By Kayla Perkins—There are some games that are not meant to be played for fun. Freshman Year would fall under that category because it is a game that teaches rather than entertains. Freshman Year is a free online game developed by Nina Freeman. It depicts the results of a freshman college student attending a party.
Please be aware that while there are not any graphic scenes in the game, it can be triggering for those who have experienced similar situations.
Freshman Year is a point and click game that makes you choose options to progress the story. Each choice determines what you may wear, who you talk to, and how the game plays out.
I played the game through twice and by doing so learned the message the game was trying to get across. No matter the options you choose the end result is the same, which is that you get sexually assaulted by the bouncer of the bar you are at. While the choices focus on the story the underlying message is very clear.
It doesn’t matter what you do or don’t do, sexual assault can happen to anyone.
In my first play through I chose not to dress up and evaded the bouncer as much as possible. The second play through I dressed up and talked with the bouncer and met the same ending. The game is very simple. It is obvious the focus is on the story and not the gameplay.
This game is not really a game at all but more of a way to tell a story. It is a serious topic that unfortunately happens all too often in college life.
This is not a game that should or can be rated but it is a game that everyone should play. I would definitely recommend it for educational use, especially for teaching about consent and harassment.
The game can be played here: http://ninasays.so/freshmanyear/
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