Strawberry Vinegar

Strawberry Vinegar tells a weird story centred around a graphic passion for food that is genuinely funny and unexpectedly wholesome despite some subtly suggestive undertones.

81%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

character development, gameplay

85% User Score Based on 149 reviews

Critic Score 73%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

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About

Strawberry Vinegar is a single player casual role playing game with a romance theme. It was developed by ebi-hime and was released on January 5, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Strawberry Vinegar" is a visual novel centered around the life of a shy girl named Licia. She finds herself living with two other girls, Haretica and Tsubaki, and must navigate through her everyday school life while dealing with her social anxiety. The game features a unique cast of characters, each with their own distinct personalities, and offers multiple endings based on the player's choices. The game's themes revolve around self-discovery, friendship, and personal growth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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85%

Audience ScoreBased on 149 reviews

story41 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Strawberry Vinegar features charming artwork and beautifully detailed food illustrations that enhance the overall experience.
The story is lighthearted and heartwarming, focusing on the friendship and emotional growth between the two main characters, Rie and Licia.
The game offers multiple endings and choices that, while not drastically altering the plot, provide a sense of agency and engagement for the player.

The writing can feel amateurish at times, with some dialogue stretching believability, particularly given the young age of the protagonists.
The game's brevity and simplicity may leave some players wanting more depth and complexity in both the story and character development.
Certain themes and character dynamics, particularly involving the young age of the protagonists, may be uncomfortable for some players due to suggestive undertones.

