Rakuen
- May 9, 2017
- Laura Shigihara
- 9h median play time
Get on Steam"Rakuen" is a single-player fantasy RPG with a beautiful story, splendid visuals, and delightful soundtrack. The game follows a little Boy in the hospital who, with his mother, seeks to complete challenges in a fantasy world to grant his wish. Players will interact with hospital neighbors and their alter-egos, uncovering emotional stories and secrets. With good gameplay, humor, and some grinding, "Rakuen" offers a unique and highly emotional experience.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- Beautiful story that explores themes of loss, hope, and relationships, making it a deeply emotional experience.
- Gorgeous pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the storytelling.
- Engaging characters with well-developed backstories that resonate with players.
- Gameplay can feel tedious due to slow walking speed and excessive backtracking.
- Some puzzles are overly simplistic and may detract from the overall experience.
- The emotional weight of the story may be overwhelming for some players.
- story4,695 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Rakuen" is widely praised for its emotional depth and heartfelt narrative, exploring themes of loss, healing, and connection through the experiences of a hospitalized boy and the patients around him. Players appreciate the intertwining character arcs, which are both touching and relatable, often leading to tears as the story unfolds. The game's charming visuals and beautiful soundtrack further enhance the storytelling, making it a memorable experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
“The story highlights the struggles of fellow patients in the hospital, but it also explores their relationships with the people around them and the unique challenges each of them face, whether it be the patients themselves or their loved ones dealing with the situation.”
“Blending heartfelt storytelling with charming visuals, it takes players on an emotional journey through a whimsical yet touching narrative.”
“The story is a bittersweet emotional roller coaster with great use of symbolism, metaphor, and foreshadowing.”
“I liked the world of rakuen, but I didn't like the story it told.”
“The story is decent but was hindered by... everything else.”
“The story is surprisingly deep; each of the character you're supposed to help have their own backstory, most of them involving adult fears.”
- music2,637 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Rakuen," composed by Laura Shigihara, is widely praised for its emotional depth and beautiful melodies, enhancing the game's storytelling and atmosphere. Many players highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke strong feelings, with vocal tracks particularly noted for their impact. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's narrative and emotional resonance, making it a must-listen even outside of gameplay.
“The music is incredible, the characters are lovely, the story is well-written, the art is gorgeous, everything about this game is so incredible.”
“The music, the visuals, and the amazing story make this game one of my favorites!!”
“The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful and really brings across the weight of every individual story-line.”
“In a game that's otherwise silent, voice-wise, the songs (which are a key part of the story) feel like they come out of nowhere.”
“I found the repetition of the vocal song(s it sounded like the same song but I'm not sure) in the game really way too cheesy for me and wished there was a way to skip the singing parts which were really unnecessary and boring.”
“The first and the last credit song is good but the rest really ruins the mood.”
- emotional2,310 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Rakuen" is overwhelmingly praised by players, who describe it as a deeply touching and heart-wrenching experience. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, with numerous players admitting to crying multiple times throughout the story. The combination of heartfelt storytelling, beautiful music, and charming visuals creates an emotional rollercoaster that resonates with players, making it a memorable and impactful journey.
“Blending heartfelt storytelling with charming visuals, it takes players on an emotional journey through a whimsical yet touching narrative.”
“The game is fairly short, but it has gorgeous pixel art, lovely music, great characters that you really connect with, and a touching, whimsical (but deep) story.”
“This game is an emotional roller coaster - in the good way.”
- gameplay784 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Rakuen" is primarily focused on exploration and narrative, featuring simple mechanics such as walking, talking, and solving basic puzzles, which some players find repetitive and lacking depth. While the game offers a heartfelt story and beautiful art, many reviews highlight that the gameplay can feel clunky and tedious, often detracting from the overall experience. Players who prioritize story over gameplay may appreciate the emotional journey, but those seeking more engaging mechanics might find it lacking.
“It's definitely a lesser-known game from a small team, but those that are familiar with Rakuen know that it is known for its emotional narrative, touching story, and unique gameplay mechanics.”
“The gameplay is pretty good, too, though it might not be everyone's cup of tea as it is in essence a puzzle game.”
“The gameplay was great, the puzzles were fun, and it was very interesting to get an insight into characters.”
“Gameplay was really clunky.”
“Many of the items you need to progress (keys, notes, etc.) are found by searching bookshelves and so on, so there's a lot of rather dull talk-to-every-object-on-the-screen gameplay.”
“The gameplay feels really sluggish for me with tons of backtracking.”
- graphics632 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful pixel art style, charming visuals, and emotional resonance that complement the heartfelt storytelling. While some reviewers note that the graphics may not be cutting-edge or highly detailed, they are described as aesthetically pleasing and fitting for the game's whimsical and bittersweet narrative. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength, enhancing the game's emotional impact and immersive experience.
“Blending heartfelt storytelling with charming visuals, it takes players on an emotional journey through a whimsical yet touching narrative.”
“The graphics are absolutely beautiful and pleasing to the eye; it perfectly fits that '2D cozy' vibe.”
“The visuals and audio are delightfully charming, with a cute pixel art style that complements the atmosphere the game was going for.”
