Root Letter Reviews

Root Letter is ranked in the 28th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
6 / 10.0
Nov 23, 2016

Less-discerning players with a tolerance for bad localizations, or maybe Matsue residents, will find a pleasant diversion in Root Letter, but for everyone else, it's difficult to recommend, especially at its current price tag.

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3 / 10
Oct 31, 2016

I play video games to have a good time. I’m sure you do, too. Even when we turn on something truly masochistic like Dark Souls or Super Meat Boy, we do so knowing that the uphill battle we struggle with will culminate in a satisfying, euphoric sense of accomplishment and joy. My laborious, 10-hour uphill battle with Root Letter ended in the hill giving way to a massive drop into a bottomless ravine, and as I fell through the ravine, I felt regret. I felt pain. I felt aggravation.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 3, 2016

Root Letter is a great visual novel with superb production values that’s only held back by some localisation issues but excels in atmosphere and one that will remain with you for a long time.

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GameMAG
xtr
Top Critic
6 / 10
Feb 6, 2017

Root Letter is not the worst example of the modern visual novel, that suffering from a lingering story, routine, almost zero interaction and stereotyped characters. Of course, if you love Japanese culture, then you will be pleased to experience all facets of local life. But to be honest Root Letter is too similar with Telltale games only without pathos and with static cute graphics.

Review in Russian | Read full review

Nov 15, 2016

Root Letter’s intriguing premise was just enough to keep me playing, despite the lacking tension that was initially promised.

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8.5 / 10.0
Nov 12, 2016

Root Letter takes up the name of the Japanese visual novel proposing an adventure full of mystery and fascination. The title stands at above-average levels of quality thanks to a good script and impressive stylistic choices.

Review in Italian | Read full review

5.5 / 10.0
Nov 10, 2016

√Root Letter has many interesting ideas, but they never fully gel together at the end. I had high hopes after the first couple of hours of gameplay, but it was hard to continue after determining I did not like Max at all. It was even harder to like it after learning who Aya was. Perhaps the multiple endings do make it all easier to swallow and there is something mind-blowing within, but I doubt many will feel enticed to replay to find out.

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45%
Dec 4, 2016

Even the most hardcore visual novel fan is going to be hard pressed to find enjoyment with this unsatisfying mystery adventure.

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6 / 10.0
Dec 6, 2016

It's a shame that Root Letter has such abysmal writing, because there truly are some fascinating plot threads to unravel throughout this brief journey.

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6.5 / 10.0
Nov 25, 2016

Root Letter provides a fun and engaging experience for those that enjoy the mystery genre, pretty art, and interesting character development. There are misleading dialogue options and Max Mode is just strange. Overall this game is about experiencing the story that’s put in front of you and it does that in an engaging way.

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6 / 10
Nov 15, 2016

As the first entry in Kadokawa Game’s attempt at a visual novel mystery, Root Letter does succeed in bringing a engrossing story that manages to throw in a few captivating revelations throughout its short tale.

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3.5 / 5.0
Nov 14, 2016

Root Letter is a strange visual novel, but one that keeps players interested throughout.

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7 / 10.0
Nov 20, 2016

Root Letter aims to be a game changer in the visual novel genre with its interactive segments. Unfortunately its gripping story line concludes rather blandly. Nevertheless it should prove entertaining, provided that you can bear with the protagonist.

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7.5 / 10.0
Dec 19, 2016

A fantastic and mysterious thriller-lite. Though the protagonist has non-existent motives and the ‘choice’ isn’t really choice at all, the supporting cast and story arc make this difficult to put down.

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Oct 27, 2016

Root Letter is a game that touched me in a way I didn’t expect and it more or less came out of the blue for me, but I’m sure glad that it did! This might be my favourite game of the year and it’s been a beautiful, captivating experience I urge everyone to try. With a compelling plot and characters, alluring visuals and a catchy soundtrack, it isn’t difficult to not call Root Letter one of the best games released this year. If you like the sound of it then please buy and experience it for yourselves, and I’m excited to see what else is coming in Kadokawa’s Game Mystery series.

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9 / 10
Jun 29, 2017

Root Letter is a very good visual novel on PlayStation 4 and PS Vita that will keep you engaged from start to finish. It's premise and story are great, while its gameplay mechanics (that will remind you of entries in the Ace Attorney series) will make for a fun experience. If you're a visual novel fan, I highly recommend that you buy Root Letter!

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Nov 8, 2016

It’s rare that we have a game that genuinely deserves to be called “elegant”, but Root Letter is that game. It takes a romantic, nostalgic idea, wraps it up in a mystery that is fun to piece together, and does all of that within the context of one of the most beautiful examples of anime art you’ll ever see.

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Cubed3
Top Critic
6 / 10
Feb 15, 2017

While the opening sequences plays out quite forced, with Max awkwardly needing a reason to begin exploring, the game gets a lot better once it gets going. With no real gameplay required, this is, at the end of the day, a visual novel that works well at times, though some head scratching moments disrupts the flow of the game.

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Drew Hurley
Top Critic
4 / 10
Nov 11, 2016

Root Letter was on the radar of every visual novel fan out there when it was announced to be getting a release in the West, but it does not live up to the hype. The story starts strong and then peters out into a mess and the writing is simply awful, the fun characters being the only real saving grace. The gameplay mechanics feel like shallow approximations of better titles, and, ultimately, this quickly becomes a considerable let-down.

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8 / 10
Oct 28, 2016

Those looking for a Phoenix Wright-style experience on PS4 should look no further – Root Letter scratches the itch whilst also presenting a more compelling and mature story.

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