by Thilde Maj Holgersen
A freeform coming-of-age scenario set in the Moomin universe. A quiet, melancholic tale of four friends and the difficulty of letting go of childhood, when you don’t yet know who you will become afterwards.
Participants: 4
Game Facilitators: 1
Total time: 4 hours
Language: Danish/English
Age limit: 15+
How much to read: 4 pages. Characters will be available as audio
Four young friends embark on a camping trip to a small, wondrous island. What begins as a simple getaway becomes both an outer and an inner journey, as each of them is confronted with their own private struggles: love, low self-esteem, inhibition, the weight of others’ expectations — and the fear of, or longing for, the unknown that lies beyond the threshold between childhood and adulthood.
But what if you don’t feel ready to take that step? What about everything you haven’t yet said or done? How do you face change when you’re afraid of letting go of something you may never regain?
There’s no grand plot, epic drama, or action. Instead, you get a quiet, reflective tale about friendship, choice, self-understanding, and all the things that can be so difficult to say.
This is not the sweet, cuddly side of the Moomin universe, but the melancholic, symbol-laden one — where emotions are intimate and realistic, whilst the surroundings are whimsical and symbolic, full of ambiguous thoughtfulness and innocent naïvety.
Genre: coming-of-age, poetic realism
- Character development
- melancholy
- self-reflection
Content notes
Some of the characters struggle with themes such as depression, low self-esteem, socially awkward behaviour, the fear of losing each other, and the pressure of having to fit into society’s norms and expectations.
It is not extreme. However, because the emotional focus is on the intimate and realistic, it might be nice to know.
Type of participant:
You enjoy emotionally driven play and character-centred storytelling over plot and action. You appreciate symbolism, lingering scenes, characters with rich inner lives, and the possibility of bleed.
No Moomin knowledge required. It may be an advantage (not a requirement) if it has been a few years since you made the transition from childhood to adulthood yourself.
Type of game facilitator:
You’re comfortable improvising and co-creating, allowing scenes to linger, playing supporting characters, and working with symbolism and sensory detail. You have a strong sense of atmosphere and dramatic timing, and can navigate a mix of tightly framed and open scenes.
No Moomin knowledge required. It will be an advantage if your own crossing from childhood to adulthood lies a little way behind you.