“I have played through quite a few indie RPG Maker games and felt the need to point out the amateurish art style this game employed.”
“Graphic-wise, this game is bad, not only for the bad resolution when in full window, but the lack of configuration in general for the game.”
“Rakuen, on the surface, seems like your typical 'RPG Maker' game, the graphics aren't the greatest and the gameplay mechanics are basic and simplistic.”
- humor254 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as a delightful blend of lightheartedness and emotional depth, often eliciting both laughter and tears from players. Many reviews highlight the clever writing, quirky characters, and whimsical dialogue that provide comedic relief amidst the game's heavier themes. Overall, the humor is seen as a vital component that enhances the storytelling, making the experience both charming and poignant.
“The writing is amazing, and when I wasn't sobbing into a pillow, I was laughing.”
“Even though the game is incredibly emotional, there were moments when I laughed as well because situations and dialogues were just hilarious, but still fit into the world.”
“The little incidental character conversations are often hilarious, like the flower who is amused by the tree growing out of its head, and scenes burst with charm.”
- atmosphere112 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming blend of cute visuals and haunting undertones, creating a unique experience that oscillates between relaxing and eerie. The exceptional soundtrack enhances this atmosphere, contributing to emotional storytelling and immersive gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the thoughtful design and emotional depth, making it a memorable journey through both whimsical and poignant themes.
“The music was phenomenal; it really blended well with the atmosphere of the game or scene.”
“The soundtrack and the game's atmosphere combine to provide a whimsical and ethereal child-like experience.”
“There have been several moments in the game where I found myself tearing up due to the beautiful atmosphere created by the soundtrack and imagery; to chills running down my spine and my heart beating in sync with the one in-game as I walk along dimly lit corridors trying to understand the purpose of the envoy; are they here for me?”
“Atmosphere/story didn't grab me so I quit it halfway.”
“How is this overwhelmingly positive? The atmosphere isn't really there and the story is not that great (doesn't mean it's bad though).”
“Sleeping was a bit difficult afterwards with the atmosphere that it created.”
- character development90 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the well-crafted storylines and engaging character designs. Players appreciate the whimsical and cute character aesthetics, alongside the touching narratives that enhance the overall experience. While some wished for even more character exploration, the consensus is that the game excels in creating memorable and relatable characters within a beautifully designed world.
“The character development in the game was excellent!”
“The character development is wonderful and I felt myself wanting to spend more time in this incredible world after the game had ended.”
“Character development is phenomenal.”
“Overall, the character development is well done, but the resolution of a patient’s problem comes too soon after its understanding, and sometimes is unclear or feels illogical.”
“- a handful of character designs were so goofy, they actually spoilt certain scenes for me later on.”
“The quality of this game is amazing, it may be a bit slow at first, but trust me the unique and complex character development and storytelling will draw you in.”
- grinding72 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is characterized by tedious back-and-forth navigation and puzzle-solving that can detract from the overall experience. Many players find the slow walking speed and repetitive tasks frustrating, often leading to a feeling of monotony, although some appreciate the emotional depth of the story that unfolds amidst the gameplay. Overall, while the game lacks traditional grinding elements like combat, the gameplay can still feel laborious and disconnected from the narrative.
“I would find myself wandering a building for 15 minutes checking every object over and over until I found the one I missed; it was extremely tedious.”
“The only complaint would be the lack of running, which makes exploration tedious and pads playtime by an hour or two.”
“There's no sprint function, which starts to grate early on, and so many of the puzzles not only rely on tedious back-and-forth, but also seem really disconnected from what's going on in the story.”
- replayability26 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it lacks significant replay value after completing it, others appreciate the exploration and sidequests that encourage revisiting the game. A few users noted that they might return to it after some time, especially to experience emotional moments or complete achievements. However, many agree that once the main content is finished, there isn't much incentive to replay.
“🔲 infinitely replayable”
“The game rewards you for exploring, and there's a multitude of different side quests and little things to collect and do that will keep you occupied and give a little bit more replayability.”
“If you can stand the strong emotions, then the game also has some good replayability in finding the important items and filling out the achievements.”
“The game is short and doesn't have much replayability; once you've completed it, it's done.”
“Not much replay value unless after a long time you feel like playing it again.”
“There isn't much to replay value.”
- optimization12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players experiencing slow performance and delayed movements, even on high-end systems. Stuttering issues often occur during dialogue scenes, which can disrupt the experience. However, players note that the overall design allows for modding options, such as adding a run button, to improve gameplay fluidity.
“While there are a few flaws like the speed of the walk animation, the entire game is optimized to make the walking speed acceptable, and it's possible to add a mod for a run button.”
“Sometimes the game runs slowly; I'm not sure why, as my computer is far beyond a potato. As a result, sometimes the movements are a little bit delayed, and I'd be unsure if they were stopping for a delayed scene or because the controls were being janky.”
“Because the game runs slowly for me, it often lingers on certain sections for too long.”
“One con I can think of is that stuttering might frequently occur in parts where dialogue appears above a character instead of the normal screen-wide box with a character illustration.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy for the game has not been explicitly discussed in the provided texts, which focus more on the game's unexpected horror elements versus its marketing. Therefore, no specific insights on monetization can be derived from these reviews.
