Secret Summer

TLDR 4.9/10 Starts weak. Recovers. Goes off the rails completely thereafter – all in far too short a period of time. Long version I initially gave this a positive review, just barely, then got to the end and went "are you kidding?” Let’s start here: The MC is a complete and utter simp… Look, if that's your jam buy this game and ignore me, this will totally be your cup off tea. In this you can expect to boot lick your way into your romantic objects good graces by white knighting, saying anything they want to hear, doing anything they need doing, having no disagreeing opinions etc This story will in every way allow you to champion the role of the ultimate "yes dear, whatever you say dear" MC, but you'll get laid, so that's enough... right? Personally I struggle with that, I want an equal who wants me as much as I want them and this entire AVN reeks of virtue signalling and "fragile women on a pedestal" instead of "romantic partner" or even "lust object." There is even an attempt at a dom sub relationship in this that is done so badly that for the first time in more games of this genre than I know, I fast forwarded through it because of how painful it was for me… Then there is the kink genre itself that the writer is trying to appeal to: incest. AVN's are predominantly about wooing someone and the draw of the incest kink is that it is meant to be wooing on hard mode - you have a social imperative NOT to date that you have to overcome: "it's wrong for us to be together, but we want this so much." If the game doesn't give you that feel then it's just another standard AVN. Secret Summer absolutely vaaaaaults from "we can't because we're related" to "I always wanted this and didn't realise you wanted it too" in a heartbeat. There is no longing, the roadblock to intimacy in this story is "I'm mad that you left" and basically completely skips the "this is wrong, we shouldn't" part of the story. Thereafter it immediately backpedals to a vanilla AVN by just going "well I guess it's fine we're related, but we should date first..." but then instantly vaults over that hurdle straight to the sex like the game can’t decide what kind of game it wants to be. Is this a slow builder? Is this just sex scenes with plot sold separately? Who knows! The writer certainly doesn’t. Outside of that the plot switching directions on hairpin turns – for instance about facing your nemesis character in just one afternoon, turning her from bad cop to my-other-other vulnerable mother figure without any reason for it. There are so many examples like this where are character will one moment be unsure of their relationship with you then instantly be like “lol nevermind, let’s bang!” Give this game a miss, if you want to see something the writer did well go get their other game Picture Perfect, or better yet try something like Man of the House or Dating my Daughter.

I like this visual novel very much, but I don't like being called by or calling women "baby." The sentences in Japanese need the words to be separated. Making an entire sentence into one word is ridiculous. Hontou ni domo arigatou gozaimashita, not Hontounidomoarigatougzaimashita. See how silly that looks? Irene looks too young to be 39. More like 24, max. Coral's makeup in the role-play scene is awful. It makes her eyes look even farther apart and the colors don't work for her. The lipstick is especially bad. Crying is not balling. It is bawling. The writing gets worse and worse as you progress through the story. Like writing "lodged it free" when they mean "setting it free." M*sturb*tion is only performed on yourself, not on your partner. The writer either hasn't had sex ed or they failed it.

I am torn between giving this a thumbs up or down, due to it having a good story, but very linear. I wish it was more open with the choices and situations. I do not like the "you have the biggest thing I have ever seen" syndrome, nor do I like the 'three sisters all virgins' aspect. These games might be fantasy, but lets be realistic at least a little to make it more believable. There are numerous spelling errors in the game as well. Some of them really destroy the mood or context of what is happening at the time. I do not know if this game is completely done, I wish the creator would at minimum fix the spelling errors and take out the references of the MC having "the biggest one they ever seen" stuff.

There are downsides to this game. There's a lot of dialogue. But there are plot twists, and a lot of sex. I mean a lot of sex. You can get access to the outcomes of your choices, which can let you have sex with pretty much everyone. Or you can choose to let your choices dictate how much sex you get and with whom, if you're into that whole living with mistakes thing. ;) Hey, did I mention there's a lot of sex?

