Witches x Warlocks
- October 31, 2020
- Nifty Visuals
- 3h median play time
In "Witches x Warlocks," players help Fay Nightshade, a witch struggling to cast spells, study for exams and find a date for the Halloween festivities. The game offers a customizable protagonist, four romance options, and 28 spells/scenes to unlock, with some voice acting and multiple endings. A free version and DLC are available, with the latter containing additional illustrations and a romantic route.
Reviews
- The game features adorable character designs and charming art style.
- The story is light-hearted and fun, making it a great pick for a casual gaming experience.
- The inclusion of customizable pronouns and voice options adds a personal touch to the gameplay.
- The main character can be overly annoying and childish, which may detract from the overall experience.
- The romance aspect feels rushed and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the love interests.
- There are technical issues, such as glitches and limited voice acting, that can disrupt the flow of the game.
- story123 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally described as cute and engaging, with a focus on character interactions and growth, though some players feel it lacks depth and could benefit from more content and development. While the narrative is light-hearted and straightforward, it successfully immerses players in a charming fantasy world, featuring well-designed characters and enjoyable dialogue. However, critiques include a perceived brevity and simplicity in the plot, with some players wishing for more substantial romance and character backstories.
“Developed by studio luminary, this game is a testament to storytelling, character development, and emotional immersion.”
“The story is amazing, the characters that you can date/romance are lovable, and amazing; I love every one of them!!”
“The story is super captivating and interesting; if anything, I would hope that they would add more customization and more voice options.”
“While visual novels tend to have a lot to read, I feel like the dialogue here was used to more or less drag out gameplay rather than to flesh out its characters and story.”
“The main character is really annoying, the love interests aren't interesting at all, the dialogue feels too long and pointless at times, and the story is really boring.”
“Don't go into the game expecting a deeper story; what you see is what you get.”
- graphics56 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous and cute art style, with vibrant colors and well-designed characters that enhance the overall experience. While some players noted minor graphical glitches, the visuals are generally considered high-quality and consistent, contributing positively to the game's whimsical tone. Overall, the artwork and aesthetic elements are highlighted as standout features, making it a delightful visual novel, especially for a free game.
“I adore the art style used in this game, and the colors really pop.”
“The visuals are beautiful, easy gameplay, and the character interactions are cute.”
“The art style is adorable throughout, and the spoopy Halloween-style background music really adds to the game's whimsical tone.”
“I had such high hopes for this game based on the concept and art style, but I ended up disappointed.”
“During play, I found multiple minor graphical bugs which, while not affecting gameplay, I believe should be mentioned regardless.”
“On the bright side, the visuals are really cute, though I do wish there was a wider range of customization options when it comes to creating the main character.”
- gameplay52 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by simple mechanics and a cute aesthetic, appealing to those looking for a light-hearted experience. While some players found the gameplay engaging and enjoyable, particularly with the spell-learning and task management elements, others criticized it for being repetitive, buggy, and lacking depth. Overall, the game offers a charming but basic experience that may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or challenging gameplay.
“Love every route and how cool the gameplay is <3”
“The backstory and bonding mixed together with the spell-learning mechanic worked really nicely, and I enjoyed every minute of it!”
“The game mechanics of learning spells and working a part-time job add a new element that I enjoyed quite a bit.”
“It's cute and fairly entertaining, but it feels bland and the gameplay is boring.”
“But even the mechanics for the game were really buggy, laggy, and annoying. If you want a dating sim, this is not the game for you.”
“The gameplay loop isn't that interesting, but it doesn't take up much time.”
- emotional34 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with players praising its cute and heartwarming storytelling, character development, and emotional immersion. Many reviewers noted that the game evokes strong feelings, often leading to tears of joy, and highlighted the charming interactions and respectful character dynamics that contribute to a wholesome experience. Overall, it is celebrated as a delightful and fulfilling visual novel that resonates deeply with players seeking warmth and cheerfulness.
“Developed by a studio luminary, this game is a testament to storytelling, character development, and emotional immersion.”
“The times we get to spend with the characters are mostly heartwarming and make you feel all fuzzy inside.”
“It's honestly one of the cutest wholesome visual novels I've played in a while.”
- music31 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its charm and suitability for the game's atmosphere. However, several reviews note that the soundtrack is repetitive and lacks variety, leading to some annoyance over time. Overall, while the music enhances the experience, there is a consensus that more diverse tracks would improve it further.
“The music is perfect enough to compensate if you turn the voices off.”
“The art style is adorable throughout, and the spoopy Halloween bop style background music really adds to the game's whimsical tone.”
“The soundtrack, although repetitive, is nice and isn't tiring to listen to.”
“Way too few music themes, and they get annoying quickly.”
“I only had a couple of issues; the music, while lovely, is very repetitive, so I would suggest adding more music.”
“Only complaint is that I wish there were more choices; the background could be a little glitchy at times, and the music was a bit repetitive.”
