Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star

96%
Game Brain Score Based on 333 reviews
  • story
  • emotional
  • humor
Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star Game Cover
Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star is a click your way through several absurd, linear stories about pigeons.
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"Hatoful Boyfriend: Holiday Star" is a humorous dating simulator and visual novel where you play as a human in a world of sentient birds. This sequel to "Hatoful Boyfriend" features holiday-themed stories with new and returning characters. Experience winter festivities, solve puzzles, and enjoy the light-hearted, quirky narrative in this unique game.

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Reviews

96%
Audience ScoreBased on 333 reviews
story43 positive mentions
gameplay3 negative mentions
  • The game expands on the lore and character backstories from the original Hatoful Boyfriend, providing more depth to beloved characters.
  • The humor and emotional storytelling are still present, making it a fun and engaging experience for fans of the first game.
  • The artwork and presentation are beautiful, with charming visuals and a whimsical atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The game is more linear and less interactive than the original, with fewer choices and branching paths, which may disappoint some players.
  • There are instances of technical issues, such as missing music and glitches, which detract from the overall polish of the game.
  • The emotional impact may not be as strong as in the first game, leading to a feeling of less engagement with the story.
  • story174 mentions

    The story in "Holiday Star" is a blend of humor and emotional depth, expanding on character backstories from the original "Hatoful Boyfriend" while adopting a more linear, episodic format. While some players found it less impactful than its predecessor, many appreciated its quirky charm and the way it delves into darker themes, ultimately providing a satisfying continuation of the narrative. Overall, it offers a unique experience that balances absurdity with heartfelt moments, making it a worthwhile addition for fans of the series.

    • “The main story is incredible and heartbreaking.”
    • “There's really emotional storytelling about some of the teacher characters and their pasts, and it made me love the adults in the game more.”
    • “The story fills a lot of holes the first game had, and gives you more insight into our lovely birds.”
    • “Unfortunately, I found the story in Holiday Star to be quite dull.”
    • “The stories are enjoyable enough, but most of them just seem like filler to me and I ended up being not as invested until the final main story.”
    • “While Holiday Star's writing isn't as good as the previous game's, it does make it up with the story.”
  • emotional46 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is described as a profound rollercoaster, blending heartwarming moments with gut-wrenching storytelling that often leads players to tears. Many reviewers highlight the depth of character development and the ability of the narrative to evoke strong feelings, even amidst the game's absurd humor. While some feel it doesn't quite reach the emotional heights of the first installment, it still delivers a touching experience that resonates deeply with fans.

    • “The main story is incredible and heartbreaking.”
    • “There's really emotional storytelling about some of the teacher characters and their pasts, and it made me love the adults in the game more.”
    • “Be warned: once you fly towards the holiday star, there is no coming back from the emotional train ride that is waiting for you.”
  • humor34 mentions

    The humor in the game is a blend of absurdity and heartfelt moments, maintaining the quirky charm of its predecessor while introducing darker themes. Players appreciate the mix of over-the-top comedy and emotional depth, though some find the humor occasionally falls flat or feels repetitive. Overall, the writing is praised for its cleverness and ability to evoke both laughter and poignant feelings, making it a unique experience for fans of the series.

    • “The comedy, at its best, is even more hilariously over-the-top, and the drama, while weaker than in the original, still manages to evoke some feels and add details to the overarching story.”
    • “The game is full of hilarious lines and, believe it or not, tons of heartfelt scenes and character development.”
    • “It's quirky, funny, and can get really sentimental.”
  • music20 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the new royalty-free tracks as enjoyable and fitting, while others express disappointment over the absence of beloved songs from the original game. Although the soundtrack includes a blend of reused and new music, some players feel that the removal of certain emotional tracks detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the music is generally well-received, but its inconsistency has left some fans longing for the original's more impactful score.

