X-note

About

X-note is a single player casual simulation game with romance and mystery themes. It was developed by Zeiva Inc and was released on January 16, 2015. It received neutral reviews from players.

X-note is a single-player mystery simulation game, combining elements of visual novel and dating sim. As the protagonist Essi, you have 30 days to investigate a murder and disappearance at Xen Institute, where your mother once worked. During this time, you can train Essi's psychic abilities, explore the school, collect notes, and make choices that will determine her fate, all while uncovering the truth behind your mother's mysterious death and the elusive "X-note".

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

52%

Audience ScoreBased on 152 reviews

story40 positive mentions

atmosphere3 negative mentions

X-note features a compelling and emotionally engaging narrative that blends mystery, psychological suspense, and romance, making it a memorable experience.
The game offers meaningful interactivity through branching dialogue choices and investigation sequences, enhancing player engagement and replayability.
Visually, X-note stands out with its distinctive art direction and atmospheric soundtrack, effectively supporting the game's mood and themes.

The pacing can feel slow, and some players may find the minigames repetitive, which can detract from the overall experience.
Certain narrative branches require specific stat allocations or multiple playthroughs to fully understand key plot points, which may frustrate players seeking a complete experience in one run.
The game has faced criticism for the developer's controversial decision to revoke Steam keys for legitimately purchased copies, leading to negative sentiment among some players.

