Review Koshotengai no Hashihime

Guide's here! (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

Disclaimer! There may be spoilers on this page! Also I rate novels only based on my preferences.

For those who didn’t catch it: time loop + Japanese culture = Hashihime of the Old Book Town (Koshotengai no Hashihime).

It’s a relatively recent VN… compared to the others on this list… and it’s definitely not your typical one.

Let’s start with the structure: you only get 5 choices throughout the entire game. That means just 5 endings. FIVE. TOTAL. Meanwhile, most other VNs have like, what, 20+?

Another big thing: the story is completely linear. Not only are you limited to five decision points, but you also can’t choose which character’s route to play first. The game follows a strict route order (at least on your first playthrough – you can switch it up later).

Honestly, that frustrated me a bit. If you’re in it for a specific character, you’ll have to play through three full routes before you even get to him. That said… it does give you strong motivation to keep playing.

Now let’s talk story. I genuinely don’t know how to describe the emotional ride this VN puts you through. It’s somewhere between "please let this end before I have a breakdown" and "this is so damn interesting, I need to know what happens next." Prepare to spend the whole game swinging between those two extremes. Stock up on patience – and maybe grab a stress ball or something to squeeze during the more intense parts.

On a brighter note: the art is gorgeous. Bright, high-quality, and matches the surreal, chaotic tone of the story perfectly. I loved it.

Heads-up: a few of the characters look almost like identical twins… but they’re not, I promise. (⁠人⁠ ⁠•͈⁠ᴗ⁠•͈⁠)

TW: blood, violence (mostly psychological), death, derealization, hallucinations

My rating: both 0/10 and 10/10. This VN is absolutely worth playing. One thing’s for sure – you’ll walk away with feelings. Whether those feelings are good or bad? Well… that’s up to fate.

Screenshots yeah bitch

(he's so cuteee)

 

(you see that meme here, right?..)

(the frog is funny lol)

(i draw in the same pose)

(☆*:.｡.o(≧▽≦)o.｡.:*☆ かわいい)

bye bye bye bye ! ! !

Review Lucky Dog 1

Guide's here! (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

Disclaimer! There may be spoilers on this page! Also I rate novels only based on my preferences.

This visual novel was voted Best BL Game of the Decade in 2016 by Cool-B magazine.

And honestly, out of all the games I’ve played, this one feels the most alive and packed with humor. The characters actually express strong emotions – both good and bad – in a way that feels real and raw.

While the story doesn’t branch off too dramatically depending on your choices (you’ll more or less end up in the same place regardless), I swear I’d replay this game again and again just for its energy and hilarious dialogue/situations.

And also for the NSFW scenes... They’re incredibly varied – ranging from light necrophilia and violence to tender, affectionate moments. Scene locations? You name it: in a car, outdoors, in the shower, in some back alley… There's something for everyone here.

As for the visuals and sound – I have zero complaints. The opening theme in particular is a total banger – I still listen to it from time to time.

The game is split into three parts:

• Part one: prison
• Part two: escape
• Part three: freedom

The story only really starts to shift based on your chosen love interest in the third part. The first two parts differ slightly – just a few scenes here and there.

TW: blood, violence (mostly physical), death, immoral dialogue/jokes, necrophilia (in one of the endings), drugs, and A LOT of profanity

My rating: 9/10. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a good laugh, a fast-paced story with fights, and some wildly diverse adult content.

Screenshots!!!!!

(i love this CG)

(and this one)

(man, stop calling me honey)

(lmao)

"Is it...a woman? It's a woman. It'a woman..!"

(no comments)

(:D)

(fuck yeah)

BYEEE!!!

Review Paradise

Guide's here! (⁠｡⁠•̀⁠ᴗ⁠-⁠)⁠✧

Disclaimer! There may be spoilers on this page! Also I rate novels only based on my preferences.

Well, I finally got to know the games by Pil/Slash... and I liked them!!! But I have some questions for Steam. Why don't you write in the description of the game that this is NOT the full version??? YOU MUST WRITE THIS. Okay, I'm calm now.

As I said, I liked the visuals of this novel (gore, blood, rape...mmm..). The bloody scenes look so..realistic and colorful. Btw, not only the scenes of violence look so good, but also the NC-17 scenes (there is no censorship, think about it). I can't say anything special about the music; it's just 👍✅. Also, there is a pretty movie after the good endings and a terrible one after the bad endings.

(if you ever see them, RUN AWAY!!!)

So, now I'm going to talk about the plot. I can say that the story itself is interesting, but some endings... I don't mean that they were really bad. Maybe there's something wrong with me and I just expected something a little different. Anyway, we'll discuss that in the guide because I don't want to give spoilers here. Otherwise, I liked this plot. It wasn't boring to play. There was a lot of humor and jokes, and of course, cute guys (at least outwardly cute). You can safely play it; the main advice is not to think up a possible outcome in advance! 

TW: blood, gore, abuse (physical and psychological), cannibalism, child abuse, drugs, suicide, death, etc.
My rating: 7/10. I'd have rated it better, but the final route gave me mixed feelings.

And now it's time for screenshots! (why is this text of such poor quality??)

"Aw, come on, you can be honest with me. Did I give you butterflies in your tummy? Did I?"

(ugh, stop provoking him)

"Azuma ruins everything he touches. He'll decimate the damn boat. We don't need him. Go die in a ditch."

(according to Azuma, Mitsui had such thoughts. bro, he's better than you think)

(a dialogue between two toxic geniuses)

"Die. Just fucking die already. Me. Mastuda. Everyone."