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 489: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆☆ (7/10) [i]Secret Summer[/i] is unironically hilarious. It’s an adult visual novel—an AVN—which, as the name suggests, is a visual novel with explicit scenes. This is my first time reading one, and it's about what I expected tbh. It plays like a chaotic blend of melodrama, soap opera twists, and anime logic. Sometimes it’s ridiculous, sometimes it works, and sometimes it’s so bad it circles all the way back to enjoyable. I don't really have any hot takes; ya know what you're going to get. [b][h2]Pros:[/h2][/b] ✅ To my surprise, the relationship-building is actually solid. Each woman has her own plotline with real development, not just “here’s a girl, now romance her.” You'll have many scenes talking about your past, the future, your dreams, and I thought it was actually pretty sweet and realistic. The central hook is genuinely strong, too: your protagonist has a ~mysterious~ secret that pushed him away from the people he loves. ✅ Not sure if the writer intended this, but I laughed quite a few times. The “sexual tension” scenes are the best comedy the game has to offer. You will need to suspend your disbelief so high it hits orbit. A sparring match turns into heavy breathing and yearning? A hand cramp magically transitions into lap-sitting? An older woman suggests showering with the GROWN MC for “comfort?" Everyone is just… super chill about polyamorous, incest-adjacent dynamics? At some point you must simply surrender yourself to the vibes. Just go with it, man. And at the end, [spoiler] you have two women in your harem who get pregnant with your children.[/spoiler] Absolutely sent me. ✅ Solid models, with each woman actually looking distinct. ✅ In-game walkthrough that's free. ✅ Norah <3 Irene <3 [b][h2]Cons:[/h2][/b] 🟥 UI issues. The UI needs a facelift: the font is straight-up basic Arial, the textbox is bland, and the overall layout feels like a first-draft Ren’Py project. 🟥 While I totally understand the lack of voice acting, there's also no music, so the whole game just ... takes place in dead silence? That was quite odd. 🟥 While the writing is generally solid, there's a few attempts at humor which fail. For example, [spoiler] there's a scene where an employee is a bit rude towards one of the women. When the protagonist confronts him, he falls to the ground, crying about his dead dog. There's also a lightsaber fight prank after a serious reveal? [/spoiler] There's a lot of fourth-wall breaks, which I don't enjoy. And I don't love how the writer writes actions. For example, instead of "I laugh," the writer does "*Laughs*." 🟥 Quite a few melodramatic moments. Not only do you have a controlling, kind of abusive dad, he also [spoiler] forces you to call him "Sir" then forces you to fist-fight him to go see the girls?!?!?!?![/spoiler] HUH?! [hr] If you enjoyed this review, please check out my curator page to find more: [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45814768-Verdict-Play-or-Pass/]Verdict: Play or Pass. [/url] Also, please leave a like and visit [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Indie_Gems]IndieGems[/url] and our YouTube channel for more reviews like this one. [/hr]

Is ok, doesn't seem I wasted my money/time. The things that can improve: - Lots of unnecessary dialog (why i need to know the thoughts of the character thinking what I'm seeing) - maybe different positions per scene or at least different camera angles. - no animations

game is short but i enjoyed how simple the plot was, avoiding drama by having a MC who actually cares about women be there for them...(it's no Dreams of Desire, that's for sure) or and his rep is so good that the ladies easily are swooned by his charms. Lets you outta the drama & helps you push the limits like i didn't use PROTECTION at any part in the game, lol. by the end of it the cute country momma was into breeding, i bet. the game was so fun i fell asleep 3 times because i didn't want to turn it off... not everyone would feel the same because it's straight forward, but the ladies are pretty hot and the eyes are designed so well that... i was focused on how fast i could push the ladies into going all the way, woohoo. i will say the writing kinda falls flat on how it depicts John, i think the writer might have Daddy issues, but if you can ignore... how fast the pacing is & also, enjoy how kind and respectful the women are... instantly a pleasurable story, just give Irene a chance to be your friend... people aren't against you, They are for themselves.

[b]Secret Summer[/b] is an enthralling AVN that revolves around a young protagonist who, after being separated from his mother and three sisters for business training, devises a plan to reunite with them. The emotional motivation stems from hearing his mother in distress during phone calls, igniting a desire to return home. However, this reunion is not without its challenges, as the protagonist navigates the distinct personalities of his sisters (Zoe, the serious aspiring lawyer / Leanne, the carefree spirit / Coral, the gamer) alongside the presence of a demanding stepmother, Irene, and a nurturing yet self-neglecting mother, Norah, all of whom add complexity to the unfolding family drama. Players make impactful decisions that dictate character interactions and story progression. The game is complemented by beautifully designed female characters and engaging H-scenes that elevate the experience. These h-scenes are notably well-executed, contributing to the overall allure of the game. A free in-game walkthrough is available for players who may need guidance, ensuring that no one feels excluded from accessing all routes and content. [i]In summary, [b]Secret Summer[/b] is a superb adult visual novel that combines a compelling plot with dynamic gameplay, making it a must-buy for fans of the genre. The well-written script and exciting storyline ensure that players remain engaged from start to finish, while the delightful character design and fiery H-scenes only enhance the experience. If you're looking for an amazing AVN with emotional depth and steamy encounters that perfectly balances family dynamics and personal choices, this AVN should be at the top of your list.[/i] [code][url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/44896253/]Love NSFW games? Follow my Steam curator page for the hottest recommendations![/url][/code]

If you like to just read, this game is for you. No animation in a sex novel no thanks

Cautious recommend: The story is ok, but it is a really slow build up. Pro: - Art style renders are consistent and look really good - Story is actually decent, but slow as snails to pickup - Cameo appearance from the other games of this developer - Women have various personalities - MC is not too annoying Con: - Story is slow - I would call this a VN and not AVN it is really slow - Sound is mute most of the time I mean literally no background music in most places - No animations either, so lots of telling and now showing.