Digimon Story Time Stranger
Digimon Story Time Stranger
Game
Game2016
Max, an Autistic Journey
Developer Professional Imagination
Max, an Autistic Journey is a retro style top-down turn-based RPG filled with mini games, monsters and most of all, heart. Developed by a devoted dad who made a game with his son about his son's autism. From the Steam store page
82 reactions from 1 source (Steam reviews) · newest Jul 21, 2026 · last updated Oct 8, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
77
LovedLoved
63 positive · 19 negative
95% range 67–85%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 63 | 19 | 0 |
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
92 of 115 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
Summary pending — the reactions are listed below.
Reactions
60 of 82 · most liked firstAs an man with autism it was only natural that I'd play this game and heavily relate to it. It's easy to see myself in the 10 year old main character from his desire to not be autistic to how he was bullied, it brings back so many memories. It even gets deeply emotional like when he's first diagnosed and his parents promise to give him the best life they can. I haven't cried like that since the end of Metal Gear Solid 3. As for the gameplay itself it's standard RPG fare from the mid 90s,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Full disclosure: I'm 11 years old and Max is my real-life cousin. I really enjoyed playing this game. The fights are well balanced and I really felt I was spending a day with Max. I love is creativity and his reactions during the game were authentic. I spent hours doing the tasks and achievements and even after completing the game once, I'm ready to play again. I recommend this game to everyone, young and old. You won't be disappointed.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you want to actually learn about autism, the reviews are a good place to start. Gameplay itself is pretty garbo and the information provided is the sort of thing you see in parenting forums.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I am very impressed with how this game was executed. Creative, imaginative and educational. I feel much more aware about the struggles that both Max and his family go through and I hope this project can make others more thoughtful and aware as well. I have a lot of respect for the developer for doing this project. I loved the artwork and the variety of mini games that break up the main gameplay. While it was quite short, I felt it was an appropriate length for the message it sets out to give.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →So as someone on the spectrum, I was intrigued and finally got the game. Within seconds I was filled with disappointment. The puzzle piece logo - why on earth is that in there when it's so heavily associated with negativity and the notion of erasing autism? Beyond me. Second disappointment came at the intro to the story when the parents were reacting to the diagnosis like it was cancer 'what are we going to do?' how about support your child like you would anyway there's nothing wrong with being…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →wait this isn't mad max
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →世界の中心で「自閉症」を叫んだけもの Drawing heavily from Evangelion, MaAJ is the story of a young boy’s quest to find not only his place in the world, but also to attempt to understand the hearts and minds of others. However, where immense care was put into making Shinji’s struggles feel relatable and his mindset coherent, the creators of MaAJ forgo this effort by simply giving the protagonist autism. Thus, any of Max’s actions can simply be handwaved away by his disability: Max flipped over a table and…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →From what i have play thus far I can say this! This game has strong points that have made me smile as a fellow member with ASD! I absoulutly love the way that the world is captured and intrupitated through the game! As sometimes when you explain it or try to imainge it its so veryed and diffrent its hard too capture in words. As i think its a much more visual thing so the way its show is stunning! So yes... -Good art! -Oringal Score (Witch i am loving so far) -RP maker combat that has…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a person named Max with autism I can honestly say that this is exactly my biography. Every time I fail a breathing exercise I am overcome with my anger and must do battle with Satan in what is one of the most wretched JRPG systems I have ever had the misfortune of using.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is the best gift to your autistic friends, especially today APRIL 1st and 90% discount. Don't miss your chance. Don't lose your way. Don't be afraid. Be A real human bean And a real hero. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZrHBMqj_9g
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →looks like we finally got undertale 2
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My name is max and i feel personally attacked by this game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If you want to learn something about ASD this is a wonderfull game, its also a lot of fun to play
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Most autistic game i have ever played
