Absent in the Rain

About

Absent in the Rain is a single player action game. It was developed by D10RAMA and was released on October 13, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Mysterious senpai. A murder case that is crowded with the world. And a huge fish shadow swimming at my feet... If all of them were connected together and surrounded me like a ring. What should I do?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

story25 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful art and a hauntingly atmospheric soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
The story, while short, is intriguing and thought-provoking, exploring themes of morality and introspection.
As a free visual novel, it offers a unique experience that is worth the time for those who enjoy atmospheric narratives.

The writing is poorly executed, with stilted dialogue and a lack of depth that detracts from the overall narrative.
The game feels more like an e-book than a traditional visual novel, lacking meaningful gameplay and interactivity.
Some scenes are confusing or poorly illustrated, which can break immersion and leave players feeling unsatisfied.

story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
51%
5%
The reviews for the story aspect of the game are mixed, with some players praising its unique and atmospheric narrative, while others criticize it for being poorly written or too short. Many appreciate the emotional depth and character interactions, though some feel the plot lacks depth and can be predictable. Overall, the story is seen as a decent experience, particularly for those who enjoy short visual novels, but it may not satisfy all players due to its brevity and occasional localization issues.
- “Such a beautiful and unique story.”
- “Overall it was a great experience for those who want to play a quick visual novel with a great story.”
- “It captured my attention quickly, and the well-written story made me want to keep playing until the very end.”
- “Then I skipped through the story hoping it would grab me somewhere along the way, but no matter where I skipped to, the writing felt poorly written.”
- “However, the story is very forgettable and feels very... stiffly translated.”
- “The story is short, hollow, not interactive at all, and too random to be truly interesting.”
music
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
31%
16%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a captivating and melancholic atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its seamless integration with the art and storytelling, although some mention occasional sparse moments where music is lacking. Overall, the combination of engaging soundtracks and beautiful artwork contributes significantly to the game's emotional depth and immersive quality.
- “An amazing short story, gloomy color and atmosphere, melancholic music, perfect for rainy days.”
- “Loved all of the art and the music, it all created a really good atmosphere that was quite engaging.”
- “My only gripe is the lack of music in areas of the visual novel, which you will pick up on if you start this visual novel.”
- “The sparse but impactful music added to the game's atmosphere, and the artwork, despite its monotone palette, created a captivating, gloomy tone.”
- “Just look like saya in the song of saya.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
55%
17%
The graphics of "Absent in the Rain" are widely praised for their unique black and white art style, which effectively enhances the game's melancholic atmosphere and narrative. Reviewers appreciate the attention to detail in the character designs and animations, noting that the visuals create a strong mood that complements the story, despite the simplicity of the graphics. Overall, the game's artistic direction is seen as a standout feature that draws players into its mysterious world.
- “The graphic design is quite nice and there was clearly a lot of love poured into the CGs and the short animation at the start.”
- “Sip 'n' savor: 'absent in the rain' casts a captivating spell with its unique art style, drawing players into a world where mystery lurks around every corner like a curious bear sniffing out honey.”
- “'absent in the rain' caught my attention with its intriguing art style and overall aesthetic.”
- “The game’s visuals are simple, but they create a strong mood.”
- “The sparse but impactful music added to the game's atmosphere, and the artwork, despite its monotone palette, created a captivating, gloomy tone.”
- “Despite its cliché murder plot, the art style complements the narrative well, like honey drizzled over a simple dish to add depth of flavor.”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
12%
19%
The atmosphere of "Absent in the Rain" is widely praised for its engaging and melancholic qualities, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack and distinctive art direction. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke deep emotions and create a reflective mood, making it a standout experience in the visual novel genre. Overall, the combination of its gloomy aesthetic and immersive sound design contributes to a captivating and memorable atmosphere.
- “An amazing short story, gloomy color and atmosphere, melancholic music, perfect for rainy days.”
- “Loved all of the art and the music; it all created a really good atmosphere that was quite engaging.”
- “For me, the atmosphere is what made it special—it’s the kind of game that makes you stop and think, even if you’re not entirely sure what about.”
- “The sparse but impactful music added to the game's atmosphere, and the artwork, despite its monotone palette, created a captivating, gloomy tone.”
- “It’s less about what you’re doing and more about how the game makes you feel—and for me, it was all about the atmosphere.”
gameplay
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The gameplay is minimal and primarily consists of clicking through poorly written dialogue, lacking traditional gaming elements or engaging mechanics. While it emphasizes exploration and interaction to uncover a larger narrative, it fails to deliver a compelling experience, raising questions about its quality and appeal.
- “Sometimes, a game doesn’t need big action sequences or complex mechanics to make an impression.”
- “This isn’t a game you play for traditional 'fun.' The gameplay is light, focusing on exploration and interacting with elements in your environment to piece together a larger story.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books tedious, likening it to a frustrating experience where progress is slowed by the need to click through text at a snail's pace. Many express that the time investment required for grinding feels excessive, suggesting that it could take a "second life" to fully engage with the content.
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you wanted to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, with some scenes eliciting strong feelings such as joy and sadness. The extra scene is highlighted as a funny and wholesome addition that enhances the overall experience, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “Well worth the time, and at times touching beyond my expectations - I love it!”
- “One ending made me cry and the other made me feel empty.”
- “Don't forget to check the extra scene from the contents after you do both endings; it's funny and wholesome.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the humor in the game, particularly highlighting an extra scene that is both funny and wholesome, which adds to the overall enjoyment after completing both endings.
- “Don't forget to check the extra scene from the contents after you complete both endings; it's funny and wholesome.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization model for Steam includes a non-refundable direct fee, which can only be recouped once the product generates at least $1,000 in adjusted gross revenue from sales or in-app purchases.
- “The Steam Direct fee is non-refundable and can only be recouped after the product generates at least $1,000.00 in adjusted gross revenue from the Steam store or in-app purchases.”
- “The monetization model feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should just to enjoy the game.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be overpriced and unnecessary, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”