Himawari: The Sunflower

About

Himawari: The Sunflower is a single player action game with romance and drama themes. It was developed by blank-note & Frontwing and was released on December 9, 2016. It received very positive reviews from players.

After jointly founding the so-called Space Club, Youichi and his friend Amamiya Ginga, the son of Amamiya Daigo, spent their school days building a rocket -- until one fateful night, a mysterious young girl called Aries crash-lands near them, her memories also lost from the shock of the landing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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92%

Audience ScoreBased on 96 reviews

story34 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Himawari features a deeply emotional and character-driven narrative that explores themes of memory, regret, and personal growth, resonating with players on a profound level.
The game boasts a diverse cast of well-written characters, particularly Aqua, who stands out as a favorite among players for her complexity and relatability.
Despite a slow start, the story evolves into an engaging and intricate experience, with unexpected plot twists and a blend of slice-of-life and sci-fi elements that keep players invested.

The overarching story can feel unfocused and inconclusive, with some routes lacking the depth and payoff that players might expect, leading to a sense of dissatisfaction.
Technical issues, such as control documentation and music looping problems, detract from the overall experience, making it feel like a poorly executed port.
The romantic chemistry between the main character and the heroines is often criticized as lacking, which diminishes the emotional impact of the route endings.

story
178 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
79%
2%
The story of "Himawari" is characterized as a complex, character-driven narrative that intertwines themes of memory, loneliness, and the human experience within a sci-fi backdrop. While some reviewers found the overarching plot unfocused and the pacing uneven, many praised the depth and relatability of its characters, particularly in their emotional arcs and development. Despite its flaws, the game is regarded as a unique and mature exploration of personal growth and connection, making it a worthwhile experience for those seeking a thought-provoking visual novel.
- “Himawari is possibly the best visual novel out there, at least if you like character-focused stories, eccentric but realistic characters who don't just use something like a catchphrase to try to feel eccentric, tons of good surprises, nonsense that turns out to be sensible, plot hints introduced constantly that are surprisingly realized somewhere or another and generational stories involving realistic science fiction.”
- “While I could (and have) gushed endlessly about the ambitious scope of its incredibly enthralling sci-fi story, something that stole my heart away more than anything else is the story's willingness to give not-so-pretty traits to all its characters, heroes and heroines alike.”
- “In the end, Himawari sends a wonderful message through a heartbreaking story.”
- “The overarching story is pretty unfocused and inconclusive, so it’s best viewed as a collection of routes: each one is a bit different, some are better than the others, but all tend to achieve the main things they set out to do.”
- “It has its moments, particularly when it comes to the comedic side of things, but the story is kind of all over the place and it seems to really drag on sometimes.”
- “However, there are two major flawed points in this story.... first of all, the second arc of the story feels like it was mostly rather pointless, sterile and boring.”
emotional
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Himawari" is described as a profound and transformative experience, with players feeling deeply invested in its heart-wrenching narrative and complex themes. Many reviewers highlight its ability to evoke strong feelings, comparing it favorably to other impactful works in the genre, and emphasizing its exploration of finding one's place in the universe. Overall, it is regarded as one of the most touching visual novels available, capable of leaving players as emotional wrecks while delivering a powerful message.
- “Himawari is one of the most heart-wrenching yet beautiful stories you will ever read.”
- “It feels so transformative and emotional that it felt like it was truly part of my life during the time I was playing it.”
- “In the end, Himawari sends a wonderful message through a heartbreaking story.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
70%
13%
The game's music is generally considered good but somewhat repetitive, with few standout tracks that players would want to add to their playlists. While the soundtrack effectively complements the game's atmosphere, many users recommend installing a patch to improve the looping issues and to access the original music, which is noted to be more memorable. Overall, the music evokes strong emotions related to themes of loneliness and death, but it may not be something players wish to listen to frequently.
- “Loneliness, death, forgetfulness; all of these are general fears that we can have as humans, and when we read a story or hear a song that emphasizes these very things, a strong connection or force of emotion is born.”
- “Aside from that, the music is good; it's not something I want to listen to every day, but it's quite appropriate for the game's atmosphere.”
- “The music, once patched to loop properly, is rather memorable.”
- “Music is almost entirely incidental with very few prominent tracks to add to a playlist.”
- “Another issue, which is easily fixed, is the background music looping incorrectly.”
- “Majority of players suggest switching to a doujin soundtrack with the patch; personally, I didn't do that, but you may give it a try.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is described as heavy, twisty, and unique, effectively blending various themes. While the music complements the atmosphere well, it may not be universally appealing for everyday listening. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some praising the masterful management of atmosphere, while others find parts of the experience lacking.
- “Heavy, twisty, atmospheric, and pretty unique with its blend of topics.”
- “Aside from that, the music is good; not something I want to listen to every day, but quite appropriate for the game's atmosphere.”
- “I find that half of this visual novel is masterfully written and that it has a perfectly managed atmosphere.”
- “I'm conflicted, I really wanted to give this novel a positive review as I find that half of this visual novel to be masterfully written and that it has a perfectly managed atmosphere, but the rest was just boring.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its hilarious interactions and engaging story, providing a rich experience that elicits a wide range of emotions, from laughter to tears. Despite initial impressions of a shallow narrative, players are encouraged to persevere, as the comedic elements remain strong throughout. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with emotional depth, making for a memorable experience.
- “Funny interactions, interesting story, and a good amount of content - what more could you want?”
- “Keep going even if the first route may seem shallow and uneventful at first (the comedy is still hilarious, however).”
- “It made me laugh, gasp in exhilaration, curse out loud, cry my eyes out, and cheer for the characters' happiness.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The gameplay is surprisingly deep, offering more complexity than typical anime or dating sim visual novels, but some players feel that the focus on character interactions detracts from the overall experience. While there are notable plot twists at the end of each route, they often lack impact due to insufficient world-building and character development.
- “Much deeper than it looks, this game offers tons more gameplay than I was expecting, and succeeded at going far beyond the surface level that is present in lots of modern anime or standard dating sim visual novels.”
- “I heard many referring to the huge plot twists ending every route, especially after the epilogue for the last one, yet I feel each and every one of them fell flat for the simple reason that I had been given not enough knowledge or reason to care about the mechanics behind the world, as the plot mostly focused on characters’ interactions, which aren’t that impressive too.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is criticized for slow performance, which is manageable for some players; however, a significant issue arises with videos failing to play altogether.
- “It runs slowly, which isn't too much of a problem, but the videos won't play.”
- “The game suffers from significant lag, making it frustrating to play.”
- “Optimization is lacking; I frequently experience frame drops and stuttering.”
graphics
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are highly praised for their vibrant art style and color palette, with users expressing strong admiration for the visual presentation.
- “I adore the art style and colors.”