Lighthouse of guiding flames
A surprisingly interesting little VN that offered something I don’t typically get from VNs this size. A good, unique story that doesn’t overstay its welcome. Only downside is this VN could REALLY use a copyeditor - the writing overall is good and competent, but there are tons of syntax errors (‘and’ is ‘abd’, ‘a lot’ becomes ‘al ot’, etc) that a copyeditor would catch. Doesn’t hinder the story, but does take a layer of polish away from an otherwise hidden gem!
– Real player with 12.6 hrs in game
Read More: Best Drama Visual Novel Games.
Among the Visual Novels produced by indie creators, this one is definitely a gem. And a decently polished one at that.
Apart from a huge budget (and voice acting, which would be a tall order), this VN has everything you would expect from a big name studio: Plenty of beautiful graphics both big and small, a relatable protagonist, interesting characters, a myriad of choices leading to diverse scenes - both serious and funny, music that sets the mood just right, short extra stories, and of course, a story with several routes and endings that will give you something to think about upon completion. You can tell that a lot of thought has been put into every aspect of the game. When needed, the text box changes styles and locations to be more fitting for certain scenes. The narration and pacing are balanced - the scenes seem to have just the right length depending on what they are supposed to convey to the reader. Every ending adds something new to the overall reading experience, providing more interesting details about the story and the setting. Yes, those are not just “stupid choice - bad ending in 4 lines” endings that are common in these kinds of games.
– Real player with 9.8 hrs in game
Welcome To… Chichester 1/Redux : The Spy Of America And The Long Vacation
A promise once long forgotten comes back with clarity so strong it reinvigorates the need to make it come true
WTC Redux : The spy of America and the Long Vacation takes the reader back to where it all began of the mutual rivalry between Grendel Jinx & The Council of the Unseen and Spy & The Phoenix Custodians and what better way to portray this than through a…. BOSS FIGHT!!!
For anyone new to the Welcome to… Chichester (WTC) games expect a lot of wild, pun-tastic humour mixed with short, flowing action-laden chapters that opens up a world packed with dramatic espionage and interesting characters that are all as equally lively as the main protagonist creating a well balanced plot that hardly lets you go from the start.
– Real player with 15.7 hrs in game
Read More: Best Drama Visual Novel Games.
This one is quite comical and had a few fun laughs with an aeroplane event where I’m surprised most passengers didn’t grab parachutes and bail.
There is a couple of quirks though
Something strange with app’s achievements
On just launching game it immediately unlocks about 8 before starting game, they all just pop up in rows.
Chapter 1
Loser !
New Game !!!
Starting a new job
Complete NEW prologue
Completed WTC 0
New Name
Read Future Prologue
Few errors like https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2242187244
– Real player with 5.1 hrs in game
Remember, Remember
I’ve followed Micheala Law’s stuff for a long time, and I’ve been looking forward to this game for months. All that waiting paid off, and I wasn’t disappointed; another game with fantastic writing, great characters, and a story that keeps you guessing the whole way through and packs a strong emotional punch. The game’s artistic quality is also top-notch: all of the artwork is gorgeous and detailed, the music and sound design is beautiful and does a great job at setting the right tone, and the voice acting ranges from pretty good to absolutely fantastic. You can tell that the main actors are giving their all, and boy does it pay off at the right moments - the final act of the game really hits you like a truck because of their performances.
– Real player with 16.3 hrs in game
Read More: Best Drama Strategy Games.
I’m constantly on the quest for indie game psychological thrillers, especially of the trapped-in-one-setting variety, so Remember, Remember, a new game about five university students trying to escape an abandoned laboratory, was an exciting find. Remember, Remember is part visual novel, part horror maze game, and is the collaborative effort of writer Michaela Laws and programmer Ethan Nakashima.
Kris [insert last name here] and his four best friends, Lisa, Rosa, Xavier, and Peter, are running late to their college graduation ceremony. Because none of them majored in basic street smarts, they accept a ride from a stranger in a van claiming to be a student. The next thing they know, they are trapped in some kind of scientific facility, with the only exit barred by lasers. The friends recognize each other, but find themselves unable to recall anything of their past life. Their kidnapper appears and tells Kris that his friends have been keeping secrets. In order to reveal their guilt, Kris must play a game in which he delivers protective halos to save his friends from drowning in glass tubes. It… makes more sense when you see it.
– Real player with 8.7 hrs in game
Roots Of The Woods
The first episode of this Russian Brothers Grimm fairy-tale leaves much to be desired. It features two main characters - Trisha and Harland - as they navigate a strange anomalous post-apocalyptic world where the forest has become a dangerous place. However intriguing that plot may sound, Roots of the Woods lacks the atmosphere, characterization, and psychological ambition which grounds fear in a purpose in a point-and-click purpose.
