Salty Hounds

About

"Salty Hounds" is an open-world dating sim where you run a bodyguard agency and build relationships with love interests through daily encounters and events. The game features a living, breathing city with a day/night cycle, and offers high-quality pixel art and illustrations along with voiced content. Your goal is to uncover each character's secrets and gain their trust to unlock new events and dialogues on your quest for love.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 109 reviews

story5 positive mentions

stability18 negative mentions

The game has beautiful art and character designs, which many players find appealing.
The developers have shown commitment to improving the game, actively working on updates and bug fixes since its rough launch.
The gameplay offers a unique blend of dating sim mechanics with open-world exploration, providing a refreshing experience for fans of the genre.

The game is still in early access and suffers from numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating to play.
Many features and content are incomplete or locked, leading to a feeling of emptiness and lack of direction in gameplay.
There are issues with translation and dialogue, including untranslated text and inconsistent voice acting quality.

story
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
78%
8%
The story aspect of the game has garnered mixed reviews, with players expressing excitement about the characters and potential plot developments, particularly in relation to the dating mechanics. However, many users noted a lack of clarity in quest direction and a desire for a more immersive and consistent narrative experience. Overall, while the foundation of the story is appreciated, there is a strong call for improvements in quest guidance and storytelling depth as the game evolves.
- “It sort of reminds me of the early days of Mystic Messenger; there is so much to this story and game that still has yet to come out, but I can't wait to see what they have in store. I adore all the characters and the plot of the game; also, I feel that this game is a game-changer for all current dating simulator games.”
- “I'm really enjoying the story and I love each of the characters so far.”
- “I really like the graphics, storyline, and voice acting of the game. I think the game has a lot of potential and with more updates, it will turn into a fun experience.”
- “The story is unfinished and there are still some untranslated parts, but the game itself is enjoyable.”
- “There is no clear storyline or quest interface, so most of the time you just aimlessly walk around the map trying to find any kind of content or do the only thing you're allowed to do: sit somewhere to read a book.”
- “While the current state of the story gave us a good view of what has happened, I do strongly believe that it can be more exciting if the story is consistent, rich, and immersive.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
66%
9%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players enjoying the engaging mechanics and character interactions, while others criticize the lack of depth and frequent bugs. Many appreciate the art style and potential for future development, but express frustration over unclear objectives and technical issues that hinder the overall experience. Overall, while there are enjoyable elements, significant improvements are needed to enhance gameplay satisfaction.
- “Still, the gameplay looked so interesting for me, and the art style was absolutely gorgeous, it gave me enough faith to give it a shot.”
- “Gameplay was very enjoyable and the characters so far have been very fun with some interesting stories.”
- “It's simple yet cute, with smooth gameplay movement and the soundtrack providing a chill, lo-fi vibe that is very suitable for the pixel-graphic game.”
- “As it stands, there's enough content here for many hours of gameplay, but the routes aren't developed enough yet to really get a satisfactory plot.”
- “I fully understand the early-access nature of the game, I backed it from Kickstarter from the get-go, which leaves me perplexed as to how we are still experiencing a non-fully translated game with very limited mechanics that were promised in the campaign.”
- “Do not buy this game, it frequently crashes and gameplay feels a bit lost and empty.”
graphics
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
43%
14%
The graphics of the game have received praise for their charming art style and captivating pixel visuals, which many players find visually appealing and distinct. While the overall aesthetic is considered lovely and cute, some users express concerns about execution and technical issues that detract from the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the art style is seen as a strong point that holds potential for further development.
- “The art style is lovely.”
- “Salty Hounds is a visually pleasing game that captivated me with its impressive graphics and charming musical score.”
- “The captivating pixel visuals, delightful music, and solid voice acting show the greatness within.”
- “This game has a great concept and artwork, but very poor execution.”
- “I have a huge monitor and a smaller window mode would be nice for pixel graphics.”
- “This reboot patch is still not the entire game we were promised as backers and players, and I've been told by a friend (also a backer) that this one still has the occasional issue and still no choice to use the original artwork.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The music in the game is widely praised for its cozy, chill vibes and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players expressing a desire to listen to the soundtrack outside of gameplay. While some note that certain tracks can be overwhelming or cut abruptly, the overall sentiment is that the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersion. However, it's worth mentioning that some of the music is sourced from free background music rather than being original compositions.
