Underplayed Gems

Once' (2019)

Once' cover
Developer
Once重置制作室, JingtuStudio, 乌鸦大仙
Publisher
JingtuStudio, 乌鸦大仙
Platforms
Windows, macOS
Genres
Adventure, Indie
Rating
4.3 of 5, 175 player ratings
Typical playtime
about 3.3 hours
Where to get it
Steam

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The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A quiet, reflective visual novel that unfolds a brief tale of memory, blending warmth with a soft touch of regret.

reflectivebittersweetnostalgicintrospectiveheartwarminggentleshortemotional

What players say

Players are split on this visual novel. Most praise the authentic depiction of youth and the specific nostalgia of Chengdu's Shishi middle school, but many criticize the male lead's behavior and the story as melodramatic and cliché. The art is considered average, and the sad ending is seen as realistic by some and frustrating by others.

Screenshots

Once' screenshot 1Once' screenshot 2Once' screenshot 3Once' screenshot 4Once' screenshot 5Once' screenshot 6

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More by JingtuStudio

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.