City of Broken Dreamers: Book One

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City of Broken Dreamers: Book One is a single player action game with romance, drama, mystery, thriller and others themes. It was developed by PhillyGames and was released on August 7, 2020. It received very positive reviews from players.

"City of Broken Dreamers: Book One" is a mature, adults-only cyberpunk visual novel with an interesting plot, sensational visuals, and soundtrack. The game offers a choice-based, visually erotic and exciting adventure, full of humor and wholesome moments. Its immersive atmosphere will keep you engaged as you explore the gritty world of this captivating game.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One screenshot

+24

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,132 reviews

story493 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game's storyline boasts an astonishingly smooth flow, with well-developed characters that enhance replayability and the potential for multiple endings.
The visuals and character designs are phenomenal, with high-quality renders and animations that elevate the overall experience.
The choices you make significantly impact the relationships and story progression, making the gameplay engaging and immersive.

The sheer amount of work required to create different partner endings limits the selectable characters to a few main protagonists.
The inability to bring the ex-wife back to the protagonist's side results in a regrettable lack of story depth.
The game ends on a cliffhanger, leaving players frustrated and eager for the next installment, which has been slow to arrive.

story
1,004 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
49%
2%
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and immersive cyberpunk setting, often compared favorably to mainstream titles. Players appreciate the depth of the plot, which includes meaningful choices that impact character relationships and story outcomes, although some note that the pacing can be interrupted by explicit scenes. While the story is compelling and rich, many reviews express disappointment over its incomplete nature, as it ends on cliffhangers, leaving players eager for future installments.
- “The central story begins with a routine contract that spirals into something much more complex—an encounter with a mysterious young woman whose past and powers hold the potential to alter the fragile balance of the city itself.”
- “The story itself is layered, weaving together themes of power, loss, and human connection amid a backdrop of technological corruption.”
- “For those who appreciate mature storytelling, atmospheric design, and branching narratives that respect player interpretation, this first chapter offers a rich and memorable journey through the heart of a city where dreams are currency, and everyone, in one way or another, is just trying to survive.”
- “However, the sheer amount of work required to create different partner endings limits the selectable characters to a few main protagonists, and the inability to bring the ex-wife back to the protagonist's side results in a regrettable lack of story depth.”
- “The story starts off well as a dystopian sci-fi thriller, with the main character being your typical, disillusioned anti-hero looking to find himself, but past a certain point, the story goes somewhat light and comedic, as the characters get together, it all becomes kinda silly, just not in any really funny way.”
- “The story is linear.”
graphics
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
32%
1%
The graphics in the game have received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising the stunning visuals, intricate character designs, and immersive cyberpunk aesthetic. The attention to detail, particularly in lighting and animations, enhances the storytelling experience, making it a standout in the adult visual novel genre. While some noted a lack of voice acting, the expressive artwork and ambient sound design effectively convey the game's tone, contributing to an engaging overall experience.
- “The environments are drenched in the familiar hues of cyberpunk—neon lights reflecting off rain-slick streets, holographic advertisements glowing over crumbling high-rises, and dark alleyways that conceal danger and temptation in equal measure.”
- “The artwork is completely amazing and the soundtrack is even better.”
- “The graphics are insane; I'm not saying good, they are photorealistic almost, just the best graphics in a novel I have ever seen.”
- “The story is meh; at times English is incomprehensible; graphics are low quality; sex scenes boring as there is hardly any connection with the story or anything that leads to some kind of desire.”
- “The graphics are well done, but unfortunately too few / too short animations.”
- “Nothing revolutionary and there are probably hentai studios that can produce better work, but for its price, art style and story (and theme if you are a fan) it's managed to be more than merely ok and earns a status of pretty good from me.”
music
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
35%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and emotional depth, with many reviewers praising the blend of ambient synth and piano compositions that perfectly fit the cyberpunk theme. The soundtrack is described as immersive and well-curated, often elevating the storytelling and character development, making it a standout feature that players recommend experiencing. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to a cohesive and engaging experience.