story
133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The story of "Strawberry Vinegar" is a heartwarming and lighthearted visual novel that follows the friendship between Rie, a shy girl, and Licia, a mischievous demon, as they bond over food. While the narrative offers multiple endings influenced by player choices, it primarily focuses on themes of kindness, isolation, and the transformative power of sharing meals, all wrapped in a cozy, slice-of-life aesthetic. However, some players have noted the story's brevity and occasional tonal inconsistencies, with certain elements feeling inappropriate given the characters' ages, which may detract from the overall experience for some.
- “Strawberry vinegar, developed and published by ebi-hime, is a heartwarming and introspective visual novel that blends elements of slice-of-life storytelling, humor, and fantasy into a single, cozy experience.”
- “It tells the story of Rie Sakuraba, a nine-year-old girl who leads a quiet and solitary life until an unexpected visitor—a mischievous young demon named Licia—suddenly appears in her kitchen stealing cookies.”
- “What might have been a simple 'cute slice-of-life' story instead becomes a quiet meditation on kindness, isolation, and the transformative power of sharing something as simple as food.”
- “The premise was interesting and could have made for a fun story, but it was so mundane and just not fun to read at all.”
- “For something about a little girl making friends with a demon through the joys of food, the story dips into weirdly dark territory.”
- “The main characters feel shallow, it's full of otaku references (a turn off for me) and the story is just... totally not interesting.”
graphics
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
29%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and colorful art style, featuring beautifully detailed character designs and mouth-watering food visuals that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the charming aesthetics and the effective use of pastels, making the game visually appealing and heartwarming. While some note inconsistencies in the art, the overall consensus is that the graphics significantly contribute to the game's lighthearted and romantic atmosphere.
- “The artwork is extremely charming, and the characters are very likeable.”
- “The visual elements are probably the most distinctive feature in this visual novel. I absolutely love the artwork and art style by Silly Selly; the art is beautifully detailed and very expressive, which is quite different from most visual novels out there.”
- “The graphics are nice and the soundtrack is chill and relaxing. I don't usually play this kind of game, but the Ebi-hime games are really great.”
- “Art style is not that good (imo) and inconsistent between CG.”
- “If you have read the visual novels 'Asphyxia' and/or 'The Sad Story of Emmeline Burns', you might be familiar with the graphics, as they are made by the same people.”
- “The visual elements are probably the most distinctive feature in this particular visual novel; I absolutely love the artwork and art style by Silly Selly, the artist of Strawberry Vinegar. The art is beautifully detailed and very expressive, which is quite different from most visual novels out there.”
humor
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
10%
The humor in "Strawberry Vinegar" is characterized by its quirky, character-driven moments that blend lightheartedness with emotional depth, making for a cozy and enjoyable experience. While many players appreciate the funny and cute interactions among characters, some feel that the humor can be hit or miss, with certain gags running too long or feeling forced. Overall, the game is praised for its charming writing and the ability to evoke laughter through its unique storytelling and relatable situations.
- “It’s not a super deep or complex game, but if you enjoy relaxed, character-driven stories with a quirky sense of humor, this is a lovely pick.”
- “Ebi-hime’s writing manages to balance humor and sincerity, infusing ordinary domestic moments with surprising emotional depth.”
- “The writing is great, providing both charming characters and fun humor, as well as descriptions of food that makes you want to eat the screen.”
- “The humor feels stiff and unfunny, lacking any real wit or charm.”
- “The jokes fall flat, making the overall experience feel dull and uninspired.”
- “Attempts at humor are awkward and miss the mark, leaving players cringing rather than laughing.”
emotional
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
"Strawberry Vinegar" is a heartwarming visual novel that masterfully blends humor and emotional depth, exploring themes of empathy, companionship, and personal growth through the lens of food and friendship. The narrative's gentle tone and relatable character dynamics create a cozy atmosphere, inviting players to reflect on emotional connections while enjoying a light-hearted story. Despite its brevity, the game leaves a lasting impression, making it a delightful experience for those seeking authentic emotional storytelling.
- “What begins as a simple tale of annoyance and reluctant hospitality gradually blossoms into a touching exploration of empathy, companionship, and emotional growth.”
- “Ebi-hime’s writing manages to balance humor and sincerity, infusing ordinary domestic moments with surprising emotional depth.”
- “In the end, Strawberry Vinegar succeeds as a heartfelt and beautifully crafted narrative about connection, food, and emotional growth.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The music in the game is generally described as soothing and fitting for the narrative, with gentle piano and acoustic melodies that enhance the overall atmosphere. While many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to complement emotional moments, some find it forgettable and repetitive, lacking standout tracks. Overall, the music contributes positively to the experience, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more dynamic or memorable auditory experience.
- “The soundtrack follows a similar approach, with gentle piano and acoustic melodies that enhance the game’s comforting, domestic atmosphere.”
- “Each musical cue feels intentionally placed, shifting between playful lightness during Licia’s antics and tender melancholy during Rie's quieter moments of introspection.”
- “The music was really great and each character going through different emotions was wonderful.”
- “The soundtrack is pretty forgettable too.”
- “Overall, the soundtrack is quite a let-down.”
- “Nothing of the amazing to hear in this novel, there is only ever so many soundtracks until you start hearing the same ones that you heard 2-3 scenes ago.”
character development
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
Character development in the game is characterized by its cute and simple approach, with a focus on the evolving relationship between two girls. While the character designs and artwork are praised for their charm, many reviewers note that the story and character arcs lack depth and are paced too quickly for those seeking a more in-depth narrative experience. Overall, the development is light-hearted and enjoyable, but may not satisfy players looking for more substantial storytelling.
- “Decently written, cute, simple story with cute, simple character development.”
- “Overall, the novel shows us a story of two girls who show love and affection to each other as the visual novel progresses, portraying their everyday life and personal character development.”
- “But in terms of 'in-depth story,' it doesn’t go far and long; in fact, this visual novel has really fast pacing and quick character development, so if you wanted a long, in-depth story visual novel, sadly this is not for you.”
- “Good humor, although I would have preferred more depth to the story and/or character development.”
- “But in terms of 'in-depth story,' it doesn’t go far and long. In fact, this visual novel has really fast pacing and quick character development, so if you wanted a long, in-depth story visual novel, sadly this is not for you.”
- “Overall, the novel shows us a story of two girls who show love and affection to each other as the visual novel progresses, but it portrays their everyday life and shows their own personal character development.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
28%
43%
The gameplay of "strawberry vinegar" is primarily focused on player choice within an interactive narrative framework, encouraging reflection rather than complex mechanics. While it features multiple choices and endings typical of visual novels, some players criticize the dialogue quality and overall depth, leading to mixed feelings about its execution. Overall, the gameplay is considered basic, with a rating of 9/10 reflecting its appeal despite these shortcomings.
- “Rather than emphasizing mechanics, the game invites the player to slow down, observe, and reflect—mirroring the emotional themes it so carefully weaves into its writing.”
- “As for gameplay, it's a visual novel that has many choices and branches, along with six endings.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “Overall, it only offers basic options and gameplay aspects.”
- “At its core, Strawberry Vinegar is an interactive narrative that relies heavily on player choice, though not in the conventional sense of grand branching paths or complex gameplay systems.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively slow and tedious, with limited choices available, leading to a lack of engagement. The pacing is compared unfavorably to reading a novel with delayed text, making the experience feel laborious and frustrating, especially during card farming activities.
- “It just moves along slower than half-frozen molasses, and there aren't very many choices to be made. You might get a new choice every 30-40 minutes on average without mass skipping or speeding things up. If you're like me, that means it doesn't really do a great job at keeping your attention and can feel a bit tedious to play through due to the pacing.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best. Imagine the best novel you ever read, whether it's 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', '2001: A Space Odyssey', or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “Playtime is primarily spent on card farming.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a comforting and domestic feel, enhanced by gentle piano and acoustic melodies. Despite its brevity, it delivers a rich experience filled with sincerity, providing both comfort and opportunities for reflection.
- “The soundtrack follows a similar approach, with gentle piano and acoustic melodies that enhance the game’s comforting, domestic atmosphere.”
- “It may be a short experience, but it is rich in atmosphere and sincerity, offering both comfort and reflection in equal measure.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its stability, with users reporting no technical issues, glitches, or unnecessary effects, resulting in a smooth gameplay experience.

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73%Critics’ scoreBased on 3 critic reviews

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5h Median play time

5h Average play time

3-6h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Strawberry Vinegar is a casual role playing game with romance theme.

Strawberry Vinegar is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 5 hours playing Strawberry Vinegar.

Strawberry Vinegar was released on January 5, 2016.

Strawberry Vinegar was developed by ebi-hime.

Strawberry Vinegar has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its character development.

Strawberry Vinegar is a single player game.

Similar games include Vampires' Melody, Wolf Tails, Highway Blossoms, Dream Daddy: A Dad Dating Simulator, Crossroad and others.

Strawberry Vinegar

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