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Within the opening thirty minutes of "Max: An Autistic Journey", the titular character failed to understand a simple knock-knock joke, had a melt down over which bathroom to use and repeated a verbal tic a dozen times. As the father of a child with ASD, it felt immediately familiar albeit from a different perspective. "Max" tries to carry the player though a day in the life of a ten year old high-functioning autistic child and help you see things from his side. Along the way, the game is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is definatly the GOTY winner for me this year, Activision really nailed it with this Call of Duty: Autistic Warfare. This game singleplayer is based on a true story In this game you play as Max, a soldier who fought in WW2 and got autism because of it. The Nazis were experimenting with Meme grenades, and one grenade got too close to Max and unloaded 50 TeraBytes of Memes into Max's head. As a result, Max got autism. Few years later, Max is accepted in the United States Marines…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As someone diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and with several friends who have Asperger's, I can related to this game. You play Max, a 10 year old child with high functioning autism. Your job is to get through the day's challenges, such as getting dressed, making it through school, playing with friends, doing homework, and weathering a thunderstorm. The gameplay is standard for games made with RPG Maker. You have turn-based combat, items, spells, and experience levels. The real charm of the game…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Now, I don't have autism, but I hope my kid does so I can bottle him. I'll just keep having children until one of them has the little quirk, I'll do IVF, impregnate socially inept women, you name it, and nobody's going to stop me. And when little junior has autism, I'm going to teach him how to count the exact proportions of alcohol and how many standard drinks they'll equate to. That way I'll have my own little calculator, who'll be able to gauge how many standard drinks I've had throughout…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →beautiful soundtrack and such an informative little gem! learning about ASD in a relatable way & NOT being all encyclopedia on you. Max must be very proud of himself and his Pops for making a creative and lovely game. :) (note: i have not finished it yet but i couldn't help myself recommending this to others because i really enjoy it. plus i'll update once i've finished the story.)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great RPG where you learn about how autistic kids see the world and think about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Y8vdlOARI
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"Autism Simulator 2017, Activison's newest must play installment to the Call of Duty franchise." - IGN
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Internet jokes aside, this game just isn't fun to play at all. A subpar RPG maker tier game that feels very rough and missing some basic RPG elements.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →>Get autism from pubg >learn about autism from this game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very typical rpg maker game but A story of an autistic child named max Written by Max and his father this game gives a unique insight into the workings of an autistic child's mind in a normal day https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLQ43zSlAyA&list=PLGpRtX5ted383m6rNmZaOHM09kZaRYKoJ
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game itself is fine, boss fights are really challenging (that's a good thing!) and I even learned a few things. There's just one thing that was really annoying but guided me through the whole game: Almost every second sentence started with "In fact, ..." what became really annoying quite fast. Also the screen froze 4 times in total and I needed to restart the game and load the latest savegame to be able to continue from there onwards. There were two or three enemies that felt kinda…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is quite potentially the greatest if not one of the greatest games released on Steam.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have a history with this game. I was gifted this about half a year ago because my name is Max (I don't have autism though) by my friend Conner because he wanted to be a ♥♥♥♥. I decided to hold off on playing this until my birthday because that is when I can get all of my friends to come over... When I booted it up I found out that it was an RPG maker game. Within 4 minutes of playing this game it said he liked to play five nights at Freddy's and he had a nervous tick off saying "in fact" even…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This simple yet unique RPG lets you see the world through Max' eyes: daily obstacles are monster bosses, little challenges are dangerous quests and small fears become scary nightmarish monsters. Warning: near the end, when you look for batteries, you’ll get some jumpscares. But only then. Luckily, there’s this Dad of the Year with all these helpful picto’s, some earmuffs and a flashlight. Pretty normal for us, but all these things mean the world to Max. The overall style is very cozy and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Complete and utter rubbish basically, especially towards the end of the game. Sure the game is informational but the rest is just holding down Enter and watching the game play itself.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Never seen or heard of this game until this past week. I decided to purchase the game predicated upon it's unique subject matter. This game is extremly well thought out and put together nicely. You spend a day in the life of Max, where you partake in various adventures in the form of mini games and treading through imaginary lands. You can not help but have a smile on your face when playing this game. I have played quite a bit of RPG Maker games and this game stands all on its own. This…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In fact, this was a very good game. In fact, I might just play it again to complete it again, in fact. In fact I know a lot more about autism now and maybe my parents can finally love me in fact :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Im really digging this demo of Mass Effect Andromeda On a more serious note, this is just another generic rpgmaker asset ridden game. I can understand that the intent for this game was to promote awareness for attention deficit disorder, but that doesnt cut it. Its supossed to be a game, but it feels more like some sort of psa drag. And sweet moist Vishnu, crashes are so frequent that it makes me think im playing Princess Dianna Simulator By the way, is it REALLY necessary to fill the screen…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →all chads and foids need to be exterminated. incels will rule. will you join the cause?
