Japanese indie development group Buttercup Garden has launched Robot Hospice, a complimentary 2D adventure game set within a retirement facility for mechanical beings, on June 10. Taking on the role of Midori, a fresh hire, players engage with five robots facing the end of their operational lives as they spend their last days in the namesake Robot Hospice.
Through conversations with these robotic elders, relationships flourish. This process unveils their histories and any last wishes they may have, which you can help fulfill to ease their final moments. Although the game features a singular conclusion, player decisions influence the manner in which you bid them farewell.
The developer drew inspiration from Kazuo Ishiguro’s speculative fiction novel Klara and the Sun, where a robot named Klara tirelessly works to ensure the well-being of her frail human companion, Josie. While Ishiguro’s work explored the conflict between humans and robots, Buttercup Garden’s Dokokashira Doko opted for a warmer narrative after hearing from Somi, the mind behind No Case Should Remain Unsolved, at the 2024 Indie Developers Conference.
Robot Hospice has earned a “Positive” reception on Steam, with gamers lauding its moving storyline, exquisite pixel art, poignant soundtrack, and its capacity to “make such a small place feel huge.” The title is available at no cost for Windows via Steam, with a complimentary web version slated for release in July.