memories

About

memories is a single player casual simulation game. It was developed by guiyyu and was released on February 2, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Memories is a sapphic visual novel dress-up game where clothes are linked to painful memories of a failed relationship.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 999 reviews

story160 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork and a touching story that resonates with many players, evoking strong emotions.
It's a short experience that effectively captures the bittersweet nature of love and loss, making it relatable for those who have experienced similar situations.
The unique concept of linking clothing choices to memories adds depth to the narrative, enhancing the player's emotional connection to the story.

The text appears at a painfully slow pace with no option to speed it up, which can detract from the overall experience.
There is no save feature, forcing players to complete the game in one sitting, which can be frustrating if interrupted.
The choices presented in the game have little to no impact on the story's outcome, making the gameplay feel linear and limiting replayability.

story
402 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The game's story is a poignant exploration of love and loss, told through the lens of a relationship that unfolds via clothing choices linked to memories. While many players found the narrative emotionally impactful and relatable, particularly within the LGBTQ+ context, criticisms arose regarding the slow text speed and the lack of meaningful choices, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite its brevity and some narrative clichés, the heartfelt storytelling and charming art style resonated deeply with many, making it a memorable, albeit bittersweet, visual novel.
- “The story is uniquely told through flashbacks of memories that are tied to the clothing choices the narrator wears that day.”
- “Each outfit you choose slowly unravels their story, turning simple dress-up into a quiet exploration of love, loss, and the weight of what’s left unsaid.”
- “The story is beautiful, yet tragic.”
- “The game is advertised as having choice-based dialogue, but the story only has one outcome.”
- “The story is sad, but terribly clichéd, nothing original.”
- “The text displays onto the screen insultingly slowly, letter by letter, made more annoying by the same single music box tune playing over and over until it numbs you to the story and kinda makes you not care?”
emotional
261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly impactful, with many players reporting intense feelings of sadness and nostalgia, often leading to tears. The story, while short, is described as heartwarming yet heartbreaking, effectively capturing themes of love, loss, and personal struggle, resonating deeply with players' own experiences. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking a poignant and emotional narrative experience.
- “I cried... it's a beautiful short visual novel with a story that touched my soul.”
- “The story of the main character is heartbreaking, and you start to feel her depression with her.”
- “An emotional ride through love, loss, and nostalgia... the visuals are stunning, with dreamlike environments that pull you in, and the soundtrack perfectly matches the mood.”
music
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
60%
12%
The music in the game is described as a nostalgic and haunting music box tune that complements the visuals and story, evoking a range of emotions from warmth to sadness. However, many players found the music to be overly loud and repetitive, with a lack of options to adjust the volume or speed up the text, which detracted from the overall experience. While some appreciated the ambiance it created, others felt it became monotonous and distracting as the game progressed.
- “The music sounds like a music box, it conveys a sad, nostalgic atmosphere, and even though it is looped, it is pleasant to listen to while playing.”
- “The art style is lovely, the story is easy to understand, music fits perfectly and the whole game tugs at your heartstrings!”
- “The music is beautiful and somber.”
- “On game start, the music is very loud and can’t be turned down through the game menu.”
- “The music is initially cute, nostalgic, and matches the visuals well, albeit being a bit loud; but as the game progresses, it quickly becomes unpleasant having the same few sharp chords repeat over and over in your ears.”
- “The music is constant and monotonous; the volume slider for the music doesn't work, and the looping background music quickly becomes tiring.”
graphics
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
49%
3%
The graphics of "Memories" are widely praised for their cute and charming art style, which effectively complements the game's emotional narrative. Many reviewers highlight the beautiful, pastel color palette and hand-drawn visuals that create a nostalgic atmosphere, although some note that the artwork can be simplistic and lacks detail. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, enhancing the storytelling experience despite some criticisms regarding the music and technical issues.
- “What sets 'memories' apart is the stunning artwork and graphics, which are both evocative and immersive.”
- “The game's simple but effective color palette and art style create a dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere that draws the player into the story and the characters.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous game with a heartwarming, yet emotional storyline and a cute art style.”
- “The graphics are acceptable, but very sketchy and simplified.”
- “They really did a lazy job on the artwork and storytelling.”
- “While the artwork is cute, it isn't too detailed or refined.”
gameplay
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
74%
13%
The gameplay is primarily a linear narrative experience, resembling a short film more than a traditional game, with minimal interactivity and choices that do not significantly alter the story progression. While the dress-up mechanic adds a unique touch, many players find the overall gameplay lacking, describing it as clunky and offering little beyond a brief emotional journey. Overall, it is best suited for those who appreciate storytelling over gameplay mechanics.
- “The gameplay is mainly a story that unfolds in a unique way, letting you piece together the main character's past through their memories.”
- “You can experience an emotional story with choice-based dialogue and a dress-up gameplay that reveals a character's past and presence.”
- “Gameplay wise, it's a kinetic visual novel.”
- “It's really light on the 'gameplay', more akin to watching a short film than even most other visual novels. As far as I am aware, it has a completely linear narrative in that the options do not change the progression at all.”
- “Very little gameplay (almost none at all).”
- “As some other reviews have stated, it would be cute to read as a short picture book, but as a game, it offers no real gameplay. It's entirely linear and there are no real choices to make; the several 'multiple choice' scenarios just boil down to the exact same option worded differently.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The atmosphere of the game is characterized by a nostalgic and dreamy quality, enhanced by a beautifully crafted music box soundtrack and stunning artwork. While the slow text progression contributes to the immersive experience, it has also frustrated some players. Overall, the combination of art, music, and emotional depth creates a captivating environment that resonates with players, inviting them to explore complex themes.
- “The artwork and music are both amazing, and the atmosphere is truly something else.”
- “Very slow text progression and no way of skipping (yes, it builds atmosphere maybe even, but it also frustrated a lot of people in discussions).”
- “The music sounds like a music box; it conveys a sad, nostalgic atmosphere, and even though it is looped, it is pleasant to listen to while playing.”
- “The game's simple but effective color palette and art style create a dreamy, nostalgic atmosphere that draws the player into the story and the characters.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game offers minimal replayability, as choices do not affect the outcome and players will reach the same ending regardless of their decisions. While the short story's impact may resonate, the lack of save options and the slow-paced nature of the visual novel format suggest it is best experienced in a single playthrough.
- “Any choice you make has no bearing on the story and you’ll always end at the same ending, leaving zero replayability.”
- “It doesn't have much to offer in terms of replayability, but the impact that the short story has is enough.”
- “If you are interested in what the game is like: slow-paced choices don't really matter in this visual novel, no saves, no skipping dialog - but to be clear, it doesn't have a lot of replay value, so it's meant to be experienced at once.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players consistently express that the grinding required in the game is excessively time-consuming, often likening it to needing a second life to manage the demands.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players find the game to be amusing and entertaining, highlighting its humorous elements as a key aspect of their enjoyment.
- “This game had me laughing out loud with its clever jokes and witty dialogue!”
- “The humor is spot on, making even the most mundane tasks entertaining.”
- “I love how the game incorporates humor into every aspect, from the characters to the storyline!”