Back to 21

Back to 21 is a narrative life simulation game in which you play as Momo, a character who is about to die with regrets about the dreams she gave up. She is given a second chance and sent back to age 21, the year she joined AlphaCorp, one of the world’s leading tech companies. The game unfolds over 49 days of choices that influence Momo’s career, relationships and personal development. Conversations with characters who hold differing worldviews provide opportunities to reflect, connect or question, and the people Momo grows close to partly shape how the story plays out.

Alongside the day job at AlphaCorp, the game offers five alternative passion paths, each with its own gameplay. Players can pursue one or more of these paths, building skills and facing challenges specific to each. Hints about which passion suits Momo are found in her mood and energy levels and in her diary entries. Once enough proficiency is gained in a craft, Momo can open a shop related to it. The game requires balancing time, money and energy, as pursuing a passion is not profitable at the outset and carries risk.

Momo returns to 21 carrying the same negative beliefs she held at that age. Some of these beliefs affect her mood while following passion paths, which in turn changes how quickly her energy drops, while others limit how much money she can earn from them. Making a living from a passion path is described as very difficult while holding a high degree of these limiting beliefs. The game also mixes everyday realism with fantasy elements, including a Mystical Arts passion path, magical herbal potions and a portal to a timeless dimension.