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Shanghai Summer

Shanghai Summer has an enjoyable story that kept me intrigued and will be a sure hit for fans of Erased or Your Name. However, there are some minor issues that may detract some players, such as grammar and some minor graphical issues.
Shanghai Summer Game Cover
71%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, emotional
Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay, character development
90% User Score Based on 31 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4WindowsPlayStation
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Shanghai Summer Game Cover

About Shanghai Summer

Shanghai Summer is a single player role playing game with romance, drama, mystery and anime themes. It was developed by FUTU Studio and was released on February 7, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Shanghai Summer is an adventure game set in the millennium. Our protagonist, Baichuan, goes through a series of "anomalies" over the length of twelve days. In his pursuit of the truth, he found that his hopes and regrets from the past finally seem to converge. Will he be able to "fix" it for good?

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Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
Shanghai Summer screenshot
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Reviews

90%Audience ScoreBased on 31 reviews
story10 positive mentions
  • Emotionally impactful, character-driven narrative exploring youth, regrets, and relationships with a unique dimension-hopping structure.
  • Beautiful and atmospheric 2D art style with expressive character portraits and authentic early-2000s Shanghai backgrounds.
  • Fitting, understated soundtrack that enhances the reflective and nostalgic mood of the game.
  • Storyline can be confusing at times, and the plot is mostly linear with choices having little impact on the ending.
  • The game is relatively short and lacks gameplay variety beyond exploration and dialogue.
  • English translation is weaker compared to the original Chinese, losing some expressiveness and cultural nuance.

  • story

    17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    59% positive mentions, 23% neutral mentions, 18% negative mentions

    The story is a slow-paced, introspective narrative focusing on life's challenges, youth, and personal growth, complemented by beautiful visuals and music. While some find it emotionally impactful and authentic, others feel the plot is too linear or not engaging enough, making it better suited for players who appreciate reflective, atmospheric storytelling over fast-paced action.

    • “This restrained storytelling may not appeal to players seeking rapid progression or overt drama, but it rewards patience with a sense of intimacy and authenticity.”
    • “It is a story about finding comfort and inspiration in the little things in life, and it is about realizing how everyone has their own problems in life, how no one's life is perfect, and yet how they all try to move forward and live their lives to the fullest.”
    • “Complemented by beautiful visuals and fitting atmospheric music, Shanghai Summer is a story that will resonate with people who are entering the working world or otherwise confronted with the harsh, dull realities of life and searching for their own path.”
    • “The plot is so linear that your choices don't matter.”
    • “I gave it a try, but the story building couldn't hook me, even though the visuals are gorgeous.”
    • “The story is beyond bland and childish.”

  • emotional

    11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Shanghai Summer offers a deeply reflective and emotionally nuanced narrative, focusing on introspection and the bittersweet nature of memory and personal growth. Its atmospheric setting, subtle soundtrack, and branching dialogue foster meaningful emotional connections and multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different emotional outcomes. While the story's complex parallel-world elements require careful attention, the game delivers a unique, impactful, and character-driven emotional experience.

    • “Shanghai Summer developed by Futu Studio and published by Astrolabe Games is a reflective narrative adventure that places emotional introspection at the forefront of its design.”
    • “Through its layered characters, atmospheric setting, and branching emotional outcomes, it captures the bittersweet essence of remembering who we were and coming to terms with who we have become.”
    • “Shanghai Summer is a short, emotional visual novel about life – making peace with past regrets, cherishing what you have in the present, and moving forward into the future.”

  • graphics

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    71% positive mentions, 29% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The graphics are widely praised for their beautiful, anime-inspired art style and atmospheric visuals that effectively complement the game's themes. While generally very good, some minor graphical issues and imperfections were noted by a few players. Overall, the visuals are a strong and appealing aspect of the game.

    • “The visuals are gorgeous and beautifully complement the story building.”
    • “Complemented by beautiful visuals and fitting atmospheric music, Shanghai Summer is a story that resonates with people facing real-life challenges.”
    • “Art/graphics rated 8.5/10, showcasing a distinct anime-inspired style.”

  • music

    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    43% positive mentions, 43% neutral mentions, 14% negative mentions

    The music in the game is understated and atmospheric, effectively enhancing emotional and pivotal moments without overpowering dialogue. It complements the visuals well and contributes to the overall immersive experience, earning positive remarks and an 8/10 rating.

    • “The soundtrack complements this aesthetic with understated compositions that gently underscore key emotional moments.”
    • “Music swells subtly during pivotal scenes but often retreats into quiet ambience, allowing dialogue and reflection to take precedence.”
    • “Complemented by beautiful visuals and fitting atmospheric music, Shanghai Summer is a story that will resonate with people who are entering the working world or otherwise confronted with the harsh, dull realities of life and searching for their own path.”
    • “Music: decent”

  • gameplay

    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    33% positive mentions, 34% neutral mentions, 33% negative mentions

    The gameplay features a slow pace and understated mechanics, which may not appeal to action-focused players but provides a meaningful, narrative-driven experience. Overall, it is positively rated, with some reviewers giving it an 8/10.

    • “Gameplay: good”
    • “Gameplay: 8/10”
    • “While its slow pace and understated mechanics may limit its appeal to those seeking action-oriented gameplay, it offers a meaningful journey for players drawn to narrative richness and reflective storytelling.”
    • “There is no gameplay.”

  • atmosphere

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    60% positive mentions, 40% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game excels in creating a dreamlike, emotionally nuanced atmosphere through its muted color palette, soft lighting, and layered storytelling. Complemented by beautiful visuals and fitting music, it effectively evokes a bittersweet reflection on memory and personal growth, resonating deeply with players facing life's challenges.

    • “Rather than presenting clear-cut objectives, the game invites players to immerse themselves in atmosphere and emotional nuance.”
    • “The muted color palette and soft lighting create a dreamlike atmosphere, reinforcing the theme of revisiting memories.”
    • “Complemented by beautiful visuals and fitting atmospheric music, Shanghai Summer is a story that will resonate with people who are entering the working world or otherwise confronted with the harsh, dull realities of life and searching for their own path.”

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Character development is a core focus of the game, deeply enhancing the overall experience.

  • replayability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game’s multiple endings significantly enhance replayability by providing diverse interpretations and emotional outcomes based on player choices. This encourages players to replay in order to experience all possible conclusions.

    • “The multiple endings encourage replayability, offering alternative interpretations and emotional resolutions depending on player choices.”
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Critic Reviews

65%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shanghai Summer is a role playing game with romance, drama, mystery and anime themes. Common tags for Shanghai Summer include indie, 2d, story rich, text-based, multiple endings and others.

Shanghai Summer is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and others.

Shanghai Summer was released on February 7, 2024.

Shanghai Summer was developed by FUTU Studio.

Shanghai Summer has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Shanghai Summer for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Shanghai Summer is a single player game.

Similar games include 咒影 Curse of the Shadow, South of the Circle, The seven days i spent with you, Minds Beneath Us, Legends of Savvarah: Time of Pariah and others.