Recent reviews by Raye Skylark

Double Date - Yuri visual novel is - as you can guess from the title - a yuri, kinetic visual novel developed and published by Quill Yuri. You take on various character roles, mainly Alice and Sophie, who end up adopting shiba inus, and Dani and Apple, the shiba inus who are adopted. At the beginning of the story, Alice is at the shelter, looking to adopt a dog. Once she meets Dani, it's almost love at first sight. However, as Alice is taking care of the paperwork to officially adopt Dani, she ends up bumping into Sophie, who is there to adopt Apple. Although it's a brief meeting, Alice and Sophie feel the chemistry ignite between them. However, there's a bit of an issue in that they ended up adopting the wrong shiba inus. Still, perhaps they can overcome this mixup and even find each other again, with a little help from their shiba inus. ^^

As for the gameplay, the story is linear, so there are no choices whatsoever. You play through the game from beginning to end. A few CGs are present as well as a varied soundtrack although no voice acting. Steam achievements are available, too, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


I enjoy a light-hearted, sweet, yuri visual novel lots, and it has been a while since I last read such a story. After I first read Double Date's Steam store page, I immediately put it on my wishlist, especially since I've enjoyed other VNs by Quill Yuri, such as Death Becomes You and Lachesis or Atropos. (Please feel free to follow my curator if you'd like to read reviews of either or both of them. ^^) Thanks to Quill Yuri, I got an early review copy of the game, so that I can share my thoughts.

Starting off, the story is very cute and sweet. I like how we're introduced to Alice and Sophie. Alice is talkative and a bit scatterbrained, while Sophie is quieter and more work-focused. (Personally, I relate closer to Sophie. XD) Even though they are different, they're both very kind, and they must be since they both end up adopting dogs. I love how they continually bump into each other, and that's due to Apple's and Dani's shenanigans. The shiba inus eventually get wind that Alice and Sophie like each other, and they want to help their owners get together. OMG, I couldn't help squealing and cheering for everyone involved. As for Apple and Dani, they have different personalities as well. Apple is more like Alice, while Dani is more like Sophie. Even though they end up with the wrong owners, they learn to adapt to their situations and come to love them.

A fun piece of trivia, but after I finished reading the main story, I read the developer's notes, and the characters are based on those from Death Becomes You, albeit in a modern setting. I couldn't believe that I didn't make this connection before, but to be fair, it has been quite a long time since I last read Death Becomes You, which I highly recommend checking out. XD However, you don't need to have read it before delving into Double Date, so this game is a standalone story.

In regards to the writing, the pacing is good. The overall story is on the slower side, but it's more of a slice-of-life, so it's important to take that into account. I noticed only a couple of very minor grammatical errors, mainly that a word was missing, so they definitely don't detract the reader from enjoying the story. All achievements unlocked for me without any problems.

With the art, it has this beautiful anime style. Alice and Sophie are drawn and colored well, and I can see that they're the modern counterparts to the same characters from Death Becomes You. Also, I totally adore Apple's and Dani's sprites. They look so cute, and even though they look almost the same, you can tell them apart based on facial expressions and the slightly different fur markings. Of course, the CGs are done really well, too.

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Regarding the music, the tracks are fun to listen to. They're on the light-hearted side, which makes sense since the overall story is sweet and cute. It's more of a feel good story, so the tracks reflect that mood well. They're placed well in the scenes that they're in.


Would I recommend Double Date - Yuri visual novel? If you're a fan of yuri visual novels, you want one that has a cute, sweet story, you're a dog lover, and/or you like getting those Steam achievements, then this is totally worth checking out. The story will make you smile, and it has dogs. Also, it can be finished in one sitting, so if you're looking for a short story, then this one will be a good fit.

Finally, I'd like to thank Quill Yuri for the review copy. I had nothing but feel good vibes after reading this story, and I'd love to see more of these characters in modern settings. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: I was one of the beta testers for this game although a copy was gifted to me, thanks to a wonderful friend. ^^



City Lights, Old Flames is a dramatic, otome visual novel developed by Sugar Moon Studio and published by Cinnabun Collective. You take on the role of Yui (whose name can be changed), and having graduated from university, Yui is determined to make it on her own by moving to the city of Lavendale. However, one unexpected turn after another keeps coming at Yui. First, she has to deal with a rude, scary landlady, and next, she finds out that Emma, her best friend, bailed on her, so Yui has no roommate for the apartment and has to find a way to keep up with the rent. If that wasn't already enough, Yui unexpectedly discovers that her ex-boyfriend, Dane, is working at the same game studio where she's an intern. Then there is Yui's mysterious online friend, whom she's been texting and confiding in, feeling safe since they have no idea who the other is away from being online. Of course, there's a twist in regards to Yui's online friend. With so many things happening to Yui, can she make it in Lavendale and maybe find love along the way?

