Corona Borealis

I picked this up in 2023, either free or extremely cheap. Honestly, I should’ve known better. I'm not usually into modern-day stories; I prefer fantasy, sci-fi, or historical settings. But I gave it a shot. After 66 minutes, I ended up alone. The achievement said 43% of players got the same ending. That should probably tell you something. I have no idea how I had 100% hearts and 100% hardworking stats with Logan, the main male love interest—and yet every time I called him to hang out (three different times), he told me to “lose his number” and I lost affection points. The game mechanics feel completely broken. There's no clarity on how your choices affect anything, and it’s hard to tell if the stat system actually means anything at all. Also? The main character is... kind of insufferable. A teenager, sure, but she lacks basic empathy and listening skills to a frustrating degree. Honestly, if I were Logan, I’d tell her to lose my number too

I've been playing for over an hour to try to trigger any kind of alternate ending/make progress in the game at all.. I basically sit there and click through the whole week where there are no choices, no meaningful cut scenes.. and your character is a stuck up B. They could have at least made you somewhat likable? Anyways you're supposed to be able to magically unlock a whole new character while you can only at most go up 3% in relationship with his sister per day, IF you get choice scenes with her. I played an entire run where my first choice scene after the first week was week 11 out of 12. Like, what is the point of making a game so short without making progress easy to achieve? It's not enjoyable. You also lose all your progress if you don't keep your character stress free, except she gets stressed out doing fun activities and work. So. This was a huge letdown.

Yuri route is pretty ok, the straight routes aren't great though

Corona Borealis, developed and published by Winter Wolves, is a visual novel that immerses players in a story about relationships, self-discovery, and the small joys and challenges of life in a Southern town. Players follow June Pinegar, a young woman from New York City, who unexpectedly spends her summer working at her father’s café in a quiet countryside town. This change in setting serves as the foundation for a narrative rich in personal growth, friendship, and romance, allowing players to experience a slower, character-driven story that emphasizes the nuances of everyday interactions. The strength of Corona Borealis lies in its narrative depth and character development. June encounters a cast of memorable characters, including Basil, a conscientious barista; Lacey, a cheerful and outgoing cashier; and Noah, her quirky father who provides both guidance and comic relief. Each character route is carefully constructed, offering unique storylines, emotional beats, and consequences based on player choices. The visual novel supports multiple endings—up to eight—giving players the opportunity to explore various outcomes, deepening replayability and encouraging experimentation with di…

Nice wholesome romance game.

I played this years ago on a different platform so I just got it here to do a speed run of the achievements