BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light

About

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD. and was released on November 8, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Blue Reflection: Second Light" is a role-playing game where players navigate a mysterious academy and build relationships with fellow students to uncover the truth about their surroundings. The Digital Deluxe Edition includes additional costumes, facilities, and fragments to enhance gameplay. Players can explore and battle in various environments while managing resources and developing the school. The game is a sequel to "Blue Reflection" and features new and returning characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light screenshot

+16

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 292 reviews

story72 positive mentions

grinding15 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience and atmosphere.
Character development is significantly improved, with engaging interactions and backstories that resonate with players.
The combat system is more dynamic and fun, incorporating real-time elements and a unique gear progression mechanic.

The game suffers from pacing issues, with some sections feeling drawn out and repetitive, particularly during backtracking.
Boss battles are underwhelming compared to the first game, lacking the same level of excitement and challenge.
Stealth missions are poorly designed and can be frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.

story
278 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
68%
6%
The story of "Blue Reflection: Second Light" has received mixed reviews, with some praising its emotional depth and character development, while others find it lacking compared to its predecessor. Many players appreciate the engaging character arcs and the exploration of personal struggles, but criticize the pacing and repetitive elements, particularly the stealth missions. Overall, while the narrative offers intriguing moments and a heartwarming atmosphere, it may not resonate with everyone, especially those seeking a more cohesive plot.
- “The story in Blue Reflection: Second Light is about the girls growing up and saving the world, with diverse character settings and interesting gameplay, you can even add stalls in festivals to the school.”
- “One feature of this game is the diverse character settings; each character has her own problems, whether about friendships, career, or anxiety over the future, and the main story reveals how they overcome these difficulties.”
- “The story is cohesive and detailed, making even remembering the tiny details enjoyable when relevant in a later scene.”
- “The story is boring.”
- “The story drags for way too long.”
- “The main story itself is alright, but feels a bit lacking in comparison to the previous game.”
music
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
49%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beautiful and emotional soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere and gameplay experience. While some players appreciate the laid-back and ambient tracks, others feel that the music lacks the memorability and excitement of the original game's soundtrack, particularly during boss battles. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point of the game, though it may not reach the heights of its predecessor.
- “Upon starting the game, I was immediately in love with its rousing soundtrack.”
- “The soundtrack builds upon the previous game and features very uplifting tunes, emotional pieces, and intense dubstep tracks that all hit the mark.”
- “The music is a blessing to the ear.”
- “This soundtrack was quite lackluster and doesn't come close to the incredible OST put together by composer Hayato Asano for the first game.”
- “My biggest disappointment with the game has to be the soundtrack.”
- “While they nailed the locations' music tracks, the boss battles and the music that goes with them are just completely underwhelming.”
gameplay
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
64%
7%
The gameplay of "Blue Reflection: Second Light" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its improved mechanics, engaging combat, and charming character interactions, while others criticize its repetitiveness and low difficulty. Players appreciate the unique blend of turn-based and real-time elements, as well as the strategic depth offered by new systems like facility building and character swapping. However, some find the gameplay too easy and feel that certain mechanics, such as stealth missions and 1v1 battles, detract from the overall experience.
- “The gameplay feels more refined and thoughtful, and the heartscapes (maps) are absolutely beautiful; there were times I had to just stop and admire the design choices.”
- “The developers have really learned from the missteps of the original Blue Reflection, and have made many improvements to the gameplay to make this title more fun and approachable.”
- “It's just absurdly cute, and the characters are great, the gameplay is genuinely interesting, and the story is fun and engaging.”
- “Sadly, even a gorgeous soundtrack like this cannot save a game from its insistent mediocrity, its dull enemies, and lackluster mechanics.”
- “However, Gust tried to drag the game out too long; the story and the gameplay were not interesting enough, so the game feels very repetitive.”
- “The pacing is weird, the gameplay is effortlessly easy and makes one wonder why they would add half the mechanics they did when you can roll through the game without breaking a sweat.”
graphics
63 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
54%
