Bustafellows

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 354 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • graphics
Bustafellows Game Cover
An overall great otome experience that will absolutely stick with you, even if there are parts you wish you could forget and move on from.
Starting at $39.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Apple Store

"Bustafellows" is a single-player Mystery Role Playing game with a stunning story and sensational visuals. As a journalist with the ability to leap in the past, you attempt to save a murdered lawyer by going back in time and warning him. The game features puzzle-solving, multiple endings, and the chance to romance five characters with unlockable side stories. With gorgeous visuals, polished animations, and a complete Japanese voice cast, "Bustafellows" offers a unique and immersive gaming experience.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
  • Tablet
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 354 reviews
story121 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and well-animated backgrounds, enhancing the overall experience.
  • The characters are well-developed, with engaging storylines that keep players invested in their journeys.
  • The voice acting is top-notch, adding depth to the characters and making the dialogue more immersive.
  • The PC port has awkward controls and lacks intuitive key bindings, making navigation cumbersome.
  • Some dialogue and cutscenes are not translated, leaving players without crucial context in certain moments.
  • The pacing can feel rushed, especially in the latter chapters, leading to unsatisfying resolutions for some story arcs.
  • story381 mentions

    The story of the game is a complex blend of engaging character arcs and a central plot that delves into darker themes, often surprising players with its twists and emotional depth. While many characters are well-developed and their individual stories are compelling, some players feel that the main narrative can be convoluted and lacks cohesion, particularly in its conclusion. Overall, the game is praised for its rich storytelling and character dynamics, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a polished main plot.

    • “The story is extremely well developed and had me on the edge of my seat with the many mysteries and drama creeping in from the different stories.”
    • “The characters and story were very engaging.”
    • “The story evokes true and very strong emotions within me and I believe I will never forget the love I have for the story and the characters in it.”
    • “The individual romance stories are great, but the ending to the main story was so bad, not a single hint was dropped the entire game about anything, they just drop bombshell after bombshell on you and it was very forced and made no sense.”
    • “The story consists mostly of fillers, which you can skip without missing anything.”
    • “The overarching plot involves a shadowy organization that runs the city and you trying to figure out who's behind it... the ultimate twist of this is incomprehensibly stupid.”
  • emotional39 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke deep feelings and attachment to characters, often leading to tears and introspection. Many reviews highlight the touching and complex backstories of characters, particularly praising routes like Mozu's and Limbo's for their emotional depth and mature handling of difficult topics. Overall, the game is described as both heartwarming and heart-wrenching, leaving players feeling emotionally invested and sometimes devastated by the narratives.

    • “I didn't expect to experience so much emotional damage while playing this, but I very much enjoyed every bit of the story this game provided.”
    • “Yes, you will be emotionally eviscerated, but it's so good and so worth it.”
    • “Mozu's route is the most emotional one in the game, and is by far the best written.”
  • graphics37 mentions

    The graphics in the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, appealing character designs, and beautiful artwork, which contribute to an immersive experience reminiscent of anime. While some users noted occasional blurriness and initial audio quality issues, the overall aesthetic, including detailed backgrounds and animations, is considered top-notch. The voice acting complements the visuals well, enhancing the game's engaging story and character dynamics.

    • “Bustafellows boasts stunning graphics, dashing characters, and a unique plot delving into the criminal underworld, making it a potential gem in the otome game realm.”
    • “Speaking of the artwork, it is stunning, especially considering the fact that plenty of things in the background are actually animated and give more life to the environments.”
    • “Great visuals, a well thought out story, as well as an interesting and dynamic cast of characters makes Bustafellows the complete otome package.”
    • “And what's up with the blurry graphics?”
    • “At the start of the game, the graphics and audio quality was iffy to me, but after adjusting I fell in love with the game.”
    • “Sometimes the visuals are crystal clear, and then suddenly, they are a little blurred.”
  • humor36 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with players noting that the characters are well-written, funny, and charming, often leading to moments of genuine laughter. The interactions among the cast create a playful dynamic, balancing comedic elements with more serious themes effectively. Overall, the game is described as engaging and consistently funny, making it a standout in the otome genre.

    • “I loved all the characters and there were some scenes that had me in tears from laughing.”
    • “I seriously have never laughed more while playing an 'otome' game; the main group of guys is sincerely funny and built upon excellent chemistry.”
    • “To their credit, the writers were very good at balancing humor and serious subject matters, which is definitely something they should be commended for.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its stylish integration with the art and its ability to enhance the mood and setting throughout the gameplay. Players appreciate the fully voiced performances and the inclusion of a music player to revisit the soundtrack, which features a variety of well-composed tracks that effectively set the tone for different scenes. Overall, the music is considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing significantly to the overall experience, even if some players find it not to their personal taste.

    • “The backgrounds were really detailed and the music switched with the mood, location, and ending.”
    • “Also, I love the fact that they included a music player where you can listen to all the songs once more.”
    • “The music is wonderful and sets the tone well.”
    • “Music is decent, with outros being above average.”
    • “Cgs and music are alright, not too bright, but not bad either.”
    • “My personal highlight has to be the regular trips to 'Trader Joneses' and listening to the dumb shop music :)”
  • character development15 mentions

    Character development in this visual novel is a mixed bag; while the character designs are praised for their quality and appeal, particularly to fans of anime and reverse-harems, the depth of character growth is often seen as lacking. Some players appreciate the moments of vulnerability shown by characters, but many feel that the individual routes do not significantly enhance character development, leaving it feeling underwhelming despite the intriguing plot and engaging visuals. Overall, while the characters are likable and well-designed, their development does not reach the same level of impact.