(oh, so you predicted it)

"But I really wanna fuck you right now."

(...shut up. just shut your mouth.)

"Do you think I'm a sexual person?"

(YES, I DO. you can be sure of that)

(that's all you need to know about him)

(everyone is smilling except Mitsugi. I guess only he understands what we had to do to reach the end)

Goodbye guysss!!!

Homicipher

Review & Guide

Status: Doing

Developer: 八名木Games

Year of release: 2024

Languages: ENG / JPN (official)

Duration: 5-15 hours

Genres: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Adventure, Thriller

Plot: When the protagonist wakes up, they find themselves lost in a different world. As they learn the words of the mysterious monsters that speak a strange language, they search for a way to escape. Along the way, will they fall in love with the monster men who come to their aid...? Really? ©Steam

Brief description of all the novels (other)

(If you are interested in a game, just click on its title)

Gakuen Handsome

Review & Guide / Translation

Status: Plans

Developer: Team YokkyuFuman & Tope

Year of release: 2010

Languages: JPN (official)

Duration: 10-20 hours

Genres: Comedy, School, Romance, Parody

Plot: An infamous parody of the BL genre. The main character is an unnamed 17-year-old boy who returns to the city after a seven-year absence and enters a prestigious boys' school that prides itself on being the best in its prefecture. There will be changes in his life, surrounded by both new and old faces.

Fukushu Teikoku

Review & Guide / Translation

Status: Plans

Developer: Fetish

Release year: 2017

Languages: JPN (official)

Duration: 10-30 hours

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Erotica, Army (guys in uniform???), Adventure, Action

Plot: An interstellar war begins when planets are colonized. This is the age of star wars. There is an Empire and a Republic. The main character belongs to the Empire. He's a soldier, a noble with a rank somewhere around lieutenant. He is a young instructor responsible for training new recruits, especially for the mental component of their training. Consequently, he is skilled in hypnosis and neuro-linguistic programming, among other things, so he can use words and gestures to make the target act as he pleases. However, one day, the squad led by the main character was destroyed in battle.

Tokyo Onmyouji

Review & Guide

Status: Plans

Developer: Holic Works

Year of release: 2014

Languages: JPN / ENG (official)

Duration: 30-50 hours

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Adventure

Plot: The year is 2014 in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo, Japan. Although the practice of onmyoji — masters of spirits and divination — was previously banned at the end of the Second World War, it was re-approved in order to combat the ongoing supernatural threat.

Friendly Lab

Review & Guide / Translation

Status: Plans

Developer: Tennenouji

Release year: 2022

Languages: JPN (official)

Duration: 30-50 hours

Genres: Drama, Violence, Psychology

Plot: Welcome, researcher. Soon you will conduct a gentle experiment on our two subjects. The purpose of this experiment is not to facilitate the subjects' escape. The purpose of the experiment is to measure the effect of the researcher's intervention on the subjects. The experiment is safe, reliable, and gentle, requiring no force, command, or torture. ;)

Miracle No-tone

 Review & Guide / Translation

Status: Plans

Developer: Tennenouji

Year of release: 2006

Languages: JPN (official)

Duration: 10-20 hours

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Erotica

Plot: The main character Ogata Akira finds a magical living notebook that can fulfill any wish he writes in it. But there's a catch: only cravings work. This is how Akira's days begin, when he writes homoerotic desires...

Zettai Fukujuu Meirei

Review & Guide

Status: Plans 

Developer: Langmaor

Year of release: 2005

Languages: JPN / ENG (official)

Duration: 30-50 hours

Genres: Drama, Romance, War, Comedy

Plot: The game takes place in West Germany after The Second World War. The player assumes the role of either Kia Welbehen or Louise Hardwich, one of the two members of the secret agency run by Hardwich. They are both assigned specific goals, which range from KGB members to aspiring football players. Assignments usually involve seducing targets.

Enzai: Falsely Accused

Review & Guide

Status: Plans

Developer: Langmaor

Year of release: 2002

Languages: JPN / ENG (official)

Duration: 10-30 hours

Genres: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Gore

Plot: This is the history of France during the reign of Napoleon. Although the Revolution brought with it new laws and some semblance of representative government, there are some places that never change: a dark hole known as a prison. A boy named Gais is sent to this hell. The crime is murder, and the sentence is life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. However, Gais is innocent of this crime. He was living his life as he always has, running around the city and stealing to survive when he was caught by a policeman. Before he realized what was happening, he was accused of a crime he knew nothing about, brought before a dishonest judge, and found guilty. But who was killed and for what?

UuultraC

Review & Guide

Status: Plans

Developer: ADELTA

Release year: 2020

Languages: JPN / ENG (official)

Duration: 10-30 hours

Genres: Drama, Action, Fantasy

Plot: March 1970. Setaro lives with her boyfriend, Kozuka, in Soshigaya, Tokyo. Society sees people turning into kaiju as an infectious disease. One side is protesting for the admission of infected people, and there is concern in the air. Setaro is a supporter of justice, but his life changes dramatically after he finds himself in the blood of a Kaiju.

Kintouka

Review & Guide / Translation

Status: Plans

Developer: GRISEDGE

Release year: 2017

Languages: JPN (official)

Duration: 40-60 hours

Genres: Drama, Romance, Psychology

Plot: After the death of his grandmother, the main character, Sota, returned to his hometown, where his father lives. There he was reunited with his childhood friends, but also with a man who had not changed at all, despite the fact that 18 years had passed since then...