Sumire

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 247 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
Sumire Game Cover
Sumire is a short, yet charming and bittersweet story of a perfect day and a magical adventure
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"Sumire" is a single-player Anime Adventure game with an intriguing story and good mechanics, featuring a disenchanted girl who must complete tasks for a mischievous spirit in a picturesque Japanese village before nightfall. The game is a narrative quest-driven adventure with a one-day time limit, offering a variety of lush, beautiful environments and challenges. With outstanding visuals and spectacular music, "Sumire" tells a wholesome story of personal growth and self-discovery.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Windows
  • Mobile Platform
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 247 reviews
story67 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning artwork and a beautiful soundtrack that enhance the emotional experience.
  • The heartfelt story effectively tackles themes of grief, friendship, and personal growth, resonating deeply with players.
  • Gameplay is simple and accessible, allowing players to focus on the narrative and emotional choices without complex mechanics.
  • The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 3-4 hours, which may leave some players wanting more content.
  • Some players found the dialogue unskippable and repetitive, which can detract from the experience during multiple playthroughs.
  • The lack of a save/load feature can be frustrating, as players must replay the entire game to explore different choices and endings.
  • story167 mentions

    The story of "Sumire" is a heartfelt and emotional journey that explores themes of loneliness, grief, and personal growth through the eyes of a young girl. While the narrative is simple and linear, it resonates deeply with players, offering a poignant reflection on life's challenges and the importance of making meaningful choices. The game's beautiful art and soothing soundtrack enhance the storytelling experience, making it a memorable and impactful adventure despite its short length.

    • “The story and narrative is written well, is loaded chock-full of emotion and keeps you hooked through the full journey.”
    • “Sumire is such an incredibly heartwarming story that left me crying so many much-needed cathartic tears.”
    • “The story is beautiful and surprisingly touching with some quotes and scenes.”
    • “Sadly, the story can't keep up, and some things and interactions felt unnatural to me.”
    • “I don't recommend it though, simply because I feel the story lacks some more depth, and it's a little messed up at times.”
    • “The supposed emotional side of the story didn't have any impact on me at all, and I was left feeling that if more time was spent on the characters' interactions, maybe this would have been more interesting.”
  • music98 mentions

    The music in the game has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience with a calming and atmospheric soundtrack that complements the visuals and narrative. Many reviewers noted the effective use of traditional Japanese music elements, with some expressing a desire for longer tracks in certain sections. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and aesthetic appeal.

    • “The music really complements the game.”
    • “Beautiful art and story, backed up by some nice music.”
    • “The ethereal soundtrack combined with a watercolor art style, this game has it all.”
    • “The small letdown for me might be in the music; I was expecting more memorable tracks since the game has a Japanese OST.”
    • “I found the music a bit irritating at times, but overall okay.”
    • “I liked the art, the music (though a bit repetitive sometimes), the journal thingy, doing quests, oh and definitely that card minigame and the interactions with the NPC while playing it.”
  • emotional82 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game "Sumire" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling, beautiful artwork, and evocative soundtrack, which together create a touching and immersive experience. Many players report feeling deeply connected to the characters and themes of loneliness, loss, and personal growth, often leading to cathartic moments of tears and reflection. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in character interactions, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to resonate emotionally, making it a memorable journey for those who appreciate narrative-driven experiences.

    • “The story was heartfelt and the message landed well, unlike a lot of media that tends to hit or miss this kind of message.”
    • “Loneliness, loss, the search for understanding, all intertwine in a very touching way.”
    • “Sumire is an emotional story-driven game that feels really Ghibli-esque in atmosphere.”
  • graphics68 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning blend of 2D and 3D elements, featuring a unique watercolor art style that adds depth and vibrancy to the visuals. Reviewers highlight the meticulous attention to detail and the beautiful, atmospheric environments that enhance the overall experience. While some minor issues with character animations are noted, the overall aesthetic, combined with a fitting soundtrack, creates a captivating and emotionally resonant visual experience.

