GINKA

About

GINKA is a single player action game. It was developed by Frontwing and was released on October 25, 2023. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"GINKA" is a single-player visual novel with an intriguing story by Asta Konno, known for "ATRI -My Dear Moments-". The game follows Aoba Ryusei's journey to uncover the truth about his childhood friend, Shinomiya Ginka, who disappeared 5 years ago. With beautiful artwork by Yusano and Akio Watanabe, and a moving soundtrack by Fuminori Matsumoto, this game immerses players in a poignant tale of friendship and mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 164 reviews

story50 positive mentions

The game features an excellent soundtrack, captivating voice acting, and an appealing art style, making it a visually and audibly engaging experience.
The story is rich and complex, with many plot twists and emotional moments that resonate deeply with players, particularly those who enjoy themes of romance and supernatural elements.
The character development and relationships are well-crafted, with memorable interactions that leave a lasting impression on players.

The game is limited to a maximum resolution of 720p, which detracts from the overall visual experience, especially for players with higher resolution displays.
Some players found the pacing to be uneven, with the story feeling convoluted and running out of steam towards the end, leading to a less satisfying conclusion.
There are complaints about the character CG library being minimal, lacking illustrations of important characters, which could have enhanced the storytelling experience.

story
152 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The story of "Ginka" is rich and complex, intertwining romance with mystery and supernatural elements, featuring numerous plot twists that keep players engaged. While the narrative is praised for its depth and emotional impact, some reviewers noted that it can feel predictable at times and may lose momentum towards the end. Overall, the storytelling is considered masterful, with well-developed characters and a satisfying conclusion, particularly enhanced by the lengthy "after story."
- “A wonderful read, a heart-wrenching story about two people trying desperately to fight against fate and make their wishes come true.”
- “Overall, Ginka is a truly engaging story that can keep your eyes glued to the screen till the curtain falls.”
- “The foreshadowing and flashbacks set up the story really well; the visual novel will tell you the full story if you just want to turn your brain off and enjoy it, but if you enjoy theorizing the story as it happens, I think Ginka both sets you up for those predictions, as well as throws some unexpected curveballs.”
- “I wish the writer expressed the romantic aspect of the relationship between the main couple more colorfully since the 'pureness' of their love was established too early and remained unchanged even when the story ended. To be honest, it was frustrating that the couple didn’t express more affection despite so much hardship they went through together.”
- “The big overarching story surrounding the island and its inhabitants plays a very big role and keeps being highlighted as such to the point where the visual novel is all about that, but I ended up not caring as much about it because it treated the two characters I cared about the most like garbage and by the end they were nothing but passengers.”
- “The story made the main heroine behave in ways that frustrated me even though it made sense, and everything else just felt like it was getting more and more absurd the longer it went with all the new problems the main character was faced with.”
music
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
24%
8%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the soundtrack and voice acting as excellent, though some find it not particularly memorable. While the background music is described as captivating and fitting, only a few tracks stand out significantly. Overall, the music complements the game's art and atmosphere, but it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.
- “The background music is captivating.”
- “Absolutely stunning art, music, and voice acting.”
- “It features great music, art, atmosphere, and characters.”
- “The music, I must say, it's not really memorable, but there's some piece that makes my heart feel... it fits in time really well.”
- “Decent soundtracks, but only 1-2 stick out for me.”
- “Sometimes it felt like the only part worth reading was when the background OST was 'Magic Hour'.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
24%
13%
The graphics are generally praised for their appealing art style, well-drawn backgrounds, and characters, contributing to a visually pleasing experience. However, many users express disappointment over the lack of higher resolution, particularly noting that the visuals could benefit from 1080p quality. While the artwork is appreciated, some reviewers feel that the overall graphics are not the best they have encountered, with issues like high compression during certain scenes.
- “The artwork is amazing!”
- “The art style is aesthetically pleasing, the backgrounds and characters are well drawn, would be better if it's in higher resolution.”
- “Good artwork along with characters I enjoyed reading about.”
- “The art style is aesthetically pleasing, the backgrounds and characters are well drawn, but it would be better if it were in higher resolution.”
- “The music, graphics, drama, humor, and even the cheesy and cliche moments, Ginka did not miss a beat.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its well-crafted narrative that provides a captivating emotional journey, leaving a lasting impression on players. It tells a heart-wrenching story of two individuals battling against fate to fulfill their desires, making it both engaging and intriguing, though it may not evoke tears for everyone. Overall, it is described as a fun and emotional experience.
- “The narrative is well-crafted, offering a captivating emotional journey that leaves a lasting impression.”
- “A wonderful read, a heart-wrenching story about two people trying desperately to fight against fate and make their wishes come true.”
- “While it didn't make me cry like 'Atri: My Dear Moments' did, it's nonetheless engaging, intriguing, and emotional.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The atmosphere in the game is praised for its great music, art, and character design, contributing to an immersive experience. However, some users express frustration with certain elements that they feel undermine the overall atmosphere, suggesting a disconnect between intended tone and execution.
- “It features great music, art, atmosphere, and characters.”
- “I really wish VNs would stop doing this; it changes the atmosphere and ridicules the whole thing.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its blend of cheesy, cliché, and slightly cringe moments, which many players find endearing and integral to the overall storytelling. This lightheartedness complements the romance and drama, creating a well-rounded and enjoyable experience.
- “The romance, drama, and humor all come together to make a beautiful story, and the cheesy, cliche, and even slightly cringe moments are just the cherry on top.”
- “The music, graphics, drama, and humor, along with the cheesy and cliche moments, show that Ginka did not miss a beat.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews do not provide relevant information regarding the game's optimization, focusing instead on the quality of voice acting. Therefore, no summary can be made about the optimization aspect.
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development is praised for its engaging designs and distinct personalities, contributing to enjoyable and memorable moments that enhance the overall experience.
- “I love the character designs as well as their personalities; there are lots of fun and cute moments that kept me engaged.”