Making*Lovers Review Summary

Wholesome romance and comedy with distinct heroines and great pacing, but undermined by an unlikable pervy protagonist, average art, and a linear predictable story.

Wholesome romance and comedy: The game delivers a lighthearted, sweet romantic plot with well-executed humor and funny moments.

Karen's route stands out: Karen's route is frequently highlighted as the best, with excellent writing, mature relationship dynamics, and a sweet, emotional story.

Great pacing throughout: The game's pacing is praised as well-balanced with no padding, providing a smooth narrative flow.

Excellent voice acting: The voice acting is consistently praised as high-quality and well-integrated, enhancing the sound design and BGM.

Distinct heroine personalities: Each of the five heroines has unique and lovable traits, offering variety across routes.

MC is unlikeable and pervy: The main character is widely disliked for being flippant, pervy, and annoying, with cringey rants and dirty jokes.

Too linear and predictable: The game feels like a novel with no meaningful choices; decisions don't affect story, making it predictable and easy.

Art quality is average or worse: Art style, CGs, and character designs are average; side faces have quality issues, and CG count is low.

Routes are boring or fluffy: Half the game is banal and boring; most routes are fluffy with no drama, lacking conflict and stakes.

Music is average or forgettable: OST is average, forgettable, repetitive after hours, and not available on Steam; only two songs are memorable.

Visual novel structure: The game is a visual novel featuring multiple heroine routes, branching choices, and route selection. It has a short common route that leads quickly into individual heroine stories.

Romantic comedy genre: The game is described as a slice-of-life romantic comedy with adult themes and spicy elements. It focuses on relationships after confession and includes both romance and comedy.

Short common route: The common route is very short or non-existent, allowing players to quickly select a heroine and begin their personal story. This structure is widely praised.

Five heroine routes: The game contains five distinct heroine routes, each with unique career backgrounds and story arcs. Routes are independent and require separate playthroughs.

Route length balance: Each heroine route lasts about 5-7 hours, providing substantial content. The common route is short, so most playtime is spent on individual stories.

Restoration patch has bugs: The restoration patch introduces issues such as softlocks and sprite disappearance, which can disrupt gameplay. These are critical bugs that need fixing.

Steam overlay causes lag: Using the Steam overlay (Shift+Tab) leads to significant lag and slow response times, so players are advised to avoid it. This is a notable performance issue.

Runs well on Steam Deck: The game runs flawlessly on the Steam Deck, indicating good optimization for handheld gaming. This is a positive point for portable play.

Runs on low-end hardware: The game performs well on low-end systems, making it accessible to a broader audience. This is beneficial for players with older hardware.

Minor bugs present: Players report encountering minor bugs, which are not game-breaking but can affect the overall experience. These should be addressed in updates.

Highly recommended overall: The game is strongly recommended by many reviewers, especially for fans of visual novels, rom-coms, and slice-of-life stories. It is praised as a top-tier experience for newcomers and genre enthusiasts alike.

Pure romance and comedy: Reviewers highlight the game as a pure romantic comedy, focusing on sweet, funny, and healing love stories without unnecessary drama. It is described as a feel-good experience.

Good for newcomers: The game is often recommended as a great entry point for those new to visual novels or the rom-com genre. It is seen as a lighthearted and accessible starting point.

Adult character focus: The game is praised for featuring adult characters and a non-school setting, which appeals to readers tired of school-based romance. It offers a matured, slow-paced pure romance.

Preferred route order: Several reviews recommend a specific route order for the best experience, with many suggesting playing Karen's route last. Some also recommend starting with Saki or Karen.

Community fair range: $20.00 - $30.00.

Game completion: 25.0h.

Story completion: 7.0h.

The game has a short common route (about 1 hour) after which players enter unique heroine routes; some find the initial hour boring, while others enjoy the fast pacing. Fun often increases once on a specific route.

Friction: boring common route; slow start; dialogue-heavy segments; uneven pacing.

Unlock drivers: short common route; unique heroine route content; crystal clear three-part progression.

Moege Devotee: Completionist; plays all heroines, saving the most fleshed-out route for last. Motivation: Enjoy character-driven romance with multiple routes and happy endings. Stance: buy.

Genre Newcomer: Linear playthrough; follows obvious choices without guides. Motivation: Experience a visual novel for the first time in a beginner-friendly environment. Stance: buy.

Romance Escapist: Romance-focused; may not complete all routes, prioritizing emotional impact. Motivation: Seek emotional connection and romantic escapism to alleviate loneliness or crave affection. Stance: buy.

Purchased game despite review copy: A reviewer received a free copy but still bought the game, indicating strong personal value or support for the developers.

Volunteer translator mentions credentials: A player noted their involvement in a Chinese translation patch for another game, possibly to establish credibility or context for their feedback.