When The Night Comes

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In "When the Night Comes," become a renowned Hunter investigating supernatural murders in the mysterious town of Lunaris, where witches, vampires, and demons roam. Experience a queer, narrative-driven visual novel with 11 chapters, 6 romances, and a cast of voice actors including Gideon Emery and Ione Butler. The game offers improved UI, new artwork, and a codex in this updated version.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 454 reviews

story188 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a diverse cast of characters with unique personalities and compelling backstories, making them relatable and engaging.
The voice acting is superb, with notable performances that enhance the emotional depth of the story.
The art style is beautiful, and the inclusion of polyamorous relationships and customizable pronouns adds to the game's appeal.

The main story can feel predictable and linear, with limited choices that don't significantly impact the overall narrative.
Some players may find the pacing of the romances to be rushed, as characters fall in love quickly within a short timeframe.
There are minor inconsistencies in character designs and artwork, which can be distracting during gameplay.

story
428 mentions
44 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The story of the game is generally well-received, praised for its compelling narrative, diverse character options, and engaging world-building, though it is noted to be linear and somewhat predictable. Players appreciate the unique romances and character depth, but some feel that the plot lacks significant variation across different routes, leading to repetitive experiences. Overall, while the story has its flaws, it captivates many with its charm, humor, and inclusivity, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre.
- “The main story is extremely well-done and the twists are woven in beautifully.”
- “I cannot recommend this game enough, the story is amazing, the art is beautiful, the voice acting is perfect, the characters are unique and fully fleshed out, truly it is an amazing experience.”
- “The story is very compelling and the art is gorgeous.”
- “The story is linear and you simply choose to flirt with people (heart options) or not and then you choose a romance route (or not) and then decide on what to do with the enemy and that's about it.”
- “The plot of the story does not change, so the romance itself is incidental, and not consequential to the story.”
- “The story is nothing groundbreaking and by the halfway point I was skipping through dialogue just to find something semi-interesting and even with skipping as much dialogue as I did the story was still followable meaning most of it is just filler.”
graphics
82 mentions
59 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and attention to detail, with many reviewers highlighting the gothic aesthetic and character designs as standout features. However, some users noted inconsistencies in the artwork, which can occasionally make characters appear different across various scenes. Overall, the visuals, combined with strong voice acting and a compelling storyline, contribute significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The artwork is downright beautiful!”
- “The graphics are nice to look at and especially the special scenes you can unlock are breathtaking.”
- “The art style and voice acting were top notch, and really added a level of care and detail that is a surprise in this game's genre.”
- “The artwork, voice acting, story line, all of it is beautifully done ❤️ it's inclusive, alluring, and every romance option is unique!”
- “As in one full frame image of August (admittedly the character I've seen the most of) will have a very specific art style and draw them a specific way, and then the next CG you see has an entirely different feel and style to it.”
- “Both styles are great but it was a little strange to me due to the fact that the different art styles made their features look very different, as if it were two different characters that were drawn just with the same hair.”
music
52 mentions
65 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the experience, with many noting its beauty and variety. However, some reviewers found certain tracks to be generic or overly familiar, which detracted from the overall impact. Despite these criticisms, the combination of music, voice acting, and artwork is frequently highlighted as a standout feature that contributes to the game's charm.
- “The music is really beautiful throughout this entire visual novel.”
- “The art, voice acting, and music are charming and magnificent.”
- “The soundtrack adds great atmosphere to the game.”
- “To conclude what is a superficial and seemingly controversial review, I thought the music was serviceable, but nothing to write home about.”
- “First thing that hit me was how I missed the music.”
- “My only complaint is the stock music; I hear this music so often in other media that it's kind of distracting, but that may be a personal problem.”
emotional
38 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its heartfelt and wholesome relationships, showcasing emotional vulnerability and character development. Players appreciate the sweet and supportive dynamics, with a variety of routes that explore feelings in a poignant manner, avoiding toxic tropes. The writing, combined with partial voice-over, enhances the emotional depth, making players feel accepted and giddy throughout their romantic journeys.
- “The relationships are so sweet and wholesome with so many good vibes.”
- “All of the routes have some pretty emotionally intelligent moments to offer, some poignant explorations of feelings accompanied by comfort and support, and there's actually a good variation of the different ways those feelings are presented and worked through.”
- “I swear a game has never made me feel more accepted than this one.”
humor
