BAD END

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 194 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
BAD END Game Cover
Starting at $2.82Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Apple Store

In "Bad End," mobile Visual Novel game rumors claim that players will die in real life if they make the wrong decisions. When Kyuuhei's best friend dies under mysterious circumstances, he becomes determined to uncover the truth behind the game. Driven to find out what happened, Kyuuhei decides to play "BAD END" himself, risking his life to solve the game's mystery. The game is available in Japanese, English, German, Spanish, and French.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Phone
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Play Modes

Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 194 reviews
story73 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique concept of a visual novel within a visual novel, which adds an interesting layer to the story.
  • The art style is appealing, and the character designs are well done, contributing to the overall aesthetic of the game.
  • Despite its short length, the game offers multiple endings and choices that keep players engaged and encourage replayability.
  • The writing can feel emotionless and cliché, with predictable plot twists that may not satisfy players looking for depth.
  • The horror elements are minimal, with many players finding the game not scary at all, which may disappoint those seeking a true horror experience.
  • Some technical issues, such as glitches and save data problems, can detract from the overall experience.
  • story198 mentions

    The story of "Bad End" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its cliché elements and predictability, yet some appreciate its intriguing premise of a game that can kill players in real life. While the narrative features multiple endings and some engaging twists, it often lacks depth in character development and emotional impact, leading to a somewhat shallow experience. Overall, the game is seen as a decent, albeit short, visual novel that may appeal to fans of the genre despite its shortcomings.

    • “The story is quite good considering its super cheap price.”
    • “The story, plot, and direction, while a little predictable, manage to still capture your full attention, which surprised me given that a lot of visual novels can be hit or miss on how well they're written, but I was not disappointed at all.”
    • “I loved the art, the story--and all the endings--was quite charming. The music did a great job helping set the scene, and the game's characters were engaging and well fleshed out.”
    • “The story is cliché, and while I did not see the main ending coming, it is still pretty obvious in the end.”
    • “The characters aren't really memorable, and to be frank, there was one character who was just irrelevant to the story... and the plot was a bit weak (we figured out what was happening before the climax + the main character figured things out).”
    • “Unfortunately, the plot is kind of boring and drags on despite this being such a short visual novel.”
  • music44 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its ability to enhance the atmosphere and fit the game's themes, particularly in horror elements. However, many criticize it for being generic, repetitive, or distracting, with some tracks described as annoying or poorly looped. Overall, while there are standout moments, the soundtrack could benefit from more variety and originality.

    • “I love the art style, the music, and the characters; they all have their place in this awesome world.”
    • “The music was good though because it definitely gave off some creepy vibes at times.”
    • “The horror element is articulated well by the music, and relies more on mystery and suspense instead of jump scares.”
    • “Game uses generic music obtained from online sources.”
    • “The music is irritating and runs in short loops, the translation is awful, the story is ridiculous, and the characters are prone to saying things like 'so yeah anyway I'm gonna go' immediately after what is clearly meant to be an emotionally charged scene.”
    • “For the music, I think it could have been better if they actually hired someone to do the music instead of using free stock, because the ones used in the game didn't add any impact on the horror part.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style and character designs as enjoyable and visually appealing, while others find the visuals to be average or unremarkable. Some users highlight the clean artwork and good character expressions, but note that certain elements, like death screens, lack visual variety. Overall, the graphics are considered decent, contributing positively to the experience, though they may not stand out in a crowded market.

    • “The artwork is very pretty and very enjoyable.”
    • “Add in the gorgeous artwork and you've got a highly enjoyable way to pass a couple of hours.”
    • “The art style is nice.”
    • “No artwork, just a plain text explanation of the death.”
    • “The death screens were usually blank with no visuals (except some of them, and those were replicas of each other), and there were only a couple of background music and sound effects, which was a bummer, really.”
    • “The graphics are average... that is all.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay of "bad end" is characterized as a traditional visual novel, featuring multiple endings and a pleasant soundtrack that enhances the experience. While players generally find the gameplay enjoyable, some have reported issues with text skipping and a frustrating save system that requires starting over or returning to previous save points after dying. Despite these drawbacks, many players feel the overall experience justifies the price.

