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) | – | 80 | 6 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 93% | 87 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 100% | 97 | 10 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 29 reviews sampled · 27 total reviews in window · weighted 23 up / 0 down · computed 6h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (18)
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
“If you’re hesitant to check this game out because it’s marketed to female gamers, I would encourage you to get over that stigma and give the game a shot regardless. There’s a well-crafted story hiding behind the marketing, and reading it from a woman’s point of view is a nice change of pace in the gaming sphere.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“For anyone who has been interested in trying out an otome visual novel this is a perfect entry into the genre. There are tons of playthroughs to see the whole story, a wide range of characters to romance, and truly compelling tales waiting in this superb story. It's also a must-buy for the hardcore fans out there. For those who have invested numerous hours to see every romance, with endings both good and bad, this is the perfect accompaniment. It's a fresh breath of life that manages to tell new tales and even give further insight into beloved characters.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Fans of the otome genre will find a lot to like within Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds. It offers a rich storyline as well as presenting likeable characters within its well-built world. With personalities based on real-life historical figures, the game offers a charming, albeit brief look at an interesting area of Japanese history, as well as the chance to romance some grade-A anime boys.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds is a historical fantasy visual novel set in the Bakumatsu period in Japan and puts you in the shows of Chizuru-san, a young woman determined to find her father in Kyoto. As part one in a two-part series that is the retelling of the original Hakuoki released in 2008, you will romance a number of handsome samurai (some are new to help justify the cost of Kyoto Winds) in search of details surrounding your father's whereabouts. Though it pushes over 80 hours of content with 30 unique endings, Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds feels more like a prolonged cash grab in a genre that is often taken advantage of.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While this is the definitive Hakuoki experience, it is also the most complicated one. Best to be something that you pick up if you really love the otome games. If you do, then there are no other games out on the vita at the moment that offer you this much. Both in the scale of the story and even more so in the choice of romance options.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“With its compelling cast and setting, I can see why Hakuoki got so popular, but by now there are better otome games out in English with more eye-catching art, less obtuse route requirements and heroines who aren’t quite as content to let everyone treat them like trash. Still, Kyoto Winds makes for a fun choose-your-own adventure tale; one playthrough is short, but there are a lot of different outcomes to explore.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds is definitely a game I would tell my friends to buy. Especially my anime loving friends who appreciate the art of sexy anime men. I wish it would of had better love interactions towards the conclusion so the game didn’t feel so flat at the end. I am very interested for the future of Hakuoki to see what exactly is going to come next. Trust me, I’ll be anxiously waiting to play whatever is next! Your life with the Shinsengumi is short lived in this part of the visual novel with a lot of questions left unanswered and it keeps you wanting more. All in all this is still a fantastic game and one of my favorites.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“The story in Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds will grab you from start to finish as you make the most of the massive walls of text you will be reading. It is a visual novel, and that is expected of the genre, so no complaints there! Fans of the genre will be happy to hear that this release keeps the original Japanese voices for that authentic feel, although in my case I wouldn't have minded a dual audio track but can understand that would have been very expensive for the developer. The game's graphics are very crisp and clear and make everything pop easily, making it easy on the eye. If you're looking for an otome visual novel on PS Vita then Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds is certainly a good option you should consider.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“As a young girl named Chizuru, we try to conquer hearts of samurai from Shinsengumi in former Kyoto. The title is intended for the female part of gamers, but the atmosphere of the shogunate Japan should attract the fans of the visual novel genre regardless of gender.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The best otome game I've ever played has been made even better.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Being my first otome visual novel, Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds has made me a fan of the Hakuoki series. The game handles the large cast of characters wonderfully and allows the story of the Shinsengumi to shine through. For new visual novel fans this is the definitive way to start the Hakuoki series and date the guys that older fans had to wait years for.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds is an expanded release of the first half of a game that's already available on several platforms. With an unorthodox approach, it continues to be a great game, even if it loses the focus of its target audience.”
read full review ↗
Gamer Escape
Cubed3
Push Square
Chalgyr's Game Room
Japan Curiosity
JRPG.moe
Level Down Games
PS3Blog.net
NEOsite
RPG Fan
DualShockers
PSX Brasil…and 6 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds [Update 2204290]Oct 17, 2017
- Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds [Update 2204290]Oct 17, 2017