With the gameplay, it consists of choices presented throughout the story. Most of the choices determine how well Yui gets along with the two possible love interests, Dane and Oliver (Yui's longtime childhood friend), as well as her relationships with others, such as her mom. However, it's the final choice that decides whether Yui ends up with Dane or Oliver. A couple of ending CGs are shown as well as a varied soundtrack although no voice acting. At the time of this review, no Steam achievements or trading cards are available.


First, I like how the story starts off. It is a bit slow, with Yui having just arrived at her apartment in Lavendale. She's bright and hopeful, but quickly afterwards, she receives bad news when she's greeted by the rude landlady and even more so, with Emma bailing on her. Yui can come off as a bit naive, but I think that it's natural since some of us have probably experienced that feeling of having finished university and experiencing life as an adult outside of school for the first time. Yet, we have no idea what life will throw at us, and school can't prepare for that. Anyway, I liked Yui as a main character, despite that she comes off as naive at times. Also, I disliked how Emma bails on her without giving any sort of heads up although Emma does make an appearance pretty late into the story, and this issue comes up.


It's the romances that are the main focus. As I mentioned earlier, the main romance options are Dane, Yui's ex, and Oliver, Yui's childhood friend. The story itself never diverges from the common path, unlike a lot of VNs that do so when it comes to character routes. However, I didn't find this to be a negative since I wanted to get to know more about Dane and Oliver and particularly, their backstories with Yui. There are flashbacks in which we find out what Yui was like with both of the guys and of course, we discover how Yui ends up falling out with them. The story and choices build up to a point in which Yui ends up restoring her relationships with Dane and Oliver. Dane feels like he can rekindle what he once had with Yui, while Oliver feels like he and Yui could end up becoming more than friends. While the majority of the story has Dane and Oliver not meeting up, there comes a point later on in which the two do meet and they end up clashing. I liked that there's some tension between these two, adding to the drama. Now, when it comes to the endings, it kind of feels a bit rushed since Yui suddenly has to make the choice of whether to go after Dane or take a chance and be with Oliver. Although I did enjoy the romance endings for these guys, I wish that there had been a little more build up to get to that point. Still, the endings felt sweet and cute.

As for the writing, the pacing is ok. There are some bigger time skips than others, but the story would have dragged on if events had been narrated day-by-day, so I thought that this was fine. The story itself takes place over the course of about 3 months in-game, from the beginning of May until almost the end of July. I noticed towards the beginning of the story where a couple of lines repeated twice. It feels weird, so hopefully, this will be fixed in a future update. Also, there are a couple of typos, but they're very minor and they don't detract from enjoying the overall story. As a beta tester, I'd like to note that there have definitely been some improvements to the story, such as adding more tension between Yui and other characters. It helps to create more drama and all.

In regards to the art, the sprites are drawn and colored in a typical anime style, while the backgrounds are simple but drawn and colored well. The art style definitely makes you feel like you're in the city. If I had to note a negative, it's that there are only a couple of CGs and they're both ending CGs for Dane and Oliver. I love to gaze at a fair amount of CGs in VNs, so this is a bit of a letdown. Also, CGs help to highlight important story events. Still, the art is overall very well done. In addition, I noticed a couple of new backgrounds that weren't present in the beta version.

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Regarding the music, there's a good variety of tracks. They depict moods from the everyday going-about-your-day theme to the more emotional, dramatic ones. The music is quite nice to listen to, and it helps to bring the story to life.


Would I recommend City Lights, Old Flames? If you're looking for a sweet, otome visual novel and you don't mind that it's short and/or it lacks Steam achievements, then it's worth checking out. It was an enjoyable read, and the developer definitely improved on the game's story and art. Granted, there's no sexual content, but I don't mind that since it's just nice to read a sweeter (with dramatic moments) story that has cute romantic endings. I wish that there had been Steam achievements, but it's not a dealbreaker since for me, story is key. For the asking price, I think it's worth getting, but you can wait for a sale. ^^

The Introverted Gamer and Otome Rakuen team up to give readers highly detailed, thorough reviews of hot romance games.

Minami Lane is a cozy, cute, simulation, management game developed by Doot, Blibloop, and Zakku and published by Doot Tiny Games and Wholesome Games Presents. You are greeted by Emu, a friendly tanooki who wishes to see Minami Lane grow and prosper. ^^

As for the gameplay, you have a total of 5 missions, and each has a mandatory and optional objective. Objectives can range from achieving a certain satisfaction percentage to completing objectives before a particular number of days. In order to complete objectives, you'll need to construct buildings, such as houses for residents and ramen shops where residents can eat. With shops, you can customize items, which is necessary since residents (who consist of youth and elderly) have particular preferences. Shops and houses can be upgraded, and you can choose either to increase the number of residents/attract more customers or increase the neighborhood's beauty. Of course, you'll earn money over the course of a day, and money is used to purchase buildings and upgrades. Also, there's a sandbox mode in which you can construct your neighborhood any way you like. In addition, plenty of Steam achievements are available, which count towards a user's global total, as well as Steam trading cards.