story
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
59%
4%
The story of the game is characterized by its intimate exploration of themes such as scientific experimentation, moral ambiguity, and paranormal forces, with a focus on a young girl named Essi who possesses psychic abilities. Players navigate through branching dialogue choices and multiple routes, which significantly influence character relationships and the overall narrative, leading to various endings that reflect the story's emotional depth. While the storytelling is engaging and enhanced by beautiful visuals and music, some players find the plot execution lacking in originality and coherence, with certain key elements only revealed through multiple playthroughs.
- “The result is a story that feels intimate even as the plot expands into scientific experimentation, moral ambiguity, and paranormal forces.”
- “The multiple endings—ranging from uplifting to tragic—reflect the story’s emotional complexity rather than offering simple success-or-failure binaries.”
- “Weaves together an exciting adventure with a captivating story, filled with mysterious secrets, developed characters, and even unexpected romance.”
- “Some narrative branches require specific stat allocation or multiple playthroughs to fully grasp key plot points, which may frustrate players seeking a complete experience in one run.”
- “The story isn't all that compelling, which wouldn't be a problem if it had more gameplay elements.”
- “The story is revealed in parts during the various plot lines, so you don't get the full picture until you've played them all.”
music
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
53%
12%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many players praising its ability to complement the emotional tone and narrative without being overpowering. While some find the soundtrack to be simplistic or repetitive, others appreciate its atmospheric qualities and emotional depth, enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the music is described as fitting and effective, though opinions vary on its memorability and variety.
- “The soundtrack complements the visual tone, alternating between subdued emotional melodies, ambient unease, and sharper tracks during moments of risk or confrontation.”
- “While the music is not flamboyant or dominant, it provides subtle emotional guidance, reinforcing narrative beats without overwhelming them.”
- “The music is fabulous; it's just utterly wonderful and so emotional and sentimental.”
- “The artwork is nothing special, the unique scenes that are supposed to be a bit better don't look much different, and there is a noticeable lack of variety of locations and music.”
- “For such a small visual novel, I still ended up finding the music mildly redundant.”
- “The soundtrack is mediocre; there is nothing special about this aspect, some of which are repeated a lot in various sequences throughout the whole game, which I didn't really like.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
45%
11%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the unique and pretty artwork that enhances the overall experience, while others criticize the visuals as low quality and lacking variety. Many players appreciate the character designs and cohesive style, but note that the visuals may not meet the expectations of those used to more polished productions. Overall, the artwork is a highlight for some, but it does not compensate for other shortcomings in the game.
- “The artworks are pretty and definitely made the game more memorable for me, but the story and characters are good too.”
- “This game has wonderful visuals and an amazing soundtrack, with great characters and an interesting story; I would recommend this to a friend.”
- “The graphics, the characters in particular, were all very pretty and cohesive in style.”
- “The art style, while striking, reflects the indie nature of the project, and those accustomed to fully voiced or highly animated visual novels may find it minimalist.”
- “The artwork is nothing special; the unique scenes that are supposed to be a bit better don't look much different, and there is a noticeable lack of variety of locations and music.”
- “The story, artwork, and sound are certainly not worth the price.”
emotional
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
X-note delivers a deeply emotional experience through its intricate narrative that intertwines psychological suspense, character drama, and romance, allowing players to engage with the story on a personal level. The gradual revelations and varied emotional tones of the multiple routes enhance the game's complexity, while the soundtrack subtly reinforces the emotional atmosphere. Players are encouraged to invest emotionally, with many noting the game's ability to evoke tears and lasting memories, making it a standout choice for fans of narrative-driven experiences.
- “X-note is a mystery-driven visual novel that blends psychological suspense, character drama, romance, and supernatural intrigue into a cohesive and emotionally engaging narrative.”
- “The romance elements are not superficial add-ons; instead, they function as emotional entry points into the deeper narrative, exploring how trust, vulnerability, secrecy, and trauma shape human connections.”
- “Ultimately, X-note succeeds because it prioritizes atmosphere, character development, narrative cohesion, and emotional sincerity.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of simple mechanics that enhance interactivity beyond a typical linear visual novel, incorporating mini-games and skill development to engage players in the story. While some reviews praise the effective integration of these elements, others criticize the limited depth and lack of compelling gameplay, suggesting that the mechanics primarily serve as milestones rather than enriching the overall experience. Overall, the gameplay is seen as straightforward, with a focus on choices and attribute management, but opinions vary on its effectiveness in enhancing the narrative.
- “Gameplay offers more interactivity than a standard linear visual novel.”
- “These mechanics are simple but effective, breaking up reading segments and encouraging the player to actively participate in solving the overarching mystery.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the game relies on both choices and mini-games which boost stats.”
- “Rather than influencing the path the story takes, the skills mechanic only seems to serve as milestones you absolutely have to reach before a certain point in the story, or else it's game over.”
- “The story isn't all that compelling, which wouldn't be a problem if it had more gameplay elements.”
- “The actual gameplay is simple; every day you play a minigame to raise one of three psychic abilities, and every so often you pick between choices—standard visual novel stuff.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a mix of relatable and absurd, with moments that evoke genuine laughter, particularly in character interactions and scenarios. While some find the humor to be a delightful blend of cute and silly, others feel it can be out of place or poorly integrated with the drama. Overall, the comedic elements range from clever teasing among characters to exaggerated, unrealistic antics that may not resonate with everyone.
- “Anon’s good end is also my favorite if only because it was so funny and gave a real 'true end' vibe because it was so hard to get.”
- “There is a hilarious parody of a particular O/S that is quite funny, in my opinion.”
- “The kawaii desu manga-male characters in this are cute and funny (oh, that Oure is a yumyum one) and it makes use of the natural Japanese 'OMG-what-a-perv' sort of humor.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its polished hand-drawn backgrounds and unique scene qualities, effectively enhancing the emotional depth and narrative cohesion. The blend of horror themes, music, and lighting creates a memorable and immersive experience without resorting to excessive horror tropes. Overall, the game's atmosphere is a standout feature that significantly contributes to player engagement and emotional resonance.
- “Backgrounds maintain a polished hand-drawn quality that gives school environments, laboratories, and psychological spaces texture and atmosphere.”
- “Ultimately, x-note succeeds because it prioritizes atmosphere, character development, narrative cohesion, and emotional sincerity.”
- “The atmosphere is really well done here and each scene has its own unique feeling.”
- “While some scenes are proportionally awkward, the vibrance and atmosphere compensate for any shortcomings in the piece.”
- “I was getting heavily into it during my first playthrough when I died, and the atmosphere around it while playing is creepy enough to set a memorable stage without it being one of those annoying horror games that has you lying awake at night.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game boasts high replayability due to its narrative flexibility, allowing players to experience multiple endings based on their choices, which reinforces the impact of their decisions. This element not only enhances the overall mystery but also encourages players to revisit the game to explore different outcomes.
- “This narrative flexibility adds significant replay value and reinforces the sense that Essi’s fate truly depends on the player’s decisions.”
- “Offers multiple endings based on choices made in the game, giving it a degree of replayability.”
- “It adds to the replayability and enhances the mystery.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Character development in the game is highlighted by expressive and memorable designs that effectively convey personality through stylistic choices, such as exaggerated features and posture. While it may not reach the high standards set by *eden, the game successfully prioritizes atmosphere and emotional sincerity, enhancing the overall narrative cohesion.
- “Character designs are expressive and memorable, using stylistic exaggeration, eye detail, and posture to communicate personality long before dialogue clarifies it.”
- “The artist was able to convey a sense of creepiness through the fine details of character design and location design; it's wonderfully well done.”
- “Ultimately, x-note succeeds because it prioritizes atmosphere, character development, narrative cohesion, and emotional sincerity.”
- “It's not up to Eden's standard, but somehow the artist was able to convey creepiness through the fine print of character design, location design, etc. It's wonderfully well done.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that grinding is essential for enjoyment, as progressing without it is nearly impossible. The minigames can be challenging, and repeatedly replaying routes to unlock different endings often leads to tedium and frustration.
- “Without cheats, it's impossible to have fun without grinding.”
- “The minigames were somewhat difficult when you try to max out the stats, and it gets increasingly tedious and frustrating when you replay routes to see other endings.”