Just Deserts

About

Just Deserts is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by Vifth Floor and was released on July 25, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Just Deserts is a sci-fi action dating sim game, where you protect a city from alien attack and pursue your dream girl. The game features English voice acting for 5 heroines, with multiple endings based on your relationship status. Gameplay includes battle sequences, day/night cycles, and the use of items for gifts or support. A theme song and hundreds of items are also included.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 247 reviews

story48 positive mentions

grinding36 negative mentions

The game features a diverse cast of fully voiced heroines, each with unique personalities and backstories.
The combination of dating sim mechanics with RPG elements provides a fun and engaging gameplay experience.
The art style and soundtrack are well-executed, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.

The combat system is slow and tedious, with unskippable animations that can make battles feel repetitive.
The story lacks depth and can feel disjointed, with some quests being impossible to complete due to character availability.
There are issues with the user interface, such as the inability to buy or gift multiple items at once, leading to frustrating gameplay.

story
189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The story of the game is generally perceived as basic and inconsistent, with some players finding it enjoyable while others criticize it for lacking depth and coherence. Players appreciate the character backstories and the light-hearted tone, but many express frustration with the quest system, which often feels tedious and poorly designed, detracting from the overall narrative experience. While the game features a variety of endings and character interactions, the reliance on grinding and random elements can hinder the enjoyment of the story.
- “The story itself is kind of basic but it had its moments and I enjoyed all of the endings, especially the single ending which really encapsulated that lonely feeling of parting with people you are close to.”
- “Just Deserts is a game that actually has a good story; it's pretty long though, especially if you don't like reading. It's a good way to spend a couple of hours.”
- “The story is not deep, but funny. The theme song is amazing, the plot is good, and the soundtrack, albeit repetitive, was still able to evoke emotions during important events.”
- “The game does lack story in just about every manner possible, and even when there were story elements, I felt like they were placed weirdly.”
- “The story itself is very rushed. If you take away all the grinding, unskippable animations, and constant '...', you could probably finish the story in an hour.”
- “There's not much of a plot here; the story is pretty much limited to its introduction right at the start of the game and its climax at the end.”
gameplay
71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
68%
11%
The gameplay of the reviewed titles presents a mixed bag, with some games featuring interesting mechanics and addictive puzzle elements, while others suffer from stiffness, repetitiveness, and lack of depth. Titles like "Just Desserts" offer simple yet captivating mechanics that gradually introduce complexity, but many players find the overall experience tedious and unengaging, particularly in dating sim contexts. Despite some enjoyable aspects, such as voice acting and music, the gameplay often feels bogged down by clunky mechanics and a lack of replayability.
- “Just Desserts is a delightful and addictive puzzle game that will satisfy your craving for fun and strategic gameplay.”
- “The gameplay mechanics in Just Desserts are simple yet captivating.”
- “Each level introduces different dessert types, creating a sense of anticipation as you unlock new challenges and explore unique gameplay mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive and uninteresting.”
- “The only thing is that there isn't much replayability even after one or two heroines, as the gameplay becomes stale and menial.”
- “On the other hand, the bad aspects of the game kick in so hard after that brief hour of joy and then you start to feel how repetitive the dating options are, and how grindy the game mechanics tend to be.”
music
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
42%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as catchy and enjoyable, particularly highlighting the menu and shop themes. However, some players found the music repetitive or lacking depth, suggesting that it can feel soulless without the accompanying voice acting. Overall, while the soundtrack is often described as solid and memorable, opinions vary on its overall impact on the gaming experience.
- “In my opinion, the soundtrack was a real bop, especially the menu track.”
- “An interesting premise, a distinct & fully-voiced cast (with some actual depth besides ecchi stereotypes!), an amazing soundtrack, & actual gameplay to accompany the visual novel itself.”
- “The theme song is amazing, the plot is good, the soundtrack, albeit repetitive, was still able to evoke emotions on important events (dates and such) and the CGs are fantastic; the illustrator(s) did a pretty terrific job.”
- “The problem is, disabling the voices makes the game really soulless; the soundtrack and sound effects are very boring.”
- “The soundtrack... well... other people keep praising it, but honestly, I did not find it to be anything special.”
- “Lack of options makes the music become a minor annoyance later in the game.”
grinding
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that the repetitive combat and unskippable animations significantly detract from the overall experience. While some find the grinding to be a relaxing element, the overwhelming reliance on it to progress through the narrative and achieve endings makes the gameplay feel monotonous and frustrating. Overall, players suggest that the grind is excessive and can lead to a lack of enjoyment, particularly for those not invested in the dating sim elements.
- “The con side for me was the grinding with getting the needed money and the time investment needed for it.”
- “Most of the game will be spent on repetitive grinding.”
