Hungry Hearts Diner 2
- June 23, 2021
- GAGEX Co.,Ltd.
- 4h median play time
"Hungry Hearts Diner 2" is a story-focused shop simulation game where you run a classic Japanese diner in 1960's Tokyo. Serve a variety of tasty dishes, from ramen to natto, and enjoy engaging conversations with the regulars. Experience a heartwarming narrative with each visit, while upgrading your diner and expanding your menu options.
Reviews
- story3,992 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The story in "Hungry Hearts Diner 2" is widely praised for its heartwarming and emotional depth, with many players expressing how it resonated with their personal experiences and evoked strong feelings, including tears. Each character has a unique backstory that intertwines with the main narrative, creating a rich tapestry of relationships and life lessons that players find engaging and relatable. While some players noted the gameplay can be repetitive, the compelling storytelling and charming art style keep them invested and eager to continue exploring the characters' journeys.
“The story is so heartwarming and it made me cry more than once.”
“I just finished the main story and boy, my heart 😭🤧 really really love this game, been a while since I finished the first one and it didn't disappoint.”
“The story was beautiful and I was in tears by the end of it.”
“The story is really cute and you don't have to play for forever to get to it.”
“The story was so moving and well done and sweet.”
“The story is so heartwarming, even the messenger of death has his own story.”
- emotional2,215 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Hungry Hearts Diner" is overwhelmingly positive, with players frequently expressing how the game's heartfelt stories and character arcs made them cry. Many reviews highlight the warmth and depth of the narratives, often describing them as touching, bittersweet, and relatable, which resonates deeply with players' personal experiences. The combination of charming graphics, soothing music, and engaging gameplay further enhances the emotional impact, making it a memorable and comforting experience for many.
“The stories of each character were sad yet heartwarming at the end.”
“The story is so wholesome and heartwarming, and the diner gameplay is just perfectly suited for the story.”
“The heartwarming stories at the center of the game are emotional and well written.”
- monetization1,052 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the frequency and intrusiveness of ads, particularly those that interrupt gameplay unexpectedly. While some users appreciate the option to watch ads for rewards and the ability to purchase ad removal, others feel that the sheer volume of ads detracts from the overall experience, leading to a less immersive gameplay. Overall, while the game offers a free-to-play model with optional purchases, the balance between ads and gameplay enjoyment remains a contentious point among players.
“Monetization is done right (cheap upgrades that last the entire game) that maxes out around 10 dollars total.”
“You can never go wrong with these games, I highly recommend them, plus their in-app purchases are tiny and very worth it.”
“I love it too much... from the music, to story, to gameplay, to art... I don't need the in-game purchase buffs but I bought them anyways just so I could support the creators who made these games.”
“I swear to god ads keep popping up every 30 seconds or so.”
“The main being the ads - very long, sudden pop-up when you are in the middle of playing, and it isn't immediately apparent how to close the window so you end up being redirected all over which is extremely annoying and wastes lots of time.”
“Too many ads, you can't play the game comfortably!”
- graphics518 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their charming and cute art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic experience. Players appreciate the smooth animations, warm color tones, and detailed character designs that contribute to a relaxing and immersive gameplay atmosphere. Many reviews highlight the graphics as a standout feature, often describing them as heartwarming and beautifully crafted, making the game visually appealing and enjoyable to play.
“I love the art style & seeing different expressions of the characters.”
“The graphics are the cutest and controls are simple and minimalistic.... I love this game!!!!”
“The graphics are beautiful and the game is simple with multiple characters.”
“I need you to add a graphics settings to lower the textures. I'm losing energy to play the game because it always lags; besides that, the game is really fun to play.”
“The graphics was increased and changed, different from before (Hungry Hearts first).”
“Quality and type of graphics takes a bit of getting used to, but, gosh.”
- gameplay469 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is generally praised for its simplicity, charm, and engaging mechanics, making it a relaxing experience for players. While some users noted the presence of intrusive ads that disrupt gameplay, many found the overall experience enjoyable, with a strong emphasis on the heartwarming story and character development. Overall, the game strikes a balance between straightforward mechanics and a captivating narrative, appealing to fans of idle games and story-driven experiences alike.
“The gameplay is so relaxing, the story has a really nice plot, I feel like I've gotten close to the characters as well.”
“The gameplay is straightforward and simple, but the story, the visuals, and the music are what really make the game great.”
“I love the gameplay and how it expanded on the first game's gameplay, and I love the story; it was addicting at every step and I found myself guessing what was next.”
“There are unsolicited ads popping out in the middle of the game, affecting gameplay.”
“The gameplay only lasted 1 day for me and completed.”
“While gameplay had more of a slow pace, the story was heart-warming and kept you engaged with the characters.”
- music320 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its calming and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall heartwarming atmosphere and nostalgic feel. However, many players express frustration with intrusive TV sounds and ads that disrupt the relaxing experience. Overall, while the background music is a highlight, some users desire more variety and options to mute distracting noises.
“The background music is so pleasing to listen to!”
“The music is calming and the food looks scrumptious.”
“Everything about this game is adorable and makes you want more, the art is well done and cute, the music is calming and truly adds to the overall experience.”
