Note, these are not reviews, rather recommendations so your mileage may vary with some of these titles. This week’s post will include a brief synopsis and links to each game so you can add them to your gaming library! You don’t have to break the bank to enjoy your hobbies, so save a little bread and check out this week’s thrifty gaming picks!
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A Year of Springs
- Publisher: npckc
- Genre: LGBTQ+ | Slice-of-Life | Cozy
- Cost: $5.00
- Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux | Steam
three women, three stories, three springs.
・・・
experience the stories of haru, erika, and manami in A YEAR OF SPRINGS, a visual novel trilogy about a trio of friends navigating their feelings of love, connection, and just wanting to belong.
– Synopsis
A Year of Springs Game Review
This new game comes with all three titles in the Springs series–One Night, Hot Spring, Last Day of Spring, and Spring Leaves No Flower–and as an exclusive bonus, npckc included a new epilogue that follows Haru, Erika, and Manami after the events of all three games!
A Year of Spring is a compilation game of One Night, Hot Spring trilogy by npckc and includes all three games along with three brand new epilogues following the characters after the events of their respective stories. The trilogy discusses issues that people of different genders and sexualities may face in their day to day lives. In One Night Hot Spring, follow Haru a transgender Japanese woman as she navigates a trip to a local hot spring with her friends. In Last Day of Spring, follow Erika as she tries to plan a spa day for her friend Haru (and also discovers her own budding feelings of love). In Spring Leaves No Flowers, follow Manami as she discovers what love and romance mean to her. Three different women. Three different, but interconnected journeys.
Heart Fragment
- Publisher: Starfield Gaming
- Genre: Mystery | Fantasy | Romance
- Cost: $9.99
- Where to Play: Windows, Mac, & Linux | Steam
Can you collect all of the fragments, solve the mysteries, and find your way to a happy ending?
In this mysterious otome game, play as a protagonist (name customizable but “Xani” by default) struggling to cope with the hand life has dealt you. Your mother’s death was a tragedy that left you cynical and numb to the world. Now, though, greater challenges are piling up fast – and it all begins when you find out you are not entirely human.
The disappearance of a friend. A sudden attack that leaves you wounded. Mysterious characters entering and leaving your life. Growing bonds. Coming to terms with what exactly “humanity” is…
Please. Find a happy ending. Don’t let tragedy be the only option.
-Synopsis
Heart Fragment is a mystery romance indie otome game developed by Starfield Gaming. The game has three planned books, however at the time of this post only book one is available to play. Take on the role of Xani Green, a young woman who discovers that she may not be as normal as she once believed. Piece together the secrets of her past to unlock a larger supernatural mystery. In Book One, players can romance two unique characters, Kay and Clive (later books will introduce new romanceable/befriend-able characters).
Up All Night
- Publisher: Fiendish Fiction
- Genre: Horror | Psychological | Visual Novel
- Cost: Name Your Own Price
- Where to Play: Windows & Mac
Stranded in the remote cabin that was supposed to serve as a weekend getaway, recent high school grad Nick is on his own to explore the surrounding backwoods.
Unfortunately things take a dark turn when he stumbles upon a gruesome scene.
Accompanied by two new local acquaintances, Nick’s first goal is to uncover the mystery of what haunts the woods. His second is to survive it.
Unearth secrets hidden between the trees. Solve a murder. Confront what awaits in the darkness.
Whatever transpires, you’re guaranteed to be up all night.
-Synopsis
Up All Night is a short psychological horror visual novel developed by Fiendish Fiction for the Spooktober 2nd Annual Visual Novel Jam. Dive into your very own horror adventure, follow Nick and his companions as they attempt to get to the bottom of a gruesome murder. Can you survive? Unlock each of the game’s eight unique endings and uncover the truth, but beware, your choices will determine whether or not you’ll make it out of your adventure alive.
Warning: This game incorporates mature themes including physical violence, suicidal ideation, medication abuse, trauma response, and visual and written depictions of gore.
That’s it for this week’s thrifty buys, but, don’t worry I’ll have more titles for in next week’s post, so be on the look out for that next Thursday! But, if all that extra money you saved is burning a hole in your pocket and you just can’t wait for next week’s list, definitely check out some of my previous Thrifty Gaming posts, there are tons of games for gamers who like me are ballin’ on a budget!
Thank you for reading and Supporting Blerdy Otome! If you like what you see be sure to drop a like or a comment to let me know your thoughts on this week’s Thrifty Picks!!