A while back, I played one of the developer's recent games, Kabuto Park (please check out my review of it here), and I enjoyed it very much. Thus, I've been meaning to get around to Minami Lane, which I admit that I should have gotten around to sooner. Since there's an upcoming Wholesome Games Direct at the time that I'm writing this review, I thought that it would be a great chance to get to this game.

The story is very light. We're introduced to Emu the tanooki, who welcomes us to the world of Minami Lane. Emu then explains a bit how the game mechanics work and then pretty much, leaves us to it. Other than that, there isn't much of a story.


It's the gameplay that's definitely more of the heart of this game. I found it to be very fun and addictive. First, I like how you get a lot of freedom in completing mission objectives. Since it's a simulation and management game, there isn't necessarily just one correct way to win a mission. Of course, it's important to think ahead on which buildings will help. If you need more residents, houses are key although since there are two types of houses, you have to consider whether you want ones for the youth or elderly, and they have different preferences when it comes to shops. If you have to generate revenue, then shops are needed. I like that you can customize shop items. For example, in the flower shop, you can choose how many roses, tulips, etc., that you'd like in a bouquet. Balance is important, and as I mentioned, youths and elderly have different preferences, so one customized item may not satisfy a particular group. Thankfully, you can build more than one of the same type of building and have different items for each. Also, you can speed up time if you find the days in-game to be progressing too slowly, and that can help if you just want to get to the next day and figure out how to tweak the neighborhood to complete mission objectives. Before I forget, cats can be unlocked in later missions, and yes, you can pet them. There's even an achievement for doing so. :D If I had to bring up a criticism, I'd say that a couple of Steam achievements can be grindy. For example, the achievement for manually collecting trash can take time. However, it is doable to obtain all achievements.

As for the art, it is colorful and very cute. I love the designs of the people, cats, and backgrounds. Also, the buildings are aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. When you choose a building to construct, you can customize it with colors and shape designs (such as the roof), which makes for a great variety. No two person's neighborhood is going to look exactly the same.

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With the music, there are only a few tracks, but they're very light and upbeat to listen to. The tracks are a perfect accompaniment as you play through the missions, and they're all instrumental. Also, there are some sweet sound effects, such as the bicyclists ringing their bicycle bells and the cats meowing cutely.


Would I recommend Minami Lane? If you're a fan of cozy, cute games, you want to try out a fun management and simulation game at your own pace (yes, it's totally relaxing), and/or you want to obtain those cute Steam achievements, then this is definitely worth checking out. At the asking price, I feel like it's a very good deal, especially since sandbox mode is available, and you can play as much as you want (or you can redo missions if you want to give yourself more of a customized challenge).

Finally, I want to thank Wholesome Games for the review key. I admit that it took me a while to get around to this game and I was worried that I might have gotten rusty, as it's been a long while since I last played a game in this genre. However, I felt relaxed and at ease with Minami Lane, and although I wish I'd gotten around to it sooner, I'm glad that I got to play it and share my thoughts. Cozy games are totally awesome. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



Her Love, Like Poison is a yuri, dark kinetic visual novel developed and published by ebi-hime. You take on the role of Ethel, a shy woman who's in her final year of university. Stuck at her family home in Oxbury, brooding over her breakup with her ex-girlfriend, Clementine, while her family is enjoying their vacation in Australia, Ethel is at a crossroads over her life. She can't find joy in playing the violin or even working on her thesis. However, after encountering a mysterious girl in the woods in St. Clementine's church, Ethel's life takes a turn. Whether this turn ends up being for better or for worse, only time will tell. :o

As for the gameplay, the story is linear, so no choices are present. The game takes place over the course of 3 days, with the narration being in the third person perspective. Several CGs are present along with a varied soundtrack although no voice acting. There are a couple of sound effects, though. Steam achievements are available, too, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


Usually, I wouldn't play two VNs, let alone those by the same dev, in a row. Recently, I reviewed another one of ebi-hime's VNs, Maid for My Master (please check out my review of it here). However, when I saw that Her Love, Like Poison was released, I knew that I had to play and review it as soon as possible, especially since I enjoy ebi-hime's yuri VNs. Thanks to a very awesome friend, I had a chance to read the story and give my thoughts. ^^