“Add in the random ads that can pop whenever you enter/exit a menu, and the obnoxiously loud TV harshing the chill music during the conversations, this gets 3 stars max.”
“Just one tiny recommendation for the dev: please minimize or change the sound of the TV ads, because it ruined the soothing and calming effect of the music and the game itself.”
“The ones you can now play on a loud, horribly awful TV that plays this irritating mess of garbage sounds over the nice calming music and cutscenes where characters are talking.”
- humor77 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting the charming interactions between characters, particularly the witty and endearing grandmother figure. Many reviews note that the game balances humor with emotional depth, providing both funny moments and touching storylines that resonate with players. Overall, the lighthearted dialogue and amusing character dynamics contribute to a warm and enjoyable gaming experience.
“The story has the perfect amount of humor and the perfect amount of reality.”
“Wholesome and funny at times, touching or downright heartbreaking at others... this story has a wonderful pace and charming characters, all of whom are more than they appear on the surface.”
“Granny is such a sweet and kind character - who's hilarious to boot!”
- atmosphere56 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently described as warm, cozy, and relaxing, reminiscent of a small diner filled with lovable characters and heartfelt stories. Players appreciate the soothing music and nostalgic elements, although some find that intrusive ads can disrupt the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a serene environment that enhances the storytelling and character interactions.
“The atmosphere was warm and the music was somewhat nostalgic too.”
“One of the best games that I have ever played in my life...the subtle, serene atmosphere is just so relaxing, no wonder it is called an idle game... and a wonderful one too!”
“Love the storytelling, the art, the mood, the atmosphere of a small, simple yet warm diner that the game delivers.”
“The loud sounds coming from the TV when there's an ad available really kill the relaxing atmosphere that helped me fall in love with the good one.”
“The atmosphere of the game is ruined by constant interruptions.”
“It kind of takes away from the peaceful atmosphere because it gets annoyingly loud.”
- character development30 mentions
- 73 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and smooth progression, with players appreciating the detailed storylines and engaging character arcs. The combination of cute character designs, compelling narratives, and emotional moments enhances the overall experience, making it a standout feature. However, some users express disappointment over the lack of character development in certain series entries, particularly regarding the protagonist's fate.
“The character development is brilliant and it created a steady flow to it.”
“This cute, heartbreaking game has detailed storylines, satisfying character development, and cute graphics.”
“It's a very nice story and a very smooth character development for a mobile game.”
“I'm sad now because it's oversad that there isn't as much character development and the series keeps trying to kill the protagonist off.”
- stability17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and memory overloads that disrupt gameplay and other phone functions. Many players experience issues with ads causing the game to go blank or lock up, leading to frustration and disappointment. Overall, the game is described as bug-ridden, making it difficult to enjoy despite its charming graphics.
“The only bad thing is that once you play it for a bit long while it slows down, freezes and then shuts down.”
“Fun game but as soon as you watch an ad for fever mode or a random ad pops up and finishes, the game goes blank or freezes and needs to be restarted.”
“So many ads it freezes the app making it unplayable.”
- grinding16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some find the grinding tedious, they also acknowledge that the payoff makes it worthwhile, and many appreciate that the game isn't excessively grindy, allowing for a more relaxed experience. The presence of side stories and manageable energy mechanics help alleviate the tedium for most players.
“The gameplay isn't too grindy; I finished within a few days with the purchase of the doll. If you run out of energy, you can put the game aside for about 30 minutes to get a full bar of energy again.”
“It's cute, not grindy or hard, and the storyline seems charming.”
“The gameplay isn't too grindy; I finished within a few days with the purchase of the doll. If you run out of energy, you can put the game aside for about 30 minutes to get a full bar of energy again.”
“Gameplay is quite simple, but it can get tedious scrolling through so many recipes.”
“I recommend this game to people who love idle games but don't need grinding that much.”
“Only issue I had was conforming to cook the dishes because that was kind of tedious, but the game was definitely worth it.”
- optimization7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, user reviews indicate mixed experiences with optimization; while some players report smooth performance without lag, others experience significant issues, particularly on older devices, including slowdowns and interruptions caused by ads. Improved optimization is suggested as a necessary enhancement for a more consistent experience across various devices.
“The game runs smoothly without any lag.”
“My only issue I've had is performance issues on running the app, but I think that might just be my device.”
“This app caused major performance issues on my phone (Samsung J2 Dash).”
“Just needs better optimization.”
“My only issue I've had is performance issues when running the app, but I think that might just be my device.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users note that the game lacks significant replay value, primarily due to its short length and simplistic gameplay. There is a desire for additional incentives, such as leveling up recipes, to enhance replayability after completing the storyline.
“The gameplay is simple and unpunishing, which makes it enjoyable to replay, but I wish there were more benefits to leveling up recipes after completing the storyline.”
“The variety of choices and paths you can take in the game really enhances its replayability, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
“With multiple endings and different character builds, this game offers a high level of replayability that keeps you coming back for more.”
“The first had no replay value; it was cute, but just too short.”
“As for gameplay, it's simple and unpunishing, but I wish there was some benefit to leveling up recipes for replayability after completing the storyline.”