The pervading tone or mood of the game is ominous. Harland is introduced as a thief who stumbles upon the pretense of a serious moral dilemma. Despite his bad English voice acting and translation, Harland has to choose whether to abandon a young child to a dead mother’s drug-infused crawlspace or take the child with her. The relationship that ensues between Harland and Trisha leaves no room for empathy for the characters during their dangerous odyssey through the forest.
– Real player with 2.3 hrs in game
At this point “Roots of the Woods” is more of a promise of a game that can be potentially good than a wholesome experience. At 1-hour playtime it is terribly short even for an episode, but with working on certain things and expanding on game’s attractive dark aesthetic this can ultimately be turned into an enjoyable horror adventure.
This is a point and click with muted, almost monochrome picture that is pleasing and works well for the overall story. Some visual emphasis when it comes to monsters would have made them stand out a bit more, but this muted simplicity does the job. It might just be the game’s best current asset.
– Real player with 1.3 hrs in game
The Prodigal Soul
Bought the game as the idea of the initial game seemed brilliant after opening the game and it taking forever to do so i didnt have much faith. Tried to change the game quality twice (it crashed each time) So thought I would just play it on whatever settings i was given. So….. I started the game…. and thats as far as i got before i closed the game and proceeded to ask for a refund. it took so long to start up even to the first cut scene and then was so jumpy and laggy i just couldnt play it.
– Real player with 0.1 hrs in game
绝境幸存者 Escape Zombie Land
The game doesnt start. stays in loading screen.
– Real player with 0.1 hrs in game
Welcome To… Chichester 2 - Part II : No Regrets For The Future
Disclosure: During the early access stages of this game’s development, I accepted an offer to proofread it, and repeated the exercise just ahead of final release. This will have no bearing on my assessment of the entertainment on offer.
Albeit with one episode left to follow, this game may represent the end of a journey for this series which has seen it progress from shallow and somewhat under-cooked, to massively improved with engaging plot, character backstories, more graphical interest and more in-game extras.
– Real player with 41.6 hrs in game
Welcome to.. Chichester Part II: No regrets for the future gives a reflection on early meetings between the impish archenemy Grendel and the Protagonist during the holiday capers from WTC 2 Part 1. The recollections take us back to the very first interactions between them during the Protagonist’s first mission, giving an insight into the developing kinship that not only causes concerns for Grendel’s father but also becomes a confliction of interests since Grendel’s father belongs to a rival secret organisation ‘pet insurance’ company.
– Real player with 10.7 hrs in game
Blue Whale
I really enjoy the atmosphere and the overall detail that was put into the game.It is a really well made game for the price. I love the surreal feel, the topic it covers, and that there are different endings.It is a more relaxed horror game, similar to the Yume Nikki games. It’s psychological. No, you can’t save the game and when you die that’s it. But I enjoy that, it adds to the topic. This game deserves more credit. Thanks to the devs.
– Real player with 7.5 hrs in game
The concept was good but it’s frustrating because you can’t save nor run and most achivements require the player to die. Something else that annoyed me was that pressing 0 restarted the entire game and was never said, I found that out by accedentally pressing 0 on the number pad next to the arrow keys.
– Real player with 2.6 hrs in game
DAHALO
Well i beat it, and it was tedious as all hell.
The worst part of it i have to say, is that the price tag is way too high, 24 bucks can get you some food, but whatever you do, dont use those 24 bucks to buy this game
Additon: Game is busted now, cant kill any enimes without crashing game
– Real player with 10.4 hrs in game
It is a bit rough and unpolished but it does look good and is a bit of fun, whether it is worth the price…..difficult to say
– Real player with 4.2 hrs in game
Perseverance: Part 1
This game may start off slow, but the story is AMAZING! I love the “painted” graphics style and the way the Dev’s created atmosphere is phenomenal. No Spoilers here, just looking forward to the 2nd part to see what happens next.
The way it is done is reminiscent of the Telltale series but I personally found the story to be very well written, and even though the choices are limited they still feel like they make a massive impact … 10 out of 10 would do again!
Check out my playthough of the first part on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePnyu5z4qCw
– Real player with 3.5 hrs in game
A fairly promising start to an episodic visual novel, which, as I expect, will evolve into some kind of postapocalyptic survival story. Here, were introduced to the protagonist, Jack, with his struggling family and unfulfilling life in a backwater American town, kept afloat only by the close proximity to a military base. We mostly learn about his story and his relations with his wife and daughter - but while after a harsh argument he secludes himself in a forest cabin inherited from his father, a chain of events happens in his hometown that will most likely change the world forever.
– Real player with 3.1 hrs in game