Sifting Thyme - an otome game inspired by culinary shows | Game Brain

Sifting Thyme - an otome game inspired by culinary shows Game Cover

About

An otome visual novel where you choose your romance with an attractive boy in culinary school. A perfectly delectable romance for foodies. You’re the newest transfer student at Lincoln Culinary Academy, a private culinary school to find your culinary calling and an unforgettable romance. Immerse yourself in your school adventures as you interact with four gorgeous guys with culinary skills of…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Sifting Thyme - an otome game inspired by culinary shows screenshot

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 26 reviews

story12 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Sifting Thyme features a charming story with endearing characters and beautiful visuals, making it a delightful experience for players who enjoy romance visual novels.
The game offers a cozy atmosphere with a well-paced narrative that allows players to engage with the characters and explore multiple romantic routes.
Players appreciate the strong character dynamics and the ability to choose the protagonist's gender and pronouns, enhancing the overall inclusivity of the game.

Some players found the story to start slowly, which may deter those looking for immediate engagement.
The skip mechanic can be inconvenient during replays, as it only allows skipping from choice to choice, potentially causing players to miss unseen dialogue.
There are minor issues with the game mechanics, such as the inability to save at specific points within chapters, which can be frustrating for players trying to explore different endings.

story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
8%
The story of "Sifting Thyme" is a charming and engaging visual novel centered around a group of culinary school students, featuring beautiful art and relatable characters. While the narrative starts slowly, it picks up momentum, allowing players to explore multiple character routes and endings. Some reviewers noted that certain conflicts felt abrupt and could have been better integrated, but overall, the story is considered unique and enjoyable, making it worth the price.
- “This is a sweet visual novel with beautiful art and a fun story about a group of kids in culinary school.”
- “The story is really refreshing and the characters are endearing.”
- “An amazing story with all the characters and the romance between the four main character routes you can choose from (Tyler, Geoffrey, Leo, and Jamie)!”
- “While I did do both his endings, I really didn’t like him, so I ended up skipping through his story.”
- “I do see the vision with how Geoffrey was being presented in terms of development, but the overall story did leave quite an odd taste in my mouth.”
- “I am aware that a story needs drama, so conflict between the love interest and main character was expected, but I still think the catalyst for some of the conflict was just dropped out of nowhere.”
graphics
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's graphics are characterized by cute anime-style artwork, featuring clean visuals, bright colors, and well-integrated backgrounds that enhance the overall aesthetic. Reviewers appreciate the charming character designs and the non-graphic, wholesome nature of the visuals.
- “Cute story, loved the visuals and the characters :)”
- “The artwork has cute anime-styled characters.”
- “Clean artwork, bright colors, and clean backgrounds that mesh well with the character art.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The gameplay mechanics are standard for a visual novel, featuring an easy-to-navigate route system and an engaging integration of social media through an in-game phone. While the skip mechanic is limited to choices, which can be inconvenient during replays, this is considered a minor issue. Overall, players find the mechanics easy to understand and enjoyable.
- “The fun mechanic that this game integrates is adding social media into the gameplay through your in-game phone.”
- “Game mechanics are easy to understand; I found it fun to be able to access a phone and various forms of social media to see updates on the various love interests.”
- “The only issue is that the skip mechanic is only for skipping from choice to choice, which can make things a little inconvenient during replays, but it's a very minor gripe.”
- “The mechanics are standard for a visual novel, and it's easy to get on the route you want.”
- “[b] Game mechanics: [/b] Easy to understand, I found it fun to be able to access a phone and various forms of social media to see updates on the various love interests.”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The music in the game features a beautiful soundtrack, primarily composed of piano pieces that adapt to different chapters and locations, enhancing the overall experience. While some users find the soundtrack merely okay, the combination of art and music is generally praised.
- “Beautiful art and soundtrack!”
- “The soundtrack is okay.”
- “Piano music that changes with the chapters and locations within the chapters.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is characterized as gentle and infused with humor, creating a distinct shôjo vibe that enhances the overall experience.
- “The overall atmosphere is gentle, with a touch of humor in some of the dialogues: a real shôjo vibe.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is subtle and gentle, often woven into the dialogues, contributing to a lighthearted shôjo vibe that enhances the overall atmosphere.
- “The overall atmosphere is gentle, with a touch of humor in some of the dialogues: a real shôjo vibe.”