Afterlove EP

Release Date: February 14, 2025

Adventure, 2D, visual novel, indie games, games for impact, singleplayer

7.5

OpenCritic

95%

Steam

Rate It!

An adventure game with elements of a rhythm game and a visual novel. In Afterlove EP we play as a young Indonesian musician trying to cope with the death of his girlfriend. We can explore modern-day Jakarta, having conversations with other characters and performing music. We have 28 days and nights to shape the protagonist's fate.

Story
Gameplay
Graphics and music

The Afterlove EP is a production on the border of adventure and rhythm games, with some additional visual novel elements. The project was backed by the independent Indonesian studio Pikselnesia, founded by Mohammad Fahmi, who previously worked on such works as Coffee Talk or What Comes After. Even though Fahmi passed away in 2022, the team committed to completing his last project.

Story

Afterlove EP takes us to contemporary Jakarta - the capital of Indonesia. The main character of the game is Rama, a young musician who has been unable to recover from the death of his beloved Cinta for a year. A month before his band's important concert, the protagonist faces a choice - either he will try to pull himself together and help the group record new songs, or his friends will go on tour without him. The matter is complicated by the fact that his mental health is apparently starting to falter, and he himself does not know whether the source of Cinta's voice, which he hears in his head, is a ghost or his own imagination.

At this moment we step into action, having 28 days and nights to shape Rama's future. It depends on us which relationships he decides to refresh, which ones he decides to abandon, and what new people he encounters on his way. It is also our responsibility to handle matters related to his future in the band.

Gameplay

In Afterlove EP we move around Jakarta, watching the action from the side. During the game, we interact with characters and have conversations with them on various topics, gradually learning more about both them and the main character.

The story is enriched by sections inspired by rhythm games, in which the protagonist plays the guitar with his band. They require dexterity and reflexes from us, and during them our goal is to press specific buttons at the right moments.

Graphics and music

The graphic design of Afterlove EP was inspired by the art of an Indonesian artist known as Soyatu. The gameplay takes place to the accompaniment of songs by the band L'Alphalpha (also from Indonesia).

Videos and Screens

[1:48] Afterlove EP - Launch Trailer

[1:48] Afterlove EP - Release Date Trailer

7.5

OpenCritic Rating

Game is Recomended by 63% of Critics. There are 33 Critic Reviews.

OpenCritic

TheGamer: 3 / 5 by Tessa Kaur

I left Afterlove EP feeling more confused and frustrated than I was moved. It has a lot of interesting things to say about moving on from loss, the vicious hold that grief can have on us, and how art and love are intertwined, and its character writing is excellent, but the whole experience felt too unfocused and directionless to say anything concrete.

Full Review

Game Rant: 7 / 10 by Nick Rodriguez

Blemished and imperfect though it may be, Afterlove EP is a moving, heartfelt story that has a lot to say about grief, love, and moving on.

Full Review

NoobFeed: 80 / 100 by Joy Rahman

Afterlove EP delivers a heartfelt narrative enriched by Jakarta’s vibrant backdrop, blending visual novel storytelling with exploration and rhythm-based gameplay. Despite minor technical flaws, its emotional depth, cultural authenticity, and musical integration make it a compelling and immersive experience worth exploring.

Full Review

95%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (96)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Engaging Story and Characters: The game features a compelling narrative that explores deep themes of love, loss, and personal growth, resonating with players on an emotional level. Many users felt a strong connection to the characters, particularly Rama and his journey through grief.
Art Style and Music: The game's visuals, inspired by Indonesian artist Soyatu, are praised for their charm and expressiveness. The soundtrack, featuring contributions from the indie band L'Alphalpha, enhances the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the game.
Replay Value: With multiple endings and character routes, the game encourages players to replay it to explore different outcomes and deepen their understanding of the characters and story.
Unique Gameplay Elements: The blend of visual novel storytelling with rhythm game mechanics adds variety to the gameplay, keeping players engaged.

The main cons of the game

Gameplay Mechanics: Some players found the rhythm game aspects to be simplistic or poorly timed, detracting from the overall experience. The mechanics of making choices and progressing through the story can feel restrictive, leading to a "minmax" approach that limits exploration.
Character Dynamics: While many characters are well-developed, some players felt that Cinta, Rama's deceased girlfriend, could be overbearing or distracting at times. Additionally, there were calls for more screen time with certain supporting characters.
Lack of Clarity in Choices: Players noted that the conditions for achieving different endings were not always clear, which could lead to frustrating experiences, particularly with the potential for brutal bad endings.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Quality of Life Improvements: Users suggested the addition of more save slots, a clearer text skip system, and a codex-like feature for unfamiliar terms to enhance the gameplay experience.
Enhanced Rhythm Mechanics: Some players expressed a desire for more depth in the rhythm mini-games, with suggestions for an arcade mode to replay songs after completing the game.
Character Development Opportunities: There were requests for more individual interactions with certain characters, as well as clearer guidance on how choices affect relationships and endings.

Summary

Overall, Afterlove EP is celebrated for its heartfelt storytelling and artistic presentation, but it also faces criticism for its gameplay mechanics and clarity in narrative progression.

Summary generated on: March 10, 2025