Little Busters!

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In "Little Busters!", Riki Naoe, once lonely, finds joy with friends who call themselves the Little Busters. Together, they attend school and participate in youthful shenanigans. The 2007 visual novel release later got an Ecstasy edition, adding new heroines and expanding the story. The game encourages players to experience a heartwarming journey filled with camaraderie and personal growth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

99%

Audience ScoreBased on 483 reviews

story116 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Engaging story about friendship that resonates emotionally with players.
Well-developed characters with unique personalities and backstories.
High-quality soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Some character routes feel rushed or less impactful compared to others.
The common route can be lengthy and may feel repetitive to some players.
Minor translation errors and inconsistencies in the English version.

story
347 mentions
33 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of "Little Busters!" is a deeply emotional and engaging narrative centered around themes of friendship, personal growth, and the challenges of adolescence. Players experience a rich tapestry of character-driven arcs that evolve over time, culminating in a powerful main storyline that ties together the various character routes. With a blend of humor, heartwarming moments, and poignant drama, the game offers a memorable journey that resonates with many players, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “Everything about this story was a rollercoaster of emotions.”
- “Little Busters is a heartwarming and ambitious story, constantly evolving as you play through the game, adding extra scenes, nuances & callbacks, and new perspectives as you uncover more about each character.”
- “This visual novel really just nails everything: the story, the music, the characters, the atmosphere, the humor, the mini-games, and even the visuals.”
- “The story itself is not as consistent as the very best visual novels, but when it's good, it's really good.”
- “Some of the routes do drag on too long, and if you think too hard about the premise of the main storyline, it doesn't really hold together that well.”
- “The heaviness of the story arcs can be overwhelming, and all of the main story arcs are sad in 'Little Busters!'.”
music
137 mentions
46 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience, with many tracks described as memorable and fitting for various scenes. Composed by notable artists, the original soundtrack is considered one of the best in the genre, featuring a mix of uplifting and tear-jerking melodies that resonate with players. Overall, the soundtrack significantly contributes to the game's atmosphere, making it a standout feature that many players recommend.
- “The soundtrack goes hard too, whether it be the perfectly fitting character themes, the boppin' everyday activity themes, or the tear-jerking melodies that will capture one's heart and hold it tight.”
- “The music complements very well with the scenes in the visual novel, and the layering when switching to the different tracks is perfect.”
- “The soundtrack of Little Busters will blow you away, lift you up, hit you hard on the floor and make you bawl, and put you at peace.”
- “Some of the flashbacks were too long and just showed a goddamn cloud for almost 20 minutes without changing music or scene.”
- “Perhaps the OST isn't as memorable as its elder sibling Clannad, but it makes up for it in other elements.”
- “The slice-of-life music that plays during scenes set in a normal school day is really relaxing and soothing, while the music that plays during more dramatic scenes becomes more sad; really good and fitting music.”
emotional
128 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Little Busters!" is widely praised for its profound character development and impactful storytelling, leading players through a rollercoaster of laughter and tears. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with numerous emotional scenes that resonate deeply, often resulting in tears. The combination of humor, heartfelt moments, and a compelling soundtrack enhances the overall emotional experience, making it a memorable journey for players who appreciate rich, emotional narratives.
- “Well, good things come to those who wait, and it's really hard to explain what makes Little Busters 1000% worth it in the end without spoilers, but just rest assured that all of the character development, world-building, and silly antics are worth it, and add up to an extremely emotional and satisfying conclusion that had me giggling, crying, and smiling all at once as those final credits scrolled by.”
- “This game is so wholesome and the worth purchase also the friendship is more realistic and relatable than some of my games this year alone.”
- “The emotional payoff in the refrain route is easily worth the 60 or so hours it took to get to that point.”
humor
59 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in this visual novel is widely praised for its effective blend of comedic moments and emotional depth, often eliciting both laughter and tears from players. Reviewers highlight the well-timed jokes, engaging character interactions, and entertaining mini-games that contribute to a lighthearted yet impactful narrative experience. Overall, the humor is described as charming, relatable, and integral to the storytelling, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “It was funny, thought-provoking, and simply one of the greatest stories I've ever seen.”
- “The writing was funny, the minigames enjoyable, and the music, while not something I'd want as an OST, is still fantastic and can make every moment feel even more impactful.”
- “It's hilarious and heartwarming watching their circle grow and the scale of the shenanigans increase; it takes me back to an idyllic representation of youth, where I could just laugh with my friends every day without a care.”
gameplay
22 mentions
27 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a standout feature, offering a unique blend of RNG mechanics, engaging minigames, and a choose-your-adventure style that enhances story progression and character development. While some players find the minigames enjoyable and integral to the narrative, others feel they can become repetitive over time. Overall, the game provides a refreshing experience for a visual novel, with a substantial amount of content that can keep players engaged for over 100 hours.
- “This occurs in no small part due to the unique integration of RNG mechanics through the game's fighting tournament ranking system and optional minigames, which allows each subsequent route or playthrough to always have something new and interesting, even in the sections common to all routes.”
- “I really like the 'choose-your-adventure' gameplay because one choice a player makes can change the course of the story, presenting new dialogues to read which helps me understand the characters' backstories and personalities better.”
- “The game also has a busterpedia which explains various Japanese terms adapted into English, several arcade minigames consisting of reaction-based and point-and-click action, and RPG mechanics that depend on luck, strategy, and performance.”
- “The existence of mini-games is okay, but its gameplay can be boring after a few times.”
- “I feel a lack of story progression at early gameplay, but after being able to leisurely skip texts, progression becomes much better.”
- “The routes slowly become a chore to play, even with gameplay elements like a dungeon crawler during Saya's route.”
graphics
20 mentions