The story definitely starts off on a more somber note. We're introduced to Ethel all alone, playing the violin. She's in quite a depressive state due to having recently broken up with her girlfriend (now ex) and being at odds with her family. Nevertheless, Ethel seems to find a bit of hope when she meets a mysterious girl in St. Clementine's church. Ethel has no idea who she is, and the girl never reveals her name, only giving her a backstory about being stuck with her grandparents in Oxbury while her parents are away. The girl seems very attracted to Ethel, even going so far as to seduce her with kisses and touching, and Ethel can't help but be drawn to her. I enjoyed reading this growing, yet dark, relationship between Ethel and the girl. Even though Ethel is aware on some level that there's something off about the girl, she eventually surrenders herself to her, just wanting to be loved. When I learned about Ethel's background, I could see how she ends up becoming vulnerable. (PSA: Since the story touches on bullying and such, I just want to say that it's never ok to bully or hurt someone, which is what happened to Ethel. It can lead to negative consequences, and that kind of behavior is NEVER justifiable.) Although there are a couple of other characters who appear in the story, Ethel and the girl are the main focus. As some may be able to guess, the story ends with the two of them being together, albeit in a very dark, twisted manner, so suffice it to say that it's not a happily ever after. :o

Briefly touching on the writing, the pacing is good. Never at any point did I feel like I got bored with how events proceeded in the story. My mind was so preoccupied with following Ethel and the girl. I noticed a few typos, but this is usually the case for a newly released VN. I assume that they'll be fixed in a future update. All achievements unlocked for me without any problems.

As for the art, it is absolutely gorgeous. It has a similar style as another of ebi-hime's VNs, It gets so lonely here (I totally recommend checking it out, and you can read my review of it here). It gives off that dark vibe, and I especially liked the use of colors. Of course, the CGs are especially gorgeous to look at.

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I should note that one or two CGs may have nudity although certain areas are tastefully covered up. They're mainly of Ethel in the bath.

In regards to the music, the tracks are disturbingly and hauntingly beautiful to listen to. Along with the art, they're the perfect complement to giving the story its dark, falling down the rabbit hole vibe. I felt so immersed in the story that it was difficult to tear myself away from it at times. :o


Would I recommend Her Love, Like Poison? Definitely, yes! Ebi-hime continues to create wonderful yuri stories, and this one drew me in from beginning to end. At the asking price, I feel like it's totally worth getting and experiencing the story although of course, you can wait for a sale. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A free adult patch is available although I chose to play the more censored version.



Maid For My Master is a kinetic, romance visual novel developed and published by ebi-hime. You take on the role of Asahi, a young man in his early 20's who's working part time at a convenience store in Tokyo. Asahi barely makes enough to get on by, and he has to deal with a surly co-worker and the difficult conditions of living in a big city, as he had only known life in the countryside. As Asahi is walking back to his apartment after his work shift, he meets Holly, who's handing out fliers for a cafe where she works. However, here's the catch. Holly is a robot maid that's programmed to serve humans. Still, she's quite unique in that she behaves in ways that end up getting her fired from the cafe. Feeling guilty that Asahi was the cause, he insists that Holly stay with him, and she agrees. Thus, their relationship begins, going from friends to eventually a couple. Of course, certain obstacles are presented before them but nothing that they can't overcome together. ^^

As for the gameplay, the story is linear, so there are no choices whatsoever. Four chapters and an epilogue are present, and you play through the story from beginning to end. Several lovely CGs are shown and a varied soundtrack is included but no voice acting. Also, there are several Steam achievements, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


I always get excited whenever I see any of ebi-hime's visual novels here on Steam. (It's quite amazing how many she releases in a year. :o) Of course, I was excited to get around to playing Maid For My Master.

The story is very cute and sweet. Asahi is pretty much your typical male protagonist that's present in Japanese VNs. He's ordinary and down on his luck, trying to make ends meet in a big city while dealing with rude people. It's when he has his initial encounter with Holly that events start taking a turn. It was very hilarious to see Holly come to Asahi's aid when she throws Asahi's aggressor out of the cafe window and afterwards, calmly and rationally explain the situation to her employer. XD Although this action results in Holly getting fired, it pushes her and Asahi to spend time together and to get to know one another. I enjoyed witnessing their relationship grow and evolve. Asahi treats Holly as a woman, despite that Holly continually reminds him that she's a robot. Holly goes from simply fulfilling her duty to serve humans to considering her wishes, and that's all thanks to Asahi. Their relationship even gets to the point where it becomes romantic, and it feels natural.

(I'll briefly note that even though I played without the adult patch, I could tell that the patch includes a sex scene between Asahi and Holly.)

As for the writing, it's very well paced. The story is more of a slice-of-life, albeit with robots becoming more mainstream in society. (Still, Holly is quite advanced for a robot.) It never feels like the story gets boring or too slowed down at any point. There's a good balance between the slower moments and the more exciting, funny, and/or dramatic ones. I noticed only a couple of typos, which I assume will be fixed in a future update. All Steam achievements unlocked for me without any problems.

Regarding the art, the sprites are done in a typical anime style, which I tend to like in visual novels, and the backgrounds are drawn and colored well, too. Most of the backgrounds are original although there may be one or two that are familiar if you've played some of ebi-hime's previous VNs. The CGs are especially done well.

