Parents' Guide to

Tchia

By Dwayne Jenkins, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 11+

Adorable, cozy adventure game emphasizes grand exploration.

Game PlayStation 5, Windows, PlayStation 4 2023
Tchia Cover: Features Tchia, a brown-skinned girl, in a tropical setting surrounded by her father, friend, and some of the fabric-based enemies she encounters.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this game.

Community Reviews

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age 7+

Based on 2 parent reviews

Albert L.
Albert L. Parent of 4 and 7-year-old
March 29, 2023
age 7+

lovely exploration and music.

I disagree with the current rating of it being too sexual. there is a small lips to lips kiss between the main character and their love interest. nothing you wouldn't see in any kids movie. lovely game, engaging, about exploration. practically no fighting mechanics, (you have to fight summer magic figures sometimes). there is some violence but can be turned off in the settings. and incredibly amazing music.

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Easy to play/use
1 person found this helpful.
Dan A.
Dan A. Parent of 3 and 5-year-old
April 3, 2023
age 7+

Family mode toggle for families playing with younger children

Been playing in the 'sandbox mode' of this title with my five year old and she loves soul-jumping (the mechanic in the game where you can turn into any animal and a lot of objects too) into various birds and even rocks and rolling around the map. Diving underwater and looking at the turtles/dolphins etc. is also great fun for her. She's definitely not quite ready attention-span wise for the campaign, but was good to see in the settings there is a FAMILY MODE toggle which seems to remove any violence/blood/gore references in a few of the later-game cutscenes. 3yo not quite at the level for controlling this one as is more at platformer-level but he enjoys watching his sister playing it. Laughs a lot when you can make various animals poop. Don't know where he gets his sense of humour from...

This title has:

Educational value
Easy to play/use
See all 2 parent reviews

What’s It About?

In TCHIA, the titular protagonist seeks to further bond with Joxu, her father, as he teaches her ways to traverse the wide, wild archipelago around her. One day, a flying ship arrives and upends everything Tchia has ever known. Joxu is taken by a shaman representing the God of the Depths, Maevora, who has horrific plans for the people he captures. Tchia's powers are then given life by the shock of the situation, and she embarks on a quest first to save her father, and then to rid the archipelago of the scourge that is Maevora. But Tchia has only just discovered her powers, and she's going up against not a man, but a deity. With friends, family, and benevolent spirits at her side, can Tchia liberate the region from Maevora for good?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: (2):
Kids say: Not yet rated

This game is reminiscent of Breath of the Wild with all the exploration and added sense of serenity and comfort. Tchia is easily the coziest of "cozy games," as there's warmth and detail in everything from top to bottom. A few islands serve as a playground for players to explore to their heart's content. It's easy to forget there's a main quest as every square inch of land contains so many satisfying minor quirks. When it comes to getting around, there are many movement options available, including the old-fashioned on-foot trek, a customizable raft to take to the seas, leaping among the trees, and a unique skill Tchia can utilize called "soul jumping," where Tchia can temporarily inhabit not only many random objects, but also any surrounding animals. Certain animals have specific functions that can be used to solve puzzles -- or that will undeniably make players laugh or go "Awww" with genuine delight.

Tchia can also bust out her ukelele, either casually or during crucial story moments when her compassion is needed most. The ukelele is a fully realized instrument, complete with individual notes that have sharp and flat variations. Players can jam on the ukelele, or they can use it to play "soul melodies." Soul melodies can change the weather and attract certain animals, alongside other substantial surprises and advantages. If all that wasn't enough, the islands themselves have many hidden nooks and crannies containing either mission-critical items or simple, adorable attire changes for Tchia. Players can approach the game any way they choose, with a sea of boundless choices before them. There are more than enough colorful characters, fun activities, creative puzzles, and breathtaking locations to keep players enthralled for hours on end. Tchia might not be the loudest, most aggressive voice in the gaming landscape, but its soothing tones are here to give players an easygoing, personable experience that exudes personality in a way few other games accomplish.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how specific regions can add their cultural touches to video games, as Tchia does with all its New Caledonia-inspired nuances. What differences to the culture depicted in Tchia can you identify compared to your own? If you had a game focused on your specific cultural background, what would you want to show off? What could people of other cultures learn about where you come from?

  • What other games can you identify with rich cultural backgrounds? Why do you think there aren't more games willing to celebrate the nuances of culture to this extent, and what could be done to further ensure different walks of life are properly represented in the video game industry?

Game Details

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