A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986

About

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 is a single player action game with a romance theme. It was developed by Oracle and Bone and was released on April 23, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986" is a narrative-driven Austronesian-inspired visual novel. The game follows the story of a young woman, May, who returns to her childhood home in Hong Kong and must confront her troubled past. As May uncovers old family secrets and navigates complex relationships, players will make choices that impact the outcome of the story. The game features stunning hand-painted art and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 screenshot

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99%

Audience ScoreBased on 903 reviews

story343 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features stunning artwork and a vibrant 80s aesthetic that immerses players in the setting of Hong Kong.
The story is heartfelt and relatable, exploring themes of self-discovery, love, and societal expectations faced by LGBTQ+ individuals.
The soundtrack complements the narrative beautifully, enhancing the emotional experience throughout the game.

The pacing can feel slow at times, particularly in the beginning, which may deter some players.
Some players may find the dialogue repetitive or overly simplistic, lacking depth in certain areas.
The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content and character development.

story
905 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
61%
1%
The story of "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" is a heartfelt and intimate exploration of love and self-discovery between two women, set against the backdrop of 1980s Hong Kong. While some reviewers noted a slow start and a straightforward narrative, many praised its emotional depth, relatable characters, and the authentic portrayal of societal pressures faced by LGBTQ+ individuals during that era. The combination of beautiful visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and thoughtful writing creates a poignant experience that resonates with players, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “A summer's end - hong kong 1986 is a deeply intimate and emotionally grounded visual novel developed and published by oracle and bone that tells a quiet, heartfelt love story shaped as much by its historical setting as by its characters.”
- “The story follows Michelle, a young office worker living a life defined by routine, family expectations, and unspoken compromise.”
- “For players who appreciate character-driven storytelling, historically grounded settings, and romances built on subtlety and introspection, it stands as a poignant and memorable experience—one that treats love not as fantasy, but as a deeply human act shaped by time, place, and courage.”
- “Narratively speaking, I was a bit worried at first, as I got the feeling that the story was moving a bit too fast toward its ending with little substance.”
- “The story is a little too short and simple with a few characters, and there's not a lot to interact with.”
- “The story felt really lacking.”
music
489 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The music in "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic 80s synthwave and city pop influences, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere and emotional depth. Many players noted that the soundtrack complements the visuals and narrative beautifully, creating an immersive experience that transports them to the era. While some found certain tracks less memorable, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The soundtrack draws heavily from synthwave, city pop, and ambient influences reminiscent of the era, creating a nostalgic soundscape that complements both the romance and the urban setting.”
- “The music in particular is fantastic; every track feels unique and perfect for the scene it's used in.”
- “The art, music, and writing come together beautifully to tell a quiet yet powerful story.”
- “The music is much less successful at evoking the era and the place.”
- “Most of the tracks just sound like your typical corny VN background music with some faux-retro tape stretch effects applied on top.”
- “Considering that the description of the game really puts a focus on the soundtrack, I have to say that I am a little disappointed with it, as most of the music is rather generic and nothing really special.”
graphics
360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The graphics of "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" are widely praised for their stunning, vibrant art style that beautifully captures the essence of 1980s Hong Kong. The game's visuals, complemented by a nostalgic soundtrack, create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and emotional depth. Players appreciate the attention to detail in character designs and backgrounds, making the aesthetic a standout feature that resonates with fans of retro and LGBTQ+ themes.
- “The detail and care that went into the aesthetics are enormous and elevate the game at every moment.”
- “The artwork is stunning, the visuals are drop-dead gorgeous with a soundtrack that is beautifully constructed to match its moments.”
- “Set in the 1980s Hong Kong, the aesthetics were spot on, with vibrant artwork that captures the essence of the era.”
- “Trivial matters and endless monologues and dialogues about absolutely nothing were only occasionally interrupted by admittedly very pretty graphics.”
- “The speed to get to the next dialogue is seriously slow even though I put it to the max. I ended up putting it on auto mode to have to stop pressing enter to get to the next line already, but then gave up because it was just like a wall of text and like I said, very little graphics and interaction so ended up pressing enter for a bit before it got a bit tiring to do so.”
- “Aside from the retro graphics, bumpin' music, and an adult patch it really doesn't have much.”
emotional
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" is widely praised for its deeply emotional narrative, exploring themes of self-discovery, love, and societal pressures through the lens of a queer relationship. Players resonate with the characters' struggles and growth, often finding the story touching and relatable, leading to genuine emotional responses such as tears and nostalgia. The game's thoughtful writing, beautiful art, and evocative soundtrack enhance its heartfelt storytelling, making it a memorable experience that lingers long after completion.
- “A summer's end - Hong Kong 1986 is a deeply intimate and emotionally grounded visual novel that tells a quiet, heartfelt love story shaped as much by its historical setting as by its characters.”
- “The story tugged at my heartstrings, made me feel a lot of different things intensely, and captured my complete attention.”
- “It's a heartfelt story and the artwork is amazing!”
atmosphere
52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
46%
6%
The atmosphere of "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and stunning artwork that evoke the nostalgic essence of 1980s Hong Kong. Reviewers highlight how the combination of music, visual design, and storytelling creates a rich, emotional experience that draws players into the setting and the characters' lives. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, making it a memorable visual novel.
