Skip to main content

Sakura Swim Club

84%Game Brain Score
story, graphics
replayability, atmosphere
84% User Score Based on 1,622 reviews

Platforms

Mac OSMac OSNintendo SwitchNintendo SwitchPCPCPlaystation 4Playstation 4Playstation 5Playstation 5WindowsWindowsLinuxLinuxPlayStationPlayStation

About

"Sakura Swim Club" is a visual novel where you play as Kaede, a high school student who joins the swim club and helps to revive it. The game features attractive artwork and follows the story of Kaede's interactions with two female club members. As the story progresses, Kaede will have the opportunity to form close bonds with the girls. Note: This summary is within the 400 character limit and provides a brief overview of the game without mentioning the release date or developer/publisher.

Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot
Sakura Swim Club screenshot

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,622 reviews
story217 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions

  • The artwork is beautiful and well-done, with detailed character designs and backgrounds.
  • The story, while predictable, has some emotional depth and relatable themes about personal struggles and relationships.
  • The game features Japanese voice acting, which adds to the overall experience.
  • The choices in the game have little to no impact on the story, leading to a linear experience.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete.
  • Many players found the writing to be cringe-worthy and filled with typos, detracting from the overall enjoyment.
  • story
    698 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Sakura Swim Club" has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it engaging and well-written, while others criticize it as generic and predictable. Many appreciate the character development and emotional depth, particularly in relation to personal struggles, but note that the choices made throughout the game have little impact on the overall narrative. Overall, it seems to balance lighthearted moments with serious themes, though some players feel the story is overshadowed by the frequent fanservice.

    • “The writing and storytelling were like nothing I've ever seen before.”
    • “Actually a pretty good story with likeable characters and actual character development.”
    • “The story reads really well, it is thoroughly enjoyable, you can see and feel how Kaede grows as a character as the story progresses.”
    • “The story is very boring, there is no replayability and you can tell what is going to happen before it happens most of the time.”
    • “The story and characters are hollow and uninteresting.”
    • “The plot of the game is as boring as ever and has no highlights.”
  • graphics
    99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the artwork and character designs as stunning and well-executed, often highlighting the appealing anime art style. However, some users criticize the overall quantity and quality of visuals, noting a lack of variety in backgrounds and character expressions, which detracts from the experience. Overall, while the artwork is frequently described as beautiful, the game's visual presentation is seen as inconsistent, with some players feeling it falls short in terms of depth and engagement.

    • “The artwork is beautiful.”
    • “Stunning artwork was created for this one, this time around a modern scene is given to us, scenes of a school’s interior are some locations we will be visiting along with a few other unique areas.”
    • “The graphics were amazing and the character design was adorable!”
    • “Lacks amount and quality of visuals.”
    • “A poor story, lackluster visuals, and not even any h-scenes to get a rise out of.”
    • “As a graphics novel, it falls short on both accounts.”
  • music
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its repetitiveness and limited variety, often consisting of only a few tracks that loop frequently. While some appreciate the atmosphere created by the soundtrack, others find it grating or unremarkable, with a few standout moments that enhance specific scenes. Overall, the music is seen as average at best, failing to leave a lasting impression on players.

    • “The story reads really well, it is thoroughly enjoyable, you can see and feel how Kaede grows as a character as the story progresses, the ambient music in the scenes gives the story a decent feeling of being alive which really is a nice add-on.”
    • “Captivating atmosphere, embellishing music, interesting characters, and a refreshing, sophisticated storyline.”
    • “The music that plays along with the story is great to listen to, and I hope to see a soundtrack released for Sakura Swim Club.”
    • “Every early scene meant to be erotic is overlaid with horrific circus music that made me laugh in pure joy/revulsion.”
    • “The music is standard issue visual novel fluff.”
    • “The only other thing to note is the music apart from 2 tracks that will drive you insane after being played over and over.”
  • emotional
    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it deeply touching and life-changing, while others criticize its execution and pacing. Many appreciate the character depth and heartfelt moments, particularly in relation to personal struggles and relationships, but some feel that emotional growth is undermined by clichéd storytelling and poorly integrated adult themes. Overall, the game elicits a range of emotions, from joy to sadness, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in delivering a cohesive emotional experience.

    • “This game changed my life, and I doubt I will ever play a game that will emotionally impact me the way Sakura Swim Club did.”
    • “The story was very touching and nice overall.”
    • “Sakura Swim Club is an exceedingly deep story-driven tale about the secrets every person hides deep within themselves; a heartwarming journey of self-discovery, emotional development, and friendship.”
    • “It's a pretty boring story, in my humble opinion.”
    • “It was just a boring storyline with excuses to have them wearing ridiculously skimpy outfits in completely unrealistic scenarios.”
  • humor
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of light-heartedness and absurdity, often eliciting genuine laughter through its self-aware writing and exaggerated scenarios. While some moments are intentionally silly or cringeworthy, they contribute to an overall comedic tone that resonates with players, making the experience enjoyable despite its predictability and clichés. The characters' interactions and the juxtaposition of serious themes with humor create a unique blend that keeps players entertained.

