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Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers

With its diverse characters, engaging plot and wonderful video game filled world, Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is an exceptional visual novel that everyone needs to experience.
Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
gameplay, atmosphere
92% User Score Based on 105 reviews
Critic Score 100%Based on 1 reviews

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Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers Game Cover

About

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is a single player action game. It was developed by Fiction Factory Games and was released on May 26, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In the distant future year 20XX, an alternate timeline where arcades never went away... you're an aspiring gamer searching for esports glory on the Fist of Discomfort 2 Pro Tour. Seeking a partner to play with, you join a team of players who hang out at Good Clean Fun, a combination pizzeria / laundromat / arcade. It's up to you to rally the team, learning more about who they are and how best to s…

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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 105 reviews
story29 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions

  • The game effectively tackles heavy themes such as anxiety, depression, and impostor syndrome while maintaining a cute and quirky aesthetic.
  • Character development is strong, with players feeling genuine connections to the cast and witnessing their growth through difficult situations.
  • The inclusivity and representation of diverse identities, including a disabled character, is commendable and adds depth to the narrative.
  • The game can feel overly preachy at times, with heavy-handed dialogue that detracts from the overall enjoyment and immersion.
  • Some characters lack depth and can come off as caricatures, making it difficult for players to form meaningful connections with them.
  • The pacing can be rushed, particularly in the beginning, which may leave players feeling disoriented and less invested in the story.
  • story
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers" is praised for its engaging narrative, meaningful character choices, and the incorporation of social issues, particularly within the gaming community. While some reviewers noted a lack of depth in certain characters, many appreciated the twists, emotional resonance, and the overall improvement from the first game, making it a compelling sequel that resonates with players on various levels. The game's ability to blend humor, romance, and serious themes, alongside its vibrant visuals and soundtrack, contributes to a rich storytelling experience that captivates a diverse audience.

    • “A truly wonderful game and a great story.”
    • “The story did some cool things with pieces set up in the first game, while also telling its own story with a fantastic and lovable cast of characters.”
    • “But the story is engrossing while building up lingering plot threads from its predecessor and the way it tackles mental health issues was inspiring and done very well.”
    • “I can kinda see the direction they were going in... but I much prefer the old setting where people worked at an arcade to achieve their dreams and then the story revolves around that... it feels more... interesting... I don't know, I can't exactly describe what's missing from this.”
    • “There is a noticeable lack of depth to a lot of characters, which leads to you just not caring about the actual story they have and are trying to tell.”
    • “His backstory felt very out of place, brought from nowhere, and I didn't see any indication of it prior to the actual scenes in which he explains at Pengy's.”
  • graphics
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and clean art style, which combines modern and retro aesthetics effectively. Players appreciate the improved character customization and the overall visual presentation, describing it as charming and endearing, with a fantastic mood that enhances the storytelling experience. The artwork is consistently praised as a significant step up from the previous installment, contributing to the game's captivating atmosphere.

    • “The art style is amazing.”
    • “The vivid colors, the very clean art, and the satisfying sound effects all contribute towards modern retro aesthetics that are very pleasing to the eye and ear, topped off with bits of voice over dialogues.”
    • “Beyond the endearing story and characters, you will certainly fall in love with the visual and auditory aesthetics.”
  • humor
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its relatability and wit, effectively blending comedic elements with thoughtful explorations of marginalized identities and mental health. Players appreciate the well-written characters and their humorous interactions, which contribute to a cozy atmosphere and engaging storytelling. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with deeper themes, making it both entertaining and meaningful.

    • “Overall, great game, definitely start with the first one, but if you want a high quality visual novel that brings humor, representation of marginalized identities and explorations of issues like mental health and disability, this is a great game for it!”
    • “Excellent writing that is extremely inclusive and frequently hilarious, fun characters that don't just feel like stock waifus/husbandos/thembos/whatever, lovely art, and a cozy atmosphere.”
    • “I adore these two, the fact that these hubbies run an arcade/pizzeria/laundromat is already just diabolically funny, but they continue to have some wickedly fun lines that I want to bottle like nectar.”
  • music
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received praise for its stellar soundtrack and ability to enhance the storytelling and character development, with many players appreciating its charm and quirkiness. However, some users noted that the music can sometimes overpower voice acting, and a few prefer to play with the music off. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong point, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “The soundtrack is absolutely stellar and the characters/story struck a stronger chord than the game before it - which is still a lovely game in its own right.”
    • “Love the soundtrack and the characterization.”
    • “The aesthetic and humor are excellent, as well as the music!”
    • “Which is to say that by default the music tends to drown out the voice acting.”
    • “I play games with the music off.”
    • “A lot of music from the first one is re-used, and I wouldn't mind if the minigame was a bit less simplified.”
  • emotional
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of feelings, from tears to laughter, as it explores significant themes related to technology and personal struggles. While some players feel the sequel lacks the profound impact of the first game, it still resonates with heartfelt portrayals of marginalized groups and offers relatable character experiences. Overall, the narrative is described as engrossing and emotionally rewarding, making it a compelling choice for fans of heartwarming visual novels.