- “To conclude, the girls in this game are okay but the extremely tedious, unfun gameplay really holds it back; and the girls aren't *that* good that you should put yourself through it just for them.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
15%
11%
Overall, the graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and appealing artwork, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful character designs and engaging visual style. While some noted that the graphics are not groundbreaking, they contribute positively to the overall experience, enhancing the charm of the characters and the game's atmosphere. The combination of good visuals and enjoyable soundtracks further elevates the game's appeal.
- “From mouthwatering cupcakes to luscious pies, the artwork and design of the game are vibrant and enticing.”
- “The battles are fun enough, characters charming enough, and visuals appealing enough to keep you coming back for more.”
- “Amazing visuals, seriously this visual novel is eye candy.”
- “The game's not exactly bad, but the pacing is slow, and the artwork's nice, but not exactly fantastic.”
- “The visuals are pretty, and the characters are drawn well.”
humor
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
17%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the funny interactions and character dialogues, particularly from the main character, who stands out for her comedic moments. While some moments are genuinely hilarious, others fall flat or veer into cringeworthy territory, especially during attempts at deeper emotional storytelling. Overall, the humor contributes to the game's charm, making it a guilty pleasure for many players despite its inconsistencies.
- “One thing I found hilarious was that you can swim with Jennifer even though she can't swim and has a fear of swimming.”
- “The story is not deep, but funny.”
- “This game is a guilty pleasure; the story is good, the characters are what make this game shine, and the dialogue is hilarious.”
- “There are moments of inner monologuing that are intended to be humorous, but they often come off as cringeworthy.”
- “The attempts at humor feel forced and fail to land, leaving a sense of awkwardness instead of laughter.”
- “What was meant to be funny often falls flat, making the experience more uncomfortable than entertaining.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
Character development in the game is praised for its unique daily events that provide exposure to the characters, enhancing their personalities and designs. However, some players feel that the limited time frame and repetitive battles hinder deeper storytelling and character growth, suggesting that a longer format could have allowed for more substantial development. Overall, while the character and art design are well-received, the gameplay mechanics may detract from a richer narrative experience.
- “The art and character designs are all very, very good.”
- “They get quite a bit of exposure and character development thanks to unique daily events.”
- “The game could have been longer like an actual RPG with more story and character development.”
- “Although the character design, personalities, and map exploration are really good, I have to say that the 28-day time limit and the very dull unskippable battles almost ruined the game for me.”
- “The game could have been longer, like an actual RPG, with more story and character development.”
emotional
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some praise Jennifer's voice acting for effectively conveying emotion in both serious and comedic scenes, others criticize the overall emotional impact as lacking depth and coherence. Attempts to blend humor with serious themes often result in a disjointed experience, leaving players feeling disappointed rather than moved.
- “Jennifer's actress is by far the best, easily selling her more emotional scenes, while still sounding quite carefree and natural in her comedic scenes.”
- “Especially Jen, her voice acting was on-point, very emotional.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while it offers multiple ending routes that can provide enjoyment for players who explore them, many reviewers note that the core gameplay can become repetitive and lacks significant variation after the initial playthrough. Some players find value in replaying for different endings, but others feel that the experience remains largely unchanged aside from cut-scene variations.
- “Since there are many ending routes, the game is very replayable. I had only cleared one, and it was enjoyable; I expect the other ones to be similar.”
- “Longevity/replayable = 7/10”
- “The only thing is that there isn't much replayability even after one or two heroines, as the gameplay becomes stale and mundane.”
- “Though there’s a lot of replay value, it will be exactly the same as your first playthrough with no changes, just cutscene changes and that is it.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by the five heroines, whose casual costumes align well with the game's setting, and players can further customize the ambiance by purchasing additional outfits in the shop.
- “The five heroines and their casual costumes match the game's situation perfectly, and you can buy other costumes in the shop to create different atmospheres.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the world with its stunning visuals and sound design.”
- “Every location feels alive, with unique details that enhance the overall mood and experience of the game.”
- “The five heroines and their casual costumes match the game's situation, and you can buy other costumes in the shop to create a different atmosphere.”
- “The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the vibrant visuals, the atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or connection, leaving the experience feeling hollow.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to have significant stability issues, with users highlighting numerous bugs that detract from the overall experience. These problems are described as tedious rather than challenging, indicating a need for improvements in stability.
- “The game can be pretty buggy.”
- “I don't mean that in a 'the difficulty is high and I'm a baby' way, but in a 'the game is just that tedious and buggy.'”