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Hookah Haze

Hookah Haze Game Cover
92%Game Brain Score
story, music
gameplay, replayability
96% User Score Based on 364 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCSteam DeckWindows
Buy Nowfrom $10.79
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Hookah Haze Game Cover

About

Hookah Haze is a single player simulation game with romance and drama themes. It was developed by ACQUIRE Corp. and was released on July 10, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"Hookah Haze" is a visual novel set in a hookah lounge in Akihabara, where you play as the new manager, Toru Sumiki. Engage in heartfelt conversations with unique patrons, uncovering changes within your own heart as you enjoy tranquil nights. The game features multiple endings for each heroine, with a total gameplay time of around 10 hours. The heroines who visit the lounge will change based on popular recipes shared on social media.

Genres & Tags
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Hookah Haze screenshot
Hookah Haze screenshot
Hookah Haze screenshot
Hookah Haze screenshot
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96%
Audience ScoreBased on 364 reviews
story35 positive mentions
gameplay5 negative mentions
  • The visual style is stunning, with beautiful pixel art and a charming color palette that enhances the overall experience.
  • The characters are well-designed and relatable, each with unique personalities and emotional depth, making it easy to connect with them.
  • The game offers a cozy atmosphere with a relaxing soundtrack, making it a pleasant experience for players looking for a chill visual novel.
  • The story feels short and somewhat rushed, lacking the depth and development needed to fully engage with the characters and their arcs.
  • Gameplay can become repetitive, with limited interactions and shallow mechanics that don't significantly impact the narrative.
  • Some character sprites are blurry or poorly scaled, detracting from the overall visual quality of the game.
  • story
    106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is characterized by its themes of hope and friendship, though it has received mixed reviews regarding its depth and engagement. While some players found it emotionally impactful and heartwarming, others criticized it for being predictable and lacking in substance, with repetitive gameplay and shallow character development. Overall, the narrative offers a blend of cute interactions and deeper themes, but many feel it could benefit from more depth and length to fully explore its characters and story arcs.

    • “The story is also sad but hopeful at the same time, allowing you to explore the characters in a deep and impactful way.”
    • “The entire story is kind of an emotional roller coaster, especially ending the game with a true final ending after collecting every other ending in the game.”
    • “The story genuinely made me laugh, smile, and cry; give this one a go, it's worth the cost.”
    • “The story feels very bland and mostly boring; gameplay is basically repetitive, dialogues are sappy, and character writing lacks depth, which saddens me a lot.”
    • “So the way the story is presented feels as though both experiences, aka the true ending and the romance paths, make each other equally meaningless or hollow.”
    • “I would not go into this game expecting an extremely deep story, as although the various endings can be emotional, the lead-up is not fleshed out enough to give a proper payoff to the endings, in my opinion.”
  • music
    51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its chill, ambient tracks that perfectly complement the atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the ability to customize the soundtrack and UI, which adds a personal touch to the gameplay. While some find the music to be a standout feature, others feel it doesn't quite reach the heights of similar titles, yet it remains enjoyable and fitting for the game's vibe.

    • “Each route feels honest and heartfelt, with art and music that perfectly capture its calm atmosphere, making you feel like you’re truly there behind the bar, crafting drinks and sharing moments with each character.”
    • “The soundtrack sets the mood perfectly, and the visuals are just… addictive.”
    • “The music is really chill and fits the atmosphere of the game, the pixel art design for everything is really charming and well animated, and the characters are really well done too!”
    • “Really, the only thing keeping players going on is the music which can be toggled like a playlist.”
    • “What's stopping me from just playing the soundtracks in the background while I play other games instead?”
    • “The ed songs really don't fit in the game, but they're great songs lol.”
  • graphics
    49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style, charming character designs, and overall aesthetic appeal, often described as cute and visually addictive. While many players appreciate the pixel art and dreamy visuals, some have noted issues with sprite clarity and a lack of originality in certain aspects. Overall, the game's visuals and music create a relaxing and immersive atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.

    • “The character design and visuals are absolutely gorgeous, which is definitely what drew me to playing this game.”
    • “Such an aesthetically pleasing and cute game — 10/10!”
    • “Outstanding visuals and music too!”
    • “Incredibly pretty artwork (though, a lot of the sprites are blurry and seemingly scaled incorrectly? How did they manage to mess that up?), fine music... but the dialogue... it's so overly sappy, yet everything also somehow manages to feel very surface-level.”
    • “Even with the lack of depth in character conversations aside, the aesthetics look more static and amateurish than they should.”
    • “Having played through one run, it really does feel like a cash grab that tries to mimic the aesthetics of needy streamer overload or the experience of Valhalla, both of which I have admittedly not played before, but the lack of originality really shows especially in how it falls short in failing to satisfy in either.”
  • gameplay
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Hookah Haze" has been described as repetitive and shallow, often feeling secondary to the narrative, which is typical for visual novels. While some players appreciate the simple mechanics of mixing hookah flavors and the immersive atmosphere, many criticize the lack of depth and engagement, with certain mechanics feeling unnecessary or tedious. Overall, the game offers a cozy experience but falls short in providing a satisfying gameplay loop compared to similar titles like "VA-11 Hall-A."

