Making Memories is a story driven slow burn romance between the MC, his sister and his daughter (you should really apply the patch here). As of release 0.6 (early August 2022) there is zero nudity, zero sex, just some petting and kissing in the game.
So if you want lots of action from your game or steamy teasing at least - Making Memories will probably disappoint you. You also only have two love interests in this game. The sister and daughter. No one else (so far).
With that out of the way Making Memories excels at the actual "novel" part of VN/KN. And while it doesn't really bring anything new to the table the execution is different than in most other games of the genre.
The game is contemplative, pensive and at times more somber, so it's not your somewhat over the top fun teasing game where characters jump from one improbable scene to the next. This game takes its time and feels more realistic.
You get video clips every now and then of cityscapes, cloudscapes, a ride on the subway, these are real world videos but they are integrated really well into the story and add a lot of atmosphere.
There are no real sex animations to speak of though, since there is no sex in this game so far, some of the teasing and light petting (no nudity, panties are not removed) are of course not just one static render, but if you go into a game expecting lots of lewd animations... again, this is not your game.
Character design in this game is pretty good. The game also has a third person view, so you will see the MC and his face several times. Composition and camera angles are really good here, helped by the fact that the game doesn't need to hide the MC. I appreciate it... if you prefer invisible MCs or POV you need to be aware that the MC will be seen many times.
The sister is one of the few DAZ models that actually look a bit more mature, and not like the typical milf that still looks not a day older than 25. The sister maybe doesn't look like 45 or so (as mentioned in the game), but at least like a woman in her mid or late 30s. You do believe she's an adult. The sister is of course very pretty and curvy (not too curvy). I think she looks like a sister or cousin of Salma Hayek. That should give you an idea of her type.
The daughter is 22 in this game and yet another beauty. She's not of the ultra skinny variety, she looks like a very pretty healthy woman with normal weight. So legs are a bit thicker, she has some nice curves and overall looks very soft and sweet, adorable and sexy.
The MC does look alright, but his skin tone is very pale which I found a bit odd.
The main characters in this game are latinos, something you don't get too often, which I found quite refreshing. Some Spanish vocabulary is thrown in here and there, nothing too complicated though and even if you don't speak Spanish you will still get it. The actual dialogue is in English of course, the Spanish words are just used for flavor.
There are also several NPCs in the game, a pretty Asian friend of the daughter (maybe potential future love interest?), a therapist, the (ex)-wife and a few more. They all look ok. The Asian friend is the prettiest character here though. She's very cute.
The main characters all have some depth to them, they have lifes, they have hobbies and jobs, so they don't just exist to romance. The sister is a lawyer and a hobby baker. The daughter works as a photographer with her friend, Only the MC more or less does nothing, he's a travel agent or so, but at least for now he doesn't work, he devotes his time to the two women.
Back to the story though...
As mentioned... if you want a somewhat more realistic story, a much less silly and more thoughtful approach to taboo love (I do recomend you use the patch, the game makes so much more sense with a patch), then Making Memories will leave an impression on you.
And even though the game does not bring anything new to the table really... execution is different here.
So the scenario is familiar. Wife cheats on husband, husband and daughter walk in on her while she's having fun... Husband files for divorce and reconnects with his sister who is a lawyer, and ends up living in her house with his daughter. And then the MC slowly forms ever more closer and intimate bonds with the two women.
And as in so many other games of the genre it is eventually revealed that the daughter has had a crush on the MC for a long time and that the MC and the sister were really close when they were younger, as in, there was love between them, but it was never really acted upon.
But years have passed, times have changed and the MC and his sister quickly realize that they can now explore something beautiful between them. It's really sweet and loving.
So the scenario is not new. You have seen it plenty of times before. But the approach here is much more psychological in nature, whereas most other games usually choose a route more based on raw passion, lust and desire.
The cheating scene very early in the game is entirely optional btw, you can skip it, but it's really just one static render of the wife in the bedroom, you don't even really see anything. I don't like NTR at all (if it's the netorare variety), but this scene is absolutely ok. And the wife is not a love interest to begin with. So no reason to be upset about that. And you can safely skip it, the game warns you even.
