Necrobarista Reviews

Necrobarista is ranked in the 79th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8 / 10.0
Aug 10, 2020

Overall, Necrobarista is something I desperately wanted to enjoy much more than I did. The graphics were great, the animations well done, the soundtrack was lovely, and most of the characters were great, but the story just felt way too choppy, like someone ripped a bunch of pages out of the middle of a book. Yeah, it's still readable, and yes you can still understand what's going on, but it certainly doesn't feel complete. If anything, I'd wait until this goes on sale to pick up, because you'll pretty much be left just wanting more by the end, which isn't something I can justify picking up for a full novel experience. That being said, what was there was excellent, it just needs a bit more...fleshing out (necromancy puns, heh).

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Aug 6, 2020

Necrobarista is an eclectic mix of things. It’s a character-driven musing on life and death. It’s a deeply Australian story written by Australians. It’s both funny and sincere. It’s one of those games that will stay with you long after it’s done, and it’s the kind of culturally-relevant artefact that gives it value beyond its scope as an entertainment product (though it’s certainly entertaining too).

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8.4 / 10.0
Aug 3, 2020

Despite some technical issues, Necrobarista is a fresh take on visual novels world, and its style captivates the player: interesting direction and gorgeus art manage to create a mix in which the plot can arise with all its delicate topics. How difficult is to "go further" when you're already dead? Necrobarista tries to answer at that, and it's a very good answer.

Review in Italian | Read full review

Aug 2, 2020

There is beauty to be found in darkness, and Necrobarista shines a gentle, heartfelt light on it. It is one of those games that I wish I could erase from my memory to have the opportunity to experience it again for the first time.

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GameSpace
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Aug 1, 2020

Necrobarista is one of the best visual novels I have ever played and this dark and silky smooth blend of Otaku influenced story telling if worth a few hours of your time.

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PowerUp!
Paul Verhoeven
7 / 10.0
Jul 31, 2020

Necrobarista is a visual novel, true, but I mean this as a compliment: it made me wish it were something more than that. And the next time I manage to go out for coffee, whenever that may be, I guarantee you I’ll be thinking about Terminal.

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8 / 10.0
Jul 28, 2020

Necrobarista is a stylish and engaging journey through a cafe where the living and the dead coexist. The experience is dynamic thanks to the use of 3D and accessible thanks to the use of Portuguese (despite its problems). It is certainly worth checking out for those who like Japanese animations and are interested in the genre.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

80 / 100
Jul 28, 2020

Coffee shop philosophy with a side of comedy banter, plated attractively.

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IGN
Matt T.M. Kim
Top Critic
8 / 10.0
Jul 28, 2020

Necrobarista pushes the visual novel forward with an impressive eye for the cinematic.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jul 27, 2020

Necrobarista is a touching, emotional journey that features an excellently written and easily lovable cast of characters. While the "memories" within the game are frustrating to unlock, it wasn't enough to detract from an otherwise excellent experience.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jul 26, 2020

Necrobarista is a stylish visual novel set in a curious Melbourne cafe where the dead can spend their final hours among the living

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4.5 / 5.0
Jul 26, 2020

In terms of gameplay, I’m left wanting a little more (those in-between portions weren’t my favorite), but the stories and emotional connections conveyed are bar-none the strongest I’ve read all year.

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7 / 10.0
Jul 24, 2020

Necrobarista is certainly an interesting take on the visual novel genre. The dialogue is amazing and the story is certainly worth experiencing. It could perhaps be priced a bit lower considering how short it is and it does have some minor technical issues. Still, overall I enjoyed it.

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Essential
Jul 23, 2020

There is very little in this world that’s better than a good story that’s told well, and Necrobarista is a beautiful story told perfectly. Its cast of charming characters, great audio and visual design and the very Melbourne aesthetic all weave together to make something you shouldn’t miss.

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Unscored
Jul 22, 2020

For as heavy as Necrobarista is, its tale of death and letting go is ultimately one worth seeing.

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9 / 10.0
Jul 22, 2020

You know, last week I'm not sure I could have told you the last time I cried while playing a video game. Maybe it was Persona 4 on the PlayStation 2? I've been introspective a lot, but rarely sad and on the verge of crying. Well, now I know exactly the last time a video game made me cry, because it was yesterday while finishing up Necrobarista. While I have some qualms with how the game's "memories" are handled, it's such a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things. For anyone interesting in a wholly unique story that is almost guaranteed to sink its hooks into you, look no further than Necrobarista.

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9 / 10
Jul 22, 2020

Necrobarista is a game-changer for the visual novel genre, using slick cinematic visuals to tell its story. This is a sophisticated story full of delightful, three-dimensional characters that is perfectly complements by the groundbreaking presentation of the experience.

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8.5 / 10.0
Jul 21, 2020

Necrobarista’s focus on death is approached in such a unique way that you can’t help but immerse yourself in its setting. You begin to feel as if you are a part of the group, which makes the idea of letting go so much harder. This is a visual novel experience that transcends traditional systems within the medium and is definitely worth your time. Some of the dialogue might go over your head, but this is an easy recommendation from me.

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6 / 10
Jul 21, 2020

For all of my criticisms, I can’t stress enough how much potential I see in Necrobarista. From its fascinating supernatural setting to its amazing and dynamic art style, a sequel to this game would be an instant buy from me. If it’s going to stay as a standalone though, it needs more substance. Either way, I am excited to see more of Route 59’s work. They’ve created an incredible world and an even more incredible visual novel style.

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9 / 10
Jul 21, 2020

Overall, Necrobarista is just a plain wonderful experience. The story is entertaining with powerful moments, the characters feel fleshed out and realistic (or as realistic as the plot allows for), and the presentation is stunning (although the character design may not be attractive to some).

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