Connect with others over a slice of pizza in A Pizza Delivery
A Pizza Delivery by developer Eric Osuna, is a walking simulator with beautiful ambient environments and a compelling narrative about finding oneself and connecting with others. You play as B, who wakes up in an unfamiliar place and is tasked by her boss with delivering pizzas.
The world B is in is large and ever-changing, and the feeling each location exudes is unique. The soft, welcoming environment of a grassy field on a sunny day, to oppressive, dark environments the next, each place B explores adds another level of storytelling that keeps players wanting to know more.
When B moves from place to place, the transition between environments can be overwhelming and sometimes look like something straight out of Alice in Wonderland, but I believe the kookiness of moving from place to place adds to the narrative to B’s self-discovery journey and her willingness to keep moving forward even when her mind may want to stay stuck in the past.
The puzzles throughout A Pizza Delivery challenge players to think outside the box of straightforward possibilities. While I personally did not find the puzzles challenging, they were fun to figure out and felt rewarding upon completion.
We move place to place on B’s company-issued moped that’s aesthetically pleasing, but the controls are not the best. In large areas, using the moped to explore every nook and cranny for lore made the experience feel bigger, and existing in the world longer, as the main story is fairly short.
Throughout B’s journey, she will meet interesting characters who share their story over a slice of pizza. It’s through these conversations that not only do we learn about these NPCs, but we learn more about B’s past. Connection is the heart of A Pizza Delivery, but that’s not all. As NPCs share their story, it provides a vulnerable space for B to share things about herself, too.
Back in grad school, in my class that focused on counseling methodologies, we learned specifically about how scary it can be to be vulnerable and when people who share a bond, albeit friendships, romantic connections, or platonic connections that often when both parties risk together in being vulnerable, it can provide an even playing field where everyone feels safe to share something about themselves and drives deeper connection.
We see this play out with all of the people B shares a slice of pizza with. It starts with getting on the other’s level, sharing a meal, and creating a safe space to be their authentic selves. B is unsure about her future, but knows clinging to the past is not the answer in the journey that she is on.
An example of B holding space with others comes across beautifully with when she meets Pora. B offers Pora a slice of pizza and conversation in exchange for petrol for her scooter. At first Pora is flirtatious with B and B welcomes the flirtatious advances. They eventually begin to speak about their past relationships and Pora realizing B may not be be over her ex, Pora offers life advice and encourage B to continue on her journey. The conversation is heartfelt and deeply empathetic. The majority of the NPCs B meets on their journey have their own stories, traumas and triumphs, and it is wonderful getting to learn about them all.
A major area where A Pizza Delivery shines is the soundtrack and sound design. The sound design in the beautiful environments creates a relaxing experience that most players will find pleasant. The soundtrack is beautiful, and I would love to see a vinyl release of the score in the future.
I completed my first run of A Pizza Delivery in about 3 hours, earning a majority of the achievements. Overall, I had a wonderful experience, enjoyed the story, and loved the queer representation.
A Pizza Delivery is available today on Steam for $13.99 USD, with the soundtrack being an additional $4.99 USD if you want to purchase it.
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