You will have to talk to the wife a few times in the story, she will also appear in dreams or as some kind of daydream during therapy sessions, but it's always obvious the MC is moving on from her, and instead getting ever closer to his sister and daughter.
There is a "King" and "Prince" flavor path in the game, both can result in somewhat different scenes, but the gist is still the same. This is not a dom/sub path, more like a more assertive/paternal path and one where the daughter is encouraged to be the MC's equal, to even take the initiative here and there (when it's about making a move, kissing etc. so NO domination or submission).
This is a wholesome romance game through and through.
I think I would have liked it better though if at least one of the love interests had not a secret crush on the MC. This of course makes everything very easy. The MC doesn't have to fight to gain the interest of the two love interests, they already love him to begin with. But maybe it's too easy. It could have been interesting to make the daughter someone who slowly falls in love with the MC, with the sister being the one who's had a crush or even felt real love for the MC for a long time.
But of course this would make things even slower. So the daughter and the MC begin to exchange kisses and cuddle pretty early in the game, same with the sister. Both the routes progress at the same speed. And at the end of the current update petting with both is introduced (with clothes on.... not sure why, but it is what it is, I feel most people would usually remove their clothes in this situation).
And that's one potential major issue then... a slow burn eventually stops making sense when the characters are so in love with each other and when there is zero conflict anymore. The daughter at one point even tells the father that she wants to go all in, that she wants to be physical with him. So there's zero doubt about what she wants and needs.
It's mostly the MC who has a few second thoughts, but again, this eventually stops making sense. But the game is not quite there yet, only getting close to that point where things should progress much further. Also, the game is pretty short, you can easily play it through in one session. So for now the teasing and rate of progress feels right.
Still, I feel things should move on to the next stage sooner than later. The three characters are already at a point where there are no doubts anymore really, everyone wants to be intimate.
Also, as of now there's zero conflict. Of course there is drama, the cheating ex-wife, the emotional turmoil of the MC, his thoughts about his attraction for both his sister and his daughter... but the romance itself is - as of now - without any drama. However, the daughter and the sister don't know yet that the MC is involved with both of them.
Another source of potential confllict is removed when the female therapist turns out to be a very understanding and even supportive character. She more or less even encourages the MC to accept his feelings.
What else... the game has a few typos, here and there the English doesn't sound right either, but it's nothing too major and doesn't happen too often.
Render quality itself is pretty good, It's your typical DAZ game in that regard. I have not seen the character models for the main love interests anywhere before though. So if you want to see some fresh faces... this game has them.
And the latino angle (I would assume the characters have Mexican roots, which is also suggested by flashbacks) is also pretty rare and offers something unique.
The music in this game is pretty great and underlines the contemplative mood. Don't mute the music here.
What I find a bit disortienting at times is the lack of scene transitions, as in, there are no title cards and the game does jump to different scenes without warning and you may wonder what's going on here. I would suggest adding more scene transitions to make it obvious when time is skipped or a new scene is beginning. But it's a minor issue.
So who will enjoy this game?
Fans of story driven games that have an artistic touch, someone who will appreciate a less over the top and much more grounded and at times contemplative approach to the topic, and people who can accept that there is no sex as of yet (but it will come) will probably love this. As far as wholesome somewhat more serious story driven games go Making Memories is a highlight that deserves much more attention.
If you want many love interests, paths, routes or lots of intense teasing... you will probably not be happy here. But you can find plenty of other games that offer all that.
Making Memories is the rare game that focuses on just two love interests and which has a more psychological approach to everything, further underlined by the therapy sessions of the MC and his daughter. The mood in this game is fantastic, and even though there is little teasing (compared to other games of the genre), you can feel the emotional attachments that are formed and the kissing, some caresses and some light petting eventually are still impactful, despite the complete lack of nudity. As said before, the progress in this game is mostly psychological in nature, not so much carnal. This is not about convincing someone to give a blowjob or to open the legs. If you like that you will be very happy with the approach here.
So give the game a try if you like story driven games! I am certain you will like it a lot, probably even love it - even with zero sex in the game so far.
The story of how she comes to love her father is VERY easy and, well, normal. That said, it's realistic and completely understandable and relatable.
