A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986

About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

A Summer's End: Hong Kong 1986 screenshot

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 769 reviews

story281 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted narrative set in 1980s Hong Kong, with stunning artwork and a captivating soundtrack that immerses players in the story.
The characters, Michelle and Sam, are well-developed and relatable, showcasing a heartfelt and realistic portrayal of a lesbian romance.
The game addresses important themes of identity, societal pressures, and self-discovery, resonating deeply with players, especially those from the LGBTQ+ community.

The story is relatively short and may feel rushed at times, leaving players wanting more depth and exploration of the characters' relationship.
Some players found the dialogue to be a bit stilted or awkward, which could detract from the overall experience.
The game has limited interactivity, with choices that don't significantly alter the story, making it feel more like a linear narrative than a traditional game.

story
727 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
61%
1%
The story of "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" is a heartfelt and beautifully crafted narrative centered around the romantic relationship between two women, Michelle and Sam, set against the backdrop of 1980s Hong Kong. While some reviewers noted the story's brevity and simplicity, many praised its emotional depth, relatable themes of self-discovery, societal pressures, and the authentic portrayal of LGBTQ+ experiences. The combination of stunning visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and thoughtful writing creates a memorable and immersive experience that resonates with players, particularly those familiar with the cultural context.
- “Absolutely beautiful art, style, music, theming, all blended together with great storytelling.”
- “The story is deep, with characters you really care about.”
- “The story is so raw yet honest and probably realistic for some people.”
- “The story is a little too short and simple with a few characters, and there's not a lot to interact with.”
- “The downside of this game would be lacking of different paths, the length is quite short and the story is pretty straight which makes the gameplay quite simple and a bit boring for repetitive playing.”
- “Overall, the story is okay and relatively short; the women are generally likable but there's nothing groundbreaking here; some of the dialog is very curt or oddly rambling.”
music
398 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" has received widespread acclaim for its nostalgic 80s synthwave soundtrack, which perfectly complements the game's vibrant visuals and emotional storytelling. Reviewers highlight the music's ability to enhance the atmosphere and evoke feelings of nostalgia, making it a standout feature of the game. Many players express a desire for the soundtrack to be available for purchase, indicating its lasting impact and appeal.
- “The music, the backgrounds, the art, the story, everything is so impeccable that I'm actually surprised more people haven't played it yet.”
- “The music was amazing, and the atmosphere just felt right.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic and I would love to have it altogether in one spot for download.”
- “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.”
- “With the exception of the credit song, I don't see myself revisiting the soundtrack.”
graphics
296 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
41%
1%
The graphics of "A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning artwork and vibrant 80s aesthetic, which effectively captures the essence of the era and setting. Players appreciate the detailed character designs, immersive backgrounds, and a soundtrack that complements the visuals beautifully, creating a nostalgic and emotionally engaging experience. Overall, the game's art style and presentation are highlighted as standout features that enhance the storytelling and atmosphere.
- “The exquisite art style, ambient music, and storytelling... beautiful.”
- “The visuals are stunning and the soundtrack not only fits perfectly, but is also beautiful, and characters are compelling.”
- “With a beautifully-told story, visuals among the sweetest eye candy, and significant respect to historical accuracy, A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986 is a hidden gem masterpiece.”
- “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 avoid pressing enter repeatedly, but then gave up because it was just a wall of text and very little graphics and interaction, which became tiring.”
- “Aside from the retro graphics, bumpin' music, and an adult patch, it really doesn't have much.”
- “While the sex scenes are more R-rated than X-rated, the text accompanying the scenes makes them more erotic than the visuals alone.”
emotional
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, relatable characters, and beautiful art and music that enhance the narrative experience. Players report feeling a deep connection to the characters' journeys of self-discovery and love, often leading to tears and a lasting emotional impact. The game effectively captures complex themes of love, acceptance, and nostalgia, resonating particularly with those familiar with the cultural backdrop of 1980s Hong Kong.
- “A story that becomes so beautiful and emotional in the blend of beautiful music, art, and the storytelling perfectly playing on all this.”
- “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
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
8%
The atmosphere of "a summer's end - hong kong 1986" is widely praised for its rich storytelling, nostalgic 1980s setting, and immersive artistic direction. Players highlight the exceptional music and handcrafted visuals that work harmoniously to create a poignant and captivating experience, effectively transporting them to a vibrant and heartfelt portrayal of love and self-discovery in Hong Kong. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its strongest aspects, making it a memorable visual novel for both queer and non-queer audiences alike.
- “With its rich storytelling and nostalgic atmosphere, 'A Summer's End - Hong Kong 1986' offers a poignant and memorable gaming experience.”
- “The artistic direction, the characters, the overall atmosphere... this game is an ode to love, to passion, to Hong Kong, to liberty, to hope.”
- “The music and art build such an impressive atmosphere and the characters and writing are so solid, everything works together to completely transport me to this place I've never been to in a year before I was born.”
- “As far as my insufficient analysis goes, this game is about the atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere by far and large is one of the work's strongest points - it feels very atmospheric and immersive.”
- “This game is going for a specific atmosphere and it nails it.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
Character development in the game is praised for its strong writing and pacing, allowing players to engage deeply with the characters without feeling overwhelmed by choices. The aesthetic elements, including character designs and 80s-inspired music, enhance the emotional depth and immersion, although some players noted that certain aspects of character relationships felt rushed. Overall, the combination of beautiful visuals, thoughtful character arcs, and a captivating setting contributes to a compelling narrative experience.
- “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.”
- “The writing, artwork, character design, fashion and style, facial expressions, music accompaniment, and ambiance are all on point and superbly detailed and well-choreographed.”
- “It's great character development for a visual novel.”
- “I also highly recommend the adult patch - it's all tasteful and some of the scenes provide additional context and character development that I felt was oddly missing on my first playthrough.”
- “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.”
- “Some parts of their relationship and Michelle's character development felt rushed.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
62%
23%
The gameplay of the visual novel is generally considered average, with a straightforward storytelling approach that lacks depth and variety in paths, leading to a somewhat simplistic and repetitive experience. While there are some choices that affect endings, the overall mechanics feel limited, and the game is relatively short. However, the feminine art style and music are highlighted as positive aspects that enhance the overall experience.
- “The gameplay is simple enough; there are a few options of choice, but for the most part, it's a straightforward storytelling game.”
- “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 for choice, but for the most part, it's a straightforward storytelling game.”
- “The downside of this game is 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 play.”
- “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.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability despite its shorter length, with players finding it both satisfying and creatively engaging, making it a recommended addition to any collection.
- “The game is not very long, but it is very replayable and satisfying.”
- “Replayable, creative, and interesting - I would recommend adding it to your collection.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
Overall, users report a high level of stability with only minor glitches noted, which do not significantly detract from the overall experience or enjoyment of the game. The technical performance is praised as being above average, with no major issues encountered.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering, which ruined the immersion.”
- “There are numerous bugs that disrupt gameplay, making it frustrating to continue.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is heavily integrated into its aesthetic, with Hong Kong's vibrant neon lights and colorful advertising billboards serving as a backdrop, suggesting a strong emphasis on visual marketing and in-game advertising.