- “The soundtrack, blending ambient synth with emotional piano compositions, contributes to the haunting mood that lingers even after the credits roll.”
- “The music is absolutely outstanding from start to finish.”
- “The music is fantastic and fully licensed, so not some dinky stuff you've heard from every porn game you've played.”
- “Although decent as mentioned, the music lacks in variety and can get a bit repetitive at times.”
- “The story is very exciting but the sound all over the game is music and not anything else, it made the game very boring to play, that's why I refunded.”
- “Only a Minecraft-like soundtrack; no audio at all, and I mean at all.”
atmosphere
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
40%
10%
The atmosphere of "City of Broken Dreamers: Book One" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty cyberpunk design, effectively capturing the dark and moody essence of a dystopian Los Angeles in 2042. Reviewers highlight the game's strong visual fidelity, character modeling, and a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, creating a rich and engaging world that resonates with mature storytelling and player choice. Despite some criticism of dialogue, the atmospheric elements remain a standout feature, making it a compelling adventure for fans of the genre.
- “City of Broken Dreamers: Book One, developed and published by PhillyGames, is an ambitious and atmospheric cyberpunk visual novel that captures the grit, desire, and moral ambiguity of a dystopian Los Angeles in the year 2042.”
- “The cyberpunk atmosphere is on point—gritty, immersive, and dripping with style.”
- “The atmosphere is what I liked the most in this game; the music in particular gives life to this world to the point I quite enjoyed learning more about it in the codex.”
- “The atmosphere is relentlessly dark - apparently whatever apocalyptic event turned the world into a dystopia and unleashed mutants also stopped the rotation of the earth and left LA permanently on the night side?”
- “What I do not like is the droning dialogue/monologue - the silly sophomoric name-calling the characters undertake with each other adds nothing to the story or atmosphere, and makes the characters paper-thin.”
- “In terms of graphical fidelity and atmosphere it already does.”
replayability
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
69%
10%
The game offers substantial replayability due to its branching dialogue, multiple outcomes, and hidden interactions that encourage players to explore different paths and scenes. While many users appreciate the variety of choices and the impact of decisions on the story, some feel that the overall replay value may not be as high as in other titles, with a few expressing limited interest in revisiting the game. Overall, it provides a notable amount of replay options, particularly for those looking to unlock additional content and experience alternate storylines.
- “The replay value is substantial, with branching dialogue and hidden interactions that reveal new perspectives on recurring events.”
- “This game has choices that lead to multiple outcomes, so that on its own adds lots of replayability value.”
- “Surprisingly, it also has replayability, different story paths and endings.”
- “Replayability = not for me.”
- “I don't know that in its current state it has the same replay value as others, and it's hard to justify letting it take up space when I don't even know when I'll be able to finish it.”
- “There is a limited amount of replayability in the game but at least it's there.”
emotional
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
4%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its impactful storytelling, where choices resonate deeply and characters evoke strong attachments. Players appreciate the balance between gritty themes and intimate narratives, enhanced by a haunting soundtrack that lingers post-play. While some find the emotional depth compelling and heart-touching, others critique moments of cliché or overly sentimental dialogue, indicating a mixed reception regarding the game's emotional resonance.
- “Every choice carries emotional weight rather than mechanical consequence.”
- “The writing makes you care, and the emotional weight sneaks up on you in the best way.”
- “The characters capture your interest and invoke emotional attachment from first impressions to primal abandon.”
- “What a boring story, full of clichés with a few interesting peaks in the narrative.”
character development
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
37%
13%
The character development in this game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the strong narrative rhythm that balances introspective moments with impactful revelations. Many reviews highlight the expressive character designs and the effective integration of choices that enhance the storytelling experience, making it a standout feature that contributes significantly to the overall engagement and replayability of the game. Overall, the character development is described as fantastic, with a rich storyline that evokes strong emotional responses from players.
- “Character designs are expressive, realistically modeled, and stylized with the subtle exaggeration necessary to make every scene feel alive.”
- “It manages to establish a strong narrative rhythm—quiet, introspective sections of character development are punctuated by bursts of tension and revelation.”