- character development21 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the character designs and art are generally praised for their cuteness and appeal, many reviewers feel that the depth of character development is lacking, leaving players wanting more complexity and emotional engagement. Some characters are described as well-fleshed out, but others come across as underdeveloped, contributing to an overall sense of missed potential in storytelling. Despite its charming visuals, the game is often perceived as simplistic and somewhat dull in terms of character interactions and growth.
“Developed by studio luminary, this game is a testament to storytelling, character development, and emotional immersion.”
“What truly elevates this dating sim is its character development.”
“Mc's personality aside, the game gives me demo vibes, or more like a first attempt, which is not inherently bad, even less so if we remember that the game is free, but it does leave you with the feeling that there should be more, more character development, more story, more events, more depth in the game mechanics, and definitely, more uses for the spells!”
“Cute otome game but the character development is kinda meh - there's no hint that love interests even like the main character (except for zero, I guess).”
“Everyone goes through some character development and their personalities are well fleshed out.”
- humor21 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- -10 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is generally described as lighthearted, quirky, and enjoyable, with many players finding the characters' dialogue and interactions to be funny and charming. While some characters may come off as annoying, the overall comedic tone is appreciated, making it a sweet and entertaining experience. The humor is well-integrated into the gameplay, appealing to those who prefer a more whimsical and less serious narrative.
“The overall experience was enjoyable, since it was full of cute and funny moments.”
“Very funny and sweet, loved it!”
“My favorite part about this game aren't the characters' designs but the excellent humor!”
“They remind me of Dory from Finding Nemo, but without the depth of character that makes you eventually like them. They are not funny, just annoying.”
“The jokes fall flat and feel forced, lacking any real wit or charm.”
“I expected clever humor, but instead, it was just a series of tired clichés that didn't land.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with users reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly during gameplay and character interactions. While some players experienced minor issues that were manageable, others faced more significant problems, such as lost progress and gameplay interruptions. Overall, the game is described as having a generally smooth experience, but the presence of bugs detracts from its overall stability.
“But even the mechanics and such for the game were really buggy, laggy, and annoying. If you want a dating sim, this is not the game for you. If you're just lonely and want to meet sweet characters because you're bored and have nothing better to do - then go ahead.”
“Game is pretty boring and buggy; it glitched and restarted all my progress.”
“In terms of gameplay itself, it was a little buggy - during the final exam, clickable objects were offset from the background, and the wrong pronouns were used for my character in some of Carmilla's dialogue during the initial meeting - but overall a very good experience.”
- replayability6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability through mechanics like task selection, spell learning, and character choices, though some players note a sense of repetition. While the free version has limited routes, the premium version provides more options, making it enjoyable for multiple playthroughs despite some criticisms of a rushed experience. Overall, it is considered fun and worth playing, with replay value primarily stemming from character interactions and choices.
“Replayability comes from the mechanics of wisely choosing tasks during the day to complete your goals, learning various spells, and picking a different character in the end.”
“Although there is a slight repetition in the gameplay, it's highly replayable once you get the hang of it.”
“Fun playthrough with strong and varied characters, casual and easy to play, definitely has replay value.”
“Good game, rushed dating sim, not much replayability, but worth the play!”
“- not a lot of replay value as there are only 3 routes for the free version and 4 routes for the premium game.”
“Replayable a few times.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be enjoyable and engaging, as it is complemented by lighthearted moments, potion-making, and surprise cutscenes that keep the experience fresh. The addition of character development through spell-learning scenes prevents the grinding from feeling tedious.
“It also wasn't tedious because every time you learn a new spell from one of your love interests, there is a short scene that reveals more about them.”
“The grinding feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game.”
“I found the grinding to be a major chore, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the experience.”
“The repetitive nature of the grinding made it feel more like a job than a game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with some players expressing frustration over persistent bugs and performance issues that hinder gameplay, while others appreciate the developers' passion and are hopeful for improvements. Overall, the experience has been marred by overheating and poor performance on certain systems.
“You can tell this was a project full of passion for the devs, and I will be happy to purchase the paid DLC to support them as soon as the game runs smoothly on my laptop again. It worked perfectly the first time, but then there was a persistent bug the subsequent times.”
“Horrible experience... infinite dialogues, boring, and poorly optimized. My PC overheated after 5 minutes of watching cartoons blinking their eyes.”
“The game is riddled with performance issues, making it nearly unplayable on mid-range systems.”
“I encountered frequent frame drops and long loading times, which severely impacted my enjoyment of the game.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its charming background art, which effectively combines dark colors with a cute aesthetic. The soundtrack, featuring two looped tracks, complements the visuals well and remains pleasant without becoming tiresome, enhanced by engaging sound effects.
“The background art is very atmospheric and cute, despite primarily using dark colors!”
“The soundtrack features two looped tracks that convey the atmosphere neatly and are pleasant to listen to, making them feel fresh rather than tiring. There are also some cool sound effects.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its failure to properly implement and respect player-selected pronouns, raising concerns about the authenticity of its advertising regarding inclusivity.