- “I don't know the backstory of the music, but for me, it has made the game much more enjoyable.”
- “The soundtrack enhances immersion, creating a cohesive audiovisual experience that lingers long after playing.”
- “I can feel the love, passion, and hard work that the devs put into the art, music quality, and interaction between the characters.”
- “The music needs to be smoother, since it cuts quite abruptly when it ends.”
- “Some of the music is free to use music, so not something made specifically for Salty Hounds.”
- “The music can be a little overwhelming at times, but I like the soundtrack.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been a significant concern among users, with many reporting persistent bugs, crashes, and freezing issues, particularly in the initial release and even after the reboot. While some players have noted improvements and smoother gameplay in certain areas, the overall experience remains marred by ongoing technical problems, leading to frustration and disappointment. Despite its charming elements, the game's stability issues continue to hinder full enjoyment.
- “I didn't want to invest time in this game before, as it was very buggy and crashed often.”
- “However... the amount of time this game has been unplayable combined with the amount of time it's felt lacking/buggy even after promised fixes is eyebrow-raising at minimum.”
- “As a fellow disappointed player who had been eagerly anticipating this game, I share the frustration of not being able to fully enjoy it due to persistent bugs and glitches.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a grindy element that some players find necessary for balancing gameplay, as it prevents excessive free time and aligns with the game's logic. While not all players enjoy grinding, many appreciate the blend of skill and money progression with engaging interactions, though some feel the initial cost of activities makes the grind feel excessive. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as well-implemented and contributes to the polished, story-driven experience.
- “The game is a bit grindy, and it gets easier in some situations. Honestly, without a bit of grinding, you would have too much time on your hands throughout the day, and it also makes sense logically the way it is implemented.”
- “Personally, I wouldn't say I like grinding games, but this was a good mix of grinding for skills and money along with interactions, so I wasn't super annoyed by it.”
- “Also, every activity is so expensive, and at the beginning of the game, you don't earn any money... it feels a tad too grindy.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Users express disappointment with the game's optimization, noting that it experiences noticeable lag, which detracts from the overall experience. This performance issue is particularly frustrating given the game's initial marketing as a dating simulator.
- “I am profoundly disappointed and disheartened by the game's performance, particularly considering its initial portrayal as a dating game.”
- “Is it normal for the game to lag slightly?”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its attractive designs and exceptional pixel art, particularly highlighting the male leads' appeal reminiscent of webtoon comics. The detailed animations and environments further enhance the immersive experience of the game world.
- “The attention to detail in the environments, character designs, and animations is exceptional, bringing the game world to life.”
- “Before I end this review, I do want to gush about the character designs and the pixel art for the characters and the environment.”
- “The character designs of the male leads are very attractive; it's the kind I see often in webtoon comics.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
- “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; their arcs felt predictable and uninspired.”
- “Despite the appealing character designs, the lack of meaningful growth left me feeling uninvested in their journeys.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by awkward and relatable interactions, particularly a comedic moment involving a character's reluctance to confront another after a significant event. Players appreciate the lightheartedness and timing of these humorous scenarios, which enhance the overall experience.
- “Without going into this too much to avoid spoilers, running into Seha after a certain event orchestrated by the main character, the awkwardness of running into him and your character saying that it's best to avoid him is too funny.”
- “I've been keeping up with Kickstarter updates, and they reached out to me to retry the game (I actually retried it before they reached out to me, funny enough).”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's whimsical atmosphere is enhanced by cute and catchy melodies, creating an engaging and delightful experience for players.
- “The cute and catchy melodies perfectly complement the game's whimsical atmosphere.”
- “The haunting sound design and stunning visuals create an immersive atmosphere that pulls you into the game world.”
- “Every detail, from the ambient sounds to the vibrant colors, contributes to an enchanting atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”