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a new life.

a new life. Game Cover
98%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
character development, stability
98% User Score Based on 2,172 reviews

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a new life. Game Cover

About

a new life. is a single player action game with a romance theme. It was developed by Angela He and was released on May 15, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"A New Life" is a narrative-driven game where players help Angela, a socially anxious woman, navigate her daily life choices. Through branching dialogues and realistic scenarios, players assist Angela in improving her social skills, pursuing her passions, and discovering her self-worth. The game aims to promote empathy, understanding, and positive mental health awareness.

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a new life. screenshot
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,172 reviews
story359 positive mentions
character development6 negative mentions
  • Beautiful art style and music that perfectly complement the emotional story.
  • The game effectively explores themes of love, loss, and the impact of choices in life.
  • Multiple endings provide replayability and encourage players to reflect on their decisions.
  • The game is very short, with some players feeling it lacks depth and character development.
  • Some endings can feel repetitive or similar, leading to a sense of predictability.
  • The heavy themes may be too much for some players, especially those dealing with personal loss.
  • story
    807 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is a poignant and emotional exploration of love and loss, primarily focusing on a sapphic relationship that resonates deeply with players. While many appreciate the beautiful art and music that enhance the narrative, some critiques highlight the story's brevity and pacing, which can leave character development feeling rushed or superficial. Overall, it is celebrated for its heartfelt storytelling and ability to evoke strong emotions, making it a recommended experience for fans of short, impactful visual novels.

    • “Absolutely loved playing through this beautiful game with its great story.”
    • “The gorgeous art style and the amazing soundtrack will take you on an emotional roller coaster, the dialogue feels real and heartfelt, the characters really come alive and make you immersed in their lives and story.”
    • “The story is sweet, heartbreaking and lovely at the same time, art style and music choice fit perfectly as always.”
    • “For some reason, the story feels rather cliché to me and much less impactful than missed messages.”
    • “The game lost a lot of value by being such a railroady linear story with barely any branching paths and shallow endings.”
    • “With how quickly the story is paced, there is no time to really form an emotional connection to the characters.”
  • emotional
    620 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly praised, with many players reporting intense feelings of sadness and joy throughout their experience. The narrative, characterized by heartfelt storytelling and beautiful artwork, often leads to tears, as players connect deeply with the characters and their journeys of love, loss, and resilience. Despite some critiques regarding character development, the game is celebrated for its ability to evoke genuine emotional responses, making it a must-play for fans of poignant visual novels.

    • “I don't know how much I should say because I don't want to spoil it for anyone looking to see if they should buy it, but it's just in general a really beautifully heartbreaking game.”
    • “It's a touching portrayal of love, loss, and loneliness that left a lasting impression on me.”
    • “The gorgeous art style and the amazing soundtrack will take you on an emotional roller coaster, the dialogue feels real and heartfelt, the characters really come alive and make you immersed in their lives and story.”
  • music
    383 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has been universally praised for its soothing, lo-fi quality that perfectly complements the emotional storytelling and beautiful art style. Many players found themselves captivated by the soundtrack, often expressing a desire to listen to it independently, as it enhances the overall immersive experience. Overall, the combination of heartfelt music and stunning visuals creates a poignant atmosphere that resonates deeply with players, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The music is impeccable, and the art style is great.”
    • “The gorgeous art style and the amazing soundtrack will take you on an emotional roller coaster; the dialogue feels real and heartfelt, and the characters really come alive and make you immersed in their lives and story.”
    • “Angela he's signature pastel and watercolor aesthetic shines brightly, complemented by a soothing lo-fi soundtrack that perfectly sets the tone.”
    • “I do think the music when transitioning could have been a little smoother as it sometimes jolted and ruined certain sections for me, but in saying that, there are also many parts where the transition is good and hits hard.”
    • “However the story, art and music will leave you wanting something...more, I wonder what I would have done in that situation.”
    • “The music is the soothing acoustic you would expect from a story like this, and the voice acting is the Animal Crossing 'blblblblblbl' beeps that are there only to pretend that actual talking is happening.”
  • graphics
    306 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning beauty, featuring a unique pastel and watercolor art style that enhances the emotional depth of the story. The visuals are complemented by a soothing lo-fi soundtrack, creating an immersive and calming atmosphere that resonates with players. Overall, the combination of captivating artwork and music significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a visual and auditory delight.

