Nameless ~The one thing you must recall~

About

"Nameless ~The One Thing You Must Recall~" is a visual novel game with a full Korean voice-over, targeted at a female audience. You play as Eri, a high school student who collects ball-jointed dolls and finds comfort in them as she feels alone after her grandpa's death. The story explores her relationships with the dolls, which are surprisingly human-like, as well as her everyday life.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

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

Nameless ~The one thing you must recall~ screenshot

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 892 reviews

story341 positive mentions

grinding16 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted story with deep character development and emotional depth, making it a standout in the otome genre.
The artwork and voice acting are top-notch, enhancing the overall experience and immersion in the game.
The game successfully intertwines multiple routes with an overarching plot, encouraging players to explore all character paths for a complete understanding of the story.

There are numerous typos and grammatical errors throughout the game, which can be distracting and take away from the overall polish.
Some routes can feel repetitive, especially in the common sections, leading to a slower pacing that may frustrate players.
The main character's lack of voice acting and occasional ambiguity in her thoughts can make it difficult for players to fully connect with her.

story
1,032 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The story of "Nameless: The One Thing You Must Recall" is praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and intricate character development, weaving together themes of loneliness, identity, and love through a unique narrative involving dolls that come to life. Players appreciate the well-crafted plot that unfolds across multiple routes, each offering distinct experiences while contributing to an overarching storyline that keeps them engaged and invested. However, some critiques mention pacing issues and occasional plot holes, yet the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke strong emotions and provide a captivating visual novel experience.
- “The story is well written, I love the structure of this game and how different story elements are used for the storytelling.”
- “The story centers around a lonely high-school freshman named Eri who lives by herself following her grandfather's passing as her parents work abroad.”
- “Nameless is a lovingly-crafted story with interesting and dynamic characters coupled with gorgeous artwork.”
- “The plot did not do it for me; pretty much all of the routes felt like a real slog with occasional interesting parts thrown in.”
- “The story is boring too, nothing interesting about it in sight.”
- “The story was very disappointing - most of the relationships were far darker and far more abusive than Dandelion.”
music
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beautiful composition and ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story, with many praising the integration of character themes and the quality of the voice acting. While some users noted that certain tracks felt repetitive or didn't fit the atmosphere, the overall soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's fairy tale-like experience. The opening and ending songs, performed by the characters' voice actors, were particularly highlighted for their quality and emotional resonance.
- “The soundtrack was amazing and was well used as it made scenes pop; for example, it made happy moments more lively and when things got tense, the music would change to a darker tone and set the mood extremely well in any situation, and I personally loved listening to it.”
- “The music was beautiful and suits all the characters so well.”
- “The soundtracks integrate perfectly into the game and bring the story to life.”
- “Music: it's repetitive and sometimes it's completely missing.”
- “I think music quality is mixed as well.”
- “Some soundtracks don’t fit the atmosphere while there are some very nice.”
emotional
205 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
1%
The emotional aspect of the game is profoundly impactful, with many players reporting that it has helped them through difficult times and shaped their perspectives on life. The well-written storylines and character arcs evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness, often leading players to tears. The game tackles heavy themes while also providing heartwarming moments, making it a memorable emotional journey that resonates with those who engage with it.
- “It helped me get through the days in middle school and high school when I struggled the most with my mental and emotional health.”
- “I don't think any other game has hit me as hard emotionally; it's just absolutely beautiful.”
- “The story line is so much more than just tales of romance as it develops and unfolds into the climax. I cried playing this game because the story is just so emotionally captivating.”
- “The storyline is extremely boring and fails to evoke any emotional response.”
- “I found the emotional depth lacking; it just didn't resonate with me.”
- “The characters felt flat, making it hard to connect with their emotional journeys.”
graphics
145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
41%
3%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful and unique art style that enhances character distinction and overall atmosphere. However, some users note inconsistencies in quality between character sprites and CGs, as well as an outdated UI. Overall, while the artwork is often described as gorgeous and well-executed, there are criticisms regarding anatomical inaccuracies and color discrepancies.
