A Clockwork Ley-Line: The Borderline of Dusk

About

In A Clockwork Ley-Line: The Borderline of Dusk, you play as Koga Michiru, a first-year student at a mysterious academy with a giant clock tower. This Japanese modern fantasy visual novel unravels a story of magic and sorcery, featuring stunning artwork and voice acting. The game is the first in a series, with a sequel and final episode available for purchase.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

A Clockwork Ley-Line: The Borderline of Dusk screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

story21 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The game features a visually pleasing art style and great voice acting, enhancing the overall experience.
The story is engaging with interesting characters, and the main character is refreshingly competent and relatable.
The game has a unique setting with lighthearted mystery elements that keep players intrigued and wanting to explore more.

The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs, crashes, and poor Steam integration, which detracts from the experience.
The side routes are notably short and lack depth, making them feel like filler compared to the main storyline.
The translation quality is inconsistent, with some text left untranslated and awkward phrasing that disrupts immersion.

story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
33%
8%
The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging plot twists, strong character development, and a mix of humor and mystery that keeps players invested. While some routes may feel shorter or less impactful, the overarching narrative and character backstories are praised for their depth and intrigue. Overall, players appreciate the balance of a captivating storyline with dynamic characters, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “What makes this game super good is that it's story-rich, and the entire game focuses on character development and the plot itself, rather than just simply the protagonist being in a harem world doing random things.”
- “I also think that they did a good job unfolding parts of the underlying mystery and the main character's backstory within each route, making all of them worth playing.”
- “The world remains interesting throughout the visual novel and every chapter highlights new and interesting parts of the story's universe.”
- “As for the Ushio route, I wouldn't really call it the Ushio route but rather just a continuation of the main storyline.”
- “Overall, this is a decent visual novel with an average story and length, featuring cute and likable heroines.”
- “The plot so far hasn't exactly been ground-shaking, but it is an engaging story.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The music in the game is generally praised for its quality, with standout tracks that enhance the overall experience. While some users noted that the opening theme could use improvement, the in-game music and ending credits received high acclaim, contributing to a stellar auditory experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the better aspects of the game, complementing its impressive art and solid writing.
- “The story, characters, art, music... all of it is stellar.”
- “Whilst the opening needed work in my opinion, the actual game music was really good, and the ending credits are some of the best I've ever seen (probably only surpassed by Angel Beats! to be honest).”
- “The soundtrack as a whole belongs to the better ones; there are some really beautiful tracks.”
- “Music: 8”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are highly praised for their beautiful artwork and well-designed characters, showcasing a nice art style that enhances the overall visual experience. Users appreciate the quality of the character designs and the detailed CGs, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic appeal.
- “As you can see on the store page, the artwork is well done and the characters look great.”
- “The CGs are beautifully drawn, featuring a nice art style.”
- “Great artwork, decent music, okay story, and okay characters.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with witty writing and amusing inner thoughts that enhance the experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the story, particularly the anticipation of humor with each new mist appearance, suggesting a desire for more narrative-driven games that prioritize humor over explicit content.
- “I wish there were more visual novels like this that focus on story, suspense, and humor, rather than just sexual content alone.”
- “The story is not something amazing, but the writing is very funny, especially because you can hear the character's thoughts (which is hilarious).”
- “Each time a new mist appears, it means that something funny will happen.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including persistent bugs with time tracking on Steam and problems with the Steam overlay and text signs, which have remained unresolved for over a year. Users have noted the need for third-party tools like "leyline-localizer" to mitigate some of these issues.
- “The game is buggy - time doesn't track properly in Steam without using 'leyline-localizer' - it's mentioned in a pinned comment somewhere.”
- “Steam overlay, playtime tracking, and text signs are still buggy after a year.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game excels in character development, offering a rich narrative that prioritizes the growth of its characters and the overarching plot, rather than relying on typical harem tropes. This focus enhances the overall storytelling experience, making it a standout feature.
- “What makes this game super good is that it's story-rich, and the entire game focuses on character development and the plot itself, rather than just simply the protagonist being in a harem world doing random things.”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the game allows for meaningful choices that impact character growth, making every decision feel significant.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users highlight that the emotional impact of the game is significant, particularly noting that the music, such as the flute in "camellia," evokes strong feelings and enhances the overall experience.
- “The moment the music swells, I can't help but feel overwhelmed with emotion.”
- “Every character's story is so beautifully crafted that it pulls at my heartstrings.”
- “The game's ability to evoke such deep feelings is truly remarkable.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is consistently praised for its immersive quality, enhancing every scene it appears in and contributing significantly to the overall experience.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, enhancing every moment of the game.”
- “Each scene is filled with a rich atmosphere that draws you in completely.”
- “The game's atmosphere is hauntingly beautiful, making every location feel alive.”