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Little Busters!

Little Busters offers a great story with well-fleshed out characters. Their backstories make you feel an intangible connection to them which makes the big reveal of the story carry that much more weight to it. Whether you’re new to visual novels or KEY in general or if you’re a fan of KEY, it is highly worth your time picking this one up on Steam!
Little Busters! Game Cover
97%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
atmosphere, grinding
98% User Score Based on 549 reviews
Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindows
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Little Busters! Game Cover

About

Little Busters! is a single player casual simulation game with romance, drama and comedy themes. It was developed by VisualArts/Key and was released on November 1, 2017. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

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
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
Little Busters! screenshot
+12
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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 549 reviews
story128 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • The game features a beautiful and emotional story about friendship, personal growth, and overcoming challenges.
  • The characters are well-developed and relatable, making players feel a strong connection to them throughout the narrative.
  • The soundtrack is exceptional, enhancing the emotional impact of key moments and providing a memorable auditory experience.
  • The common route is lengthy and can feel repetitive, potentially leading to boredom before the main story picks up.
  • Some character routes are weaker than others, with inconsistent pacing and resolutions that may feel rushed or unsatisfying.
  • The translation has some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which can detract from the overall immersion.
  • story
    397 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Little Busters!" is a deeply emotional and intricate narrative centered on themes of friendship, personal growth, and the challenges of adolescence. Players navigate through multiple character routes, each revealing unique backstories and emotional arcs, culminating in a powerful true ending that ties the narrative together. While the common route may initially feel aimless, the storytelling evolves significantly, offering a rich and rewarding experience that resonates with players long after completion.

    • “Is a story about friendship and love; it made me feel happy and sad, deeply moved, and even brought me to tears.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story is masterfully crafted and very layered, showcasing the beauty of life with a colorful and wonderful cast who broke my heart, mended it, and broke it all over again in a story that I would call nothing less than a masterpiece of the medium.”
    • “Like many visual novels, it has a common route which diverges into heroine routes, but the common route here has practically no plot whatsoever.”
    • “The story is very detailed, and there is a lot to take in.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional
    154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Little Busters!" is widely praised for its profound storytelling that masterfully blends humor, friendship, and heart-wrenching moments, often leading players to tears. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to create deep emotional connections with its characters, with many noting that the narrative's gradual buildup culminates in impactful, cathartic experiences. The combination of a compelling soundtrack, character development, and a mix of lighthearted and tragic themes contributes to an unforgettable emotional journey that resonates long after the game ends.

    • “Is a story about friendship and love; it made me feel happy and sad, deeply moved, and even brought me to tears.”
    • “The emotional heart of Little Busters! positions friendship as its core, using that foundation to explore loss, resilience, and the bonds that give life meaning.”
    • “Words cannot describe the emotional ride one experiences playing through Little Busters.”
  • music
    147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this visual novel is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. The soundtrack features a diverse range of tracks that effectively complement various scenes, from upbeat melodies during comedic moments to poignant pieces that underscore dramatic events. Overall, the music is considered a standout element, often described as "god-tier" and essential to the game's emotional impact, making it a memorable aspect for players.

    • “High-definition artwork, expressive character sprites, and a memorable soundtrack work together to support the emotional range of the story.”
    • “The music plays a particularly important role, seamlessly shifting between upbeat tracks during comedic scenes and soft, melancholic melodies during reflective moments.”
    • “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 OST made me feel the emotion of the dialogues, so much so that I picked up the keyboard to learn how to play 'Two Sugars.'”
    • “The soundtrack has a huge amount of variance with tons of songs that will forever cause me psychic damage for their emotional significance.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this visual novel is characterized by a blend of lighthearted banter, comedic antics, and emotional depth, often eliciting both laughter and tears from players. While some may find the humor's style and execution dated or uneven, many reviews highlight its effectiveness in enhancing character development and storytelling, making it a memorable experience. Overall, the game successfully balances funny moments with serious themes, creating a charming and engaging narrative that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “School days are filled with banter, pranks, and exaggerated situations that lean heavily into Key's signature humor.”
    • “The characters tend to exemplify their character archetypes with their own unique humor, and the music sets the mood accordingly.”
    • “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
    29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its engaging mechanics and variety, such as the integration of mini-games and a unique fighting tournament ranking system that enhance replayability. However, others find certain elements repetitive or lacking depth, particularly criticizing the optional mini-games for feeling somewhat disconnected from the main narrative. Overall, while the gameplay offers a refreshing experience for a visual novel, it may not appeal to everyone, especially those who prefer a more straightforward reading experience.

