Skip to main content

start;again

start;again is a short but ultimately satisfying and complete VN experience.
start;again Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
story, emotional
character development
95% User Score Based on 134 reviews
Critic Score 84%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCMac OSWindows
Buy Nowfrom $4.99
Buy NowGet on Steam $5.99
start;again Game Cover

About

start;again is a single player simulation game with romance, drama, mystery and anime themes. It was developed by Two and a Half Studios and was released on March 31, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"start;again" is a single-player Mystery Simulation game with an intriguing story, fabulous soundtrack, and highly emotional narrative. As Sebastian, uncover the truth behind four strangers' forced participation in a life-or-death escape game within two hours, with over 35,000 words, multiple endings, captivating visuals, and minigames. Experience a blend of romance, mystery, and comedy in this BL/yaoi visual novel.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
start;again screenshot
Skip User Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 134 reviews
story56 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • The game features a captivating and emotional story that effectively weaves themes of love, trust, and human bonds, leaving players feeling deeply connected to the characters.
  • The unique flowchart mechanic allows players to explore different scenes and endings, enhancing replayability and making it easy to achieve all achievements in one playthrough.
  • The art style is charming, and the puzzles strike a good balance between being challenging yet accessible, contributing to an overall enjoyable gameplay experience.
  • Some players found the romance aspect to be the weakest point, with character dynamics feeling forced and lacking chemistry.
  • The game has a few plot holes and inconsistencies that can detract from the overall experience, leaving some players confused about certain story elements.
  • The marketing may mislead potential players into expecting a more explicit BL experience, while the game focuses more on mystery and emotional storytelling than on romance.
  • story
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is widely praised for its emotional depth, intriguing plot twists, and engaging character interactions, often leaving players moved by its heartfelt narrative. While some reviewers noted issues with pacing and plot holes, many found the non-linear storytelling and creative use of timelines to enhance the overall experience. Overall, it is described as a charming and captivating tale that effectively combines humor, romance, and tragedy, making it a worthwhile investment for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The story touches my heart deeply, especially by the fact that I played this at 4 AM in the morning.”
    • “The story is captivating, and the ending was definitely something I wasn't expecting.”
    • “It was such a beautiful story; these four people finding themselves in bleak situations with amnesia and meeting each other again and again.”
    • “The story is not that great; it is falsely advertised as a multiple choices story as the tale is actually linear.”
    • “In the beginning, there are no choices regarding the dialogues or the direction of the story; you'll pretty much have to follow a designated path to complete the game.”
    • “However, the story makes it incredibly clear why this would be the case, and it's entirely reasonable, especially with the game having been made in a game jam in a month.”
  • emotional
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, weaving themes of love, trust, and human connections into a touching narrative that elicits strong feelings, including laughter and tears. While some players found it heartwarming and nostalgic, others noted its bittersweet nature, with a mix of lighthearted moments and poignant twists that leave a lasting impact. Overall, it delivers a compelling emotional experience, making it highly recommended for those who appreciate heartfelt storytelling.

    • “Ten out of ten, I cried, lots and lots, recommend.”
    • “It gave me that feeling of nostalgia for something you haven't lived, it made me cry, laugh, made me feel anxious as I approached the last route and smart as I figured the puzzles and the twists all by myself.”
    • “The story of this game is intense emotionally at times but so damn good.”
  • music
    20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting beauty and ability to enhance the emotional depth of the story, with many reviewers noting that it perfectly sets the mood for various scenes. The soundtrack is described as amazing and integral to the overall experience, contributing to the game's engaging narrative and memorable art style. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature that elevates the game's impact and emotional resonance.

    • “The soundtrack is amazing and gives the story literally life.”
    • “The music is hauntingly beautiful and does a great job at setting the mood.”
    • “Beautiful art, music, and very likable characters; well worth the time and money :')”
    • “The music?”
    • “I streamed this and everyone who watched commented specifically on the high quality of the music; I agreed.”
  • graphics
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game feature a mix of art styles that can clash at times, particularly between the 2D sprites and CG artwork, leading to some inconsistency. However, many players found the visuals to be memorable and beautiful, with certain key moments depicted in stunning detail. Overall, while the art style may initially be off-putting for some, it tends to grow on players as they engage with the game.