- “A beautiful dating sim, the art style is just gorgeous and makes the characters truly stand out from one another.”
- “Nameless is a lovingly-crafted story with interesting and dynamic characters coupled with gorgeous artwork.”
- “The graphics deserve praise; as soon as I started the game and saw the title screen, I saw how beautiful this game is.”
- “The UI is pretty outdated, low quality graphically, and I didn't even know you could open a menu full of additional functions until my second route.”
- “The most disappointing aspect of the artwork is that the CGs for the individual character routes are lower quality than those in the common route.”
- “Super weird, uninteresting plot and my Christ almighty you would get better visuals if you dripped your head in lava - and whoever the hell signed off on the general presentation of this game should just go home.”
gameplay
118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
78%
3%
The gameplay of "Nameless" is characterized as a traditional visual novel format, focusing on narrative choices rather than stat-raising mechanics, which some players found refreshing compared to its predecessor, "Dandelion." While the game offers a substantial amount of content with 30+ hours of gameplay and multiple routes, some users noted a lack of interactivity and meaningful choices, leading to a more linear experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging story, character development, and the ability to skip previously read dialogue, enhancing replayability despite minor glitches and typos.
- “I've only finished I think 2 routes so far and I've already clocked 17 hours in the game - there's I think 6 routes total, so the amount of gameplay available is insane.”
- “Nameless goes above and beyond the typical otome game genre, involving a mix of diverse characters, great music, many hours of gameplay with replay quality, surprising twists and turns, multiple endings, and a story that you just won't expect.”
- “Nameless offers you many hours (25+) of gameplay and self-discovery as you journey through not only the boys' stories, but your own as well.”
- “Gameplay: it's a visual novel but it has too much reading and too few interactions, too few choices that I could make to influence the story.”
- “The stat leveling was a fun grind in Dandelion, and at first I was bored with Nameless because actual gameplay/choices don't really affect or change anything in the game.”
- “As for gameplay itself: the emphasis this time is definitely on the 'novel' end rather than the 'game' end.”
humor
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its balance between lighthearted moments and deeper, more serious themes, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. Many reviews highlight the witty dialogue and character interactions, which contribute to both comedic and emotional experiences, making the game engaging and entertaining. While some humor may come off as cheesy or unrealistic, the overall consensus is that it effectively enhances the storytelling and character development.
- “It's funny, it's cute, and it's really well made.”
- “Not to mention the dialogue interaction between the guys is hilarious.”
- “I laughed so much playing this game and the humor is funny, without being cheesy.”
character development
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
52%
5%
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and execution, with many reviewers highlighting the emotional backstories and satisfying arcs of both main and side characters. The narrative is noted for its surprising twists and well-crafted character progression, making it a standout in the genre. However, some players felt that the main character's development was less robust compared to others, indicating a slight imbalance in character focus.
- “His backstory was sadder than I expected it to be, and I thought his character development was super satisfying.”
- “Character development was beautiful and well executed.”
- “The character development with each person was heartwarming, and the endings were all perfect.”
- “[*] I felt as though the main character herself was given the short end of the stick when it came to character development and dialogue.”
- “Character development throughout this game is huge, with some of the development being immensely surprising, shocking, and disturbing.”
- “Making up for this is Red's character development, and I can't really fault Eri for not having much of it this route.”
replayability
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The game boasts high replayability due to its multiple endings and character arcs, encouraging players to explore various routes, including bad endings, to fully appreciate the story. While some content may feel repetitive across routes, the engaging narrative and character development make it a worthwhile experience that players are likely to revisit. Overall, it is highly recommended for those seeking a game with substantial replay value.
- “I still highly recommend this game, as the story and characters are great, and the multiple endings give it a lot of replay value.”
- “This game encourages and even requires you to explore all the routes--and even endings, including the bad endings--to piece together the main story, giving you more opportunities to grow affection towards multiple characters as well as giving it great replay value.”
- “The replay value here is definitely high, with so many different types of endings.”
- “This gives the game some sort of replay value, but on each route you will find a lot of things repeating.”
