Our Life: Beginnings & Always
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android
A nostalgic visual novel where you design your own character and grow from childhood to adulthood with the lonely boy next door. Create an experience that’s all your own in this near-fully customizable, choice-heavy story.
Our Life: Beginnings & Always is a feel-good simulation, as well as a “feel-better” one, where painful emotions such as sadness, anger, stress, and worry can all be expressed, then met with reassurance, understanding, and support.
It’s a wholesome experience that faces large steppingstones of life, while having a focus on familiar everyday moments. With notable amounts of customization for even tiny details, you can enjoy pleasures as simple as having a preferred type of drink and a neighbor who cares enough to remember what it is.
| Price: | Free-to-Play, with optional paid DLCs |
| DLCs: | The first batch of DLCs are $3.99USD each with three available, a fourth DLC that is $2.99USD released in 2022 |
| Rating: | 16+, for swearing, crude humor, and suggestive content during adult-aged portions of the game |
- 4 different periods of life to experience: childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, and fully grown
- Name, appearance, personality, and pronoun (he, she, or they) customization for your character
- Change your character's details however you like as you grow, including transitioning to new pronouns
- Shape your personality, feelings, and preferences, then see them reflected in the story as characters remember who you are
- 1 love interest, Cove Holden, whose personality, interests, and appearance will develop in a custom way over the years based on his experiences with you
- Decide for yourself how quickly or slowly the relationship with Cove develops by setting a unique dynamic; from love at first sight to last minute confessions to always being friends and more
- A welcoming, sentimental story that can easily be enjoyed over and over using new main character qualities or different connection types with Cove
- Font style and size customization. Hit the "A" key to open a screen that has text appearance options
- 397,000 words, 16-24 hours of content in total
Plus, an optional feature of having a preset name for the main character that the love interest says out loud through voice lines. Download the free DLC to add that to your game build!
The main story of Our Life from beginning to end will always be free, but if you'd like to support our group and get new scenes you can purchase optional DLCs!
And if you want even more Our Life content, you can consider joining our Patreon! There's sneak peeks for future game expansions, extra update posts, bonus art, a private backer-only Discord, and so on.
Jamie Last (changeable name) has spent the last couple weeks on a summertime high. At eight-years-old, nothing is better than what feels like endless days of school-less adventures, especially when you live walking distance from the beach. While coming home under a scorching sunset one fine evening, Jamie is approached by a stranger. The man is looking for a kid who can do him a favor, and he’s even offering to pay for it. He wants Jamie to please be friends with his only child. The person is Mr. Holden, Jamie’s new neighbor, as well as the father of the odd, and oddly named boy, Cove. Whether Jamie wants to play along or not, Cove isn’t going anywhere. He's present in Jamie's life for far longer than they ever would've guessed.
And then the long days of vacation finally come to an end. Summer may not be able to last forever, but Jamie can take comfort in knowing it will come back again someday…
Download
Development log
- Our Life: Limited Time Cove Pin Set!62 days ago
- Cove Step 1 Plushie Now Available for Limited Time!Nov 24, 2023
- Our Life: Beginnings & Always - The Last Major UpdateJun 23, 2023
- Our Life: 2023 GoalsJan 01, 2023
- Our Life 1.6.1Oct 06, 2022
- Our Life Version 1.5.4May 22, 2022
- Cove Plushie Now Available (Limited Time Only)!Apr 29, 2022
- Cove Plushie Coming Soon! + GiveawayApr 22, 2022
Comments
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Hello, I need someone to tell me if it is better to buy through steam or through icth.
I just started in this world of visual novels and there are some games that I love and I downloaded them through icth (our life is one of them) and I saw that these are on steam, in the case of our life I wanted to buy the DLC but I don't know whether to do it through steam or icth so I need someone to help me TwT
I can't even describe how wholesome this game is. The whole time I was playing, I just felt so full, full of love, joy, and comfort because of how much the characters genuinely love the MC, and how much the MC cares about them in return. It is such a beautiful experience.
It is so easy to fall in love with Cove. He is such a precious character from the very first chapter all the way to the end. I absolutely adored his little responses to the point that I am kicking my feet like a teenage girl in love. Some of his responses made me melt because they are just too cute!
No regrets at all with getting the Wedding DLC too. That honestly felt like the cherry on top of an already amazing experience.
If I could pay to experience this game for the first time all over again, I definitely would! And I would, without hesitation.
I love this game so much but I do have a question if anyone can answer😭‼️ I bought the wedding DLC on this website but just recently got the game on Steam. Do I have to repay for the wedding DLC or is there another way?
Hello! If you bought the DLC here, you should be able to add it directly to the Steam version without having to buy it again. Simply download the file (it should say "dlc_wedding.rpa") and place it in the "game" folder in the Steam directory for the game. You can find that by right clicking on the game in your Steam library, going to "Manage", then "Browse Local Files". And that should work! If you need more help, just let me know.
i absoultely loved this game! it was the cutest thing ive ever played!!!