    • “The gameplay is simple enough for comfy gaming sessions.”
    • “I love the hookah flavor mixing gameplay even though it's simple; all of the girls are so sweet and interesting as characters, and despite its sad moments and the deep conversations on mental health, the romance is light and fluffy enough that anyone can enjoy it!”
    • “With its own charming pixel art and lovely animations, this game has its own spin on the mixing mechanics and aspects about the atmosphere.”
    • “The gameplay is very repetitive and shallow in terms of what you can do.”
    • “If you weren't sold from the demo, I regret to inform you that the full game doesn't seem to add enough depth to justify the price tag of an expensive lunch; interactions with the characters didn't seem to go much beyond the surface level and I felt like I was focusing on clicking through 14 days worth of text to reach the endings, which didn't feel as satisfying as it should be given the seemingly lackluster main gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay and routes are pretty shallow especially when compared to va-11 hall-a, which it seems to take inspiration from.”
  • emotional
    36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a heartfelt narrative that explores themes of hope, friendship, and personal struggles, often leading to bittersweet and impactful endings. Players find the characters relatable and endearing, with the story evoking a range of emotions from joy to sadness, making it a memorable and touching experience. The combination of engaging storytelling, charming art, and a fitting soundtrack enhances the overall emotional depth, leaving many players feeling moved and recommending it for its wholesome and therapeutic qualities.

    • “The entire story is kind of an emotional roller coaster, especially ending the game with a true final ending after collecting every other ending in the game.”
    • “The protagonist is likable and sweet, and I wished the best for them to overcome their emotional turmoil.”
    • “The story was great, one of the very few novels that tugged on the heart and made me emotional.”
  • atmosphere
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its calming and immersive qualities, enhanced by high-quality art direction, music, and UI design. Players feel a strong connection to the environment, likening it to a cozy bar experience where they can unwind and engage with colorful characters. The charming pixel art and relaxing soundscapes contribute to a delightful ambiance that invites players to return repeatedly.

    • “Each route feels honest and heartfelt, with art and music that perfectly capture its calm atmosphere, making you feel like you’re truly there behind the bar, crafting drinks and sharing moments with each character.”
    • “You are roped into a comfortable and calm atmosphere that you do not want to leave and always come back to.”
    • “The music is really chill and fits the atmosphere of the game, the pixel art design for everything is really charming and well animated, and the characters are really well done too!”
    • “Despite this and other story issues I had (short days/conversations, unrealistic time skips), I truly adore this game and will certainly return to it, as this visual novel genre and atmosphere is something to devotedly cherish.”
    • “The music is really chill and fits the atmosphere of the game; the pixel art design for everything is really charming and well animated, and the characters are really well done too!”
    • “It offers a similar vibe to 'VA-11 Hall-A' when it comes to the gameplay and visuals while offering an entirely new experience in story, atmosphere, and cast.”
  • character development
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is visually captivating, with users praising the stunning art style and adorable character designs that initially draw them in. However, many reviewers feel that the limited timeframe of 14 in-game days restricts deeper character exploration, leaving them wanting more substantial interactions between the main character and the guests. Overall, while the aesthetics are highly appreciated, the depth of character development is seen as lacking.

    • “The character design and visuals are absolutely gorgeous, which is definitely what drew me to playing this game.”
    • “When you play as the main character (terminally ill Toru ((they/them)), you get 14 in-game days that pass by almost too quickly for there to be any in-depth character development between the main character and the 3 regular guests.”
    • “The art of this game is so amazing and I love all of the character designs!”
    • “The character designs are a waste not to have more official in-game art of them.”
    • “There are some good things to be found here like the soundtrack and the character designs but not enough for me to recommend this game.”
    • “When you play as the MC (terminally ill Toru ((they/them)), you get 14 in-game days that pass by almost too quickly for there to be any in-depth character development between the MC and the 3 regular guests.”
  • humor
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a delightful mix of funny moments and touching narratives, with unique characters that enhance the comedic elements. Players appreciate the balance between humor and emotional depth, noting that some endings are particularly hilarious while others evoke sadness or heartwarming feelings. Overall, the game's charm lies in its cute and funny presentation, making it a worthwhile experience.

    • “The story is quite touching with a bunch of funny moments, and especially the characters are all very lovely and have unique personalities.”
    • “This game is so cute and funny!”
    • “The plot is quite generic, though I really loved Kurumi and Kokoro's good endings; the abandoned ending is hilarious!”
  • replayability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the game's limited unique art assets and predictable story outcomes significantly diminish its replayability, as exploring different routes offers little new content or incentive. While the game provides around five hours of enjoyable gameplay, the lack of fresh experiences makes repeated playthroughs less appealing.

    • “About 5 hours of fun playtime; it's short, but replayable.”
    • “The lack of unique art assets in the game for character scenes and dialogue kills replayability, as you don't really get to see much new stuff when taking other routes you didn't explore in your first playthrough.”
    • “This really kills off the replayability of the game, as there's not much incentive to go back through the other routes. There's little payoff other than reading a story you probably already know the ending to if you're an avid consumer of this genre.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users praising its smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others report occasional frame drops and stuttering, particularly on lower-end hardware. Overall, the game's optimization appears to be a work in progress, with potential for improvement in future updates.

    • “The game's performance is abysmal, with frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
    • “I was really disappointed with the optimization; it feels like the game was rushed and not properly tested.”
    • “Even on high-end hardware, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate, which ruins the overall experience.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for resembling an addictive advertisement, particularly in its approach to encouraging spending, which some users liken to promoting nicotine addiction.

    • “This game feels more like a cash grab than a genuine experience.”
    • “The monetization tactics are aggressive and ruin the overall enjoyment.”
    • “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to unlock basic features.”
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75%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
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Frequently Asked Questions

Hookah Haze is a simulation game with romance and drama themes.

Hookah Haze is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Hookah Haze.

Hookah Haze was released on July 10, 2024.

Hookah Haze was developed by ACQUIRE Corp..

Hookah Haze has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Hookah Haze is a single player game.

Similar games include Coffee Talk, VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action, Tavern Talk - A Cozy Visual Novel, BAD END THEATER, The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood and others.