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With the music, the tracks are lovely to listen to. While some have that happy, upbeat tone, others are slightly more somber and melancholy. The tracks fit perfectly with the scenes they're placed in, really immersing you in the story. No voice acting is present, but it isn't needed to enjoy this story, and I preferred to take my time reading the text and picturing what I thought would make for great voices for the characters. XD


Would I recommend Maid For My Master? If you're looking for a cute, sweet romance with a love between a human and a robot that can overcome obstacles, you especially enjoy ebi-hime's visual novels, and/or you want easily obtainable Steam achievements, then this is definitely worth checking out. It was such a great read, and I'm happy that Asahi and Holly get their happily ever after, which is a bit predictable but nevertheless, a sweet ending. For the asking price, I think it's worth it, as it is one of ebi-hime's newer VNs. Of course, you can choose to wait for a sale, and it's in a Steam bundle.

Finally, I'd like to thank ebi-hime for the review copy. It was a very enjoyable read, and the romance between Asahi and Holly warmed my heart. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: My review will be based on the demo version of the game, which the developer kindly provided an early review key. ^^



Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker is an upcoming prequel to the first Tavern Talk. (Please click here to check out my review of that game.) It is a cozy, relaxing game developed and published by Gentle Troll Entertainment. You take on the role of a tavern keeper, whose default name is Cosmo (but you can change the name as well as set your pronouns), who's just opened up The Drowsy Dragon in a small seaside port town. As various patrons enter the tavern, it's your job to fulfill their drink orders as well as to listen to their stories, especially since there could be interesting rumors that can be turned into quests.

The gameplay is very similar to the first Tavern Talk, albeit with some changes. There's a new helper in the potion-making room even though its job is the same as the previous helper. Making drinks has the same mechanics in which you mix various potions and use them in the right balance. Potions have various stats, such as strength and charisma, and it's important to make the drinks correctly to please patrons and get them to open up to the tavern keeper. Of course, you can throw away any drinks that are made incorrectly. Also, you can collect rumors from patrons and at the end of the day, if you have enough related rumors, you can connect them and turn them into quests. Since this is a demo, the game lasts over the course of one day, and no Steam achievements are available although the final version may very well have them.


I really enjoyed the first Tavern Talk, as it's probably obvious from my review of it. When the wonderful people over at Gentle Troll Entertainment contacted me and wanted me to review this demo, of course, I enthusiastically jumped at the chance to do so. ^^

The story has this wonderful, relaxing, laidback atmosphere. It probably helps that it takes place in a seaside town. Cosmo, the tavern keeper, is laidback as well, having just opened up the place with a little assistance. In the demo, I got to see four patrons, and each has their own unique personalities, quirks, and stories to tell. While most of them are new faces (which makes sense since this is a prequel), one of them might be a familiar face (albeit with a slightly younger skin) if you played the first Tavern Talk. I enjoyed these surprise easter eggs from the first game.

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It's just as wonderful as the first game, if not better. I liked to witness the conversations between Cosmo and the patrons and to see them exchange fun, lighthearted banter. At times, you can make choices in conversations, which can determine how favorably patrons view Cosmo. Also, drink making is back, and it's still very enjoyable. You have a slightly different chart from the first game, but the basic mechanics are the same. You have to figure out what drinks the patrons want and then use the right potions and their amounts to make the correct drink.

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In addition, quests are back as well, and you can create them based on rumors that Cosmo hears from patrons. As the demo ended after I made my first quest, I'm assuming that patrons can take the quests that they want, just like in the first game.

With the art, the same style from the first game makes a return, and I'm happy that they kept the artist around to help with the prequel. There are plenty of beautifully colored, animated sprites, and I loved looking at the inside of this quaint, seaside tavern.

As for the music, the tracks that are present are all new. They give off that vibe of being at the seaside well, and you can take the gameplay at your own pace as you're mixing drinks and making quests. The music also gives off that D&D vibe.


Would I recommend Tavern Talk Stories: Dreamwalker? If you enjoy cozy, relaxing games and/or you especially enjoyed the first Tavern Talk, this is definitely worth checking out. You don't even need to have played the first game, but if you have, you can look forward to seeing fun easter eggs. I enjoyed playing through the demo, which took me around 45 minutes (but I played at my own pace). If it's probably not obvious by now, I'm really looking forward to the full version.