- “It might not have an immediately replayable value, but it's that sort of game that will wiggle its way back into your brain and make you revisit some parts of it... it's an experience truly worth your time and $20.”
- “The replay value here is definitely high, so many different types of endings.”
atmosphere
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
52%
11%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and beautifully designed environment, blending gothic and mysterious elements with a familial warmth. While the soundtrack generally enhances the experience, some pieces are noted as mismatched, and occasional visual inconsistencies and typos detract from the overall impact. Overall, the combination of art, sound, and narrative creates a compelling and engaging atmosphere that captivates players.
- “This game has a beautiful, very immersive atmosphere and design.”
- “So brace yourself for a dark atmospheric otome visual novel which makes you ponder about so many things in life.”
- “I'm unsure if the music in 'Nameless' was composed specifically for the game but it is stunning, and does an excellent job in setting the tone, giving a romantic atmosphere when needed, eerie & creepy feeling when called for, and vocals in the opening and ending sequences are well-done.”
- “The only critiques I feel like I have to give about 'Nameless' are about the CGs that sometimes look kind of weird and off proportions, and the numerous typos even in moments that are supposed to be touching, ruining the atmosphere a bit.”
- “- an atmosphere with a split personality disorder; one moment it's hurrdurr anime, next I feel a hole in my chest tearing me apart-- sure, diversity is good, but in this case, it's just unsettling.”
- “I'm unsure if the music in 'Nameless' was composed specifically for the game, but it is stunning, and does an excellent job in setting the tone, giving a romantic atmosphere when needed, eerie & creepy feeling when called for, and vocals in the opening and ending sequences are well-done.”
grinding
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
89%
Overall, players appreciate the removal of tedious grinding mechanics, such as stat leveling and point farming, which often detracted from the storytelling experience. Many find the new approach refreshing, allowing for a more streamlined narrative progression without the repetitive tasks that previously slowed down gameplay. The option to skip previously experienced content further enhances the enjoyment for those who prefer a faster-paced story.
- “Tedious and boring.”
- “Even though I liked these games too, that mechanic felt repetitive and tedious at times, because I just wanted to find out what would happen next in the story.”
- “The gameplay was a bit different than what I was used to: no stat grinding/leveling up/etc. The stat stuff is okay at first but then it just becomes a hassle whenever you get into the storyline.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including the need to backtrack and restart systems. While some users found the glitches to be minor and not game-breaking, others experienced significant issues that detracted from their overall enjoyment. Overall, stability appears to be a concern, with frequent typographical errors and visual glitches noted as well.
- “The game was glitchy; I had to backtrack due to glitches a few times and restart my computer a lot.”
- “My wife and I like to play dating sims together, but this one was not very good at all - two hours in and we have zero options to make decisions, abundant typographical errors, a few visual glitches, and just overall not very interesting.”
- “Too many glitches.”
monetization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
30%
60%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, overshadowing the potential of the otome genre. Players feel that the game serves more as an advertisement for an overpriced doll company than a compelling narrative experience, with minimal engaging content and mechanics that avoid typical mobile game monetization tactics. Overall, the focus on commercial interests detracts from the game's artistic and storytelling value.
- “Game mechanics: doesn't have any of the junk tactics used in mobile (i.e., nothing based on luck or in-game purchases).”
- “It's a shame that Cheritz is focusing more on microtransactions with their recent games, because 'Nameless' really showcased what a Korean otome studio could do.”
- “We are both avid ABJD fans and were hopeful for an interesting representation of the hobby, but it really disappointed us in its presented information - it felt like nothing more than an advertisement for the company, which isn't surprising but still didn't impress us.”
- “Tl;dr: plot-less story with dull romance, poor art, and little else to go on except for the reverse-harem concept but with dolls, a really odd idea - but then perhaps not, since the game is sponsored by an overpriced ball-joint doll factory that doesn't hesitate from advertising itself in-game.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's optimization is criticized for a poorly designed user interface that does not accommodate larger screens, leading to text messages that are hard to read and overlap with message boxes, disrupting immersion. Additionally, the translation of stuttering using commas instead of dashes is noted as an awkward choice that detracts from the overall experience.
- “The UI is also terribly sloppily made and not optimized for bigger screens, with the text messages only barely distinguishable and overlaying the message boxes in the most immersion-breaking of ways.”
- “I've noticed that stuttering has been translated with commas instead of dashes (e.g. wha, what vs wha-what), which looks out of place.”