    • “The first game in this series made me cry, while this one has had less of an emotional impact, I can honestly say it goes over some questions that I think are particularly important for those of us that rely so heavily on tech.”
    • “Another felt close to home with the character's inner turmoil, and to see the advice the main character can give really made me feel seen.”
    • “I cried, I laughed, I cringed, I got flustered several times; every bit of the story was engrossing.”
  • gameplay
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by choose-your-own-adventure branching decisions typical of visual novels, which may not appeal to everyone, particularly those averse to extensive reading. While the mechanics are praised for their quality, some players found the frequent romantic interest inquiries to be annoying. Overall, the game combines charming writing and vibrant aesthetics with engaging dating sim elements, creating an enchanting experience.

    • “The mechanics are wonderful throughout.”
    • “You will be absolutely charmed and thrilled by this indie gem that has some of the best writing I have ever encountered, delightfully retro yet modern and vibrant aesthetics, and fantastic dating sim gameplay.”
    • “On the gameplay side, I soon grew annoyed by just how many times I was asked what character I was romantically interested in.”
    • “It goes without saying, but since this is a visual novel, it involves a lot of reading and the gameplay is just choose-your-own-adventure branching decisions. So as much as I enjoy the game, if you're not a fan of that style, it's best to look elsewhere.”
    • “Like its predecessor, all of the aesthetic, narrative, and gameplay components combine and have this enchanting je-ne-sais-quoi that captivates you and makes you forget all your woes.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a cozy and inclusive vibe, enhanced by excellent writing and engaging characters that avoid typical tropes. However, some players feel overwhelmed by the attempt to address complex issues while maintaining this atmosphere, leading to frustrations with oversimplified portrayals of certain situations. Overall, the setting effectively blends nostalgic arcade elements with a futuristic aesthetic, creating a unique and immersive experience.

    • “Excellent writing that is extremely inclusive and frequently hilarious, fun characters that don't just feel like stock waifus/husbandos/thembos/whatever, lovely art, and a cozy atmosphere.”
    • “They capture the setting and atmosphere of the game so well, as it is set in a parallel future that is rooted in the proliferation of the arcade era, a happy marriage between the late eighties and futuristic elements.”
    • “New challengers' insistence on tackling so many complex issues while still trying to maintain the same atmosphere leads to overwhelm. The portrayal of some situations as black and white, when they should be far more complex, is frustrating, especially since I could easily forgive the first game for its cliché final villain.”
    • “They capture the setting and atmosphere of the game so well, as it is set in a parallel future that is rooted in the proliferation of the arcade era, creating a happy marriage between the late eighties and futuristic elements.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers appreciate the fun and fantastic character designs in the game, highlighting their artistic quality. However, they suggest that those seeking more realistic character designs might prefer a different title, such as "Arcade Spirits." Overall, there is a consensus that more character design variety would enhance the experience.

    • “I think more character design is always better!”
    • “The character designs are fun and engaging.”
    • “The art and character designs are fantastic, though if you're looking for more down-to-earth designs, you may want to try Arcade Spirits first.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
    • “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users express frustration with the lack of troubleshooting support for stability issues, indicating a need for better resources or guidance to resolve problems.

    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
    • “I've experienced multiple bugs that disrupt gameplay and ruin the experience.”
    • “Connection issues are constant, leading to frustrating interruptions during matches.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players highlight the game's strong replayability, noting its visual appeal and engaging story as key factors that encourage multiple playthroughs.

    • “Lots of replayability.”
    • “The visual appeal is stunning, and it sounds like we have another fantastic story. Replayability is always a plus.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and strenuous, leading to a sense of jadedness after completing only a few routes. This has resulted in a reluctance to continue engaging with the grinding mechanics.

    • “I did 5 of the available routes, and honestly, I can't bring myself to try the rest because it's just... strenuous at best and jaded and tedious at worst.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews suggest that while the game's performance is generally smooth and graceful, there is a lingering sense of something missing in terms of optimization.

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10h Median play time
10h Average play time
10-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is a action game.

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers.

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers was released on May 26, 2022.

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers was developed by Fiction Factory Games.

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players and overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers is a single player game.

Similar games include Arcade Spirits, Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, Ethereal Enigma, Crystalline, Mission: It's Complicated and others.