May 26, 2021
GameTomo

Sumire

Sumire is an indie narrative adventure, featuring a one-day journey through a picturesque Japanese village. In this enchanted place, a disenchanted girl named Sumire meets a mischievous spirit who makes her a deal to fulfill her most desired wish. But in order to see this wish come true, she must complete a series of tasks in return, before night falls and this special day reaches its end. Switch version reviewed.

95%Game Brain Score

story, emotional

atmosphere, replayability

96% User Score Based on 360 reviews

Critic Score 90%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Sumire is a single player casual simulation game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by GameTomo and was released on May 26, 2021. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

One Day, One Life.Sumire is an indie narrative adventure game about choices made, and dreams lost and found. Embark on a mysterious journey to help Sumire achieve her deepest wishes, before the day ends and the sky turns to twilight.

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 360 reviews

story96 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features stunning artwork and a beautiful soundtrack that enhances the emotional experience.
The story is touching and thought-provoking, exploring themes of grief, friendship, and personal growth.
Gameplay is simple yet engaging, with meaningful choices that impact the narrative and encourage replayability.

The game is quite short, with a playtime of around 2-4 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
Some players may find the controls a bit clunky and the dialogue occasionally repetitive.
The lack of manual save options can be frustrating, as players must replay sections to achieve different endings or complete quests.