5%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the colorful and aesthetically pleasing visuals, character designs, and improved world detail compared to the first title. However, some users noted issues such as lower animation quality, graphical glitches, and a lack of engagement in certain scenes. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered beautiful and well-executed, there are areas for improvement, particularly in enemy designs and lighting.
- “The visuals of the game are nice; I like the overall vibe, and a lot of the levels are very pretty.”
- “Graphically beautiful, I'm happy Gust improved their programming techniques for their games.”
- “Aesthetically, this game is just amazing.”
- “Also, in my opinion, the overall animation quality seems to be lower than the first title, as well as some other issues with the graphics that feel like downgrades.”
- “Graphics are serviceable, and although the character models are very pretty, the enemy designs, lighting, and textures are a bit dull.”
- “There are some slight graphics bugs here and there.”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming soundtrack and sincere character interactions, which resonate deeply with players. While some characters may lack development, the overall narrative is filled with touching moments that evoke strong feelings, making it a compelling experience for fans of the series. Many players report being moved to tears, emphasizing the game's ability to tackle themes of emotional trauma and personal growth in a relatable and engaging manner.
- “All in all, a very heartwarming, emotional, and pleasant ride.”
- “The game shines in the interactions between the girls, which are heartfelt and sincere.”
- “I think they were able to create a very heart-touching story with very deep meaning and emotion.”
character development
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
37%
16%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with well-written dialogues that allow players to empathize with the characters' struggles and growth. The narrative is enriched through engaging slice-of-life moments and meaningful interactions, particularly during dates that enhance character relationships and skills. Overall, players find the character arcs compelling and integral to the overarching story, complemented by beautiful character designs and animations.
- “Still, this shouldn't be a criterion that overshadows what I really did find valuable in the narrative — dialogues are rather well-written, at least enough for me to empathize with the girls and the whole dire situation they're in, being trapped all by themselves in a deserted school in the middle of an endless sea, having lost their memories and striving for survival, which in turn will lead the way to somewhat unexpected character developments and, without delving into spoilers, an overarching plot that's actually quite daunting.”
- “Blue Reflection: Second Light is not a mere dungeon crawler; it heavily uses slice of life moments to drive character development.”
- “Most of the character development is done via dates, which you need to do a number of with each girl to boost their talent level and give you points that you will need to boost your party.”
- “It's basically the game's means of character development, but you get to experience it more personally.”
- “Character development is done very well, so as the story goes on, you grow to love every one of the characters, making it easy to fully immerse yourself in the setting.”
grinding
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often tedious and overwhelming, with excessive backtracking and repetitive combat that detracts from the overall experience. Players express frustration with the need to farm materials and the slow pacing of battles, which can feel like a chore rather than an engaging challenge. While the game offers a charming slice-of-life experience, the grinding elements may deter those seeking a more streamlined gameplay experience.
- “By the end of the game, it felt like a slog and I didn't even end up watching the ending because the story felt tedious and boring.”
- “The combat really suffers from an issue where every fight you start off weak and become stronger while building up your combo/transforming, making a lot of trash mob fights feel more tedious than they should be.”
- “Combat becomes a real tedious chore, and waiting for your 'ether gauge' to fill up just so you can one-shot the enemies really becomes a trial of patience.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
33%
20%
The atmosphere in the game is a defining feature, with many reviewers praising its beautiful and ethereal settings, nostalgic themes, and a blend of cozy yet slightly eerie tones. While some noted a loss of the original game's magic, others highlighted the improved music and environments that create a memorable experience. Overall, the game successfully evokes feelings of carefree youth and emotional depth, making the atmosphere a standout element.
- “The surreal atmosphere and environments are what define Blue Reflection; its world is simply beautiful.”
- “The setting of the 'endless summer' is both beautiful and nostalgic, evoking memories of youth and happiness, and it really has an extremely cozy atmosphere which will have you smiling throughout.”
- “The game does a terrific job at establishing the atmosphere of 'living a carefree life as a high school student on a summer vacation'.”
- “There's a loss of 'atmosphere' that is now replaced by a sterile setting that doesn't feel like a home.”
- “The first game had the magic and the atmosphere, an actual story that they went all in on.”
- “The game feels a lot like Nier: Automata, not only because of some of the later maps, but the general atmosphere of being in an isolated world too.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, particularly on PC without a controller, leading to stuttering and difficulty maintaining a stable frame rate. While some users found the game playable and polished without crashes, the overall consensus indicates that it is poorly optimized, especially in certain scenes, making it advisable to consider playing on sale or with a controller for a better experience.
