VN - Ren'Py - Cindy's Diary [Ch.3 v1.3.3] [Skull Design]

I am awarding this game with 4 stars based on my impressions from playing Ch.3 v 1.3.3. Honestly I would give it like 4.25 if I could.
Overall, I genuinely enjoyed playing the game and had no issues with the interface or mini-game. I'm not especially bothered by the use of Cindy because this seems to be somewhere between fan-fiction and "inspired by" a character from another game. I also don't mind the use of AI as long as the characters are attractive and don't have gross malformations.
The author is creating a compelling story where actions have consequences and the setting gives me the verisimilitude I look for (meaning the world feels real and lived in). The characters seem reasonably coherent in their motivations. The characters have some tension between them which leads to drama, which keeps me interested in the story.
There are minor continuity issues that could maybe be addressed
- Cindy sees her parents in sexual relations but then her father Earl is upset that his wife is denying him intimate relations?
- Cindy is upset Marcus is sexually engaged with her mother when she was with him last night, but the route I played through had a day or maybe 2 between those events.
- I get that Sharon took off to visit another lover and Earl was feeling dejected, but he spent quite a bit of time telling her (and us) that it really excited him. I understand this is a complex emotional situation, but it came across as a bit too much like gaslighting. But then again, maybe he was lying to himself to try to convince himself.
- I originally was confused why Cindy was upset at Sharon's sexual activity with Marcus because I thought she overheard her father and mother discussing their open relationship. I totally get that she was freaked out by Marcus being there and doing that so quickly after their night together.
Another thought that occurred to me was wondering whether Marcus connected Cindy and Sharon as daughter and mother before taking Cindy to bed. I look forward to seeing what happens in the future with Cindy/Sharon and Cindy/Marcus. That tension creates a nice bit of drama if explored properly in future episodes.

I've played up to Chapter 3 and I honestly think many reviews have been unfairly visceral. The game is not bad; although the start is slow, it's clear the developer is aiming to establish a solid narrative context before inserting meaningless sexual scenes. The best part is that the story improves progressively, and the adult scenes have a clear connection to the plot—they don't feel like filler. There's noticeable, constant improvement in the graphics and animations with every update. The mini-game is optional (you can skip it), but completing it unlocks a scene in the gallery, rewarding dedication. If you're looking for instant gratification, this isn't your game, as it's an adult story that builds intensity over time. I'm giving it 4 stars because I see great potential and the effort to improve is clear.

Looked great, but the game interface doesn't even work. No way to advance play. Actually has Our Red String feel to it, but can't be compared due to poor game play. If the interface is fixed it might be worth trying, but for now it is not worth a download.

ver. 1.2.1 (Ch. 2)

Trying to decide if the game was worth downloading, I checked the reviews – and it didn't help much, as one of them was completely negative, while the other gave it five stars. So, I decided to form my own opinion… and share it here.

Getting straight to the point: I doubt Cindy's Diary can be called a game, at least at this stage of development. It looks like a short exercise in Renpy and AI graphics. Or a cash grab. There's very little content, even though we're in Chapter 2. But getting through Chapter 1 took me… I don't know, 5 minutes? Maybe 10? And that's with all the options checked out.

The graphics are based on another game, but… significantly worse, due to the limitations of the AI, which causes changes in the appearance of the main characters, proportion issues, and artificial poses. Cindy's mother looks like her twin sister… but that's not the main issue. For me, the problems are the plot (almost nonexistent) and the poor dialogue. And on top of that, there's a terrible minigame, as necessary as a hole in the bridge.

Our Red String is a great game and deserves far better fan fiction. I don't rule out that Cindy's Diary will become more than just an exercise (or a cash grab) in the future, but for now, it would be difficult for me to give it more than a star and a half. Besides, everything good about the Diary comes from said other game, so I'm rounding down the rating to one star.

Cindy's Diary v1.0
I will try to keep this to the rules, Cindy's Diary is awful. The AI CG is incredibly generic, the writing is more so, and it barely builds a narrative other than "Cindy sad, and now there is incest". Plus, with only 1 real choice to make in the demo (with one of them being greyed out and making you wonder why it was put there in the first place if it holds no value), if you choose to not "peep", the game just ends. Cindy's diary is incredibly shallow experience and I have zero interest in future updates.

The setting immediately drew me in, feeling immersive and original. Despite the art being AI-generated, it was visually pleasing and enhanced the game's atmosphere, leaving me excited for the updates.