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Pub Encounter is a single player action game with a romance theme. It was developed by Dogenzaka Lab and was released on April 12, 2016. It received positive reviews from players.

"Pub Encounter" is a visual novel game where you play as a barista in a cozy café, encountering a diverse cast of characterful clients. Each interaction shapes your relationship with them, offering multiple story paths. It's a heartwarming, slice-of-life game about connection and community.

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82%
Audience ScoreBased on 146 reviews
story23 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions

  • The game offers a unique twist by focusing on romance with older men, providing a refreshing change from typical otome games.
  • The characters have distinct personalities and backstories, making the storylines engaging and relatable.
  • The art style and music create a pleasant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The writing contains numerous typos and awkward translations, which can detract from the immersion.
  • The protagonist often comes across as bland and overly submissive, lacking depth and personality.
  • Some routes feel rushed and lack meaningful character development, leading to predictable and uninteresting storylines.
  • story
    99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in this game is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its lack of depth and reliance on clichés, particularly in the romance and character development. While some appreciate the emotional backstories of the love interests and the mature themes, others find the narrative repetitive and lacking in engagement, often feeling disconnected from the protagonist. Overall, the game offers a slice-of-life experience that can be entertaining but may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or immersive storyline.

    • “I really loved that the story takes age-gap factors into consideration, depending on which love interest you choose, and I'm certain this would appeal greatly to anyone that doesn't see age as a 'deal breaker'.”
    • “The writing is fantastic and the different storylines made each one a bit more personal than usual.”
    • “It's definitely a slice-of-life sort of game, but it doesn't do it particularly well, and I'm a fan of Harvest Moon and Story of Seasons.”
    • “And since there's really no plot aside from the romance, it becomes hard to stay engaged...”
    • “Sometimes you're just lost because key points are missing or not told in the story.”
    • “The stories are pretty short and mostly cliché; the protagonist is yet another nameless, faceless girl in her twenties struggling in a boring office job and lacking any sort of backstory, motivations, or ambitions for her future.”
  • music
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally described as smooth, calming, and fitting for the atmosphere, though some find it repetitive with a limited number of tracks. While it may not be memorable, it enhances the overall experience without being intrusive, making it a pleasant backdrop for gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the music's ability to complement the game's themes and settings.

    • “The music is cool and smooth; it has few tracks but they work pretty well.”
    • “The soundtrack is very calming and fitting for the game and there is a short date scene and sequel scene unlocked once each route is completed.”
    • “The music is nice and relaxing and really fits in the atmosphere of every situation.”
    • “The music was repetitive, but most of the time it was a smooth melody, so I've just decreased it while playing.”
    • “- repetitive soundtrack”
    • “The characters aren't memorable, but I do admit the music is pretty snazzy.”
  • graphics
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the art style as clean and beautiful, while others note inconsistencies and awkwardness in character designs. Some players appreciate the effort put into the artwork, despite it occasionally feeling unpolished or creepy. Overall, the visuals are seen as secondary to the story and character development, with a sense that the game is experimenting with its artistic direction.

    • “The art style for the game is good.”
    • “Beautiful artwork.”
    • “I personally really like the art style too; it's clean and I can see there was some great effort put into it.”
    • “Like, in one artwork she has eyes, in the other, she doesn't have them.”
    • “Also, the artwork can be a little creepy at times.”
    • “The artwork is alright, but the plot is horrible.”
  • humor
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as over-the-top and often corny, providing a lighthearted and entertaining experience for players who embrace its absurdity. Many reviewers found the mix of silly writing, steamy moments, and amusing translation errors to be a source of laughter, encouraging players not to take the narrative seriously for maximum enjoyment. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to uplift and entertain through its humorous elements.

    • “This game is just hilarious!”
    • “As you can see, I have over 100 hours in this game. Since I replay it from time to time, it's so uplifting and hilarious. If you don't take it seriously (believe me, you can't take this game seriously!), you will have a very good and entertaining time!”
    • “Hilarious good time with funny stories (with epic typos and interesting translation choices to spice it up). Don't think too hard or take this too seriously, and you'll have a good time!”
  • emotional
    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply impactful, with many routes featuring darker themes and moments that evoke strong feelings, including tears. The characters are described as charming and emotionally invested, creating a sense of guilt when exploring different routes. Overall, the game is praised for its touching and dramatic storytelling that fosters emotional connections.

    • “The stories I have gone through in the game so far are very emotional, and as I said, contain some darker story elements than some other visual novels.”
    • “Hideaki's route was really emotional for me, and for that route alone, I would recommend this game.”
    • “All of these guys are so charming and emotionally invested in you; it makes me feel like I'm cheating when I do another route.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is warmly described as inviting and comforting, centered around a cozy pub setting with welcoming regulars. The relaxing music enhances the overall ambiance, perfectly complementing the various situations within the game.

    • “I like the characters and the story, and the general atmosphere created is nice too: a pub and its welcoming regulars there to comfort you.”
    • “The music is nice and relaxing and really fits in the atmosphere of every situation.”
    • “To the nice, snazzy atmosphere of the pub.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is noted for its attempt at diversity, but it suffers from rushed designs and choppy arcs, particularly among love interests. While the setting offers relatable characters compared to previous titles like "The Men of Yoshiwara" and "Destiny's Princess," the overall execution leaves much to be desired.

    • “It wasn't feudal Japan or formal concubines - it was just some guys chilling out in your local pub, which I really enjoyed because the characters felt more relatable than they were in 'The Men of Yoshiwara' and even more so than they were in 'Destiny's Princess,' which I had actually complimented for its character development.”
    • “Everything feels really rushed and the character development of your love interests is choppy.”
    • “I like that the writers were trying to include more diverse lists, but my goodness, what the heck is wrong with the character designs?”
    • “It wasn't feudal Japan or formal concubines - it was just some guys chilling out in your local pub, which I really enjoyed because the characters, once again, felt like they were more relatable than they were in 'The Men of Yoshiwara' and even more so than they were in 'Destiny's Princess,' which I'd actually complimented for its character development.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Reviewers highlight the game's strong replayability, noting that engaging conversations and likable characters contribute to its value. The plot is considered decent, further enhancing the incentive to replay the game. Overall, players feel the experience justifies the full price due to its replayable nature.

    • “I think it's worth the full price because of the replayability value and the long, engaging conversations.”
    • “It's got high replayability; the characters are likable enough, and the plot is decent.”
  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate that the game's characters, particularly Yorihisa, are portrayed as self-centered and manipulative, while the main character is depicted as overly naive and timid, suggesting that character dynamics may not be well-optimized for engaging gameplay.

  • stability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users have reported occasional glitches in the game, particularly noting that dialogue transitions can feel abrupt and incoherent, impacting overall stability.

    • “I'm not sure if there are some glitches in the game, but sometimes I felt the dialogues just jumped from one thing to another without a smooth transition, which makes things a bit incoherent.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Pub Encounter is a action game with romance theme.

Pub Encounter is available on Nintendo Switch, PC and Windows.

Pub Encounter was released on April 12, 2016.

Pub Encounter was developed by Dogenzaka Lab.

Pub Encounter has received positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Pub Encounter is a single player game.

Similar games include The Men of Yoshiwara: Kikuya, Seduce Me the Otome, Fashioning Little Miss Lonesome, Destiny's Princess: A War Story, A Love Story, The Men of Yoshiwara: Ohgiya and others.