Night Cascades

About

Night Cascades is a single player action game with romance and mystery themes. It was developed by Hanako Games and was released on March 1, 2022. It received very positive reviews from players.

Night Cascades is a narrative-driven adventure game where you navigate through a surreal world of memories, emotions, and relationships. As Hanako, a young woman plagued by mysterious visions and voices, you must uncover the truth behind your past and face your deepest fears. With its unique blend of puzzle-solving, exploration, and introspection, Night Cascades invites players to immerse themselves in a hauntingly beautiful journey of self-discovery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

92%

Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews

story76 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The art, music, and writing are top-notch, creating an immersive and engaging experience.
The relationship between the main characters is well-developed, with a believable romance that resonates with players.
The game offers a charming mix of mystery and yuri elements, set against a beautifully depicted 1980s backdrop.

The gameplay is quite short, with many players feeling it lacks depth and replay value.
The mystery elements are often seen as lackluster, with some players finding the investigative mini-games dull and unengaging.
The story can feel rushed, particularly in the development of the characters' relationship and the resolution of the plot.

story
170 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
The story of "Night Cascades" is a charming and engaging visual novel that centers on a sapphic romance intertwined with a detective plot, set against the backdrop of the 1980s. While the writing is praised for its natural dialogue and immersive pacing, many reviewers noted that the narrative feels short and linear, leaving some plot threads unresolved and characters underdeveloped. Overall, the combination of beautiful art, relatable characters, and a compelling mystery has left players eager for a potential sequel.
- “The story revolves around two women who had a previous relationship in college, pulled into a mystery involving what seems to be the supernatural.”
- “A charming yuri visual novel with a police procedural spin, set in 1980s America. The storyline is interesting, with a lot of twists and turns, and the setting is very detailed and convincingly written.”
- “The art is absolutely stunning, the music selection is perfect and the overall aesthetic is gorgeous, the story got me hooked and the mini-games were perfect to tie in together the detective aspect of the game.”
- “The story itself definitely feels like it had some major side plot threads that just got dropped.”
- “The mystery investigation story part of the game failed to interest me in any way, so much so that I stopped playing the game several times before completing (I generally like mystery stories).”
- “They look good aesthetically, but I initially found the story hard to follow because the text moving around the screen unpredictably was distracting.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
36%
9%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to evoke the 80s vibe and complement the detective noir setting, while others find it lacking or unsuitable for the game's atmosphere. Some players enjoyed the variety, including soft piano and guitar elements, while a few criticized specific jazzy tracks as out of place. Overall, the music is generally considered decent, enhancing the game's aesthetic, though opinions on its quality vary significantly.
- “The music was amazing and really helped sell the 80’s vibe to me.”
- “The art is beautiful and the music really fits the 80’s detective noir setting.”
- “For the music, there's a mixture of soft piano and guitar chorus throughout the game, giving off different vibes of cheering and somber that can be quite comforting and set the mood for this game.”
- “The music is horrible... not that it would be out of place in a blues jazz (or jazz blues) dive bar in Chicago... but it just doesn't work in this game at all.”
- “I didn't particularly like the jazzy music.”
- “Music is nothing to write home about but not terrible.”
graphics
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
32%
11%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning art style and detailed, handmade backgrounds that evoke a sense of pseudo-realism, particularly fitting for the 80s aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the impressive character designs, even for minor characters, and the overall aesthetic is described as gorgeous and immersive, enhancing the storytelling experience. However, some players found the text movement distracting, which affected their ability to follow the narrative.
- “The main characters feel like real people, the setting is brilliantly written, and the art style is gorgeous.”
- “The art is absolutely stunning, the music selection is perfect and the overall aesthetic is gorgeous, the story got me hooked and the mini-games were perfect to tie in together the detective aspect of the game.”
- “I fear the art style has potentially soured any future visual novel I get because they will not be at this level.”