I really want to know that I have bought the game on steam, but I want to play it on Android. What should I do?😭
Hello! If you open the itch.io page on your phone, you should be able to download the Android version directly. However, if you bought any DLC on Steam, unfortunately those are incompatible with the Android version. Sorry about that, but we're very grateful to you for playing!
I LOVE THIS GAME OMG. IT HAS GOTTEN ME SOBBING EVEN AFTER FINISHING IT FOR THE 6TH TIME. We need more Cove content
Replaying this and I'm falling in love all over again, the nostalgia is so damn sad I'm sobbing, oh my gosh I need another game like this
I have this game on Steam (with DLC's and all) but i just NEED to write everywhere that the story and characters make me bawl my eyes out every time i play it. Good job.
I loved so much this game that i just reccomended it to my whole classroom, and now we all have a fanclub. we use the same computer bcos then we can get acess to all DLCs! Im so happy i discovered this game! im almost addicted :3
i dont even have words to describe the feeling this game gave me. i think a review i saw on steam said it best -getting to live a life i was never able to have, with a stable family and a community that's kind without strings, BROKE me.
like, i bought the wedding dlc because i adore cove, but i started it last night and couldnt finish because the ending of the game just like.
it makes you realize that time WILL pass whether you're ready for it or not. you're not always going to live in your parents house
with neighbors and friends you grew up with. you're going to have to move on eventually.
like, the ending got me SO bad. seeing cove grow from this anxious, scared child to the confident adult he came to be was so.. bittersweet.
anyway. i have lots of feelings on this game JKHSJKDS if you're hesitating playing it like i was, for literally any reason, please please please play it it's probably the most heartwrenching game i've ever played
this is one of the best games i've ever played omg
How do you start the game? I can't find a place to get it to start.
Are you having trouble finding the downloaded folder, maybe? I can potentially help! If you know where the folder is, there should be an application icon in there labeled "OurLife", which starts the game.
I recommend playing it on Steam if you're on PC! It doesn't make a difference, experience-wise. However, personally it's easier to open games on Steam, since I don't have to extract the files. :)
i love this game so much, and i cried so much while playing this. my absolute favorite visual novel ever, and i will be recommending this so much. i actually sobbed when the game ended, and i am desperate for more! currently playing the demo to your new game, and i already adore it! keep up the great work, you're making great games! :)
Love this game! You make all the little personalizations fit so well throughout, and I'm definitely recommending this to others!
I just want to say, if you ever return to adding new stuff to this, it would be nice to add some disability rep! Like being non-verbal or an amputee. No rush, the game is pretty perfect as is. But, I think having as much inclusivity as possible is always great.
Thanks for making such a great game! And good luck with your other projects!
Hey, just wanting to let you know that the Steam version is currently broken, it's trying to download the soundtrack as a DLC and fails because they're inaccessible and out-of-date.
This problem is preventing me from installing the game back on my new PC.
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/4767710741167728129/?tscn=1725435468#c4751948599934697542
https://steamcommunity.com/app/433340/discussions/0/4427688158474505664/?ctp=3#c4758703546876600936
Hello! Thank you for bringing that to our attention, and so sorry about that. Do you have any screenshots of what happens when you try to install? We might be able to help!
this is one my favorite games from all time!! when i first played it, i really was in a bad place mentally, and playing this game was so comforting, it felt like someone was hugging me and telling me everything was going to be fine. still to this day, this game remains as one of comfort games. the music, the character design, the plot,, the art.. everything's amazing! i wholeheartedly believe this is one of the best visual/interactive fiction novels i've played
thank you, GBPatch, and everyone else who hand a hand in creating such a beautiful and lovely game! you have no idea of how happy playing this game has made me. i'm looking forward to the next OL <3
to anyone reading this: you should play this game if you haven’t already, you definitely won't regret it!!
hello! just a question, why is the mac version not on the steam page? i'm wondering if maybe i'm just not seeing it or if there's a way to convert your steam to show you've already purchased the dlcs, or do i just have to buy it again for the mac version? ^^'
We're sorry, but the Steam version of the game is not supported on Mac. However, if you bought the DLCs on Steam, you can move them over to the Mac version of the game downloaded for free here on itch.io! If you go into the folder containing the game by right clicking on the game and going to "Browse Local Files", you should find the DLCs in the "game" folder. They should end with ".rpa". You can copy those rpa files out of the Steam version, into the "game" folder of the itch.io version, and that should unlock the DLCs for you. If you need more help, just let me know!
HELLO? I DOWNLOADED THE DLCS ON MY OTHER GMAIL AND HELP JEREMY THE GLOW UP I FR NEED TO MARRY HIM IN ANOTHER GAME💔
Jeremy is originally from the XOXO Droplets (and XOXO Blood Droplets) game. Be warned, they are VERY different games to Our Life!