    • “Interspersed throughout the story are gameplay elements that add variety and help pace the lengthy experience.”
    • “I really like the 'choose-your-adventure' gameplay because one choice a player makes can change the course of the story and, as a result, it presents new dialogues to read which helps me understand the characters' backstories and personalities better.”
    • “There’s also the gameplay, in the form of several quick mini-games which range from baseball practice to a fighting tournament, from hunting down mysterious creatures to serving in a cafeteria.”
    • “While I would like to be able to offer more critical opinions of the game to balance out all the positives I have listed, I cannot think of any other than maybe the batting minigame. Don't get me wrong, it is a lot of fun for a while, but doing it each playthrough would be overkill. There is an option to turn it off, but doing so makes me feel like I am opting out of gameplay. On top of that, it does not really affect the outcome of the story, meaning it feels somewhat pointless overall.”
    • “The routes slowly become a chore to play, even with gameplay elements like a dungeon crawler during Saya's route.”
    • “But this is a visual novel, so that means it doesn't have any gameplay. Why bother rating it? The answer to that question is that there are minigames in this visual novel ranging from playing baseball to an RNG fighting sim to a dungeon crawler with a shooting gallery game. There's plenty of stuff in this game to distract you from actually reading it, so have fun. And oh yeah, this is a visual novel, so expect to read a lot.”
  • graphics
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in this visual novel are widely praised for their high-definition artwork, expressive character sprites, and vibrant backgrounds, all of which contribute to the game's emotional depth. While some users note the minimal animation typical of the genre, the overall quality of the visuals, including the unique art style and soundtrack, enhances the storytelling experience. Despite a few critiques regarding the 720p resolution and art style preferences, the visuals are generally considered top-notch, reflecting the developer's reputation for excellence in visual arts.

    • “High-definition artwork, expressive character sprites, and a memorable soundtrack work together to support the emotional range of the story.”
    • “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.”
    • “Don't be fooled by the turn-based fighting game, it's just fancy graphics; you don't actually get to do anything yourself.”
    • “The graphics are 16:9 720p, which isn't ideal, but still more than sufficient.”
    • “There were no visuals for it either.”
  • character development
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in "Little Busters!" is highly praised, with players noting that each character has a rich backstory and undergoes significant growth, making them feel like real friends. The game expertly balances comedy and emotional depth, culminating in a satisfying and impactful conclusion that resonates with players. While some feel certain characters could have benefited from more drastic development, the overall consensus is that the character arcs are compelling and integral to the game's success.

    • “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 no exception.”
    • “Character development 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.”
    • “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's the culmination of the mystery, previous character development, music, and CGs that makes the Refrain route the masterpiece that it is.”
    • “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.”
  • replayability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game offers significant replayability, with players discovering new dialogue and content even after completing routes, which encourages exploration and engagement with the story. Many reviewers highlight the enjoyable nature of replaying routes, especially after uncovering key plot elements, and appreciate the depth and humor that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the game stands out in the visual novel genre for its ability to keep players invested through multiple playthroughs.

    • “One thing I like is how enjoyable 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.”
    • “Even after completing a route, you'd still find new dialogue to discover, making it one of the few visual novels that actually favors replayability instead of skipping read dialogues to progress to the next routes.”
    • “A ridiculous amount of content to do, with so much replayability that encourages you to pay attention for changes as the game progresses.”
    • “Some people would say replayability, but it would be a bit of a misconception.”
  • atmosphere
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.”
  • grinding
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game is largely criticized for its repetitiveness and tedium, with many mini-games described as mind-numbingly boring and uninteresting. Players find the need to repeat activities and routes without a guide to be tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the experience. While some may appreciate the grind for stat-building, the majority view it as a frustrating and monotonous element of gameplay.

    • “The mini games are very repetitive, but if you like grinding pointless stats, you may enjoy them.”
    • “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.”
  • optimization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally well-received, with users appreciating the variety of performances and the inclusion of a Busterpedia for better understanding of Japanese terms. Additionally, the arcade minigames offer a mix of reaction-based and RPG mechanics, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.

    • “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 has a busterpedia that explains various Japanese terms adapted into English, but the overall optimization feels lacking.”
    • “Several arcade minigames consist of reaction-based and point-and-click action, but the optimization of these mechanics could be improved.”
    • “The RPG mechanics in some minigames depend on luck and strategy, yet the optimization of performance in these areas is frustrating.”
  • stability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users report significant stability issues, noting frequent bugs that lead to game freezes and loss of sound upon recovery.

    • “It seems to be buggy.”
    • “At some point, the game freezes and all the sounds go missing after recovery.”
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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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100h Median play time
85h Average play time
4-150h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Little Busters! is a casual simulation game with romance, drama and comedy themes.

Little Busters! is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 85 hours playing Little Busters!.

Little Busters! was released on November 1, 2017.

Little Busters! was developed by VisualArts/Key.

Little Busters! has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its atmosphere.

Little Busters! is a single player game.

Similar games include Summer Pockets, The Fruit of Grisaia, Aokana: Four Rhythms Across the Blue, A Sky Full of Stars, If My Heart Had Wings and others.