Riddle Joker Reviews

Riddle Joker is a visual novel that successfully blends science fiction, romance, and action into an engaging narrative experience. Set in a world where individuals possess supernatural powers known as "astral abilities," the story centers around Satoru Arihara, an undercover agent working within a secret organization dedicated to handling crimes involving these extraordinary talents. To infiltrate this hidden world, Satoru enrolls in a specialized academy for astral users, where he encounters a diverse cast of characters, particularly a group of heroines each with their own distinct personalities and storylines. The game excels in its storytelling by gradually revealing layers of intrigue and emotion. The common storyline lays a solid foundation, introducing the overarching conflict and setting while providing meaningful context for the individual character routes that follow. Each heroine’s path delves into unique themes — from trust and secrecy to personal growth and complicated relationships — enriching the overall narrative tapestry. While some routes feel more fleshed out and immersive than others, the variety of perspectives adds depth and replay value, encouraging players to explore multiple paths and uncover the full scope of the story. Character development stands as one of the visual novel’s key strengths. Satoru, while competent and relatable, sometimes takes a backseat to the richly drawn heroines whose backgrounds and motivations are explored in detail. The interactions between Satoru and the other characters skillfully balance moments of tension, humor, and emotional sincerity, helping to build genuine connections that resonate with players. This character-driven approach helps anchor the game’s more fantastical elements in relatable human experiences, making the story more compelling. Visually, Riddle Joker is a treat for fans of the genre, featuring polished, vibrant artwork characteristic of Yuzusoft’s style. The character designs are distinct and expressive, while the backgrounds and event illustrations help create an immersive atmosphere that draws players deeper into the world. The interface is thoughtfully designed, with user-friendly features like a flowchart system that allows for easy navigation between story branches, enhancing the experience by making multiple playthroughs more accessible and enjoyable. The soundtrack complements the game’s mood effectively, providing atmospheric music that supports both the high-energy action scenes and the more intimate character moments. While it may not feature standout tracks that linger long after playing, the score fits well within the narrative context and helps sustain the emotional tone throughout the experience. Riddle Joker does include mature content, which has been altered for its Steam release, but an uncensored patch is available separately, allowing players to experience the full, intended narrative. This approach respects both the platform’s guidelines and the desires of players who prefer the original content, ensuring the story’s integrity is maintained for those who seek it. Overall, Riddle Joker offers a well-rounded visual novel experience with an engaging mix of sci-fi intrigue, romance, and character-driven drama. Its layered storytelling, strong character focus, and high-quality presentation make it a noteworthy title within its genre. While a few routes could benefit from additional development, the game’s compelling world and cast make it a rewarding journey for fans who appreciate immersive narrative adventures with supernatural twists. Rating: 9/10

One of Yuzusoft's weaker entries but still a fun time regardless. They've maintained a high quality standard for their VNs since Senren Banka that just makes the whole experience enjoyable from the moment you hit Play.

This is currently my second favorite Yuzusoft game, after Sabbat of the Witch. That entry has higher highs but I actually think Riddle Joker was more consistently enjoyable throughout. The plot is not very ambitious but I think that actually works out to be an advantage. Yuzusoft's works can run into issues where the plot is initially presented in a way that leads to disappointment in later parts because of the lack of exploration into certain things it seems like they were setting up. In Riddle Joker's case, I never really felt that disappointed in the direction routes went and how they intertwine with the original plot, and when the plot did become more of a focus, it was continuously engaging on some level. The smooth combination of a relatively orthodox superpower/spy story provides an opportunity for an interesting hook and setting, and I never found the drama that occurs because of the MC's position to be grating. Some routes definitely go in a way where all the plot that occurs before is basically just garnish, but even when it goes into that territory, it is still very successful in its moege goal of creating very cute moments. An example of this would be Hazuki's route, which I was surprised at how much I enjoyed despite being like 90% fluff. Additionally, imouto routes will always get some bonus points from me of course.