VN - Ren'Py - Eternum [v0.8.5 Public] [Caribdis]

I held off on playing this game for a long time because I was really skeptical about the visuals, seeing how they're built on Honey Select. But I played Once In a Lifetime in the past, and I ended up loving it. Seeing that Caribdis is the developer for this one as well, I was convinced to download it. I started the game with a little bit of skepticism because of the first character you meet (Annie) who is very child-like and I was feeling a little uneasy after realizing that most of the romance-able (is that a word?) characters are exactly 18. However, as I played the game, I was completely engrossed into the story. The sex scenes are masterpieces, clearly indicative of the developer's skill and efforts. As of today, only v0.7.* content is out, and after finishing it, it felt like the sex scenes were cherry on top of the story, and not the other way around. Looking forward to the next update!

PS: Whoever built the walkthrough mod did a great job as well because of how seamlessly it's integrated into the game. I'd be lying if I say I'm not inspired to start my own project now.

The Verdict
One of the best AVNs you'll play. A masterpiece, 5/5. I wish I could experience this for the first time again.

Edit: Ran a fresh playthrough after v0.7.5 and had some more thoughts about this great game.

The Good

• The game takes place in a fascinating world that you could easily see as an HBO show or blockbuster movie.
• The environments and setting each scene takes place in here are so diverse and detailed that it feels like you're playing a AAA game at times. Even the sound design and music are amazing, a component that most other games just completely ignore.
• Some of the hottest girls and scenes in any game, with just the right amount of build-up to make each moment even hotter.
• Edit: The level design is so creative and fun here, and I love the homages to so many different IPs. Every adventure in Eternum is a joy.
• Edit: The music is awesome, changing for each Eternum adventure but also the "Main Theme" that plays throughout is so cozy.
• Edit: There are some simple effects used when characters are on a phone call, during the introduction of the different cliques at school, etc. that just add so much to the polish here
• Edit: Some of the flashback characterizations for the different characters are absolutely heartbreaking. Great character development throughout.
• Edit: Another awesome characterization tactic is how characters are different in and out of Eternum. I particularly noticed this with Nancy and Annie, but it's really true of all of them, and it adds this awesome duality to the characters.
• Edit: The creators here are remarkably effective with humor, horror, suspense, drama... sometimes all in the same scene / level. The game is constantly so fresh because of the tone switches.

The Bad

• The fact that this is a harem game certainly makes it much easier to enjoy all the content in a single playthrough, but the lack of actual LI routes or interactivity here makes this more like a lightly interactive movie than a game.
  • The end result is still so spectacular it barely matters, but the lack of meaningful choice here does ultimately bring down the impact of the amazing story and setting the creators have crafted here
• Edit: USE THE WALKTHROUGH - the game warns you about it ahead of time, but it would be an absolute tragedy to miss out on any routes here because of a dialogue choice. Just follow the guide, they're all so worth it.

The Ugly

• Nothing - just that this game is so incredible that it will ruin your ability to enjoy other games apart from an elite few. Savor it on your first playthrough.

Feels kindda pointless voting after it was so clearly stated that's one of the best vn's out there but yeah, good looking girls, amazing plot, if i had anything to complain about this one is that some of the girls feet look kindda weird, but otherwise the game is pretty great, the best part is that the plot is out of the ordinary and varies a lot wich ain't easy to find since vn's tend to stay in the same universe plotwise and it always gets a bit boring after a while so it's nice to have variating ones like this.

Amazing art and writing, you can relate to the characters, very immersive game. Truly a masterpiece, I have really enjoyed Once in a Lifetime but with this game, Caribdis really stepped up, the music choice is perfect and combines with the personality of the characters and the context. Just to say something "bad", the only thing missing would be voice acting, that would make it completely perfect.

Reviewing till 0.7.5.
Goated game, lies in Top 5 fav AVNs for most people. Story, animations, sex, humour everything is of top level. Will recommend anyone to play the first game of this dev, that one too is goated.

The lore, story is just awesome. Perfect use of humour and every character in this game is impactful whether it's the MC, Li's, side characters, villians. The writer definitely knows how to cook an AVN.

Alright, so let me break it down for you. I was a bit hesitant at first because, you know, Honey Select games have their own reputation. But I decided to jump in with version 0.5. And man, what a ride it's been!

The art style caught me off guard, in a good way. It just fits the whole vibe of the game like a glove. I mean, it's not just good, it's like next-level good. And when you combine that with the atmosphere they've created? It's like stepping into another world. Seriously, there were moments where I got genuine chills, you know? It's that impactful.

And let me tell you, this game is one of a kind. I've played my fair share of adult games, but nothing comes close to this. It's like they've taken the genre and turned it up to eleven. This isn't just another run-of-the-mill AVN, it's a freaking masterpiece.

Honestly, I'd put it up there in the top three without a second thought. Heck, it might even snatch that number one spot. That's how good it is.

So, yeah, it's a solid 10/10 from me. Trust me, you won't regret giving this one a shot.