    • “During the individual character routes, the plot just freezes to give you time to appreciate character development and the actual 'otome' part of the content, which up until that point was quite lacking.”
    • “This visual novel has a ton going for it: likable characters, gorgeous art, interesting plot (each branching route was interesting as well! Lots of great character development!)”
    • “Bustafellows serves as an enthralling experience for crime genre enthusiasts, delivering an intriguing story complemented by appealing character designs and artwork.”
    • “Character designs are without a doubt top-tier works, but the stories fleshing out those characters lack impact.”
    • “During the individual character routes, as mentioned, the plot just freezes to give you time to appreciate character development and the actual 'otome' part of the content, which up until that point was quite lacking.”
    • “I didn’t feel like the characters had major character development though.”
  • gameplay12 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a mix of intriguing storylines and challenging mechanics that encourage exploration of different character paths. While some players found the gameplay options to be somewhat standard and the user interface complicated, the overall experience remains engaging despite minor localization issues and clunky controls.

    • “Once I finished the story for my first character, I quickly figured out the mechanics for getting to the others, but it was still a challenge, and I ended up surprised with the path I went down.”
    • “And the story is so interesting; I was really intrigued and curious about it for most of the gameplay.”
    • “In gameplay, there's an option to jump to the next choices that help you start another route a lot faster.”
    • “The gameplay is not really unique; that's an overstatement in the game description.”
    • “Yes, I will admit the game mechanics were clunky (I hooked up my PS4 controller) and the game was in lower resolution because I played it on PC, but you won't usually notice it unless you are watching the OP.”
    • “Yes, I know, the controller and some of the mechanical systems are janky as heck.”
  • optimization7 mentions

    The optimization of Bustafellows on PC has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance and no significant technical issues, others note that the game feels poorly adapted from its original design, leading to certain technical difficulties. Additionally, the unconventional keyboard controls may require some adjustment for users. Overall, the game runs well on capable systems, but its porting could benefit from further optimization.

    • “Technical performance = extremely good”
    • “The game runs smoothly on my laptop without any issues.”
    • “Good visual performance”
    • “The PC adaptation of Bustafellows poses certain technical difficulties, primarily due to its original design not being suitably optimized for PC platforms.”
    • “The PC port basically took a copy-paste of a handheld game but without the necessary optimization to play on a computer.”
    • “I haven't had any performance issues or weird glitches; however, it's worth noting that the keyboard controls are a tad strange (e.g., it's 'Home' for the menu, not 'Esc' for some reason) but usable once you find out what they are.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its engaging visuals and sound, creating a "feel good" adventure experience, though some inconsistencies in crime scenes detract from the overall immersion. Reviewers appreciate the balance of tension and maturity in handling complex themes, contributing to a compelling and atmospheric gameplay experience.

    • “I genuinely liked the atmosphere of the game along with the visuals and sound.”
    • “Overall, I'd absolutely give this game an 11/10, not only for spooking me with its tense atmosphere, but for how maturely it handles difficult topics such as social class and cosmetic surgery.”
    • “They're also animated and atmospheric.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates solid stability with no significant bugs or glitches reported by users. However, some players noted unusual keyboard controls that may require adjustment, but these do not detract from the overall performance. The plot's pacing during character routes is also highlighted as a positive aspect, allowing for deeper character appreciation.

    • “During the individual character routes, the plot just freezes to give you time to appreciate character development and the actual 'otome' part of the content, which up until that point was quite lacking.”
    • “I haven't had any performance issues or weird glitches; however, it's worth noting that the keyboard controls are a tad strange (e.g., it's 'home' for the menu, not 'esc' for some reason) but usable once you find out what they are.”
    • “Despite the technical issues mentioned above, I did not encounter any bugs or glitches in the game.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the lack of variation in the early chapters and the repetitive nature of the questionnaire needed to unlock desired characters. This leads to a frustrating experience, as the love interests' routes feel disproportionately short compared to the effort required to access them.

    • “First off, there is no variation for the first four chapters. You may get a different line, cat name, and bikini, but that's about it. The replay factor made it very tedious because you have to go back and do that damn questionnaire to get the character you want. Thank you, walkthroughs, because I wouldn't have had the patience.”
    • “It got rather tedious force-skipping through it, especially because the actual love interests' routes felt fairly short in comparison.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players find the game's individual routes and overarching storyline engaging, contributing to its strong replayability.

    • “The individual routes and overarching storyline are interesting and have great replay value.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new choices and experiences, making it hard to put down.”
    • “The variety of character paths and endings encourages multiple runs to fully explore the game.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for not aligning with its promotional material, leading to disappointment among players. Additionally, the portrayal of the protagonist as childish compared to the suitors may detract from the overall experience, suggesting that the monetization strategy could be more effectively integrated with character development.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

68% average critic score

Buy Bustafellows

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News