- “Furthermore, the backgrounds are all handmade and have that same aesthetic of pseudo-realism.”
- “Especially for the 80's aesthetic centered on adults who are very sure about their gayness.”
gameplay
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The gameplay is primarily focused on narrative, resembling a digital storybook with under 5 hours of playtime, which some players find acceptable for the price. While the gameplay elements are simple and not overly complex, they are engaging enough, complemented by lovely art and believable character relationships. Additionally, there are two minigames included that involve searching for clues, but overall, players should expect a more passive experience typical of visual novels.
- “The story and gameplay elements are not particularly complicated but interesting enough to be enjoyable. The writing has nice pacing, the art is absolutely lovely, and the relationship of the main characters is believable.”
- “Hey, I'll pay 10 bucks for a movie and it's a similar vibe here; a couple of hours of gameplay for the price isn't terrible.”
- “Basically under 5 hours of gameplay... it's a digital storybook.”
- “It is a visual novel, so of course, there's not much gameplay - just go with the flow (well, your flow) and see what happens.”
- “The gameplay also consists of two different minigames used to search for clues.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users noting that it offers little incentive to play again. However, its unique setting, engaging world-building, and interesting characters make it a worthwhile experience despite the short length and high price.
- “The world building is fascinating, the main leads are interesting, and the mystery is engaging, making it a worthwhile experience despite its limited replay value.”
- “The setting and overall vibe are so unique that it makes the game worth playing, even if it has limited replay value.”
- “As a game, it has literally no replay value.”
- “I do recommend it, the world building is fascinating, the main leads are interesting and the mystery engaging, but the price is a bit steep for a short novel without real replay value.”
- “It's a simple enough visual novel with limited replay value, but the setting and overall vibe are so unique that it's still worth it.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is praised for its perfect blend of maturity, wit, and sexiness, complemented by well-written dialogue and engaging character art. Reviewers appreciate the lively and believable interactions that enhance both the comedic and dramatic elements of the experience.
- “I thought it was very well-written, with lively and believable dialogue, drama, and humor to go along with the wonderfully expressive and eye-catching character art.”
- “It's just the right mix of mature, funny, sexy, and suspense.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Reviewers appreciate an immersive atmosphere in mystery games, particularly favoring point-and-click styles that enhance the sense of livability and tension. The incorporation of supernatural elements adds depth to the storytelling, making the atmosphere a key component of the overall experience.
- “I'd say that the atmosphere is exactly what I was looking for: I really like stories that have a bit of supernatural in them and it's a mystery, to boot!”
- “I think games about mysteries are better as point-and-click style in a more livable atmosphere, constantly wrapping the player into possible failure in important twists and points of progress.”
- “I think games about mysteries are better as point-and-click style in a more livable atmosphere, where it's constantly wrapping the player into possible failure in important twists and points of progress.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players in the game's world.”
- “While the game has potential, the atmosphere fails to engage, making it hard to feel invested in the story.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the emotional depth of the main characters, praising their well-designed personalities and the heartfelt, well-paced development of their relationship, which culminates in a satisfying payoff.
- “And their working out their relationship really was well done... well paced and a great heartfelt payoff.”
- “But oh my god, the main characters are so well designed visually, mentally, and emotionally.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers express a strong appreciation for the character designs, highlighting unique and nostalgic elements such as a kid with a mullet and piano tie, as well as praising the effective posing and lighting in the character graphics. However, there is no mention of character development in terms of narrative or growth.
- “I love the character designs (the kid with the mullet and piano tie is amazing; so 80s!), and the posing/lighting in the CGs is so good!”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game appears to be criticized for its lack of meaningful content, with players feeling that certain elements, like the amulet, serve as disappointing red herrings rather than enhancing the experience. Additionally, the game's attempts to explore themes of reality versus illusion in psychics and spiritualism are seen as undermined by its own narrative choices, leading to a sense of mundanity rather than intrigue.