Dear Journey…

Dear Journey… places the player in charge of a travel agency while its directors, Diana and Derek, are away. Each morning, letters arrive from travellers who describe their moods, hopes and what they want from a journey. The player chooses which letters to take on, reads what each traveller needs, and plans a trip to suit them. Diana continues to send advice and postcards.

Trips are built with cards. Each day the player draws activities, destinations and helpful extras, then pairs them into travel plans. Every journey has a target number to reach. A card that answers a need stated in the traveller’s letter counts double, and a matching destination applies a multiplier. Meeting every need makes the trip perfect. Players can request fresh cards if a hand is unworkable, and the journey plays out across a map showing each match, bonus and multiplier in the order it occurred.

Progress brings keepsakes from travellers and milestones, which can be melded onto cards, with their effect depending on where they are placed. Agency upgrades can be pinned to a board, and favoured cards can be pocketed so they stay out of the daily draw. Reputation increases and new regions unlock, and travellers whose wishes are granted may return as regulars. The game has no timers, disasters or fail states. A trip that falls short costs the day and part of the reward, and the request remains available the next day. Features include fifteen kinds of traveller, fourteen moods, seven regions, eight starting profiles and three difficulty seasons, with a lo-fi soundtrack and a save that records the exact point where the player left off.