Tacoma is a game that really shines when you take your time to inspect and appreciate the environments of the station. From the very first moments in you will encounter seemingly mundane props which you can grab and examine and I highly recommend checking them out. To my delight I encountered an item in the kitchen which resonated strongly with me, individual packets of Irish breakfast tea.
Exploring the food items aboard the station was surprisingly an iconic moment for me, but the real interest were the two sci-fi aspects. First the station itself, every bit of which feels very personal. The environments are pleasant for human habitation and enjoyable to interact with, a luxurious evolution from our own humble ISS. One could imagine this being a comfortable home for the duration of their stay there.
Second, and for what I would really recommend Tacoma for- the involvement of AI in the story. For those who are fans of Asimov, or robot philosophy in general this is a sparkling gem. Witnessing the interactions between the crew and their AI, coming to understand their relationship- it's a wonderful experience.
Those who are invasive snoopers might also come to appreciate or resent the characters present. Carefully ransacking their quarters and their offices I found myself becoming invested in the outcome of the story. I wanted their plan to work, for them to make it home safely.
I can say that the game is not for those interested in puzzles or other gameplay features, or those who don't find simple observation enjoyable. This is a game for the introvert, watching the situation from the outside. It is something to immerse yourself in, to catch a glimpse of some possible future and how it relates to our current world.
From start to finish the pacing was excellent, the ending satisfying, feeling like it truly had meaning- that here was taking place a piece of virtual history, right in the making, with dark implications looming in the distance.
Try find the hen.