Punch Line

About

Punch Line is a single player role playing game with mystery and comedy themes. It was developed by MAGES. Inc. and was released on May 23, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and neutral reviews from players.

In "Punch Line," players assume the role of a friendly ghost, haunting a house full of ladies and solving puzzles. The poltergeist powers can be leveled-up, and players can cause mischief, but seeing too many panties may lead to humanity's destruction. The game features time travel, detective work, and the chance to prevent Earth's explosion and defeat terrorists, with a different ending from the anime series.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

58%

Audience ScoreBased on 50 reviews

story25 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The story is engaging and features interesting characters, with a mix of humor and emotional depth that keeps players invested.
The game includes high-quality anime cutscenes that enhance the overall experience, providing a visual treat for fans of the genre.
Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique premise that combines visual novel elements with light puzzle mechanics, appealing to fans of interactive storytelling.

The PC port is riddled with issues, including broken controller support, unskippable cutscenes, and a lack of basic quality-of-life features like achievements and customizable controls.
Gameplay is often tedious, relying on trial-and-error puzzles that can feel frustrating and unfulfilling, especially in the first half of the game.
The game is overpriced for its content, with many reviewers suggesting that the anime adaptation provides a better experience without the associated gameplay frustrations.

story
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The story of "Punch Line" is a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting its interesting premise and character interactions, but criticizing its execution and pacing. While the narrative starts off slow and is often overshadowed by fanservice, it eventually reveals unexpected twists that can engage players, particularly those who appreciate Uchikoshi's style. However, many suggest that the anime adaptation offers a more cohesive and enjoyable experience, making it hard to recommend the game solely for its story.
- “The story takes a bit of time to pick up, but after a while I couldn't leave it alone; I had grown endeared to the characters and the story and mysteries of the series piqued my interest.”
- “The pros of this game are that it has a very strong and complex story reminiscent of Uchikoshi's other works, as well as decent characters.”
- “While Punch Line starts off slow and has a hilarious comedic touch, I can definitely say that it didn’t fail to absolutely amaze me and I am positive, as long as you make it through the first rather slice-of-life part, Punch Line will manage to throw off every visual novel lover with its unpredictable plot and lovely characters.”
- “Perhaps that was for the best, since I’d already forgotten a lot of the details about it, and most of the story is the exact same as in the anime.”
- “But alas, it’s really hard to recommend going through the story in the game rather than by watching the anime.”
- “There is a huge amount of filler and as a result, the story drags out way too slowly and quickly becomes boring.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
84%
8%
The gameplay in "Punch Line" has been widely criticized for being minimal and unengaging, often feeling like a tacked-on element to an otherwise visual novel experience. Players report that the interactive segments are simplistic and repetitive, with many mechanics feeling arbitrary or poorly executed, leading to a lack of meaningful engagement. While some appreciate the potential in the gameplay, the overwhelming sentiment is that it detracts from the overall experience rather than enhancing it.
- “In the first 13 episodes of the game, there are short gameplay sections where the aim is either to scare one of Yuta's four female housemates by playing ghost tricks on her around the house, or accomplish a task by chaining a series of tricks.”
- “Punch Line's gameplay is an even mix between visual novel and some basic puzzles, interspersed with short anime videos.”
- “The bit of gameplay I was able to get, after 1.5 hours of playing it, shows potential and overall the game is well executed and not cheaply made as tons of others on Steam; it's more of an interactive anime (it has actual anime pieces put into the game) where everyone plays stupid and asks thrice, but when you actually get to the gameplay and you are into anime, you may find it fun.”
- “The actual gameplay segments are ironically the worst part about the game.”
- “The gameplay is boring and completely uninteresting.”
- “The gameplay doesn't really add anything to the experience and honestly just felt like a way to pad the game's already short length.”
graphics
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
The game's graphics are generally criticized for being inconsistent and low-quality, with character visuals being decent but environmental details lacking. Many reviewers noted the dated 3D graphics and the absence of customizable settings, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the anime cutscenes are described as lackluster, further diminishing the visual appeal.
- “In-game graphics are all 3D and look pretty nice, if a little dated now.”
- “Only available in fullscreen or windowed with no options to tune the graphics settings.”
- “[*] lovely anime artworks”
- “The visuals and presentation look like trash and are extremely inconsistent.”
- “The low-res graphics don't help at all, to make matters worse.”
- “The visuals are quite bad and the textbox and menus look absolutely horrible.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the catchy j-pop tracks that complement the lighthearted story, while others criticize the sound balancing and find certain songs unenjoyable or repetitive. The presence of unskippable intro and ending songs for each chapter has also been a point of frustration for some users. Overall, while the soundtrack fits the genre, it may not resonate with all players.
- “The music soundtrack is typical of the genre: plenty of j-pop-style tracks and catchy tunes.”
- “It does not have the best graphics but it is a thoroughly enjoyable lighthearted story with bubbly music that sets the mood well.”
- “Thankfully there are no issues to point out on the music and voice acting side.”
- “The music is bad.”
- “That song makes me want to do horrible things.”
- “The sound balancing between the music and the voice acting is bad for quite a few songs.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Punch Line" is polarizing; while some players find it unfunny and lacking in comedic impact, others appreciate its over-the-top antics and character interactions, which can be both hilarious and emotional. The game attempts to blend absurd premises with humor, and while it may start slow, it ultimately delivers a comedic experience that resonates with fans of the genre. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some praising its humor and others deeming it a failure.
- “Before playing the game, I knew very little about it, but that one line on the store page -- 'if he sees underwear, humanity will be destroyed!' -- made me laugh with delight.”
- “The four girls who live with Yuta in the secluded Korai House apartment building -- Meika, Ito, Rabura, and Mikatan -- all fill the roles of some of the expected anime character stereotypes pretty nicely, but the interactions between them are at times both hilarious and emotional.”
- “The premise is ridiculous and the script is, barring a few minor grammatical errors and tiny plot weaknesses, hilarious.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the touching and humorous interactions among the characters, particularly the four girls living with Yuta, whose bonding moments and personal struggles evoke both laughter and heartfelt emotions. Players experience a range of feelings, from joy in their camaraderie to sadness during conflicts, making the characters' journeys both relatable and impactful. Overall, the blend of humor and poignant backstories creates a rich emotional experience.
- “I find a lot of the character interactions cute or touching, and you can feel them bonding as they struggle to navigate the ordeals in their way, or as they sing off-beat and off-key karaoke, cheering each other on the whole time.”
- “The four girls who live with Yuta in the secluded Korai House apartment building -- Meika, Ito, Rabura, and Mikatan -- all fill the roles of some of the expected anime character stereotypes pretty nicely, but the interactions between them are at times both hilarious and emotional.”
- “Additionally, the past of each girl was very heart-wrenching and seeing them getting close filled me with happiness, while seeing them argue tore my heart out, just wanting them to finally make up.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, exacerbated by poor UI design choices that contribute to a frustrating experience.
- “Combined with some poor choices for UI design, it makes the game somewhat tedious.”
- “It's kind of tedious to do.”