    • “While it's important to note the soundtrack is all royalty-free music, it is amazingly good royalty-free music.”
    • “The music is nice; I still can't believe Yuuya gets his own theme played whenever he enters the scene.”
    • “Something unexpected is that the new music is really nice, too.”
    • “The HD ports are getting a little sloppy - this game had typos, missing music, missing CGs, missing or misaligned sprites, and a few inappropriately reused HD backgrounds from the first game.”
    • “I was really hoping a particular track (end of chapter 2) would be there, but when it wasn't, I was kind of sad. I'm worried that some really emotional songs later on in the game during heart-wrenching moments are just going to be replaced by awkward silence.”
    • “Music really adds a lot to a game, even if it's just pigeons talking in a dialogue box, so when there's nothing there, it just makes the game feel a lot emptier.”
  • gameplay8 mentions

    The gameplay has been criticized for being overly simplistic and linear, moving away from the original's mechanics to adopt a more straightforward visual novel format. Many users feel that it lacks depth and choice, making it tedious and less engaging than its predecessor. Overall, the gameplay experience is described as minimal and lacking the interactive elements that defined the first game.

    • “The gameplay is even simpler than in the first game; this is a visual novel at its finest.”
    • “Interesting gameplay that makes you feel like Batman.”
    • “It's honestly pretty tedious and loses even the tiny sliver of 'gameplay' that the original had.”
    • “Most notably from a gameplay perspective, 'Holiday Star' abandons the dating-sim structure of 'Hatoful Boyfriend' in favor of a straightforward visual-novel approach.”
    • “This time, gameplay is fairly straightforward with little to no choice options at all.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while it features humorous and heartfelt moments, some players feel it lacks the depth of the original. However, many appreciate the significant growth of both main and side characters, particularly in the later chapters, which build on the established world and character arcs from the first game. Overall, the game offers a blend of lightheartedness and meaningful development, appealing to those who enjoy character-driven narratives.

    • “The game is full of hilarious lines and, believe it or not, tons of heartfelt scenes and character development.”
    • “Great character development and even some pretty good development for the few new side characters we're introduced to.”
    • “It lacks the careful character development of the original, and the story is quite uninteresting overall.”
    • “This game relies heavily on the character development from the first Hatoful Boyfriend, so you need to play that one to understand this one.”
    • “I expected light and fluffy fanservice, but the game gradually becomes much more than that, and the last chapter involves some pretty significant character development for some of the main cast from the original game.”
  • graphics6 mentions

    The graphics are praised for their beautiful artwork and charming, quirky style that mirrors the first game. The visuals maintain a similar fidelity, complemented by updated human avatar artworks and a high-resolution picture library included in the collector's edition, which enhances the overall aesthetic experience.

    • “Its artwork is beautiful, and it has the same cute but strange charm as the first game.”
    • “The visuals maintain the same fidelity and style as the first game, which is weird but relatable with a complicated underlying plot.”
    • “The extra artwork in the collector's edition is fantastic, and you'll receive a high-resolution picture library of 36 artworks from within the game.”
    • “The visuals are about the same fidelity as the first game, which feels outdated and lacks innovation.”
    • “The dialogue maintains the same style as the first game, which can be weird and off-putting for some players.”
    • “While the new human avatar artworks are nicely done, they only appear in the shrine short story, leaving the main game feeling visually stale.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its beautiful, storybook-like art that complements the whimsical fairytale theme, creating a joyful and emotionally resonant experience. While some players noted a lack of options that diminished tension, the overall journey is filled with a rich holiday ambiance that enhances the narrative.

    • “They have really pretty, storybook-esque art that fits with the weird fairytale atmosphere of the holiday star itself.”
    • “It takes you by the hand and leads you from the start till the end; and there's so much joy, tears, and holiday atmosphere while you're taking the journey.”
    • “The lack of options reminded me of the BBL route, minus the tension and atmosphere, so I was a little unhappy, but I kept going and managed to discover that the way these games work is consistent.”
    • “It takes you by the hand and leads you from the start to the end; and there's so much joy, tears, and holiday atmosphere while you're taking the journey.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect to be tedious and lacking in engaging gameplay, diminishing the overall experience compared to the original.

    • “It's honestly pretty tedious and loses even the tiny sliver of 'gameplay' that the original had.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.”
    • “I found myself doing the same repetitive tasks over and over, which made the experience feel more like a chore than fun.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report encountering minor glitches related to achievements and text within the game, though these issues are not considered severe. There is hope for future updates to address these stability concerns, particularly regarding specific achievements.

    • “I encountered several achievement and text glitches within the game, but they weren't too severe. I hope they get updated soon, especially the Happy New Year achievement.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing progress.”
    • “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which severely impacted my overall enjoyment of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

54% average critic score

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