Five out of five stars

Eternum is an amazing game (5 stars!). It has addictive gameplay, great story, and a beautiful world.
From the moment played it, I was captivated by everything. This VN is a strong recommendation. It delivers exceptional art, sound, visuals, story, and writing, despite a somewhat linear gameplay structure. If you're looking for a captivating visual novel with a strong emphasis on story and characters, this is a must-play.

I was completely engrossed and definitely recommend it!

I'm so tired of playing as these stupid creepy-ass protagonists. I absolutely cringe at everything he does

Animations are about what you'd expect from a Honey Select game, nothing special there and not enough to make up for the perverted MC

Girls look okay, but they feel very one dimensional and uninspired as actual characters. Also what's with that stupid pouty face Annie keeps making?

It has some okay songs but for the most part it's just not fitting the scene at all, and tends to be distracting.

All in all, terrible protagonist, and not enough to make up for it

The story is great. The writing is great. There's a real masterful blend of writing, comedy, scene animations, and music that just make this enjoyable to play all around. Seriously the music is peak and creates a great atmosphere. Would recommend checking out for anyone, definitely for those who love sci-fi.

I Have never really written a review for a game before but I had to for this one. Never in my life have I cared for the plot of ANY game like I do for this one its literally like watching the most suspenseful movie ever written. All the characters are absolutely PEAK and all unique and the dialogue is beyond funny for everyone and man. If I could wipe my own memory and do it all again I would do it in a heart beat.

VNs in general don't excite me. I've stopped and deleted countless "games" that have girls losing to dick in the first 100 lines. However, Eternum is one that had me enthralled up to the end of the current content (0.7).

Firstly, as someone who plays around in the studio mode/character creator for other illusion games, I recognize a lot of the assets that were used and I commend Caribdis for the sheer amount of scenes, outfits, and construction that had to be done. Additionally, the animations that the game uses are very, very well done with custom camera work that adds weight to the scenes. On that note, this game has what almost all VNs don't have: PRESENTATION! The creator knows how to make each scene memorable and impactful. This allows the comedy scenes to land, and the serious scenes to have weight, and the spooky scenes to be unnerving.

I think this game has the best cast of characters in any h-game I've played. Sure, they may be the most perfectly imperfect angels that could have ever existed, but I could really care less about that. I love them. It's better for characters in a story to be fantastical than realistic. But for the story and setting that's presented, they all feel believable. Chang is also a fucking bro and the best comic relief character.

The lewd has a very slow burn. You get some nudity and teasing within the first few hours and not much past that. However, I'm fully in support of this choice. The tantalizing nature of it makes the eventual sex scenes so much hotter. Some people complain that all the scenes are vanilla, however with all the depraved acts you can find in all sorts of games on this site, sex between people that are attracted to one another with chemistry that's been built up by prior scenes is a lovely breath of fresh air. That said, if you want a quick fap or just to see the gallery, just do yourself a favor and play a different game.

The story is incredible. Does it use cliches and other pop cultural references? Yeah, it does. But they are used well and create something unique and enjoyable. I don't want to spoil anything about the story, but I was gripped and allowed myself to fully immerse myself. At certain points, the game wants you to take it seriously, and I think it earns those moments. The tone can shift suddenly, but I never felt any whiplash. There's also a lot of foreshadowing that happens throughout and I'm pretty sure I've got a good idea to the underlying mystery, but it doesn't try to be too smart for its own good and trick the player at every turn like some mysteries do.

As someone who was picky with VNs to begin with, this game only made me pickier. Five stars.

Probably the best game on the platform. All of the scenes and scenarios are entertaining I never once felt like skipping/skimming through dialogue or scenes. All of the animations are really good and the light hearted jokes strewn in always caught me off guard and were appreciated.

The only con/request I would have is voicing which I understand is not a priority and extremely inefficient in terms of time/budget. I have so much faith in the creator with the current state of the game it is amazing I have no idea how they manage to do it all.

At the time of writing Eternum is easily one of the best AVNs ever made so far and also one of the most talked about for good reason. It is very well polished with excellent characters, above average writing and some of the best use of Honey Select you'll find visually in both still images and in animated sex scenes.

Eternum is not perfect of course. It is clearly a harem focused game but for people that wish to only pursue one girl or a couple of girls you sadly miss out on a lot of content due to what's tied to each girls routes besides sex scenes. These routes are so easy to fail without even meaning to as well due to the most random route ending choices. Make sure to check that you didn't grey out a girl regularly otherwise you'll need to backtrack to try and fix it.

These nitpicks don't stop this game easily being 5 stars though and a must play for many.

Played the 7.0.
Awesome game, the girls are hot and actually have personalities instead of being horny all the time like in most adult games. Luna is my favorite, I always have a soft spot for an awkward introverted girls. Hope to see more content soon, that cliffhanger is got to be illegal

Clear 5 stars.