story
241 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The story of *Sumire* is a poignant and emotional coming-of-age narrative that explores themes of grief, family, and personal growth through the eyes of a young girl. Set over the course of a single day, it combines magical realism with relatable struggles, offering players meaningful choices that impact the story's direction and endings. While the game is short, its heartfelt delivery, stunning visuals, and beautiful soundtrack create a memorable experience that resonates deeply with players.
- “Sumire definitely falls into the 'depressing coming-of-age story' indie subgenre, but it's just a really unique and well-done iteration of that.”
- “The story feels real within the magical realism frame - it truly felt like a day in which magic can happen, and it's bound to hit close to home one way or another, covering several themes through the eyes of a kid who's got to deal with hardships that most of us had to (or will) deal with as human beings.”
- “It's a stunning game with a great story - I loved having the ability to choose others' fates as well as my own, but also in a meaningful way.”
- “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.”
- “I expected two different routes to the storyline depending on if you were kind or not, but the story largely remains the same with a few dialogue line changes.”
- “Despite the talking plants and animals, it's a very down-to-earth story about Sumire coming to terms with her grandmother's passing and her depressing life and then taking steps to improve her situation and relationships with the help of her new flower friend.”
emotional
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Sumire" is widely praised for its heartfelt storytelling and ability to evoke deep feelings of grief, hope, and connection. Players describe the game as a touching journey that explores themes of loss and personal growth, often leading to cathartic moments of tears and reflection. Its beautiful art style, soothing soundtrack, and simple yet profound narrative create an intimate emotional experience that resonates with many, making it a standout title for those seeking a meaningful and emotional gaming experience.
- “Living in the shadow of her grandmother’s death and her mother’s emotional absence, Sumire wakes to find her world muted and colorless.”
- “From that moment, the game unfolds as a gentle meditation on memory, grief, and hope, where every choice, conversation, and encounter becomes part of an intimate emotional tapestry.”
- “The protagonist takes up talking to inanimate objects and imaginary friends, and that would be heartbreaking... if the soundtrack wasn't so amazing, the art style wasn't heartfelt and whimsical, and the entire thing didn't come across as a beautiful little storybook, which it does.”
music
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game has been widely praised for its beauty and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience with a calming and enchanting soundtrack that complements the stunning visuals and heartfelt story. Many players noted the soundtrack's ability to evoke a range of emotions, with unique variations for different areas and scenes, making it a standout feature that players often recommend purchasing separately. Overall, the music is described as a perfect accompaniment to the game's artistic and narrative elements, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
- “The accompanying soundtrack, composed by tow, mirrors this journey with quiet elegance.”
- “The music rarely dominates; it listens as much as it speaks, leaving silence when necessary to let emotion settle naturally.”
- “With its stunning art style and captivating music, get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions – from happiness to anger, anger to sadness, sadness to fear... it's a complete emotional rollercoaster that we are going to be experiencing together with Sumire.”
- “The small letdown for me might be in the music; I was expecting more memorable tracks since the game has a Japanese OST.”
- “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.”
- “If I had to find one single nitpick, I would say that one of the songs that played in the background with acoustic guitars was repetitive.”
graphics
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
27%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn art style, often described as watercolor or painted, which creates a beautiful and immersive visual experience. Reviewers highlight the emotional depth conveyed through the visuals, complemented by a captivating soundtrack that enhances the overall atmosphere. While some minor animation issues are noted, the overall aesthetic and attention to detail leave a lasting impression, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “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 what stands out the most along the story, in my opinion, stylized as watercolors or brushstrokes that fascinated me, especially in some environments that are simply beautiful.”
- “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.”
- “It's an aesthetic choice, but I feel like it comes across as a bit of a visibly cut corner.”
- “Sumire is very graphic-adventure lite, so it better have an amazing story to captivate me.”
gameplay
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
66%
7%
The gameplay in Sumire is characterized by its simplicity and accessibility, primarily involving exploration, interaction with NPCs, and decision-making that impacts the story's outcome. While it features a few puzzles and minigames to provide variety, the overall experience is more about the emotional journey and narrative rather than complex mechanics. Players appreciate the cozy atmosphere and the game's ability to evoke deep feelings, though some find the pacing slow and the gameplay somewhat limited.
- “The gameplay primarily consists of walking, talking, and making decisions, but these decisions carry a quiet weight.”
- “The absence of complicated mechanics only serves to make the spiritual journey more pleasant, full of touching and bittersweet moments.”
- “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 game is structured like an adventure game where the main gameplay is just walking and interacting with people and objects, without much else going on outside two puzzles and a card minigame (which isn't anything revolutionary but it's a fun break from the game).”
- “It won't be a super light experience, nor a constantly humorous one, and there is not a huge amount of gameplay besides exploring a vividly imagined world and getting to know the people and other beings who inhabit it.”
- “The pacing is destroyed by the gameplay; the branching world is overflowing with side-quests/collectibles, and a lot of the gamey elements kind of occupy my entire mind.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and emotional qualities, combining beautiful artwork and a calming soundtrack to create a cozy yet melancholic experience. Many reviewers note its Ghibli-esque feel, likening it to a living memory or a picture book, which enhances the overall emotional depth and relaxation of the gameplay.
- “Together, the art and sound create a deeply immersive atmosphere that makes every scene feel like a living memory.”
- “A very calm and touching game with beautifully atmospheric artwork and soundtrack.”
- “The game's strength lies mainly in its atmosphere: emotional, melancholic and subtly sad, but at the same time warm and comfy.”
- “Sumire is an emotional story-driven 2.5D game that feels really Ghibli-esque in atmosphere.”
- “I'm a fan of games like Ib and Yume Nikki (Dream Diary), for the setting and atmosphere.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
The game offers notable replayability, particularly for achievement hunters and players interested in exploring multiple endings and outcomes, despite its short playtime of around 2.5 hours. While many players find value in revisiting the game for different story paths, some feel that the overall replay value could be more substantial.
- “The game is short but has some replay value if you're an achievement collector, if you like getting different outcomes, and/or are a completion-driven player like myself.”
- “The replayability of this game is so valuable, from the achievements to knowing another part of the story.”
- “The replayability of this game is so valuable, from the achievements and to know another part of the story.”
- “There's not as much replay value as I'd like.”
- “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.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a blend of lighthearted moments and subtle poignancy, with some genuinely funny instances interspersed throughout the narrative. While it doesn't maintain a consistently comedic tone, the humor complements the emotional depth of the story, enhancing the overall experience of exploring its richly imagined world.
- “Some encounters are humorous and lighthearted, while others carry quiet heartbreak.”
- “Also, the few moments of humor this game had were actually funny.”
- “With a few cheesy and some really funny moments, the emotional story is narrated in a captivating way.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly when it comes to obtaining all the achievements, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “I originally started playing it for the relatively easy achievements, but getting all the achievements is so tedious.”
- “The grinding feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
- “I find myself doing the same tasks over and over again, which really drains the fun out of the experience.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Character development is highlighted through the main character's design and emotional depth, as she embodies a blend of cuteness and sadness stemming from the loss of a friendship. This emotional struggle adds a layer of relatability and complexity to her character.
- “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.”
- “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to connect with their struggles and growth throughout the game.”
- “I love how the characters evolve based on the choices I make, making each playthrough feel unique and personal.”
- “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.”
- “Character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression throughout the game.”
- “The characters seem one-dimensional, making it hard to connect with their stories or care about their outcomes.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized for all devices, ensuring solid performance, while also featuring easy minigames and a thoughtfully crafted plotline.
- “The minigames are easy, it's well optimized for all devices, and the plotline is well thought out.”
- “Solid performance.”