    • “The graphics are a clever blend of 2D and 3D graphics, giving the game a unique style and depth.”
    • “Paired with a vibrant watercolor painting art style and excellent art direction, there's a really great attention to detail throughout the game world.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, music is top notch, and the story is great.”
    • “The only thing standing out is some of the character animations looking a bit stiff, but that doesn't really detract from the overall pretty visuals.”
    • “The visuals might look cute, bright, colorful, a wonderful pastel look, but within the story are some dark themes that come to light – bullying, murder, love, grief, friendship, all the challenges that one faces as they grow up in the world are here that a lot of people can relate to.”
    • “It's overall a well thought-out game with an interesting take on the visuals.”
  • gameplay28 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, primarily involving exploration and interaction with NPCs, which enhances the emotional narrative rather than presenting challenging mechanics. Players appreciate the relaxing nature of the gameplay, though some note a lack of depth and engagement, with suggestions for clearer guidance on certain mechanics. Overall, the straightforward gameplay complements the game's beautiful atmosphere and poignant story, making it enjoyable for a wide range of players.

    • “In terms of gameplay, it is very accessible for all types of players, as it has no difficult sections or hair-pulling puzzles.”
    • “The gameplay itself taught me about friendships, family, trust, bullies and standing up to them, loss and grief, experiencing first love, and trying to be a good person, but not a doormat, no matter what the world turns against you.”
    • “The art and music are both stunning, there's a good mix of minigames to break up the straightforward sections of gameplay, and, of course, the story is the star of the show.”
    • “Gameplay consists mostly of normal story-driven adventure game stuff, including talking to NPCs and exploring.”
    • “The gameplay is very simple, as it consists mainly of walking around the gorgeous town and its various points of interest, meeting a bunch of cute animals and characters and helping them out with what troubles them if you want to.”
    • “The pacing is destroyed by the gameplay; the branching world is overflowing with side quests and collectibles, and a lot of the game elements occupy my entire mind.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, the game offers notable replayability due to its multiple endings and achievements, encouraging players to explore different story outcomes. While some users find the replay value valuable and engaging, others feel it could be enhanced further. The game is relatively short, but its character development and side quests contribute positively to the replay experience.

    • “I bought this game when it was on sale, so wait if you can, but I still think it can be worth full price too if you like the replay value it has due to the multiple endings.”
    • “The replayability of this game is so valuable, from the achievements to knowing another part of the story.”
    • “It has some replayability if you want to see the best/worst outcomes or hunt achievements.”
    • “The replayability of this game is so valuable, from the achievements and to know another part of the story.”
    • “+ has some replayability if you want to see the best/worst outcome or hunt achievements.”
    • “- there's not as much replay value as I'd like.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of Sumire is described as emotional and melancholic, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli, with a calming and relaxing gameplay experience. Players appreciate the beautifully crafted artwork and soundtrack, which contribute to a warm and comforting ambiance, making it a touching and immersive experience.

    • “The game's strength lies mainly in its atmosphere: emotional, melancholic and subtly sad, but at the same time warm and comfy.”
    • “A very calm and touching game with beautifully atmospheric artwork and soundtrack.”
    • “This game has a beautiful atmosphere and pretty calming and relaxing gameplay.”
    • “The game's strength lies mainly in its atmosphere: emotional, melancholic, and subtly sad, but at the same time warm and comfy.”
    • “I'm a fan of games like Ib and Yume Nikki (Dream Diary) for the setting and atmosphere.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highlighted as excellent, with a main character who evokes empathy through her sadness over lost friendships. The inclusion of heartwarming side quests and mini-games further enriches her journey, contributing to the game's overall replayability.

    • “The main character design reminds me of Rinne Sonogami/Yoshimizu; she is cute and always feels sad that someone no longer wants to be friends anymore.”
    • “Excellent character development, heartwarming side quests/mini-games, and good replayability.”
    • “The main character design reminds me of [spoiler]Rinne Sonogami/Yoshimizu[/spoiler]; she is cute but always feels sad that someone no longer wants to be friends.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with their struggles.”
    • “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any meaningful way throughout the game.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game features a mix of cheesy moments and genuinely funny instances, enhancing the emotional narrative and keeping players engaged.

    • “With a few cheesy and some really funny moments, the emotional story is narrated in a captivating way.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game's optimization is praised for delivering solid performance, indicating that it runs smoothly across various systems without significant issues.

    • “The game runs with solid performance, ensuring a smooth experience throughout.”
    • “I appreciate the solid performance optimization; it really enhances gameplay.”
    • “The optimization is impressive, providing solid performance even on lower-end systems.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

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