Finally, I want to give a big thank you to Gentle Troll Entertainment for the early review key demo. I'm sure that many people (including myself) will be excited for the full version and return to the world of Tavern Talk. ^^

For more detailed, fully complete, high quality reviews like this, please follow The Introverted Gamer, prioritizing heart and soul always. ^^

Note: A wonderful friend gifted me a copy of this game. ^^



Hidden Cats in Tokyo is a cat-themed, hidden object game developed by Nukearts Studio and published by Nukearts Studio and Dartisans. The cats are at it again, but this time, the stakes are even higher (compared to the other games in the series XD). You're tasked with the mission to vaccinate all the cats in Tokyo before they become dangerous creatures known as monster cats. Yup, there's actually a story in this one. It turns out that a gigantic yokai cat is responsible for all the chaos, but fear not. You get assistance from hero cats scattered all around Tokyo as well as Dr. Mashineko, who creates the vaccine to help the cats. Can your team save Tokyo and restore order to the city? :o

As for the gameplay, there are several levels that consist of finding a specified number of cats, special cats, monster cats, cat items, and people. You can zoom in and out of levels (a.k.a. scenes) to find the objects, and you can use the hint function if you get stuck on finding any of them. The number of hints increases as you find more objects. In the final two levels, there's a mini-game in which you have to time your clicks so that the slider is in the green zone of the bar. Of course, plenty of Steam achievements are available, and they count towards a user's global total. In addition, there are Steam trading cards.


Nukearts Studio is one of my all-time favorite developers when it comes to cat-themed, hidden object games. Although this isn't the latest game in the series, it is the last game on my list by the developer that I finally got around to playing. I held off because I read about the initial bugs and such and wanted to wait until they were fixed.

With that said, I love how there's a story in this one. You're tasked with vaccinating the cats in Tokyo, as there's a virus going around that could infect them and turn them into monster cats. It's quite a fun, inventive story, which reminds me of those old school movies about Japan being invaded by a gigantic monster. Also, the inclusion of hero cats makes me think about one of my favorite TV series in Japan about a group of heroes who go off saving citizens from monsters and whatnot. XD There's time travel, too, which definitely goes off on the wacky, but I like it. Sometimes, a story can be just fun and not taken too seriously, and I like that the developers took a risk with presenting a story. ^^

However, I'm sure that it's the gameplay that is the question. Hidden Cats in Tokyo is still as much fun as the other games in the series. You can use the zoom function to find cats and other objects. I should give a heads up that the zoom in function will only work so much. Even at the maximum zoom in, a few cats might still be difficult to find. Of course, you can use hints if you get stuck, but I should caution that if you do so, you won't be able to earn achievements related to completing areas in expert mode. As for the mini-games I mentioned earlier, I like that the developer added it. Especially, I found the final mini-game to be fun since it involved a clash of the titans, so to speak. XD However, it does require some good timing and fast mouse clicking (or controller button tapping), so this may be a turn off for those who want to enjoy a laid-back, relaxing HOG. At any rate, I was able to obtain all of the achievements, and I didn't need to use the hints at any point.

With the art, it has this colorful, fun, cartoony style that feels fitting for this game. The scenes really make you feel like you're right in the middle of Tokyo, saving cats and whatnot.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3532900561

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3532900844

The objects and backgrounds are drawn well, and I like the colors that are used.

In regards to the music, there are a good number of various tracks. They're very fun to listen to, giving off this lively upbeat as you're going about clicking (and saving) cats and finding other objects. The tracks have this Japanese techno pop feel to them, which is very appropriate.


Would I recommend Hidden Cats in Tokyo? If you're a fan of hidden object games (especially, cat-themed ones), you like the games by Nukearts Studio, and/or you want a lot of Steam achievements (and some Steam trading cards), then I think it's worth checking out. Granted, the sliding mini-game that I mentioned earlier might be a slight turn off, but with a bit of practice, I found it doable. For the asking price, I think it's worth it, as it took me around 5.3 hours to 100% complete the game. Of course, you can wait to get it on a sale, and it's in a couple of Steam bundles. ^^

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The Secret Fake Ring is an otome visual novel developed and published by Ichibanboshi Inc. You take on the role of Riko (whose name can be changed), and Riko has just lost her job. If that wasn't bad enough, her landlord tells her that she has to move out by the end of the month. With these heavy thoughts preoccupying her mind, Riko ends up bumping into her childhood friends, Haru and Minami. Both of them learn of her plight, and while Minami offers to help her find a job and a place to live, Haru pushes her into going through with a fake marriage. Who will Riko chose, and can she find true love and happiness?

As for the gameplay, the story consists of a prologue and nine chapters, along with two different endings each for Haru and Minami. After reading the prologue, you can decide whether to go on Haru's route or Minami's route. The choices that you make determine whether Riko gets the best ending or the good ending. (There are no bad endings.) When you make a choice, you might see a blossoming pink flower animation, indicating that it's the better of the two choices. The game is saved automatically when you exit it, so there is no manual save function. Also, there are several CGs as well as partial Japanese voice acting for Haru and Minami. Steam achievements are available, too, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


When I first saw the Steam store page for this game, it caught my interest immediately. I enjoy a fun Japanese otome visual novel in which the heroine finds herself in an unimaginable scenario (losing her job and home definitely fits under that category). The developer was very kind to send over a review copy, so I wanted to get around to it as soon as I could. ^^