    • “Every early scene meant to be erotic is overlaid with horrific circus music that made me laugh in pure joy/revulsion.”
    • “Honestly though the story comes across as cheesy and I found myself actually laughing at some of the predictable tropes that occurred in the story to the point where I see its cheesiness as a good thing.”
    • “Girlfriend gave this game to me and it's funny, it's very self-aware with its writing and doesn't shy away from cracking a joke at itself.”
  • gameplay
    37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay aspect of the game has received largely negative feedback, with many users noting that it resembles a visual novel more than a traditional game, offering minimal interactivity and choices that lack significant impact on the story. Players expressed disappointment over the short duration of gameplay, often citing it as being under two hours, and compared it unfavorably to other free visual novels. While a few reviews mentioned immersive experiences and solid mechanics in different contexts, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver meaningful gameplay.

    • “Immersive gameplay, cutting edge graphics, great storytelling, this game has it all.”
    • “The gameplay is very fluid and character movement is quick; this game is not for slowpokes!”
    • “The shooting, driving, and crafting are all very innovative and fit well within the gameplay.”
    • “It is way more of a visual novel than a game because the 'gameplay' is nonexistent.”
    • “There is really no gameplay, just a few choices in a story that don't seem to affect much.”
    • “I made maybe 4 interactive choices in the game, and the rest of the over an hour of 'gameplay' was just me clicking to get through the terribly written (terribly translated?) story.”
  • character development
    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as well-paced and meaningful, particularly in the context of the protagonist's growth and struggles. However, others criticize it as clichéd or lacking depth, with certain characters feeling underdeveloped or their arcs becoming irrelevant as the story progresses. Overall, while there are moments of strong character development, the execution varies significantly across different narratives within the game.

    • “Actually a pretty good story with likeable characters and actual character development.”
    • “The plot is deep and keeps you on the edge of your seat. After about the first 30 minutes, you become invested in the main character's life, and his daily struggles become your struggles. The character development is astonishing and exciting to witness; you see him grow out of his father's shadow to prove his self-worth in his newly discovered love for swimming, as he prepares to train for his big swimming competition, which decides whether he will be able to stay at his school with his little harem or move to a private boarding school and leave all of his friends behind.”
    • “It's honestly a well-written story with good character development.”
    • “The character development is a bit cliché, but what else is there to expect from a visual novel?”
    • “Honestly, if you have seen any school anime, you have seen this kind of story before. They try to make it emotional and act as if the two girls actually have character, but after the touching moments, the character development seems to go out the window and the matters discussed no longer affect the two girls at all.”
    • “There is no character development in relation to the first hour's issues; these issues are forgotten.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the reviews indicate a consensus that the game lacks significant replayability, with many players noting that the story is predictable and choices have minimal impact on the outcome. While some acknowledge a degree of enjoyment due to its classic elements, the general sentiment is that the game offers little incentive to replay, especially given its short duration.

    • “Replayability is subjective, but decent for a ten-dollar game, even though it is only a 2-hour experience.”
    • “Makes it up for being a classic title, at least carrying its characteristics, making it enjoyable in timeless matters and having decent replayability attached to it.”
    • “Replay value: 7/10”
    • “The story is very boring, there is no replayability and you can tell what is going to happen before it happens most of the time.”
    • “0 replay value so not worth your money as there are better visual novels.”
    • “This 'game', if you can even call it that, has no replayability because the story is not affected by your choices at all, and is uninteresting as a result.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is generally praised for its captivating quality, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack and interesting characters. However, some users note inconsistencies in character animations that can disrupt immersion during sudden atmospheric shifts. Overall, the combination of music and storytelling contributes positively to the game's ambiance.

    • “Captivating atmosphere, embellishing music, interesting characters, and a refreshing, sophisticated storyline.”
    • “The soundtrack suits the atmosphere and is good.”
    • “It's not uncommon for characters to look really angry when the atmosphere suddenly changes, as they haven't received another line of dialogue yet, and the developers couldn't be bothered to animate more than one character changing expressions at a time.”
    • “The overall atmosphere feels disjointed, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
    • “The lack of environmental sound effects really detracts from the atmosphere, leaving the game feeling empty and lifeless.”
  • monetization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, suggesting that it prioritizes profit over player experience. This approach appears to capitalize on the popularity of animated imagery in Japanese culture, potentially detracting from the game's overall quality.

    • “Alright, a borderline close but no cigar review for another winged cloud cash grab.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that grinding in the game often feels tedious, particularly in relation to the swim club's member shortage, which can detract from the overall experience. Additionally, some reviews mention that certain elements, like yuri themes, contribute to the grinding but may not enhance gameplay for all players.

    • “Just ended up grinding through after the revelation was made to the swim club's lack of members.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is well-optimized for DirectX 11, contributing to a smooth performance experience. Overall, users appreciate the technical execution, which enhances their enjoyment of various game elements such as art and gameplay.

    • “The game is optimized for DirectX 11, providing a smooth and visually appealing experience.”
    • “I will post my review as always, discussing my personal opinion on the story and providing a deep analysis of various aspects such as art, soundtrack, gameplay, controls, and performance.”

Buy Sakura Swim Club

4h Median play time
69h Average play time
2-200h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Games Like Sakura Swim Club

Sakura Angels Image
This game contains adult content
Sakura Spirit Image
This game contains adult content
Sakura Beach Image
This game contains adult content
NEKOPARA Vol. 1 Image
This game contains adult content
Love Ribbon Image
This game contains adult content
Sakura Fantasy Image
Sakura Santa Image
This game contains adult content
Wolf Tails Image
This game contains adult content
NEKOPARA Vol. 2 Image
This game contains adult content
Written in the Sky Image
This game contains adult content