Consume Me
2025 video game
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Consume Me is a semi-autobiographical life simulation video game developed by Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson and published by Hexacutable. It centers primarily around the player character's daily schedule, with a particular emphasis on the effects of an eating disorder on their day-to-day life.[2]
| Consume Me | |
|---|---|
| |
| Developers | Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, Ken "coda" Snyder[1] |
| Publisher | Hexacutable[1] |
| Directors | Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS[1] |
| Release | September 25, 2025 |
| Genre | Life simulation |
| Mode | Single-player |
Gameplay
Consume Me has a semi-autobiographical story, revolving around the daily, teenage life of developer Jenny Jiao Hsia.[3] The gameplay consists of a series of minigames that simulate everyday activities, such as eating, exercising and applying makeup.[4][5] The player needs to manage Jenny's schedule by strategically allocating her limited time throughout the day. In addition, the player must maintain different character attributes, including energy, mood and money, which are affected by the outcomes of the minigames.[6]
Development
Jenny Jiao Hsia and AP Thomson co-directed the game. They met as students in the NYU Game Center program and have collaborated on multiple projects, including Beglitched. Consume Me began as Hsia's capstone project for her undergraduate degree. Hsia prototyped the minigames, created the art direction and narrative, and built the non-interactive sequences. Thomson programmed most of the game, designed its systems, and contributed its text and musical scene. They were joined by Ken "coda" Snyder (soundtrack) and Violet W-P (sound design). Jie En Lee created much of the game's art.[7]
Prototypes of two minigames were playable at the Victoria and Albert Museum's Videogames: Design/Play/Disrupt exhibitions in Kensington and Dundee between 2018 and 2019,[8][9] exhibited alongside objects from Hsia's moodboard and her sketchbook.[10] The game was built with the Unity game engine[7] and released on September 25, 2025 for Windows and macOS.[11]
Reception
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PC) 80/100[12] |
| OpenCritic | 84% recommend[13] |
Consume Me received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[12] OpenCritic determined that 84% of critics recommended the game.[13]
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Independent Games Festival | Seumas McNally Grand Prize | Won | [14] |
| Wings Award | Won | |||
| Excellence in Design | Nominated | |||
| Excellence in Narrative | Nominated | |||
| Excellence in Visual Art | Nominated | |||
| Nuovo Award | Won | |||
| Golden Joystick Awards | Best Indie Game - Self Published | Nominated | [15][16] | |
| The Game Awards 2025 | Games for Impact | Nominated | [17] | |
| 2026 | 15th New York Game Awards | Off Broadway Award for Best Indie Game | Nominated | [18][19] |
| Herman Melville Award for Best Writing in a Game | Nominated | |||
| 29th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards | Outstanding Achievement for an Independent Game | Nominated | [20][21] | |
| Outstanding Achievement in Story | Nominated | |||
| 26th Game Developers Choice Awards | Best Debut | Honorable mention | [22] | |
| Innovation Award | Honorable mention | |||
| Social Impact | Won | |||
| 22nd British Academy Games Awards | Debut Game | Longlisted | [23] | |
| Game Beyond Entertainment | Longlisted |