The story starts off with a surprise in which Riko is told that she lost her job, despite that she didn't do anything wrong. It's just that the company is facing financial difficulties, and it has to lay off some employees. However, she tries to hope that she can find another job quickly until her landlord tells her that she'll have to move out due to personal circumstances. Poor Riko definitely has it tough, and that's when Minami and Haru come to the rescue. The story wastes no time in having the reader to get acquainted with both guys. While Minami is more kind (people call him a "prince"), Haru is arrogant and pushy. These two couldn't be any more different. I enjoyed getting to pursue both romance routes. With Haru, I admit that he grew on me, despite that I don't tend to like the arrogant, pushy type. He eventually shows his softer, more vulnerable side, admitting that he's fallen for Riko. As for Minami, he's quite the gentleman although it turns out that he has ulterior motives when Riko feels like she has no choice but to move in with him, due to their parents pressuring the both of them. Both guys and routes have their positives and negatives, but it all comes down to personal preference. While I enjoyed Haru's route more, I preferred Minami's personality.


In my opinion, they are quite hot. If you make the best choices at certain points in the routes, you'll unlock love scenes. They involve the guys getting very close to Riko, kissing, undressing her, etc. It never gets into dangerous territory, though, so readers who want hot but sweet romance scenes can feel at ease.

As for the writing, I played the English translation version. Even though it is readable, I noticed some awkward sentences and typos. It probably wouldn't hurt to have a native English speaker check over the script at some point to polish it for a smoother reading experience.

With the gameplay, it was fairly easy for me to get the best endings for both guys. The flower animation totally helps. Also, I like how you can access the good ending via the character's flowchart, so you don't have to replay the entire route to read that ending. I should mention as well that the flowchart is very useful in case you'd rather go back to a particular chapter rather than start over. I suppose this may be a reason that there's no manual save function. However, I should note that there was no function to switch the game to windowed mode. I had to use the Alt and Enter keys and then manually resize the screen. On a positive note, I was able to unlock all Steam achievements at the time of this review.

In regards to the art, it is very lovely. The sprites are drawn and colored in the typical anime style, and the backgrounds are done well, too. Especially, I liked the use of colors, which felt very soft. Of course, I loved looking at the beautiful CGs. ^^

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3543780859

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3543780941

I should note that most of the art has no nudity, for the most part. There is a CG in which Haru and Riko are fully undressed in bed during a love scene, but it doesn't show anything that goes into dangerous territory.

Regarding the music, I enjoyed listening to the tracks. While some of them have a light-hearted, upbeat vibe, perfect for when Riko is going about her daily routine, others have a slightly more emotional mood. Also, there are the sweet, romantic tracks, which are great for those hot scenes. In addition, I liked the partial Japanese voice acting. While it might disappoint some people that there isn't full voice acting for Haru and Minami, I didn't mind this. The lines in which they were voiced felt just right, and gosh, Haru's voice sounds incredibly sexy. :o


Would I recommend The Secret Fake Ring? If you're looking for a sweet otome visual novel with a few hot scenes, you're especially a fan of Japanese otome, and/or you want easily obtainable Steam achievements, then I think this is worth checking out. I'm surprised that this visual novel has gone under the radar, as I feel like it deserves way more attention. The game could use a bit of polishing with the English translation, but overall, I enjoyed reading both routes and felt that it was well worth my time.

Finally, I'd like to give a major thank you to Ichibanboshi Inc. It was a treat to experience a sweet romance through Riko's eyes as she got reacquainted with her childhood friends, who have definitely become hot adults. XD

The Introverted Gamer and Otome Rakuen team up to give readers highly detailed, thorough reviews of hot romance games.

Note: An awesome friend gifted me a copy of this game although I was offered a review copy via Steam curator connect by the wonderful people at Nukearts Studio. ^^



Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro is a cozy, relaxing, hidden object game developed and published by Nukearts Studio. Those cats are at it again, and this time, they've traveled to Rio de Janeiro. They're up to their mischievous ways, hiding in various places around the city, and it's up to you to find them all.

The gameplay is fairly simple. You're only given the default difficulty although there's no timed option. You start off with the main level in which you have to find a set number of cats as well as particular people in the city. After you find a cat or person, you use the left mouse button to click on it and zoom in and out using the mouse wheel. You can use the hint function if you get stuck on finding a cat, and the number of hint uses increases with the number of special people that you find. Once all the cats and/or people in an area are found, that area will be colored, indicating that you don't need to search it further. Special cats are present, and finding them unlocks bonus levels. Assuming that you find all the special cats, 6 bonus levels will be unlocked, and you have to find a set number of cats and people. After completing all of the bonus level, then "Carnival", a special bonus level, will be unlocked. There's a pleasant, varied soundtrack as well as lots of Steam achievements although achievements won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


It sure has been a while since I last played a cat-themed, hidden object game, and the ones published by Nukearts Studio have been among my all-time favorites. Of course, it goes without saying that I was very happy when a friend gifted me a copy of the game, and as I played most of them, I knew what to expect. ^^