- “Not quite optimized but definitely not unplayable.”
- “It's important to point out that there's a massive performance problem - and there used to be a bug where the game would stutter without a gamepad connected but it seems they have fixed it - but I still find it very much playable even at 40-50 fps when it dips on certain scenarios for no apparent reason.”
- “The biggest concern is that the game definitely prefers if you play with a controller; there are performance optimization issues with the PC version of the game without one.”
- “Personally found this game to be very poorly optimized; it does not utilize the GPU properly, leading to heavy crashing when my machine overheated.”
- “It's impossible to keep this game locked at 60fps even at the lowest settings and resolution due to poor optimization.”
- “This could easily be a yes to recommend, but the constant stuttering makes it borderline unplayable.”
humor
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by a variety of funny buildings and quirky moments, such as a comiket market and a giant teddy bear, which add a light-hearted touch to the gameplay. Players appreciate the blend of comedic elements with serious storytelling, featuring humorous interactions and endearing character moments, particularly with the protagonist Ao. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience.
- “As you progress through the storyline, you’ll unlock more types of buildings, some of which get pretty funny, such as a comiket market (indie comic stand), a giant teddy bear to hug, and even beds you can sleep on and watch the stars.”
- “It has a great mix of content, from funny optional content to a serious overarching storyline.”
- “The slow story development of the previous title has also been improved through more concise cut scenes, humorous interactions, and interesting characters.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The game's replayability is limited, with many players feeling that additional playthroughs do not provide significant value, as the only major change is the ending scene with the selected character. While there are more playable characters compared to the previous installment, the overall experience may feel stretched without meaningful content to justify multiple runs.
- “It offers an extra layer of replayability to the game.”
- “There are more playable characters compared to the previous installment, which adds to the replay value.”
- “The replay value for the 'hope for a reunion' ending (true ending) is not worth the extra playthrough; the only change is the ending scene with the selected girl.”
- “Frankly, there are many things in the game that feel like they are just there to extend your playtime without offering any tangible replay value, so I wouldn't recommend this game if you care about getting all achievements.”
- “There is more playable characters (br1 was limited to 3).”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game is polished and stable, with no crashes or major bugs reported. However, some users have noted occasional graphic glitches and performance issues, despite improvements compared to the first game.
- “Looks great and runs great compared to the first game.”
- “Some weird graphic glitches (I don't mean the normal stuff in the heartscape).”
- “The game itself is very polished, doesn't crash and I did not encounter any bugs or glitches, but the performance is not good.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for its focus on DLC that appears to exploit character appeal rather than cater to its established audience, particularly yuri fans. Reviewers express concern that the developers may prioritize profit over community engagement, labeling the hidden island DLC as a blatant cash grab.
- “At this point, it is unclear whether or not they understand that this niche little franchise of theirs has an audience of mostly yuri fans. However, it's clear that if they do, they are willing to throw all of us away for a generic cash grab game featuring a generic hetero male self-insert. If they are unaware, then they are just incompetent.”
- “The hidden island DLC is a cash grab.”
- “I also hesitate to point people to the Steam page because the store here has a bunch of advertising for DLC that, for lack of a better term, ogles and objectifies the characters.”

Skip Critic Reviews

79%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

Skip Game Offers

Buy BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light

30h Median play time

29h Average play time

16-42h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light

74%927reviews

BLUE REFLECTION

2017

Role Playing

87%20.7kreviews

Tales of Arise

2021

Role Playing

86%8.2kreviews

Tales of Berseria

2017

Open World Role Playing

79%1.5kreviews

Bravely Default 2

2021

Role Playing

85%868reviews

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy

2021

Role Playing

More games like BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 29 hours playing BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light.

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light was released on November 8, 2021.

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light was developed by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD..

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light 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 grinding.

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light is a single player game.

Similar games include BLUE REFLECTION, Tales of Arise, Tales of Berseria, Bravely Default 2, Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy and others.

BLUE REFLECTION: Second Light

Platforms