    • “The gameplay is fine.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's a visual novel meaning you read and select choices.”
    • “For the price I paid, the short gameplay was worth it.”
    • “For the majority of my gameplay, I did not run into any issues other than the game’s text randomly skipping scenes in the game.”
    • “This is something that the developers said they intend to fix in a future update, but for the time being, it is possible that this glitch could occur during gameplay.”
    • “One big issue I had with the gameplay was that once you die, you either start over completely from the beginning of the entire game and have to hold down your mouse for literal ages (and re-choose from previous dialogues), or you have to start from where you left off at the last save point.”
  • humor9 mentions

    The humor in "Bad End" is largely unintentional, stemming from translation errors and character inconsistencies that lead to amusing moments. While the writing includes some genuinely funny lines, many of the laughs arise from mistakes that don't detract from the overall plot. Players find the humor endearing, making the game a worthwhile experience, especially for its low price.

    • “The writing is funny, but sometimes it wasn't meant to be ;)”
    • “It's unintentionally funny, and there are quite a few hiccups in the translation, my personal favorites being 'meant' and 'it isn't worth throwing my life away over something like that', and Kyuuhei is sometimes painfully oblivious.”
    • “The translation can be pretty unintentionally funny at times.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game offers significant replayability primarily due to its multiple endings, encouraging players to revisit it to experience all possible outcomes. While it is relatively short, the option to load from save data also adds to its replay value, making it a worthwhile investment for those interested in exploring different narrative paths.

    • “Overall, this game is short, but with multiple replayability due to its many endings.”
    • “You do get some replay value due to the multiple endings.”
    • “Lots of replay value to get all the different endings if you have the stomach for it.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted to be limited, with a short plot and generic character designs that lack depth. While the character designs are described as cute and visually appealing, the overall scenery and backgrounds are criticized for being uninspired and repetitive, detracting from the potential for richer character exploration.

    • “Character designs are cute and easy to read, with a day/night cycle included!”
    • “Yes: good character design.”
    • “While the character designs are nice, the backgrounds are uninspired and repetitive.”
    • “Character development is lacking; I mean, this isn't really a long plot to begin with.”
    • “Character designs are pretty generic, and the scenery is just okay with set pieces repeated a few times.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, failing to engage the player.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization features include options for both full screen and windowed modes, but the performance grading system is limited to the player's first playthrough, which may affect replayability.

    • “The game grades your performance at the end of your first playthrough, encouraging players to optimize their strategies for better outcomes.”
    • “Upon completing your first playthrough, the game evaluates your performance, prompting you to refine your approach in subsequent runs.”
    • “The performance grading system at the end of the first playthrough motivates players to optimize their gameplay for improved results.”
    • “When it comes to optimization, the game offers both full screen mode and windowed mode, but the performance is lacking.”
    • “The game grades your performance at the end of your first playthrough, which feels like a missed opportunity for better optimization.”
    • “When you receive the bad ending, the game only evaluates your performance from the first playthrough, limiting the optimization feedback.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is characterized as relaxing, enhanced by bright scenery and soothing melodies that contribute to an overall immersive experience. The music is noted to be well-suited, further enriching the game's ambiance.

    • “The game features a relaxing atmosphere, primarily due to its bright scenery and soothing melodies.”
    • “It definitely has a unique atmosphere that draws you in.”
    • “The music is well-suited and enhances the overall atmosphere of the game.”
    • “It does have a certain atmosphere to it.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional impact of the game is undermined by poor music, awkward translations, and a lackluster story that fails to deliver on its dramatic moments. Characters often dismiss emotionally charged scenes with casual remarks, detracting from the intended tension. However, playing with friends can enhance the experience, making it more enjoyable despite its shortcomings.

    • “I highly recommend viewing/playing with friends, since it's the way most mediocre horror is ideally enjoyed and definitely made me feel warmer towards the bad ending than I might have otherwise felt.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with no significant glitches reported, though players noted the presence of numerous typos. While the writing may lack depth and variety in outcomes, the art quality is praised, contributing to a generally stable experience.

    • “The writing is kind of bland, and all the deaths and 'bad ends' are very similar, but the art is very good. I didn't encounter any glitches, just a lot of typos, which is actually pretty surprising for an almost free visual novel.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times. It's frustrating to lose progress due to stability issues.”
    • “I experienced several freezes during gameplay, which really detracted from the overall experience. Stability needs significant improvement.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when having to reload choices to achieve desired outcomes. Additionally, some character behaviors feel irrational, detracting from immersion and making the grinding experience less enjoyable.

    • “Grinding in this game feels like an endless loop of repetitive tasks that drain the fun out of the experience.”
    • “The amount of time required to level up is absurd; it feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
    • “I find myself doing the same missions over and over just to progress, which makes the gameplay feel stale and uninspired.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy BAD END

Play time

3hMedian play time
2hAverage play time
1-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games