(scroll down for my updated review)

Have you ever wondered how it feels like living with ADHD? This little cute witch game will let you experience it from the comfort of your own home!

Staring Ellie , as your impulsive, inquisitive and thrill seeking side,
and Mr.WizHat , as your sarcastically scolding, sensible and could-you-please-just-do-the-thing-you-know-you-need-to-do side.

Finally, you get to experience the fun dread of getting a lot of cool things done, yet neither of those things were the thing you needed to do (Don't you still have that apprenticeship you need to get to Ellie?) . Or the sweet feeling of running as fast as your tiny feet can carry you so you're only a little late, to then find out the thing was a thing yesterday - and you missed your train by a long shoot . Get immersed in the everyday shock of just how little you can possibly get done during a whole day. And it doesn't matter if you stay up and work all day and all night, and really, really try to do all the things (ofc. not the thing you were supposed to do), because you will never ever get more than a few things done. Ever. And you will never listen to your inner Mr.WizHat, unless a task is formulated and framed in a way that will invoke your insatiable hunger for dopamine + other fun brain chemistry words.

*-. Experience all of this in a magically sweet and entertaining way .-*

And best of all: Once you've had your fill of whimsical ADHD fun and dread, simply turn off the game and return to the sweet comfort of normality. Should that no longer be enough though, you're always just a play-button away from sugar and spice, and everything nice (and severe impairment to your executive functions) .

I rate this game 11/10, for realistically portraying a chaotic minds quests for random facts and achievements attained through not doing the thing you should be doing - While constantly scolding yourself for it.


After playing this tittle a little more I decided to update my review!

I still highly recommend this game! It's still cute, lovely and most definitely a delightful ADHD-simulator - but it's also a chill slice of life adventure. You will not try and save the world from impending ruin, but rather pet lizards to attain some joyful bubbles. There's a sweet grandmother that will occasionally gift you some pies, a tea loving child that keeps running from sand spot to sand spot to build sand castles (with varying success) , and quest givers that always remind you of the option to say no "because promises are important".

I sense a strong kinship between Little Witch in the Woods and the Atelier game-series. The point of the game is to journey along with Ellie as she's growing into a dependable little witch. She learns to use her (ADHD-) strengths in a mindful way and is never forced to change. Remaining excitable, impulsive, inquisitive and non-conformative, but also becoming aware of setting realistic goals for each and every day without feeling bad about it.

But not just goals! Ellie is reminded that eating means more energy for doing the things you want to do, and in the absolutely most gentle and rewarding way ever. Even going to bed is rewarded, although it's so subtle you'd be excused for not noticing it. Going to bed before 12am means you wake up 2 hours earlier, but if you're busy exploring then you'll simply be transported into bed at that time. You're literally never made to feel bad about any of Ellies typical ADHD-traits. And although Mr.WizHat usually have quite the repertoire of sarcastic comments, he is also an obvious ally and supporter of Ellie.

Therefore I'm now categorising this game as both an ADHD-simulator and an ADHD-guide. And I know Little Witch in the Woods probably never meant to be either, yet here we are. Little Witch in the Woods is 100% a positive addition to any ADHD'ers game library (or people who have loved ones with ADHD).

But I also highly recommend the game for those who just want to give lizards some well deserved belly rubs.