Midnight Ramen
- July 23, 2024
- Cointinue Games
Get on Steam"Midnight Ramen" is a narrative dialogue game where players operate a late-night ramen stand, cooking for a variety of customers and helping them cope with their problems. With intricate ramen-making mechanics and heavy themes such as death and loss, this game is reminiscent of titles like VA-11 Hall-A and Coffee Talk. Players must carefully combine broths, noodles, toppings, and seasonings to satisfy each customer's unique preferences.
Reviews
- The game features a beautiful and emotional story that deeply resonates with players, often evoking strong feelings and reflections on life and loss.
- The gameplay is relaxing and low-pressure, allowing players to enjoy cooking ramen and interacting with well-developed characters without time constraints.
- The music and art style create a cozy atmosphere that enhances the overall experience, making it a delightful and immersive game.
- The game addresses heavy and sensitive topics, such as death and suicide, which may not be suitable for all players and requires a content warning.
- There are several grammatical mistakes and typos in the dialogue, which can detract from the immersion for some players.
- The gameplay is relatively short, leaving some players wishing for a longer experience to further explore the characters and their stories.
- story32 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story is widely praised for its emotional depth and engaging narrative, often evoking strong feelings and tears from players. It features well-developed characters and a unique premise centered around serving customers at a ramen stand, where their rich backstories unfold. While the game includes light mini-games, the focus remains on the heartfelt storytelling, making it a recommended experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
“I played the demo before and was very interested to see what the full story would be like, and it made me tear up three separate times, so it gets a big please play it from me.”
“The story is amazing, the game is fun and chill, and I'm so happy I got to play the complete game after loving the demo.”
“The story itself is a roller coaster of emotions and takes you, quite seriously, through the lives of your customers and gives you many avenues to connect with them as the player.”
“The story takes you on some twists and turns and you learn more and more about the customers you serve and the world you're in.”
“When an author is able to give unique and definitive characteristics to each character in the story, it adds immense depth and value.”
- music8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is consistently praised for its cozy, soothing, and relaxing qualities, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and mood. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack contributes to a zen-like experience, complementing the art style and storytelling beautifully.
“The music is so soothing and relaxing and the story is great.”
“The music is very cozy and the whole atmosphere of the game really envelops you in warmth.”
“The music really helped set the mood as well.”
“The music and gameplay are absolutely zen-like.”
- emotional7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its deep and touching storytelling, evoking strong emotional responses from players. Many describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, with heartfelt moments that resonate, particularly for those who have experienced loss. While the narrative is beautifully crafted and immersive, it may be challenging for individuals currently dealing with grief or sensitive to themes of death.
“The stories are deep and touching.”
“Wonderfully unique and heartfelt story.”
“I lost my mom several years ago at a young age, and this game was a very heartfelt way to spend my evening.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its simple yet engaging mechanics, allowing players to mix and experiment without the pressure of timers, creating a relaxed experience. While some users wish for longer gameplay, the focus on cooking and storytelling, complemented by audio cues, contributes to a zen-like atmosphere. Overall, the gameplay is well-received for its interesting options and immersive qualities.
“I like the options and the ability to mix it up when you want to, and the fact that it is a simple mechanic but at the same time really interesting to do.”
“The music and gameplay are absolutely zen-like.”
“There's not much gameplay.”
“Money-earning is not a game mechanic - just preparing food, serving food, and unraveling the story of the world around you.”
“Some cooking mechanics require you to time things well, but there isn't a timer for the overall cooking experience, giving you plenty of time to review a recipe and get things right.”
- graphics3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics are praised for their beautiful art style, complemented by well-executed animations and a polished user interface. Reviewers appreciate how the visuals enhance the storytelling, creating an emotionally engaging experience. Overall, the artistic presentation significantly contributes to the game's appeal.
“Beautiful art style with a well-written story that does not disappoint.”
“Loved the art style, music, and the story gives you the feels.”
“The artwork, animations, and user interface are all very nicely done.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy and warm ambiance, enhanced by its engaging music, art, and storytelling, which collectively create an immersive experience for players.
“The music is very cozy and the whole atmosphere of the game really envelops you in warmth.”
“Good atmosphere, story, art, characters, and music.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is highlighted by its ability to evoke a range of emotions, from laughter to warmth, often through comedic scenarios like serving meals with incorrect or missing ingredients. Players are encouraged to pay attention to orders and recipes, adding a layer of fun and unpredictability to the gameplay.
“This game has made me laugh, cry, and filled my heart with warmth all in the same playthrough.”
“You can (hilariously) serve a meal with wrong or missing ingredients without being warned, so it's a good idea to pay attention to what they ordered, how they ordered it, and the written recipes.”