- “This game is without a doubt one of the top AVN games I have played, the story, renders, characters, and overall writing are very well done. There were quite a few moments in the story where it brought me to tears because of how well the character development was and how things progress from skeptical/distrusting to eventually growing a close bond with someone in the game.”
- “Renders look nice, animations are average, but since I care more about character development, it did not matter to me.”
- “The character development was not only sexy, but strong.”
- “There is either some character development happening or it fleshes out the story.”
gameplay
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The gameplay is characterized by its emotional depth and instinctive mechanics, offering a cohesive experience that blends visual storytelling with interactive choices. While some players appreciate the narrative-driven approach and the ability to influence outcomes, others express a desire for more interactivity and mini-games. Overall, the gameplay is a mix of dialogue choices and scene navigation, typical of visual novels, but with enough engagement to appeal to fans of the genre.
- “Every choice carries emotional weight rather than mechanical consequence.”
- “Gameplay mechanics are kind of instinctive and very pleasing.”
- “While a visual novel format, there are enough relationship mechanics and scene gating that it feels more like a choose-your-own-adventure game than more purely passive visual novels.”
- “The gameplay sucks.”
- “An adult, cyberpunk, visual novel, the gameplay mostly consists of choosing dialogue, finding hidden nudy pictures, and sex scenes to spice up your gameplay.”
- “Gameplay mostly consists of reading dialogues, and occasionally making a small choice.”
humor
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a blend of dark comedy and lighthearted silliness, effectively balancing philosophical introspection with laugh-out-loud moments. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and amusing character interactions, which contribute to a compelling narrative filled with both funny and heartfelt scenes. While some character designs may be overly exaggerated, the overall comedic elements enhance the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The writing oscillates between philosophical introspection and dark humor, grounding the world’s surreal elements in believable human emotion.”
- “The story has just enough humor and silliness coupled with genuine plot to keep it compelling even after 8 hours of play.”
- “The story is the best part of this adult game with many funny and silly banter, jokes, and wtf moments.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is tied to its visually striking cyberpunk environments, which are showcased through a large collection of 5400 images, though some users feel the promotional images may not accurately represent the overall quality. While the game offers a rich aesthetic experience, concerns about the authenticity of the visuals used for advertising suggest a potential disconnect between marketing and actual content.
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend money to enjoy the game fully.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, making it hard to progress without spending extra.”
- “The constant barrage of in-game advertisements and offers disrupts the gameplay experience and feels overwhelming.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Users report a strong sense of stability in the game, highlighting the absence of bugs and glitches, which contributes to a smooth gameplay experience.
- “The game runs smoothly with no glitches.”
- “I appreciate the stability; it enhances the overall experience.”
- “There are no crashes or bugs, making for a seamless gameplay.”
- “There is an absence of bugs and glitches.”
- “There are no glitches.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game is praised for its high-quality animations, which run smoothly, contributing to an overall positive user experience.
- “This game includes a lot of high-quality animations that all run smoothly.”
- “The optimization is impressive, allowing for seamless gameplay even on lower-end devices.”
- “I appreciate how well the game runs; the frame rates are consistently high, enhancing the overall experience.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be relatively mild, rating it a 3/10, indicating that while the story can be tedious to read without voiceovers, the engaging visuals help maintain interest.
- “I wish the characters had voiceovers because it's tedious to keep reading the story, but otherwise the visuals keep me well engaged.”
- “Not too grindy: 3/10”

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10h Median play time

12h Average play time

9-18h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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City of Broken Dreamers: Book One is a action game with romance, drama, mystery, thriller and others themes.

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

On average players spend around 12 hours playing City of Broken Dreamers: Book One.

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One was released on August 7, 2020.

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One was developed by PhillyGames.

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One is a single player game.

Similar games include The Seven Realms - Realm 1: Terran, Desert Stalker, Come Home, Leap of Faith, Treasure of Nadia and others.

City of Broken Dreamers: Book One

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