    • “Angela's signature pastel and watercolor aesthetic shines brightly, complemented by a soothing lo-fi soundtrack that perfectly sets the tone.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, the music is gorgeous too, both work perfectly together and create such an ideal atmosphere, the kind of atmosphere that would match with a calm and peaceful rainy night.”
    • “The art style is extremely beautiful and the soundtrack hit me really hard with its reminiscent and melancholy atmosphere.”
    • “The only things I found a little 'off' were that 1) May openly showed me her artwork in the first scene, and then was inexplicably reluctant to show it to me in the second scene, and 2) towards the end of the game when May asked if I was scared, I wasn't given the option to say 'yes,' although I was feeling that way myself.”
    • “The graphics and music are well done and fit with the moods.”
    • “I really hope Angela He develops more games, because I love her aesthetics, but for the new game I wish for more story and character development and fewer different endings.”
  • atmosphere
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhanced by stunning visuals and a soothing soundtrack that perfectly complements the narrative and character development. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth conveyed through the art and music, creating a powerful and memorable experience, even in a short playtime. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as beautiful, relaxing, and deeply engaging, making it a standout feature.

    • “The game's simple, yet charming visuals and music create a calming atmosphere that perfectly complements the story.”
    • “The art to me was breathtaking and paired with the music created an atmosphere that made the game such a joy to experience.”
    • “First of all, the graphics are gorgeous, the music is gorgeous too, both work perfectly together and create such an ideal atmosphere, the kind of atmosphere that would match with a calm and peaceful rainy night.”
    • “The art style is extremely beautiful and the soundtrack hit me really hard with its reminiscent and melancholy atmosphere.”
    • “As usual, Angela's works not only present a modern setting with cozy atmosphere and remarkable art style, but also very realistic story and dialogues showing quite delicate and important topics.”
    • “The emotion, sadness, desires, atmosphere is so well conveyed.”
  • gameplay
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is primarily characterized as simple and linear, typical of a visual novel, with a focus on narrative and emotional engagement rather than complex mechanics. Players can complete the game quickly, often within an hour, but the choices made throughout significantly impact the story's progression, prompting reflection on past decisions. While some reviewers feel it lacks traditional gameplay elements, the art, music, and dialogue are praised for enhancing the overall experience.

    • “Even with its simple premise and gameplay, A New Life manages to be consistently engaging and immensely emotional as it takes you through its narrative.”
    • “Gameplay is simple; it's a visual novel after all, but your choices matter, even the ones you didn't expect to matter. It will make you think 'What did I do wrong?' each run of the story, and you can even feel August's pain each time you go back.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, choices affect the story's progression, with easy access to the chapters in order to complete different endings afterwards.”
    • “The point is: it can barely be called a game, due to the absence of the game mechanics.”
    • “Game finishes extremely quickly, got all achievements in like an hour of gameplay without rushing.”
    • “You are missing out just on 10 minutes of gameplay and COVID stuff, not really a loss.”
  • character development
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is polarizing; some players praise it as top-notch, highlighting the relatability and depth of the leading ladies, while others criticize it for being rushed and lacking emotional attachment. Many reviewers express a desire for more substantial character arcs and longer narratives, suggesting that the current pacing undermines the potential for deeper connections. Overall, while some find the character development engaging, others feel it falls short, impacting their investment in the story.

    • “The character development is top-notch, with both leading ladies feeling endearing, relatable, and truly human.”
    • “"The Sad Story of Emmeline Burns" has much better character development and made me feel much more invested in the story.”
    • “I wish it was a little longer and more character development took place, but it still hit me in the feels.”
    • “I find the character development really lacking; you simply cannot get attached to the characters because it speedruns through their life (that is also really short, it seems).”
    • “There was no character development, and their relationship seemed a bit too unrealistic.”
    • “[spoiler] Like, where was the character development between the two from meeting to dating?”
  • humor
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its blend of humor and emotional depth, with players noting that it effectively balances funny moments with poignant storytelling. Specific instances of humor, such as witty one-liners, contribute to the overall experience, enhancing the narrative while also evoking a range of emotions.

    • “A great, beautiful, sad, funny, and all around emotional masterpiece of a game.”
    • “Satisfying to play through all the different stories and seeing small details or funny moments that make the story so much better and, of course, tear up through the stories.”
    • “[spoiler] 'that's gay' answer made me laugh, but other than that, just sad... [/spoiler]”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers limited replayability due to easily achievable endings within a single playthrough, but its impactful narrative and unique fourth-wall-breaking elements encourage players to revisit it for a fuller experience. Overall, while it may not have extensive replay value, it leaves a lasting impression that invites exploration.

    • “The game is one and a half hours long, with great replayability value, as it can't be considered complete without replaying it. The fourth wall is also being broken in such a beautiful way.”
    • “One thing I will note is that it does not have much replay value, as the endings are easily achievable in one playthrough. However, it will leave a lasting impression on you.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report no glitches, indicating a high level of stability in the game. Overall, the game performs reliably without any significant technical issues.

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2h Median play time
2h Average play time
0h Main story
1h Completionist
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

a new life. is a action game with romance theme.

a new life. is available on PC, Mac OS, Phone, iPad and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing a new life..

a new life. was released on May 15, 2020.

a new life. was developed by Angela He.

a new life. has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

a new life. is a single player game.

Similar games include Missed Messages, Florence, her tears were my light, Cabin Fever, memories and others.