40 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the visual novel are widely praised for their vibrant and expressive artwork, showcasing high-quality character sprites and backgrounds typical of the renowned Key studio. While the resolution is limited to 720p in a 16:9 aspect ratio, the visuals effectively convey the game's atmosphere and emotions, complemented by a fitting soundtrack. Overall, the art style, despite some mixed opinions, is celebrated for its charm and ability to enhance the storytelling experience.
- “Beyond the interactions though, the artwork and CGs are all wildly expressive, having the characters positively brimming with vivacity and vigor, masterfully accentuated with a soundtrack that never fails to capture the vibe of any given situation.”
- “Artwork, backgrounds, and CGs: with the developer having a name as VisualArts, it appears fitting given that all the character sprites, background art, CGs, opening and ending themes, Steam trading cards, badges, emoticons, and profile backgrounds in this game are top-notch.”
- “Amazing visuals, amazing music, amazing story, everything about this visual novel is fantastic.”
- “The graphics are 16:9 720p, which isn't ideal, but still more than sufficient.”
- “There were no visuals for it either.”
- “Mostly because of the art style.”
character development
14 mentions
50 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Character development in "Little Busters!" is highly praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players feeling a strong attachment to the characters as their backstories and growth unfold throughout the game. The combination of comedy, heartfelt moments, and well-crafted narratives culminates in a satisfying and impactful conclusion, making the character arcs feel genuine and relatable. While some players desire even more drastic development for certain characters, the overall consensus is that the game excels in creating a rich, immersive experience that leaves a lasting emotional impact.
- “Well, good things come to those who wait, and it's really hard to explain what makes Little Busters 1000% worth it in the end without spoilers. Just rest assured that all of the character development, world-building, and silly antics are worth it, adding up to an extremely emotional and satisfying conclusion that had me giggling, crying, and smiling all at once as those final credits scrolled by.”
- “Key specializes in making spectacular 'nakige' visual novels (a subgenre that focuses on lots of comedy and character development to make the player attached to the characters as the game transitions into very emotional scenes), and Little Busters! is a prime example of this.”
- “A heartwarming story that handles its themes exceptionally well and is full of great character development and genuinely funny writing. It's a long read but worth every minute of it.”
- “Personally, I think some characters would have benefited from a more drastic character development, but maybe I'm slightly spoiled by Muv Luv Alternative.”
- “It still offers a highly emotional story, a higher quality OST, better comedy, and better character development.”
- “Character development - this is definitely the most important part of any video game for me (even when I play non-visual novel games), and 'Little Busters' absolutely delivers.”
atmosphere
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive storytelling, character interactions, and seamless integration of music that enhances emotional depth. Reviewers highlight the lively and friendly ambiance, complemented by engaging mini-games and memorable soundtracks that evoke strong feelings throughout the narrative. Overall, the atmosphere is described as captivating, making it a standout feature of the visual novel.
- “This visual novel really just nails everything: the story, the music, the characters, the atmosphere, the humor, the mini games, and even the visuals.”
- “But damn, some of the ambient tracks just seamlessly blend in with the atmosphere of certain scenes that almost made me feel like I was reading a fantasy story.”
- “Music and OST is excellent as well, giving the game a great atmosphere and greatly deepens the emotional weight of the drama when it needs to.”
- “After that particular event, the whole atmosphere of her route completely changes and it's something you need to experience for yourself in order to understand what I mean.”
- “They really help create an atmosphere; you know something bad is happening when you hear 'lamplight' or 'parhelion' start playing. The ending songs for the routes are also great, and an especially memorable one is 'Song for Friends' - 10/10.”
- “It clicks, it resonates; it's creating a calm atmosphere.”
replayability
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The visual novel offers significant replayability, with engaging routes that become more enjoyable upon subsequent playthroughs, especially after uncovering the main mystery. Players are encouraged to explore various content and notice changes throughout the game, enhancing the overall experience. While some may question the extent of its replayability, many agree that the depth and humor contribute to a strong desire to revisit the game.
- “One thing I like is how enjoyable the routes are to replay once you've played through Refrain and know the answer to the mystery of the world; it adds nice replay value.”
- “A ridiculous amount of content to do, with so much replayability that encourages you to pay attention for changes as the game progresses.”
- “This was another great visual novel with more depth and replayability than most.”
- “Some people would say replayability, but it would be a bit of a misconception.”
- “Replayability comes from the desire of a player to explore more and to know more about the world they dive into.”
grinding
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for its repetitive and tedious mini-games, which can feel pointless and unengaging. Many players find the necessity to redo sections after making incorrect choices frustrating, leading to a mind-numbing experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. While some appreciate the option to skip these activities, the general consensus leans towards them being a chore rather than a fun element of gameplay.
- “Finally, going through the game without a guide is just tedious at times, as getting a choice incorrect on the common route means having to skip through it all over again on top of already having to do so every time a route is completed.”
- “Mind-numbingly boring slice of life: the game consists of tedious, uninteresting activities such as watching cats, observing fish, preparing food, moving furniture, practicing baseball, and feeding people at the cafeteria.”
- “But...that is really more tedious than enjoyable...at least it was for me.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with a variety of engaging minigames that incorporate different mechanics, enhancing the overall experience. However, some performances, particularly the over-the-top style of certain characters, may not appeal to all players.
- “The game also has a Busterpedia which explains various Japanese terms adapted into English, several arcade minigames consisting of 3 reaction-based/point-and-click action minigames, and 2 minigames that incorporate RPG mechanics, relying on luck, strategy, and performance in action minigames to award additional achievements.”
- “The game suffers from significant optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
- “I encountered numerous bugs that hindered my progress, making the overall experience frustrating.”
- “The loading times are excessively long, which disrupts the flow of the game and makes it hard to stay engaged.”