The game takes place in what is described as a “perfect” pocket world, where players explore the terrarium, meet its residents, and progress through a non-linear narrative shaped by their choices. Jenny’s neighborhood includes a strange and memorable cast of characters, including a reclusive woman who is slowly becoming something else, a shopkeeper who offers daily album recommendations, a fish postal worker, a nosy retired birdwatcher, and a wandering fortune teller who may know more than she lets on.
Vivarium also appears to be built around a mix of life-sim comfort and narrative unease. Days are synced to the player’s real-world calendar, creating space for daily discoveries while the broader mystery unfolds.
Major story events move time forward, but each night gives players room for slice-of-life activities such as cooking recipes, tending a garden, collecting stickers, vinyl records, and classic novels, crafting items, decorating Jenny’s home, repairing equipment, and preparing for the next day’s adventure.
