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[[File:The kindness of strangers screenshot 20241117.png|right|400px|thumb|center|Screenshot from 'The Kindness of Strangers']]
* Play it [https://jordanmagnuson.itch.io/the-kindness-of-strangers here on itch.io]
* Played on 2024-11-17

''The Kindness of Strangers'' is a game poem part of Jordan Magnuson's [https://www.gametrekking.com/ ''Game Trekking Omnibus''], a collection of game poems in which the creator has tried to capture some of his experiences traveling through Asia. In this entry of the collection, a slideshow of photos is displayed in the background while a 'travel log' is read aloud. The log details the creator's travel to Taiwan, and some unexpected acts of kindness and connection he found there. In the meantime, the player controls a character navigating their way through a maze. By the scale of the maze and the fact that the player is moving in it, a player wouldn't be able to make informed decisions about where to go (typical 'work backwards' strategies do not apply). However, the maze is filled with NPCs, who show a direction when nearing them. 

While playing, I quickly found myself trusting these NPCs, and informing my navigation by their hints. Eventually, the narration talks about similar experiences of trust and navigation when faced with unfamiliarity. Taking something so familiar (a maze) and replacing the core familiarity with something that blends so well with a personal story is quite beautiful.