One Night Stand
- November 7, 2016
- Kinmoku
- 4h median play time
One Night Stand is almost as short as the real thing, but not as pleasant… or unpleasant. Despite the intriguing concept behind this nice-looking visual novel, which is to find out what the heck happened last night, this plays its cards a bit too safe, and never dares offering something more emotive, or to include interesting plot twists. It is a simple create-your-own-adventure kind of deal that's… well, fun, just not as much as it could be with a little heavier emphasis in character development and/or plot. If a fan of the genre, and don't mind super-short indies, check it out. The rest can safely pass this by.
"One Night Stand" is a visual novel that explores the aftermath of a one-night stand. The game puts you in the shoes of a character who wakes up next to a stranger, with no memory of the previous night. Through conversation and exploration, you must navigate the awkward situation and make choices that will determine the outcome of your one-night stand. With multiple endings and a focus on character development, "One Night Stand" is a thought-provoking and engaging game.
Reviews
- The game features multiple endings and achievements, encouraging replayability and exploration of different choices.
- The art style is charming and effectively captures the awkwardness of the situation, enhancing the overall experience.
- The writing is engaging and realistic, making the characters feel relatable and the story immersive.
- The game is very short, with a single playthrough lasting only about 10-30 minutes, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Repetition can become tedious as players may find themselves skipping through familiar dialogue during multiple playthroughs.
- Some players may feel that the game lacks depth in its narrative, leaving many questions unanswered and not fully exploring the characters' backgrounds.
- story115 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its multiple endings and engaging characters, though it often feels basic and repetitive after several playthroughs. While some players appreciate the intriguing plot undertones and stylistic flair, many express disappointment over the lack of depth and unresolved mysteries. Overall, it offers a short, entertaining experience that may appeal to fans of visual novels, but leaves some wanting more substantial narrative development.
“The story and characters are interesting, and there's a lot of detail put into it.”
“It's an authentic little interactive story that will make you feel just as clumsy and fuzzy as your first one night stand.”
“The artwork is excellent and the story engaging.”
“The story is very basic.”
“Very shallow and uninspired story.”
“This story is a pretty boring one.”
- graphics81 mentions
- 49 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and unique art style, which features simple yet aesthetically pleasing visuals that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers appreciate the hand-drawn and rotoscoped elements, noting that the artwork effectively conveys the game's themes and emotions. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and atmosphere.
“The graphics are just so warm and beautiful.”
“The artwork is very pretty!”
“The soft visuals and the soothing music combine to create a very pleasant aesthetic that turns the game into a particularly relaxing experience.”
“Despite its catchy art style and premise, the game will entertain you for maybe one to three minutes until it gets repetitive and painfully boring.”
“The game's graphics consist of simple, slightly animated drawings in mellow colors.”
“Graphically quite lackluster, might simply be too short for some people.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily narrative-driven, featuring simple point-and-click mechanics and dialogue choices, which some players find engaging while others deem it repetitive and lacking depth. Many reviews highlight the short playtime of around 2-4 hours, with a focus on unlocking multiple endings, but express frustration with the slow skip mechanic for repeated content. Overall, the game is best suited for those who appreciate interactive visual novels and are willing to engage with its limited gameplay for the sake of the story.
“Graphics, sound, writing, gameplay: 5 stars in all compartments.”
“The art is fantastic and the gameplay is smooth and intuitive.”
“Bottom line, this is an example of narrative-driven gameplay through focused NPC interaction.”
“Even if you decide to keep going after the first or second playthrough for the achievements, it feels like a chore as the skip mechanic is kind of slow and most of the time of new runs will be spent skipping text you've seen before.”
“After your first gameplay, you'll feel there is a lot to uncover, but soon you will realize that there is basically one story being repeated over and over again.”
“There's not much in the way of gameplay - it's purely an interactive visual novel with multiple dialog options and limited interactable objects in a static room.”
- music23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and minimalistic, featuring gentle guitar riffs that complement the art style and enhance the overall relaxing experience. While some players appreciate the subtlety and mood-setting qualities of the soundtrack, others feel it lacks variety and depth, with limited tracks that may not stand out as exceptional. Overall, the music effectively captures the game's atmosphere, though opinions vary on its impact and memorability.
“The art and music do an excellent job of capturing this fuzzy hangover feeling, while you pick up the pieces of what happened the night before.”
“The music is similarly minimal, with laid-back, unobtrusive guitar strumming providing a perfect backdrop to the game.”
“The soft visuals and the soothing music combine to a very pleasant aesthetic that turns the game into a particularly relaxing experience.”
“Practically no soundtrack.”
“Music is limited, and while not good enough to be considered a soundtrack, the few songs encountered do set the mood for the game.”
“The soundtrack was carried mostly by sweet little guitar riffs that were a little too subtle for my liking.”