These games have a very light story, but it's really all about the kitties being mischievous and hiding in various famous cities around the world. It's the gameplay that's worth talking about, though. I found it to be very enjoyable. I liked how bonus levels would be unlocked based on which special cats you find. There were no technical problems on my end although if I had to bring up a minor issue, it'd be that even with the zoom in function, some of the cats still appeared to be too small. For those with poor vision, this could be a problem, so I think that allowing for further zooming in would be great. Nevertheless, I had no issues unlocking all the levels and obtaining all of the Steam achievements at the time of this review. Also, I liked how fun facts about various buildings in Rio de Janeiro would be revealed in special cards once those respective buildings were colored.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3527780019

As for the art, the backgrounds are drawn as beautifully as always, with plenty of detail to show off the buildings, people, and cats. However, I especially liked the use of lots of colors, whether it comes to finding cats or people or an entire building. The colors really bring the places to life.

https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3527779733

In regards to the music, a few tracks are present, each one unique for its respective area. Generally, they have this fun beat to dance to, which totally makes sense since Rio de Janeiro is known for its lively atmosphere and samba music.


Would I recommend Hidden Cats in Rio de Janeiro? If you like hidden object games, adore cute kitties, want a cozy, relaxing gaming experience, and/or want to find pretty obtainable Steam achievements, then this is worth taking a look. Nukearts Studio has made another wonderful cat-themed HOG, and at the asking price, you'll get plenty of enjoyment. ^^

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Peaches Interplanetary is a cozy, relaxing, narrative game developed and published by clover_p. You take on the role of Margot, a young girl aboard a spaceship with her trusty robot companion, Cherry. Margot has been growing peach trees on the spaceship, so that the peaches can grow and ripen to the point that they can be shared with other planetary inhabitants. However, there's nervousness from Margot (and the peaches) about whether they can make the inhabitants happy. Can Cherry calm Margot's fears, and can Margot muster up the courage to meet other inhabitants?

As for the gameplay, it mainly consists of Margot walking around the spaceship. You can use the arrow keys to move around and interact with objects with the space bar. During conversations with Cherry, Margot can make choices, and although most of the choices don't have a major impact, a couple can trigger particular achievements. Towards the end of the game, there's a big decision that Margot can make, which determines one of two endings. As I mentioned, Steam achievements are available, but they won't count towards a user's global total until the game is out of "Steam is learning about this game".


I enjoy cozy, relaxing games (among many game genres), so Peaches Interplanetary caught my attention immediately with its warm, cozy story and pixelated art style. The developer was very kind to send over a review key, so that I could have a chance to play this game and give my thoughts. ^^

The story is very cute and sweet. Margot is a very kind girl who's looking forward to sharing her love of peaches with other planetary inhabitants. However, she can't help feeling nervous, too, wondering whether the peaches will be good enough. I found Margot's dream to be beautiful, and wanting to share her enjoyment with others is a precious treasure in itself. The story has its slightly humorous moments, too, mainly in regards to choices. For example, Margot can decide whether to give into temptation and eat the waffles that Cherry made for her (despite the negative consequences) or resist. As for the endings, it's hard to say if one of them is bad. Of course, one is better than the other even though I'd say that the other ending is kind of a hopeful one. Cherry is a sweet robot companion who provides Margot with somewhat words of wisdom at times. I found Cherry to be a wonderful complement to Margot, and they have a lovely friendship.

As for the gameplay, it runs very smoothly, so I didn't encounter any technical issues. Most achievements are obtainable in one playthrough although you may need to save a couple of times in regards to a few of them. Of course, a couple of achievements are related to game endings. After completing a playthrough, an Extras section is unlocked in which you can view the credits again or check out the bonus room, which contains beautiful fan art. Also, you can "talk" to the developer about the game and such. It was quite a delightful surprise when I found out that this is the developer's first game on Steam.

Regarding the art, it has this beautiful pixelated style, and the majority of colors are pink. This is to be expected since the game's theme is peaches. XD It might be a bit too much pink for my preference (I prefer the color blue), but it's still visually pleasing, and there are enough other colors to provide some contrast. I only wish that I could have taken screenshots to show off this beautiful game and the bonus art, but it might not be possible due to the game engine.

With the music, the majority of tracks are classical songs, and they truly are perfect for this game that takes place in outer space. Classical music is soothing and relaxing, perfect for a cozy game. There are a couple of original track as well, but I preferred listening to the classical pieces.


Would I recommend Peaches Interplanetary? If you're looking for a cozy, relaxing, short game to play and/or you want pretty obtainable Steam achievements, then this is definitely worth checking out. I had a wonderful, relaxing experience, which is exactly what I needed. At the asking price, without a doubt, it's worth it, as it took me just a little over an hour to fully complete the game.

Finally, I'd like to give a huge thank you to clover_p for the review key. It was a delightful experience, and what a beautiful debut game. I'd love to see more games by this developer in the future. ^^

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