilliant, and not just from a gameplay perspective; it also really resonated with me from a real-life standpoint too. I’m constantly quoting the airline emergency procedure about “Putting on your own mask first…” and I would often sit on my kids bedroom floor for a 10 minute meditation after, finally, rocking or tunelessly singing them to sleep. This aspect of the game is a really nice highlight of the need for self-care, something that's so often neglected in the whirlwind of new parenthood.
The game also cleverly incorporates the unpredictable nature of baby sleep, with a spinner at the start of each "day" determining how well you (and therefore your in-game dad) slept, directly impacting your starting stress level. Anyone who's experienced the joy (and terror) of a newborn's sleep patterns will instantly connect with this.
What sets Bundle of Joy apart for me is the genuinely insightful narrative. The end-of-day reflections, where you guide your inner monologue as a new dad, are beautifully written and often hilariously relatable. The game doesn't shy away from the anxieties, the frustrations, and, most importantly, the overwhelming love that comes with being a parent. We asked Nicholas about the importance of the journalling and narrative elements, and why he felt he wanted to include these.
“Being a parent is really hard. In fact, there’s been recent studies in the states that it’s gotten even harder in the past 10-ish years. I think a lot of expecting parents know it will be a difficult challenge, but the scale and intensity of that challenge are often under-represented. I, of course, had some inkling that my life was going to change dramatically by becoming a father. But I didn’t anticipate how much it would change my other relationships and my sense of self. I knew I would be consumed by my newborn, but I didn’t anticipate how my sense of autonomy would be shattered. I don’t think that’s unique, even if my circumstances are different from other new Dads. So I wanted to create something encouraging, supportive, and cathartic to collectively appreciate and honour how tough parenting can be.”
Finally, we touched on the path to release, asking Nicholas when he decided, ‘right, this is a game I'm going to release’, and how difficult the journey had been to get it to this stage (alongside being a new father).
"I’ll be honest, it’s been a bumpy road! Making games is a really risky endeavour and the indie game landscape right now is super saturated. Making something small, nuanced, and personal doesn’t exactly explode onto an already crowded marketplace. But I try to quash those bizdev questions as much as I can because I really believe in what I’m trying to do. My partner has also been incredibly supportive. She’s encouraged me every step of the way. That’s helped me a ton to get through tough moments in the development process. And everytime I show the game to new folks, they all immediately respond in such warm and generous ways. Even folks that haven’t had kids respond so positively. Seeing that people “get it” right away is really encouraging, and I can’t wait to share the whole thing."
I thoroughly enjoyed playing through the demo of Bundle of Joy and if I could wish list one addition to the game it would be a community element. Imagine being able to see anonymised journal entries from other players – a way to connect more deeply with the game and with the real life experiences of other parents and maybe realise we're not alone in this chaotic, wonderful journey.
Bundle of Joy isn't just a game; it's a conversation starter. It's a reminder that parenting is messy, challenging, and ultimately the most rewarding experience imaginable. It's a game that dads, especially new dads, will find incredibly relatable and cathartic. We highly recommend it.
Bundle of Joy is published by Essay Games for PC and macOS and launches March 25, 2025. It's a game that speaks directly to the heart of modern parenting, and we think it's one that many of you – especially dads – will absolutely love.
Download the demo and wishlist the game here:
