Mixed Feelings: While You Were Away

About

"Mixed Feelings: While You Were Away" is a visual novel that follows Gale, a young man in a long-distance relationship with his high school sweetheart, Arthur. When Gale starts working at a cafe, he meets Brycen and develops feelings for him, leaving him torn between his love for Arthur and his attraction to Brycen. With 35,000 words, 15 CGs, and 4 endings, players must navigate Gale's complex emotions and make decisions that will determine the outcome of his relationships. This game is SFW and has 4 endings .

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Mixed Feelings: While You Were Away screenshot

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

emotional4 positive mentions

music2 negative mentions

The game features a unique and emotional story that resonates with players, capturing the complexities of long-distance relationships and love triangles.
The characters, particularly Brycen and Arthur, are well-developed and evoke strong feelings, making players invested in their outcomes.
The art style, while initially off-putting for some, grows on players and complements the game's overall charm and emotional depth.

Many players felt that the choices made in the game had little impact on the story, leading to a sense of frustration and lack of agency.
The game suffers from bugs and occasional lag, which detracts from the overall experience.
Some players found the writing to be clunky and inconsistent, with grammatical issues and awkward phrasing that hindered immersion.

story
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it bland and poorly executed, while others appreciated its emotional depth and unique approach, particularly in the context of a visual novel. While some felt the narrative lacked meaningful choices and could have been better developed, others praised it as a heartwrenching and beautifully written experience that resonated deeply. Overall, the story's effectiveness seems to vary significantly among players, with a notable divide between those who found it lacking and those who were emotionally invested.
- “I really enjoyed my first play-through of this and I liked this type of story; it was unique for a visual novel.”
- “I won't go into too much detail regarding the story, since the game is fairly short, but let me still tell you that it was quite the emotional rollercoaster and, despite a few typos here and there, wonderfully written!”
- “Heartwrenching story, but so beautiful.”
- “Not only is the story just bland, but it's entirely in favor of Brycen.”
- “Very poorly written; it should have just been a comic rather than a game, seeing as no choices hardly mattered and it didn't change the flow of the story at all.”
- “The plot at the beginning is uncomfortable, to say the least.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game presents a compelling emotional narrative that explores the complexities of love, particularly the struggle of developing feelings for someone while in a committed relationship. Players describe it as a heartwrenching yet beautifully written experience that takes them on an emotional rollercoaster, despite minor flaws in execution.
- “In contrast to this lingual simplicity, the author challenges a rather tantalizing topic: falling in love with someone despite already being in a wholesome relationship.”
- “I won't go into too much detail regarding the story, since the game is fairly short, but let me still tell you that it was quite the emotional rollercoaster and, despite a few typos here and there, wonderfully written!”
- “Heart-wrenching story, but so beautiful.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The graphics are described as cute but unremarkable, appealing primarily to fans of the art style. While some players appreciate the visuals in conjunction with the interesting story, they may not stand out to everyone.
- “The art style is cute and adds a charming touch to the game.”
- “The graphics are adorable, and the interesting story makes it a recommended choice for fans.”
- “I appreciate the unique art style, which enhances the overall experience of the game.”
- “The art style is cute, but not exactly anything to write home about.”
- “That's just my personal preference, though I did buy the game knowing full well how the art style looks.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game has received mixed feedback, with some players finding the soundtrack repetitive and annoying, leading to instances of muting the game. Additionally, there are concerns about the overall quality of the audio experience, particularly during laggy moments.
- “If I were to change something, it would be the soundtrack.”
- “The game is a bit laggy at times, and there was this one song that started getting so annoying that I just muted the game.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game is reported to have significant stability issues, with users experiencing frequent bugs that affect gameplay.
- “The game is riddled with bugs.”
- “I experienced frequent crashes that ruined my gameplay.”
- “There are constant glitches that make it hard to enjoy the game.”