Witty, gripping, and just an all-around great experience.
The setting is great giving not only one world, but two with the Eternum realms (or more if you count all the servers.) The characters are just fun to be around with enough variety to satisfy just about anyone. It is one of the few games I can say I like ALL the LIs and there are seven of them.

The graphics are honestly very impressive and immersive. The girls look great and unique. I wanted to get to know them and see more of them and the game hasn't disappointed so far in that regard.

There's just so much flavor in the game and it keeps it fresh. You bounce around from comedy to sexy to horror and back to comedy multiple times without the flow feeling unnatural or forced. Each day brings something new and that truly is a great feat.

I do not want to close my review with the negative note so I will say it prior to it: With the exception of Nancy and Alex, sex scenes are a bit unbelievable. Generally the girls are virgins, reserved or like Penny and Dalia they have second thoughts for the sake of slow burning as if young people with sexual attraction to someone wasn't eager to have sex and enjoy sexuallity. And when you have sex with someone they are far more experienced or good than they should. That is my only complaint.

One to watch, one to play, one to support. If the current level of quality continues, we very well could be looking at one of the greatest western-made Visual Novels.

There are many VN's out there and after so many low-quality ones, a person can feel jaded. But this here is a proper work of art. The 3d modeling is decent, though at times I do feel like some scenes wanted animation, to which the odd animated and sudden scene surprised one.

I am wholly appreciative of the humor that is found everywhere. It's on that fine edge of getting one last laugh before any further step would make one hate it. The references to so many things, the many and many moments that were delivered so well, starting from that first friendship choice, the meeting of Micaela... and going on and on.

The music is a good choice, really setting the scene. There are many times that had their drama raised from it. The sound effects are proper and add so much that it shows this isn't just a guy vomiting ideas.

And then we have a decently set story... a bit cliche at times and not so at others... but as a fellow writer I can see the proper themes, ideas and lessons in them to show this as more than just a porn game. Yes, it has porn, but it is more than that.

These five stars are well earned.

One of the games on this site which absolutely deserves all its 5-star ratings.

The art is great, all the LIs are distinct and well-designed, and the game makes good use of the premise to show off lots of different settings. It also does a great job of showing LIs in a wide variety of poses, outfits, and situations, so there's plenty of attractive content outside the actual sex scenes. Usage of music and SFX is generally quite well done, too.

As far as scenes go, there's a good variety, and the first penetration scenes with the main LIs are all basically the peak of vanilla scenes.

Writing is overall quite strong. For the most part the characters are relatively believable, if sometimes a bit over-the-top, the story is engaging, and as it progresses there's plenty of character development as well. There's quite a bit of focus on various family struggles, which you can easily get emotionally invested in. Both suspense and comedy are well done. Dialogue is fluid, even relatively minor side characters have a distinct "voice." It's by no means a literary masterpiece, and it's not always completely polished; there may be a few scenes you'll want to skip through just to get to the next action sequence or plot development. One pet peeve is that the occasional use of *chuckle* or *shifting around* and that type of thing, intermixed with actual dialogue, can be a bit jarring and feels low-effort. The MC is somewhat OP and doesn't stand out much on his own, although relatively speaking it's within reason. Overall there's a lot to like about the writing and I would say most people wouldn't have much to complain about on the whole.

Despite the VR isekai premise, there aren't really "game" elements beyond typical choices in a VN, which looks like it was a good design decision based on the quality of the result. One thing to note is that the story is almost linear. In general, you are following one story where you are occasionally presented with choices, and you can simply pursue all the LIs simultaneously by making the right choices. You can forego any LI, and there are some seriously wrong choices, but there aren't major divergent routes or anything like that. In other words, you're almost never confronted with a choice between two equally valid options, which would lead to content completely exclusive to that choice. (The latest update has introduced the first such choice, but it's kind of self-contained relative to the main plot.) If you're looking for a game where you can mold the MC as good/evil or choose "corruption" paths, this is not it.

The technicalities are pretty well done, too - other than the generic save system - I really feel you need 20 or 30 pages of saves minimum if you want to easily go back to any major scene. It was nice, however, that the "texting" scenes were fully save-friendly, especially considering there's a lot of photos you can only see in that scene; there's no separate "phone" UI and these photos don't go in the gallery. The dev also makes fantastic use of animations throughout the game - whether it's showing off the girls, a sick action sequence, or simply adding that extra life to characters' body language - as well as little text effects.

This game is... insane. At this point I would call myself a connoisseur of the genre, and all I can say is... it got me hooked like a new anime fan. The level of storytelling here is just on another level.

The storyline is very well-developed, and keeps on bringing interesting and unique twists. Allowing characters to interact in many different environments while still keeping the game realistic is a testament to the fantastic worldbuilding. The characters are well thought out, each unique enough to be memorable, and each different enough to let you pick and choose your favourites. The renders and art are both fantastic, and is complemented by great audio design and lighting. Just an incredible game!

Really nice story overall. Although the story is rather linear and you don't have much "freedom" overall when compared with other AVN. However, since there is such a heavy focus on one line of story, this game does it extremely well.