Phrasemaker

Walk of Life is anything but leisurely. From the moment you launch, the game bursts with personality, funky tunes, and a playful art style. It’s quirky, a little chaotic, and definitely has that “what’s going to happen next?” appeal that party games thrive on. But, does it tick all the boxes for a great party game?

Walk of Life on PC

Can you survive the Walk Of Life?

Visually and melodically, Walk of Life nails its aesthetic. Right away, I was drawn in by the game’s personality. There’s a nostalgic vibe that reminded me of The Game of Life, made modern and fast-paced. The character designs, animations, and groovy soundtrack all work together to create an experience that feels both fun and distinct.

For the first couple of rounds, I was genuinely having a great time. The novelty of the game’s presentation made it easy to laugh, chat, and just enjoy the weirdness of it all. It’s clear that a lot of love went into the presentation, and that’s what kept me hooked.

One of the most delightful touches in Walk of Life is the way the story cards play out. At the start of each turn, you’re given a silly scenario – sometimes heartfelt, sometimes absurd – that adds flavor to your journey.

They weave small storylines together, occasionally referencing what other players did on their turns. It’s a charming detail that makes the game more alive. I found myself looking forward to each new card just to see how ridiculous or relatable the next event would be. In a game that can sometimes drag between turns, these story moments added personality and humor that helped keep things entertaining.

The location design and ambient sound also deserve a lot of credit. Each area on the board feels distinct, full of small visual quirks and satisfying audio cues. From the cheerful dings of working your life away to the rustling and buzzing of cockroaches in your dingy apartment, I found myself immersed in every space.

That said, I do think a “bug filter” mode would be a welcome addition, since some of the cockroach sound effects were a bit too realistic for comfort! Still, the overall atmosphere was incredibly fun and immersive.

The developers deserve praise (or perhaps a porcelain crown) for how adjustable the game’s mechanics are. You can tweak round lengths, give players unlimited time for their turns, or shorten matches for a quicker experience. This kind of customization makes it easy to tailor the game to your group’s energy level, whether you’re looking for a laid-back hangout session or a marathon on silly storytelling.

Unfortunately, once the novelty wears off, the hiccups start to show. Walk of Life gives you a lot to do – pay rent, manage characters, complete quests…Yet, there’s not a lot of payoff for all this effort.

Because the game limits how much players can interact with one another, a lot of the fun energy fizzles out between turns. I found myself (and my friends) starting to zone out when it wasn’t our turn. A good party game thrives on shared chaos, but here most of the fun happens in isolation. It’s the kind of game that’s most exciting when it’s your turn and noticeably dull when it’s not.

I really wish Walk of Life leaned harder into its quirky humor and let players express more personality through their choices. You pick a character and a card at the start of your turn that defines your role, but the character who moves around the board doesn’t visually reflect your choice. It’s a small detail, but I think it would have added a lot of personality and humor – just imagine watching a pigeon buy a suit and pay rent!

The mid-game events, while a nice idea, didn’t really spice things up as much as I hoped. I kept waiting for something wild or unexpected to happen – maybe a change in music, a twist in gameplay, or a chaotic group challenge, but the pacing stayed flat.

The soundtrack, while groovy and fun, also doesn’t evolve much throughout the session. After a while, everything starts to blend, making the experience feel repetitive. Managing your character can also feel a bit oppressive at times…Though I admit that’s part of the challenge. Still, it wasn’t quite as rewarding as it could have been.

As for the ending, it left me pretty underwhelmed. I expected some kind of special outcome based on our choices, but instead, the game just tallied points, threw some confetti, and played a horn. After investing time into the whole “life journey,” it felt like a missed opportunity not to have multiple, story-based endings or even some funny text that reflected our in-game actions.

Ultimately, Walk of Life has a lot of charm and creativity, but it struggles to maintain that spark throughout the match. It’s the kind of game that will likely appeal to fans of slower, strategic experiences like Monopoly and The Game of Life, where patience and planning are key. But if you’re looking for a lively, fast-paced party game full of chaos and laughter like Jackbox or Overcooked, this one might miss the mark.

There’s so much potential in Walk of Life. Its style, humor, and concept all point towards something wonderful. One of my friends actually really enjoyed the game, while another couldn’t wait for it to end. I found myself somewhere in the middle. It has a lot of very fun elements, but I was definitely ready to move on by the end. With a few tweaks to pacing, more interactive elements, and some punchier mid-game surprises, it could easily become a must-play indie party title.