30 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing and engaging dialogue, often eliciting genuine laughter and emotional reactions from players. Characters are described as flirty and funny, contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience, while the overall tone is characterized as adorable and wholesome. Many players appreciate the blend of humor with romance, making the game both entertaining and memorable.
- “The dialogue overall is well done; a lot of the banter is genuinely funny.”
- “An absolutely adorable, funny, and wholesome visual novel.”
- “This game has everything I wanted: it's very funny, very cute and romantic, the plot is fast-paced and interesting, and the game flows so smoothly!”
character development
22 mentions
45 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is praised for its emotional depth and nuanced writing, with players appreciating the diverse and well-crafted characters, including a strong supporting cast. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character designs and a tendency for characters to exhibit "same face syndrome," which detracts from the overall experience. Despite these issues, the engaging dialogue and compelling personal stories contribute to a rich character-driven narrative.
- “There's emotional vulnerability, and character development abound.”
- “But, once again, I have to sing the praises of the writing team and just how nuanced and well done their character development is - including that of our no-nonsense enforcer.”
- “Seriously though, it wasn't just Finn that was great - Piper, August, Alkar, and even Harry are simply amazing from the choice of voice actors, to their character design, to their own personal imprinted stories, and so much more.”
- “The art is beautiful, and the story is interesting enough, but it falls a little short for me in terms of storytelling, character development, and voice acting.”
- “Character design: I'll admit I am not a huge fan of the monster designs, although I do like the world and the way the mages were represented with their glowing eyes and so forth. I was disappointed by the way the characters all tend to have 'same face syndrome' (and yes, I know it's difficult for an artist to overcome that).”
- “Art is good, with my only complaint being that the character designs are inconsistent throughout the CGs.”
replayability
10 mentions
30 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while players appreciate the engaging story, art, and voice acting that encourage multiple playthroughs, many note that the linear structure and similar events across routes limit the overall replay value. Some players are drawn back to explore different romantic paths and outcomes, but the repetitive nature of the story can diminish the incentive for extensive replay. Overall, it offers a compelling experience for a few runs, but may not sustain long-term interest.
- “Great story, art, and voice acting with a lot of replay value.”
- “It absolutely is a game that's replayable as I'm keen on returning immediately to explore other romantic routes as well as other potential outcomes to the story.”
- “The replayability is amazing, because even when you know the ending, you want to see these characters over and over again.”
- “This game is great... the first one or two playthroughs are enjoyable, but it's linear with very minute changes, so you can't get too much replayability out of it.”
- “The only thing this game may be lacking is some replay value, because the story is exactly the same in every route and the events with your romantic interest are always triggered at the same time and overall quite similar.”
- “This game is great... the first one or two playthroughs are enjoyable, but it's linear with very minute changes, so you can't get too much replayability out of it.”
gameplay
6 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging mechanics, allowing players to revisit individual lines to explore different choices without penalty. Players find themselves immersed and eager to continue, highlighting the game's ability to maintain excitement and enjoyment throughout. This title is seen as a significant contribution to the English-speaking otome/romance game community, advocating for quality productions over exploitative practices.
- “In terms of game mechanics, I love the fact that you can go back by individual lines in case you accidentally skipped something or to try out a different choice.”
- “It's the kind of game where you just keep playing because you can't wait to see what happens next and you're genuinely enjoying every minute of gameplay.”
- “This is 100% the kind of production we should be supporting in the English-speaking otome/romance game community.”
optimization
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight strong voice acting performances, particularly praising characters like Finn, Ezra, and August, as well as the engaging portrayal of Jonah. Additionally, the inclusion of polyamorous options adds a unique element to the game's narrative, enhancing the overall experience.
atmosphere
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and the charming uniqueness of its characters and their designs, creating a distinctive and immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack adds great atmosphere to the game.”
- “The atmosphere of the game holds a lot of charm, and the rest lies in the lovely uniqueness of the characters and their varying designs.”
stability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
The game experiences several visual glitches, including black blinking in full-screen mode and character portraits occasionally hiccuping or sliding into scenes. Overall, these issues suggest that stability could be improved.
- “There are a handful of visual glitches, such as black blinking when kept in full-screen mode, characters' portraits hiccuping, and multiple instances of characters sliding into certain scenes.”
- “The game suffers from various visual glitches, including black flickering in full-screen and characters' portraits stuttering or sliding awkwardly into scenes.”
- “I encountered several stability issues, like black screens in full-screen mode and characters' portraits glitching, which detracted from the overall experience.”