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Final boss made me want to throw my keyboard out the window. a lesser gamer would have done so.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I bought this game on sale mainly for the educational aspect and was surprised at how polished the game is.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'm choosing to review this with the context of it being something of an edutainment game. Essentially you'll spend a day in the life (and imagination) of Max, an autistic boy. I have to admit I found myself rather charmed as the game went on - through the plot Max has his ups, his downs, and his moments where he's the same as any child his age. You're not going to find a mechanically complex or challenging game, since it's really more about experiencing Max's inner world and quirks specific…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In Fact this Game is a Educational History. Jump on this Adventure with a open mind. The game itself is really funny. In the past i got the opportunity to work and educate some children with autism, and i must say that this game represent a lot of barriers they have, not all types of Autism is on the game, because the history focus around Max a 10 years old boy and the challenges he need to work around everyday (what a day it was). Well Crafted RPG turn based, the combat is easy to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lives up to its name. Finally a game whose main character I can relate to. In fact if he says "in fact" one more time I'm going to break something.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This was an amazing game. Very story rich, educational, and heartwarming. Cannot recommend this enough. EDIT: I nominated it for a steam award for the upcoming award thing.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice graphics, easy to learn controls, and my daughter who is on the spectrum enjoys playing it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Max, an Autistic Journey is an RPG featuring Max an autistic, 10-year-old who's imagination comes to life as you help him perform tasks throughout his day. With each pictograph collected, the more aware of what life is like with ASD. There are many fantastic pop culture references throughout that is sure to bring a smile to the players face. All and all, this game is worth every minute for the learning experience alone.I'll sum up my review with a phrase i've come to enjoy.....In fact, i love…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is probably one of the most emotionally captivating games I played, and I mean it unironically. I have 30 hours on this game. I have not regretting anything. Worth every penny
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →EDIT: I initially had some bad things to say after getting destroyed by the final boss, but after biding my time and learning more about the characters' moves, I just beat it! :) I should mention that I'm a young adult with autism, who does not normally play RPGs. Negatives first. There are some features that would help. First of all, I wish I had gotten an in-game warning that I was about to face the final boss. Usually games let you go back before you do so. Second, in-game hints would be…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My fiance bought me this game because I am autistic and our daughter is named Max. I happen to love this game and recommend it highly to anyone who wants to have a fun time!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Just like the title says.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →autistic adult. game is overall terrible and is not an accurate depiction of autism.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Simple and old school, but very nice game to play. Maybe a little bit too fights in my opinion, because this is a game about autism and the story around it. However I recognise somethings inside me, I have to say in this game the autism is in an extremely hard form. It would be nice if there will be more games in the future that also emphasize the milder forms so the world can create a much better image of the whole spectrum. But for everybody who can't imagine the life of a real autist I…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →♥♥♥♥ you kieran harris, this is a ♥♥♥♥ game
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game a treat to play in comparison to other RPG I've played. This game is meant to understand individuals who have autism while enjoying the gameplay along the way. I can understand a bit on those who have ADHD. I have a nephew who has ADHD and he keeps talking about random topics out of nowhere. He has the need to say whatever is in his head instead of listening to what other people are saying. Max reminds me of my nephew. Seeing the challenges and frustration allows me to realize…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →10/10 masterpiece
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I highly recommend this game even if you are not very familiar with autism or RPGs. M,AAJ is a great game that details the everyday challenges of somebody with the condition, and does so with striking detail and respect. It is clear that many aspects of this game's story are either heavily researched or drawn from experience as this game is somewhat based on a true story. The gameplay itself is very creative. Since this game takes place during an average day, M,AAJ goes the Earthbound route…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is an awsome game , it puts you in mind of costume quest and such like turn based fighting but this is just fun. but this also has educational value for those that either dont know what this condition is and how it affects someone, I would say but it , play it, and discover what some have to live through. the dev desersve a pat on the back as theres not many games as good as this out there. love it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice little rpg about autism
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →RPG Maker strikes again! "Max, an Autistic Journey" is one of hundreds of low effort retro-pixel RPG Maker asset/construction kit flips spamming the Steam catalog, made with the RPG Maker video game construction kit... in their own words, "Our easy to use tools are simple enough for a child." Unlike almost all RPG Maker "games", this is not the usual bunch of low quality/canned assets from RPG Maker coupled with a cringeworthy high school anime club fan fiction. Instead, we have something…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great RPG Maker game about autism. Fun to play, why? Here's why! a) real-life story with detailed situations b) explanations of problems c) simple gameplay, but yet not getting bored because of introduced varations d) game was made by parent and his autistic child (that's mainly why it's so great, because story is basically about themselves) Here are some other features: - contains some well-known RPG Maker templates, but ALSO some unique stuff - game's profit goes to foundations related to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZu_nkUI7qQ&t=
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →surprised at how polished the game is. enjoyed it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →In fact this game is a masterpiece. LOL!!!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is easily the most autistic journey I have ever experienced. 9.5/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Max, an Autistic Journey is one of those rare independent games that immediately distinguishes itself through subject matter alone. Developed by Professional Imagination and published by GPAC, the title places players in the role of Max, a young boy living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and attempts to translate his daily experiences into an accessible retro-inspired RPG adventure. Rather than building its identity around epic quests or world-saving stakes, the game focuses on something much…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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