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 227 reviews

story94 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling and engaging story with well-developed characters, making it a joy to play through multiple routes.
The voice acting is top-notch, with notable performances that enhance the overall experience, particularly from Gideon Emery and Jonah Scott.
The game offers diverse romance options, including polyamorous relationships and the ability to choose pronouns, making it inclusive and relatable for a wide audience.

The main story can feel linear and predictable, with limited choices that don't significantly alter the overall plot.
Some players found the pacing of the romances to be rushed, with characters falling in love too quickly within a short time frame.
There are minor technical issues, such as inconsistent character art styles and occasional glitches in the user interface.

story
214 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 compelling and the characters feel like actual people instead of just tropes and archetypes.”
- “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
41 mentions
59 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and unique art style, which draws players in with its gothic aesthetic and supernatural elements. However, some users note inconsistencies in the artwork, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these minor critiques, the visuals, character designs, and accompanying voice acting are highlighted as standout features that enhance the game's appeal.
- “Great game, amazing voice acting, great visuals.”
- “The artwork is downright beautiful!”
- “The graphics are nice to look at, and especially the special scenes you can unlock are breathtaking.”
- “The artwork is a little inconsistent sometimes.”
- “The art style is pretty but inconsistent.”
- “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.”
music
26 mentions
65 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
12 % 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 find certain tracks to be generic or reminiscent of stock music, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant and enjoyable aspect of the game, complementing its artwork and voice acting effectively.
- “The soundtrack adds great atmosphere to the game.”
- “The music is really beautiful throughout this entire visual novel.”
- “The art, voice acting, and music are charming and magnificent.”
- “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
19 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and heartwarming relationships, featuring confident yet sensitive characters who provide support and comfort. Players appreciate the emotional intelligence displayed in various routes, with moments of vulnerability and character development that foster a sense of acceptance. The writing, combined with partial voice-over, enhances the emotional depth, making the romantic experiences feel genuine and endearing.
- “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
15 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. Many reviewers highlight the witty banter and flirty interactions among characters, contributing to a lighthearted and enjoyable experience. Overall, the humor is described as adorable, inclusive, and a key element that enhances the game's charm and appeal.
- “Admittedly, some of the dialogue made me laugh out loud, cringe, or cry out in shock.”
- “The dialogue overall is well done; a lot of the banter is genuinely funny.”
- “An absolutely adorable, funny, and wholesome visual novel.”
character development
11 mentions
45 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, character development in the game is praised for its emotional depth and nuanced writing, with a diverse cast that engages players through well-crafted dialogue and personal stories. While some reviewers noted inconsistencies in character designs and a tendency towards "same face syndrome," the strong narrative and character arcs still manage to draw players in and foster attachment to the characters. The combination of beautiful art and compelling character journeys contributes to a rich gaming experience, despite some minor critiques.
- “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).”
- “Despite not loving the character designs at first, it drew me in and had me falling for the characters despite that.”
replayability
5 mentions
60 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
40 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the opportunity to explore different romantic routes and character interactions, others find the linearity and repetitive story events limit the overall replay value. Despite this, many are drawn back to the game for its engaging story, art, and voice acting, suggesting that the desire to revisit the characters enhances the experience.
- “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, 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.”
gameplay
3 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging mechanics, allowing players to revisit choices and explore different outcomes, which enhances the overall experience. Players find themselves eagerly immersed in the story, enjoying every moment, and appreciate the game's quality as a significant contribution to the English-speaking otome and romance game community.
- “In terms of game mechanics, I love the fact that you can go back by individual lines in case you accidentally skipped something or want 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! <3”
- “This is 100% the kind of production we should be supporting in the English-speaking otome/romance game community.”
- “The gameplay feels repetitive and lacks depth, making it hard to stay engaged for long periods.”
- “The controls are clunky and unresponsive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
- “There are too many bugs and glitches that disrupt the flow of gameplay, making it frustrating to play.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with players praising the quality of voice acting and character performances, particularly highlighting the standout roles of Finn, Ezra, and August. The inclusion of polyamorous options adds an interesting layer to the gameplay experience. Overall, the voice acting significantly enhances the game's appeal.
- “The voice acting is good for the most part; I was actually surprised by who they got for the characters and enjoyed their performances a lot. I especially had a soft spot for Finn, Ezra, and August. This is also my first game where poly options were a thing, which was interesting.”
- “If you've ever written the words 'I stand with Jonah,' do not pass go, put your money where your mouth is and buy this game. (As a bonus, his performance is beyond annoyingly good.)”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and is characterized by its charming uniqueness, reflected in the diverse designs of its characters.
- “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
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users report occasional visual glitches affecting stability, including black blinking in full-screen mode and characters' portraits experiencing hiccups or sliding into scenes. Overall, these issues suggest that while the game is playable, it may not be entirely stable in certain scenarios.
- “There are a handful of visual glitches, such as black screens blinking when in full-screen mode, and character portraits occasionally hiccuping or sliding into certain scenes multiple times.”
- “The game suffers from frequent crashes and stability issues that disrupt the overall experience.”
- “I've encountered numerous bugs that cause the game to freeze, making it nearly unplayable at times.”