(ETA: so is Shiloh and some of the characters mentioned but not shown in their dialogues when you meet them again)
OMG FR?
god i miss cove so much already
How do I put voices? I have skill issues
Do you need help adding the voiced names? Because if so, I can walk you through how to do it!
hi, I need help too ;A;
That's OK! Here's how to do it:
First, download the rpa file from this page: https://gbpatch.itch.io/our-life-voiced-name
That file goes directly into the "game" folder of your version of Our Life. If you did it right, when you open the game, in the top left corner there should be a box labeled "DLC" info, and it should show the Voiced Names as "Installed".
If you need more help, just let me know! And thank you for playing.
My comfort game-- a game that I must have nearly 200 hours of playtime in now! After following its development for 4 straight years, this game has an irreplaceable spot in my heart. I still truly believe that it's the single greatest interactive fiction/visual novel I've ever played, and some back to it every year to relive the warm, comforting, and nostalgic vibes of Sunset Bird!
I own every DLC and have played through OL countless, countless times, so please believe me when I say that I can't recommend it highly enough! And as I get older, the heartfelt elements of change and growing up only hit closer to home. (It truly does make me cry on every single playthrough, even on my 8th...)
Thank you, GBPatch, for creating such a gem of a game and an experience I'll never forget. I'm eagerly awaiting the next OL!
GBpatch I love both your Our life games
- Our life now and forever
-Our life beginning and always
Both of them are amazing 🥺 , your vn games are just next level please don't stop making them continue creating such unique and innovative content!
I love this game so much, its seriously amazing. I've never been into visual novels before but Our Life opened a whole new world for me!
Silly question, but i own all the DLC on steam. Do I need to rebuy them from here if i wanna play on android? I love the base game but I need more Baxter content 😂💚
I have the same problem here but I got a new computer and steams version isn't suited for Mac 😅
UGH I LOVE IT??? THE BEST THING TO EXIST 10/10 DUDE
Its not a lot of times i get so emotional about a videogame but no matter how many times i play it i always find new ways to fall in love with all the characters. the writting, graphics, music and atmosphere are top notch and it has quickly turned into my comfort game. the DLCs are also amazing and help expand the world and characters perfectly. I cant wait for more games like this one. Keep up the amazing work devs <3
im never letting go of my pc
lets hope my crush will one day love me like cove loves mc!! cove is so PRECIOUS I ADORE HIM SO MUCHHHHH!! BUYING THE WEDDING DLC WAS THE BEST DECISION IVE EVER MADE I WOULD GIVE ORGANS FOR COVE HOLDEN <33333
I don't need to go to heaven when I die, I just need to go to a room with this game and ill be good for eternity
hey, my game keeps flashing black and its kind of hurting my eyes. Any way i could fix that..?
Sorry about that! Try this and see if this fixes it: while in game, press Shift + G, and change the "renderer" to "Angle Render". Hopefully that helps, and if it persists, just let me know. Thank you so much for playing!
My favorite game of all times !!!
I loved it so much, it's been a long long while I played it for the very first time and I immediately liked it. The graphics, the script, the plot, the tunes in the background and the atmosphere of holidays and summer nights, everything was perfect from A to Z.
English is not my first language and it didn't stop me one bit from simply adoring this game.
Thanks a lot to the developpers for their hard work and all the love they put into Our Life because you don't know how much your game made my days when I first played it. (Cove my beloved ily)
Now that I can finally pay online, I can't wait to purchase the DLC's !!
Thanks again for your beautiful game, and if you, who are reading this comment, is still hesitating, please, try it out, it really is worth it !!
Lots of love from France <333
got the game and bought all the docs, just to find out you can't play it on MacBook :sweat_smile:
MY SHAYYLA.. MY SHAYLAAA.... (Cove)
I am absolutely in LOVE with this game! I just saved up money to buy all of the DLC's, I'm so excited!!
💔
I hate the fact that this game had to end. Im so excited to replay and i loved watching all the characters grow up. This is the kind of game that i would usually get bored of, but the story is so good that i never did. PLEASE MAKE MORE COVE MERCH!
When I die i want to bring this game with me to heaven
So, while on pc I bought the game on Steam, with all the dlcs, and now I've been kinda alone at school so I would like to install it on my phone, but since I didn't buy the dlcs in itch.io, I can't play the android version with the dlcs, is there any way to change that?
Cannot load previous saves from main game into Patreon version...
I'm sorry to hear that! Do you mean the Wedding Night bonus Moment? If so, it's possible that if you're loading the saves from an older version of the game, they might not be compatible. If you could explain a bit more, I might be able to help.
I finished both Cove and Derek's lines and i'm going through so much withdrawls! I need a Derek wedding story next!!