Childhood Friends

About

"Childhood Friends" is a visual novel that follows the story of Yukihisa and his childhood friend, Shiho, as they pretend to date to gain relationship experience. With Japanese voice acting for Shiho and multiple endings, the game offers a charming exploration of their practice relationship and the potential for something more. The game features voiced line playback and a history/backlog function.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

emotional3 positive mentions

music2 negative mentions

The game features a well-written and relatable story that explores the growth and maturity of its characters over time.
The visuals, including sprites and backgrounds, are praised for their quality, and the soundtrack complements the narrative effectively.
Players appreciate the emotional depth and the ability to make choices that impact the story, enhancing replayability.

Many players feel that the game lacks substantial content without the explicit patch, making it feel incomplete or like a demo.
The main characters are often described as unmemorable and the story can be perceived as tedious or overly safe.
Some reviews highlight the limited choices available, with only one significant decision at the end, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story centers on two childhood friends navigating a relationship while practicing their romantic skills, blending humor and realism in a relatable slice-of-life narrative. While the plot is engaging and features unexpected emotional depth, some reviewers noted that the main characters lack memorability. Overall, the story is praised for its down-to-earth approach and the addition of a patch that enhances the narrative experience.
- “Childhood friends is a very well-written slice of life story about two 'average' people with no dating experience who agree to practice having a relationship to improve their romantic chances.”
- “Over time, the relationship shows signs of impending problems, making the story less predictable and the anxiety levels increase.”
- “By the end of it, this story and its characters actually really hit me in the feels.”
- “The cute story of two nerds pretending they aren't having sex.”
- “There are very few options in the game; about half of them are where to drop your load and the other half do actually affect the story.”
- “I was already intimately familiar with the different sex scenes, but I still had no idea about the storyline behind them.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
25%
50%
The game's soundtrack, featuring a blend of soft jazz, pop, electronic, and cinematic styles, effectively complements the dialogue and scenes. However, players express a desire for an official soundtrack release, noting that while the music continues during conversation history, the voices become muted.
- “The soundtrack, a combination of soft jazz, pop, electronic, and movie soundtrack styles, is very appropriate to the conversations and scenes that take place.”
- “I wish they had an OST available.”
- “If you scroll up, you can see the conversation history; the music will continue, but the voices will mute.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, transcending mere sexual content to evoke genuine feelings in players. Reviewers highlight the combination of eroticism and emotional engagement, suggesting that it successfully blends art with impactful storytelling.
- “This game evokes a deep emotional response, making me feel a range of feelings that go beyond just the surface.”
- “The emotional depth of the story truly resonates, leaving a lasting impact long after the game is over.”
- “The characters' journeys are portrayed with such authenticity that I found myself deeply connected to their struggles and triumphs.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The gameplay is noted for its extensive hours of engagement, providing players with a rich and immersive experience. Overall, it is well-received for its depth and variety, keeping players invested for long periods.
- “The gameplay is incredibly engaging, keeping me hooked for hours on end.”
- “I love the variety of gameplay mechanics that keep each session fresh and exciting.”
- “The controls are smooth and responsive, making the gameplay feel intuitive and enjoyable.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The graphics of the game are praised for their unique art style, which enhances the overall visual experience and sets it apart from other titles. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the creative design choices that contribute to an immersive atmosphere.
- “The graphics are absolutely stunning, with vibrant colors and intricate details that bring the world to life.”
- “The art style is unique and captivating, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- “Every environment is beautifully rendered, showcasing a level of detail that makes exploration a joy.”
- “The graphics look outdated and lack the detail expected from modern games.”
- “The art style feels inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
- “Textures are low resolution, which detracts from the overall visual experience.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
300%
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be high, citing multiple paths, varied character choices, and dynamic environments that encourage different playthroughs. Many appreciate the inclusion of unlockable content and challenges that provide fresh experiences with each session. Overall, players feel that the game offers substantial incentives to revisit it.
- “The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and again to try new approaches.”
- “The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting and unpredictable.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back. The lack of meaningful choices and consequences makes replaying feel pointless.”
- “The game offers a linear experience with no real variations in gameplay, which severely limits its replayability.”
- “After finishing the main story, I found that there were no new challenges or different paths to explore, making it hard to justify a second playthrough.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be long and tedious, often feeling like an experience that can be easily skipped or avoided.
- “It's a long, tedious grind that feels like it goes on forever; one you can safely avoid.”
- “The grinding is monotonous and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- “I found the grinding to be excessively repetitive, making the game feel more like a job than a fun experience.”