Hookah Haze

About

"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

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 484 reviews

story24 positive mentions

gameplay4 negative mentions

The game features charming pixel art and a relaxing atmosphere, making it visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
Characters are well-developed with unique personalities, and the story touches on meaningful themes, providing emotional depth.
Gameplay is simple and casual, allowing for comfortable gaming sessions while mixing flavors and interacting with the characters.

The story is relatively short, which limits character development and can leave players wanting more depth and engagement.
Some players found the gameplay mechanics to be simplistic and repetitive, lacking the complexity seen in similar titles like VA-11 Hall-A.
There are issues with the English localization and some graphical elements, such as blurry character sprites, which detract from the overall experience.

story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
72%
3%
The story of the game is generally described as heartwarming and enjoyable, featuring a nonbinary main character and their interactions with various clients in a hookah shop. While many players appreciate the cute character dynamics and the emotional depth of individual stories, some feel the overall narrative lacks depth and could benefit from more development and length. The game is often compared to "VA-11 HALL-A" for its vibe and gameplay, but it is noted that the storytelling is simpler and more straightforward.
- “I really liked the freedom to choose which directions of the story I went down, as well as getting to mix different flavors according to their likes and dislikes to progress them.”
- “The story genuinely made me laugh, smile, and cry. Give this one a go, it's worth the cost.”
- “I definitely recommend this game so far for its whole atmosphere, story, characters, and charm.”
- “I would not go into this game expecting an extremely deep story, as although the various endings of this game can be emotional, the lead-up is not fleshed out enough to give a proper payoff to the endings, in my opinion.”
- “The story would have been better with more time to get to know the characters.”
- “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.”
graphics
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
44%
5%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style and unique aesthetic, reminiscent of classic Japanese visual novels. Players appreciate the cute character designs and the overall relaxing atmosphere, which is complemented by a fitting soundtrack. However, some critiques mention a lack of originality in the visuals, comparing it unfavorably to other titles in the genre.
- “The art style is super cute, really up my alley, and I think Amu has the most endearing character design for me.”
- “Graphics are absolutely stunning!”
- “The game itself is just a vibe; the graphical quality is downright beautiful, and from what I've seen so far, the game seems to have a lot of content.”
- “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 VA-11 HALL-A, 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.”
- “Even with the lack of depth in character conversations aside, the aesthetics look more static and amateurish than they should.”
- “I am looking forward to generous updates in terms of content and aesthetics/audio, as I have had to unfortunately cross 2 hours (the refund threshold) in order to play through a single run.”
music
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
50%
6%
The music in the game is widely praised for its chill and cozy vibe, enhancing the overall atmosphere and complementing the unique art style. Players appreciate the diverse soundtrack, including standout tracks like "Hookah Whoo" and contributions from artists like deco*27, which add depth to the experience. While some comparisons to other games like "VA-11 Hall-A" are made, the music is generally seen as a strong driving force that keeps players engaged.
- “The music feels cozy, and the game also has some songs made for it by deco*27, which was a big surprise for me. If you listen to Vocaloid in any capacity, you should be familiar with that name.”
- “The soundtrack really hits the spot and brings to life the story alongside the seriously incredible and unique UI.”
- “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 music feels cozy and the game also has some songs made for it by deco*27 which was a big surprise for me; if you listen to Vocaloid in any capacity, you should be familiar with that name.”
gameplay
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
85%
8%
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity, revolving around a hookah flavor mixing mechanic that provides a cozy experience reminiscent of va-11 hall-a. While players appreciate the charming pixel art and character interactions, many feel the gameplay lacks depth and can become repetitive, with some mechanics described as boring once mastered. Overall, it offers a light and enjoyable visual novel experience, though it may not fully justify its price for those seeking more substantial gameplay.
- “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!”
- “The game has a very simple mechanical loop of putting out daily specials, tending to up to three girls' hookah and their life issues, and enjoying banter and comfy anime pixel art reminiscent of va-11 hall-a.”
- “While the mechanics are rather simple, it still gives a sense of getting to know the characters and honing your craft to make them happy, seeing their faces light up when you get it perfect.”
- “The gameplay and routes are pretty shallow, especially when compared to va11-hall-a, which it seems to take inspiration from.”
- “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.”
- “Now, if you stayed for the harsher and more detailed criticism, I feel like the main gameplay just feels cheap.”
emotional
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its heartwarming and wholesome narrative, featuring a nonbinary protagonist and their friends, which evokes strong emotional responses from players. While the story is touching and often leads to tears, some reviewers note that the character development and lead-up to the endings could be more fleshed out, resulting in a mix of emotional engagement and a sense of emotional burden. Overall, it is recommended for those seeking a delightful yet occasionally sad gaming experience.
- “I was expecting gooner bait but what I got was a very wholesome and heartwarming story involving a nonbinary MC and their three friends, sharing good shisha together and giving them the will to live.”
- “It's delightful and I cried an amount.”
- “Super wholesome game gets sad at times but still a very fun play. 100% recommend it to anyone who wants a chill game to play.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
61%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its relaxed and inviting nature, enhanced by charming pixel art and well-animated characters. Players appreciate the chill music and the overall cozy vibe, often comparing it to titles like *va-11 hall-a*, while noting that despite some narrative issues, the game's ambiance is captivating and encourages repeated play. Overall, the atmosphere is described as a significant strength, making it a delightful experience for fans of the visual novel genre.
- “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!”
- “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.”
- “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.”
- “Hookah Haze has the same vibe and atmosphere as VA-11 Hall-A, but instead of hookah, it's alcohol.”
- “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
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
Character development in the game is noted to be somewhat limited, as players have only 14 in-game days to explore relationships between the main character, Toru, and the three regular guests, which may feel rushed. However, the game's charming art style and character designs are highly praised, with many players drawn in by the visual appeal rather than the depth of character interactions.
- “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 three regular guests.”
- “The art style is super cute, really up my alley, and I think Amu has the most endearing character design for me.”
- “The art of this game is so amazing, and I love all of the character designs!”
- “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
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted as cute and entertaining, with players particularly enjoying the hilarious "abandoned" ending. While the plot is considered generic, the characters, especially Kurumi and Kokoro, contribute to the overall comedic charm.
- “The plot is quite generic, though I really loved Kurumi and Kokoro's good endings. The abandoned ending is hilarious!”
- “This game is so cute and funny!”
- “This game is so cute and funny!”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers around 5 hours of enjoyable gameplay, which, while brief, is noted for its replayability, encouraging players to revisit it.
- “About 5 hours of fun playtime; it's short, but highly replayable.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with users highlighting both strong performance in certain areas and notable issues in others. Overall, while some players experience smooth gameplay, others report performance hiccups that detract from the overall experience.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as being overly aggressive, likening it to a form of nicotine addiction advertisement, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over player experience.
- “This game feels more like a nicotine addiction advertisement than an actual game.”
- “The monetization strategy is so aggressive that it overshadows the gameplay experience.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, making it frustrating to enjoy the game.”