To The Moon: Playthrough Guide

This month, we’re playing To The Moon! Read the game announcement here: it includes why this game was selected and where you can pick it up. As you play, read through this guide to help focus your thinking and reflect on the game.

Essential Question

💡 The Essential Question (EQ) is a core question to consider throughout your playthrough! It draws upon your knowledge of the game, supplementary materials, and existing knowledge base, encouraging you to see patterns and create conclusions.

By the end of To The Moon, you’ll play the game and be able to formulate an answer the essential question:

How much do memories shape our identity — our being?

Discussion Questions

💡 The Discussion Questions (DQs) are specific questions to help check understanding and feelings throughout each portion of the game. Use these as inspiration for threads in the Discord forum, or simply think about them while playing!

Act I Discussion Questions

1. How do you feel about Eva and Neil when you meet them?

2. Pay attention to certain motifs — recurring objects and ideas — what do you see popping up again and again?

3. Sigmund Corp’s service is a unique one: how do you feel about what they do? If this service were to exist, would you partake?

4. What is Johnny’s wish? Are Neil and Eva able to find out why?

5. River has ‘a condition’. What does the game allude this condition to be? How has this condition impacted her relationships (particularly with Johnny)?

6. Where does Johnny choose to build his house? Why?

7. How does Johnny and River’s first date go?

8. Why does Johnny like River? What did you think of the conversation between him and Nicholas?

9. What stops Eva and Neil from progressing through the rest of Johnny’s memories?

Act II Discussion Questions

1. Keep checking in: Pay attention to certain motifs — recurring objects and ideas — what do you see popping up again and again?

2. Keep checking in: How do you feel about Neil and Eva? How is that changing as you play (if at all)?

3. We’ve learned a lot about Johnny and River’s relationship. What do you think about how it’s evolved (or not) over the years?

4. Why didn’t it work when Eva implemented Johnny’s wish?

5. How do Eva and Neil gain access to Johnny’s younger memories?

Act III Discussion Questions

1. What relevance does the sense of smell have at the start of Act III?

2. What is the odd thing in Johnny’s room?

3. Describe what we learn in the memory tied to roadkill. Why is this significant?

4. Who does Johnny meet at the carnival? What is their discussion like?

5. Explain the significance of rabbits, lighthouses, and the platypus - what do these mean to Johnny and River?

6. How do Neil and Eva disagree regarding Johnny’s contract? Do their responses match what you think of their characters? Why/why not?

7. “This isn’t a success” - Neil says this near the end of the game. Do you agree or disagree? Why?