- “The soundtrack, a mix of ambient city sounds and soft melodies, adds to the atmosphere, making you feel like you’re truly walking through the streets of Hong Kong during that era.”
- “The atmosphere is great and relaxing, while being supported by incredible art and music.”
- “The writing, art, and music come together to create a dense atmosphere from beginning to end, in the best way.”
- “The atmosphere by far and large is one of the work's strongest points - it feels very atmospheric and immersive.”
- “The strongest point of this game is the 1980's atmosphere.”
- “Each background is handcrafted to great detail with emphasis on light and color to set the atmosphere and tone.”
character development
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
48%
13%
Character development in the game is highly praised for its emotional depth and natural progression, enhanced by stunning character designs and an engaging 80s aesthetic. The integration of an adult patch is noted for adding meaningful context to relationships, while the overall artistic presentation—including backgrounds and music—contributes to an immersive experience. However, some players felt certain aspects of character development, particularly in relationships, were occasionally rushed.
- “However, this focus works in the game’s favor, keeping attention firmly on character development and emotional pacing.”
- “I am also impressed how the adult patch here is actually related to character development and relationship investment and not any sort of attention grab.”
- “Very sweet relationship and character development that feels natural; the translation sometimes comes across as a little stiff, but I will say it suits the point-of-view character as she grows.”
- “Some parts of their relationship and Michelle's character development felt rushed.”
- “The writing, artwork, character design, fashion and style, facial expressions, music accompaniment, ambiance are all on point and superbly detailed and well-choreographed.”
- “Very sweet relationship and character development that feels natural, the translation sometimes comes across as a little stiff, but I will say it suits the POV character as she grows.”
gameplay
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
72%
21%
The gameplay in this visual novel is generally considered simplistic and barebones, focusing more on storytelling and character relationships than on interactive mechanics. While it features some choice-based elements that affect endings, the overall experience is straightforward and may feel repetitive due to its limited paths and short length. However, the game's emotional narrative and appealing art style are highlighted as strong points, complemented by a memorable soundtrack.
- “The story was wonderful, packing so much emotion into just a few hours of gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is simple enough; there are a few options of choice, but for the most part, it's a straightforward storytelling game.”
- “The downside of this game would be the lack of different paths; the length is quite short, and the story is pretty straightforward, which makes the gameplay quite simple and a bit boring for repetitive playthroughs.”
- “This visual novel does have an invisible gameplay mechanic where certain endings won't trigger unless the correct dialogue choices are picked.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of personal anecdotes and lighthearted coincidences, with a strong 80s vibe that resonates with some players. While it elicits laughter and emotional responses, some reviewers feel it lacks the comedic depth of similar titles. Overall, it successfully balances humor with more serious moments, creating a varied emotional experience.
- “The game made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me hold my breath, and pause for a minute so I could try to calm down (but to no avail).”
- “Additionally, my birthday is one day off from Michelle’s and we have the same zodiac animal, so that was a funny coincidence.”
- “Very gay, very 80s, a lot like 'Saving Face' but less funny.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that while the initial grinding can be tedious, particularly in terms of relationship point management, the story eventually becomes engaging and rewarding. However, players may find the need to replay sections to unlock certain scenes detracts from the overall enjoyment. Additionally, some feel that unnecessary dialogue choices and alternative endings contribute to the grind without enhancing the experience.
- “If you don't follow a walkthrough to max out your relationship points with Sam, you'll probably miss out on certain scenes and CGs like I did. I had to replay and tediously skip through the story again just to get through extra scenes, which lessened my enjoyment slightly.”
- “There is no reason to put in an alternative ending or tedious dialogue choice.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
The game offers strong replayability due to its multiple endings and bonus content, making it a satisfying experience despite its shorter length. Players find it creative and interesting, recommending it for inclusion in any collection.
- “The game is not very long, but it is very replayable and satisfying.”
- “Re-playable, creative, and interesting - I would recommend adding it to your collection.”
- “There are two endings and various bonus content, so I cannot say there is no replayability.”
- “Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily influenced by its vibrant setting, featuring neon lights and colorful advertisements; however, players feel that the promotional material does not effectively convey any unique elements of the story.
- “Despite my hype, nothing in the advertising suggested much of anything unique about its story.”
- “Hong Kong bathed in neon lights and various colorful advertising billboards are the backgrounds for most of the story.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, users report a stable experience with minimal technical issues, noting only a few minor glitches that do not significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game. The editing quality is also praised, contributing to a positive perception of stability.
- “Just some little glitches, not complaining - this won't spoil the whole story and enjoyment.”

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

A Summer’s End: Hong Kong 1986
Forbidden love in Hong Kong sounds like just the kind of story I want.
Gamespew.com
70%

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A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986
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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

5-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 is a action game with romance theme.

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 is available on PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986.

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 was released on April 23, 2020.

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 was developed by Oracle and Bone.

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 is a single player game.

Similar games include Heart of the Woods, If Found..., Florence, First Snow, Love Ribbon and others.

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