    • “The art style is very beautiful, and even the soundtrack helps to bring the right mood of each scene.”
    • “Artwork and character designs are as brilliant as the story and fit very well together.”
    • “Everything, from the characters to the artwork, to the story and to the soundtrack, everything in this game was phenomenal.”
    • “The clash in art styles between the sprites, the stills, and the backgrounds kept completely throwing me off throughout the game.”
    • “The artwork is also a bit inconsistent between the 2D sprites and the CGs.”
    • “There are some typos in the script, and I have to switch back to mouse sometimes even if using a controller, which adds to the tonal discrepancy in the art styles used for the game.”
  • gameplay
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by an engaging flowchart mechanic that allows players to replay scenes and achieve all outcomes in a single playthrough, enhancing the narrative experience. While the gameplay is relatively short and primarily consists of puzzles and code-entry mechanics, it is complemented by a well-written story and enjoyable characters. Overall, players appreciate the unique story progression and the opportunity to explore different narrative paths.

    • “Has an interesting mechanic of a flowchart that lets you choose any scene, so you can replay it and achieve all accomplishments in one playthrough.”
    • “The story is engaging and well-written, and the mechanic of story progression is an interesting use of Ren'Py that fits well with the narrative.”
    • “I love the flowchart mechanic of the game, where you get a glimpse of various parts of the story from different perspectives, and I wish more games used it.”
    • “Nothing there was artistic value, nothing there was auditory value, nothing there was mechanical value, just a couple minor design flaws.”
    • “The only interactive gameplay is represented by puzzles and entering codes to open doors.”
    • “Puzzles are pretty much the gameplay in the start; again.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for being both funny and heartwarming, with characters that elicit genuine laughter and moments that blend comedy with emotional depth. Players appreciate the clever use of humor in various situations, often finding themselves giggling at the characters' antics while also experiencing poignant moments. Overall, the game successfully balances lightheartedness with more serious themes, resulting in a satisfying and engaging experience.

    • “The art is adorable, the humor very funny, the story intriguing, the conclusion satisfying.”
    • “Both funny and heartwarming.”
    • “And I won't lie, it had me laughing a lot more than I thought it would.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development is closely tied to the artwork and design, with users noting that the character designs effectively reflect the personalities and roles of the characters in the story. While some aspects, like neck length and outfit choices, may seem exaggerated, the overall design enhances the narrative experience.

    • “Artwork and character designs are as brilliant as the story and fit very well together.”
    • “Their necks might be a little too long and Mika's outfit is still ridiculous, but the character designs really fit who the characters are.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
    • “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired, leaving me disappointed in their growth.”
    • “The dialogue and interactions between characters are often clichéd, which detracts from any potential development.”
  • replayability
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the game's short length, which contributes to its high replayability, encouraging them to revisit it multiple times.

    • “It's also very short, which means it has a nice replay value too.”
  • atmosphere
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is characterized by a painterly aesthetic that enhances the visual experience, allowing the sprite art to stand out vividly against the beautifully crafted backgrounds.

    • “The backgrounds give a very painterly feel to the overall atmosphere while making the sprite art pop out from the background.”
Skip Critic Reviews

84%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy start;again

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like start;again

Games Like start;again

Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly Image
90%424reviews

Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly

2018Action
PCWindowsPlayStation+1
Kindred Spirits on the Roof Image
97%1.2kreviews

Kindred Spirits on the Roof

2016Simulation
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Sepia Tears Image
89%619reviews

Sepia Tears

2016Casual Simulation
LinuxPCTablet+5
Highway Blossoms Image
92%1.5kreviews

Highway Blossoms

2016Action
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Angels of Death Image
93%1.2kreviews

Angels of Death

2016Role Playing
Nintendo SwitchAndroidPlaystation 4+11
More games like start;again
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

start;again is a simulation game with romance, drama, mystery and anime themes.

start;again is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

start;again was released on March 31, 2022.

start;again was developed by Two and a Half Studios.

start;again has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

start;again is a single player game.

Similar games include Psychedelica of the Black Butterfly, Kindred Spirits on the Roof, Sepia Tears, Highway Blossoms, Angels of Death and others.