- replayability16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability despite its short duration, featuring multiple branching paths and 12 distinct endings that encourage players to explore different choices. Users appreciate the engaging story and character interactions, making it a worthwhile experience for those who enjoy uncovering all possible outcomes. Overall, it is a compact yet rich visual novel that rewards multiple playthroughs.
“A very short visual novel that can be completed in just five minutes, but with great replayability due to the different ways of dealing with this awakening after a one-night stand.”
“If you love forming relationships in games like 'Mass Effect' or 'Dragon Age,' you will likely find something to love about 'One Night Stand.' Though very brief, this game is insanely replayable for those who are tortured by 'what if' questions.”
“Each playthrough is short, but there are quite a few branch points and 12 endings, so there's enough replayability here for several hours, especially if you're a completist.”
“The game in its entirety seems remarkably fresh and though it may be short, it does offer a number of possible endings that allows for moderate replayability.”
“It's a short game, which is to be expected, but has replay value for those achievement hunters out there, so your money is well spent.”
- humor16 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a mix of cheesy, creepy, and genuinely funny moments, with players appreciating the unexpected and hilarious outcomes of various endings. While some found the humor engaging and relatable, others felt it fell flat after a short period. Overall, the writing features charming characters and amusing scenarios that contribute to a light-hearted experience, making it a decent choice for those seeking a comedic narrative.
“The choices are limited but open many possibilities [12 endings + multiple variations within] which will make the story take a turn for the cheesy, the creepy, or the downright hilarious.”
“Some good humor and the main girl reacts like a real person would rather than an anime visual novel girl.”
“There are some honestly funny moments to be uncovered (the best involving a certain pair of underwear…) and the girl is so charming and well written you sort of want to keep going just to find out more about her.”
- emotional15 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with players noting its ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from laughter to deep sadness. The character development and storytelling are described as heartfelt and relatable, creating a strong emotional investment in the narrative. While some endings are uplifting, others can be profoundly impactful, leaving players with a lasting impression of the characters' journeys.
“Endings range from being very wholesome and heartwarming to completely soul-crushing.”
“A very heartfelt game; it really feels like you are the character.”
“It's worth the emotional immersion.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is described as unique and engaging, blending awkward humor with a chill vibe that enhances the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the excellent writing and dialogue, which contribute to a memorable setting, making it stand out from typical visual novels. The game offers a relaxed ambiance, perfect for exploring its narrative within a short playtime.
“Excellent writing and atmosphere.”
“Atmosphere and dialogue is fantastic, especially given the relatively low price.”
“I was expecting a typical visual novel with a different illustration and atmosphere style from the common anime, but instead, I got friendzoned in a video game.”
“One night stand will cost you 3€, and it will give you 1 to 2 hours in a chill atmosphere, trying to learn more about a pub crawl and a mysterious character.”
- grinding4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the need to replay the story multiple times to unlock all achievements and endings. However, the inclusion of fast forward and save options helps alleviate some of the repetitiveness, making it easier to navigate through the content.
“There's 27 achievements, so there's a lot of replaying, and it was just a bit tedious, to be honest.”
“There is a fast forward option to speed ahead, but I found the process tedious.”
“Some people might find it tedious to repeat the story over and over to get all the endings and secrets, but hey, that's what the skip and save buttons are for.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is noted to be simplistic, effectively portraying an "average woman in her early twenties," but reviewers feel that it lacks depth and could benefit from a stronger emphasis on character growth and plot intricacies. While the create-your-own-adventure aspect is enjoyable, it leaves players wanting more in terms of character exploration.
“The character design of your new sleeping buddy is simplistic, but it effectively represents the average woman in her early twenties.”
“It's a simple create-your-own-adventure kind of deal that's fun, but it could benefit from a heavier emphasis on character development and plot.”
“The character design of your new sleeping buddy is simplistic, but it well represents the 'average woman in her early twenties.'”
“It is a simple create-your-own-adventure kind of deal that's… well, fun, just not as much as it could be with a little heavier emphasis on character development and/or plot.”
Critic Reviews
One Night Stand Review
One Night Stand is almost as short as the real thing, but not as pleasant… or unpleasant. Despite the intriguing concept behind this nice-looking visual novel, which is to find out what the heck happened last night, this plays its cards a bit too safe, and never dares offering something more emotive, or to include interesting plot twists. It is a simple create-your-own-adventure kind of deal that's… well, fun, just not as much as it could be with a little heavier emphasis in character development and/or plot. If a fan of the genre, and don't mind super-short indies, check it out. The rest can safely pass this by.
60%One Night Stand (Nintendo Switch)
One Night Stand
80%One Night Stand Review
One Night Stand is a very unique experience that will likely feel quite close to home for some folks. It’s a very honest, almost heartwarming glimpse into the lives of two complete strangers brought together by a heavy night of drinking. The presentation may be a bit lacking overall, and some may be put off by the short length of the game, despite its many endings, but if you’re after a visual novel that’s a bit different from the norm, then this is it.
70%