Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 73 | 26 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 96 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 92% | 87 | 90 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Jul 30, 2026) · 90 reviews sampled · 74 total reviews in window · weighted 58.5 up / 4.9 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (13)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 80
“High Times is a solid visual novel / dating sim.”
read full review ↗ - 88
“High Times is a game that will shock the player at every turn. Whether that be from making them double take at how many hours they've sunk into a single playthrough or by making them spit-take when a character says something unexpected, there is no way to safely predict what the game will do next. The actual cooking mechanics of the game are simple to the point of being repetitive, but the visual novel and dating simulator side of the game is well written and engaging enough to make up for that repetition. Fans of this style of game who want a bit more edge in the writing than what most cozy games provide should definitely check out this title.”
read full review ↗ - 81
“Mixing together a coffee shop sim with a dating element, and sprinkling in characters with plenty of personality, makes for a reasonably tasty time”
read full review ↗ - 64
“High Times is refreshingly unusual for fans of visual novels who want deep relationships, calm gameplay, and an innovative storyline. It’s not attempting to revolutionize the dating sim genre, but it confidently carves out its own identity with warmth, comedy, and a surprising amount of emotional depth.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“High Times delivers a warm simulation experience that blends narrative storytelling with interactive cooking Its charming cast of characters excellent voice acting and wonderful soundtrack create a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere making it an inviting experience despite its simple and somewhat repetitive gameplay loop”
read full review ↗ - 40
“High Times is a charming game, with many characters and story concepts keeping me going for nearly an in-game year despite gameplay being dry. When I learn about the exes, my character, or have conversations with customers, these all feel like real conversations I’d have with friends, past or present. Yangyang Mobile also made the main character fairly relatable, even if my life does not mirror theirs. Unfortunately, the game is extremely buggy and ended up serving me the same two events nearly every night for in-game months on end, and it would crash and need to be relaunched. The game doesn’t even remember your settings, presumably because of the crashing. It is a shame High Times was released like this, with voice work, characters, and a story that should be praised instead of disregarded. I would have loved to explore more of this game, but I can only repeat the same kiss so many times.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Overall, High Times was exactly what I thought I’d be getting into, although probably at a longer length than I expected. Of course, this could have been based on the donuts I served or perhaps I made some of the wrong choices, but it definitely took a bit before I got to the romance ending I was looking for. It feels as though the right way to play is not to try and power through, but to enjoy the journey just a bit at a time. This may have also helped the financial management aspect feel stronger but once I was safely within the $100 range, money never became an issue.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“High Times, Dating/Cooking Sim delivers a deeply personal, heart-to-heart narrative loop, turning a cozy donut shop into a haven for healing and second chances.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“When I first sat down to write my High Times review, I wasn’t sure what I’d make of the game. It’s a dating sim, a cooking sim, a visual novel, and a surprisingly thoughtful queer game wrapped up in a neon, psychedelic café where you make mood-altering doughnuts for a living. It sounds ridiculous because it is ridiculous, but somehow it mostly works. High Times is one of the most ambitious indie dating sims around. Beneath its colourful chaos is a genuinely fun cooking system, excellent voice acting, and refreshingly gender-neutral character design. The writing does not reach the emotional highs it could have aimed for, but it’s an enjoyable casual dating sim that took me back to the yaoi/yuri visual novels of the 2010s.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Cozy cooking/dating sim in which you'll be working as a donut therapist - a Mood Confectioner”
read full review ↗ - 75
“High Times delivers an ambitious game featuring engaging characters, solid romance options, and a narrative that spans a variety of themes, all accompanied by fun, addictive gameplay centered on producing treats. However, some dialogue comes across as silly due to an over-reliance on sexual references or jokes, and not all the introduced mechanics and available emotional elements are fully utilized, leaving them feeling superfluous.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“High Times delivers exactly what players are expecting based on the title. Plenty of donuts get cooked, then iced, and potentially sprinkled. Because of the mysterious mood-altering ingredients used by The Hotbox, all of them have the power to help customers have a better day or deal with a particular situation.”
read full review ↗
GameHope.com
Raider King
Nindie Spotlight
GamesCreed
Just Play it
MonsterVine
Gamer Social Club
NoobFeed
Screen Hype
PS4Blog.net
GameBlast
Softpedia…and 1 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Notes for v1.0.5 + v1.0.4Aug 19, 2026
- Patch Notes (v1.0.2)Jul 30, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes (v1.0.1)Jul 24, 2026significant · resets scoring window
- Demo Patch Notes (V0.8.5)Sep 23, 2024