VN - Ren'Py - Completed - Once in a Lifetime [v1.0] [Caribdis]

Caribdis first game. While it is graphically outdatred compared to Eternum

In my opinion OIALT blows Eternum out of the water in terms of the story. The writing is more solid, the characters are more loveable plus the plot is more interestimg what's not to love?

I've discovered this game recently because I played quite extensively at Eternum (which is in my top 5 easily).
But this one from the same dev shows already signs of greatness and glad to have played it. It's obviously older (graphics, animations...) but it's a gem.

This game is just so fucking peak. The story pulls you in and the characters keep you there. I have completed this game twice now and I am so impressed with the work that was put into this game. I would highly recommend you give this game a try and if if you enjoyed it as much as I did to support the creator.

Such a fun read and an amazing introduction to 3D VNs for me, having only read exclusively Japanese VN before and only voiced VN at that, I went in very skeptical.
This was such an incredible experience, never in my years of reading I found myself laughing out loud before like I did with this one. The comedic timing and the use of facial expressions depending on the context really makes you immersed at all times.
If you are uncomfortable with incest like I am, I would say this one manages it incredible well, not in a single moment it felt awkward and at some point I completely forgot the characters were even related due to how well their relationship develops.
I have to say it, it's a Once in a Lifetime read. 10/10.

The mystery plot of the game makes it interesting most of the way through. The real highlight of the game is its humor, especially through side characters such as Hiromi or Stabby Mike. I'm not usually one for 3d CG games, but the models in this game are expressive and high quality.

However, it has some flaws. The main girls of the game end being a little flat. The final act and even more so the final battle are pretty anticlimatic despite the setup throughout the story. Figuring out what to do to unlock all the scenes and get the ending you want is annoying enough to where you might as well mod the game to play itself. Overall, it's a standard experience that's f funny and interesting, but loses steam a little the more it goes on.

This game is excellent. The story pulls you in and the characters keep you there. I have completed this game twice now and I am so impressed with the work that was put into this game. I would highly recommend you give this game a try and if if you enjoyed it as much as I did to support the creator.

Pro: Graphics, Animations, Options with view and speed while acts, different outfits of the characters per day/event, many different places, Music, Soundeffects, interesting cult Story, different decisions/outcome later, come inside/pregnancy option, harem

Cons: there are several endings but only one has a satisfying length/content, some renders look a bit too strange due to the lack of shadows, no pregnancy sex or milk boobs

For me, the story is too uninterestingly drawn out in places for a better rating and weakens too much due to logical errors. Apart from that, the game offers a lot of interesting and entertaining content.

Let's get this straight, before we begin the review: if you're bothered by incest, you should avoid this game. This isn't a spoiler, but a warning, as this game features some very heavy incest involving a mother and sisters.

That said, the game is cute, with a solid and intriguing plot and very lovable characters. One of the things I appreciated most was the game's humor; there were parts that made me laugh out loud, like Carla, the mother, when she participated in the game to win a trip to Japan, or the entire prison section (I recommend that you try all the wrong answers and read Mike's hints while you're in prison). Or all the conversations with Hiromi during the Japanese vacation. But what I recommend most is that when you get out of prison, you absolutely must take "Stabby Mike" with you. This isn't a spoiler, but it's something you absolutely must do, because from that point on, every scene involving Mike will literally make you laugh out loud.

I'm often not a fan of the erotic scenes in these games, but I have to say there are some very exciting ones here that are worth watching.

The graphics and characters are beautiful, although the girls have the flaw of looking very similar (at times I had trouble telling Jasmine from Aiko, for example).

The music, or lack thereof, was spot on throughout the game. For example, when I laughed so hard with Carla during the game show for the trip to Japan, the music stopped at the key moment, and I assure you that even that helps make you laugh by conveying the drama of the moment.

So what are this game's flaws?
One of the problems with this game is that the story doesn't really have any significant divergent plots. Consequently, the most noticeable variations concern whether or not there will be erotic encounters (if you keep the paths open with the various girls), and this undermines the fundamental point of an adult visual novel, as you don't have the option to choose how to proceed except right at the end.

To obtain all the videos of the sexual encounters, you'll need to get a certain score during the game, and to do this, you'll need to install a walkthrough MOD or read a walkthrough, of which there are several online. This is precisely what This, however, eliminates any possibility of choice for the player, and the game itself is thus reduced to reading a story.

Another problem, the main one for me, is related to incest. I don't like incest; in fact, I would have liked to have ended up with Rebecca (the teacher), Jasmine, or Aiko, who, coincidentally, are the only three female characters I'm not related to. But I understand that incest can be intriguing, and so I can accept it. But there's one aspect of this game I can't accept, and that is that as you progress through the story,
Final Verdict:
It's a game worth trying if you don't mind incest, but you should carefully consider the spoiler I've covered. I recommend reading it before playing, even if it will ruin the surprise. That aspect caused me to take a star off my rating, going from four to three.

I've fairly enjoyed the game and it's plot. The graphics was quite outdated but considering the time when the game was developed, it's alright. The Dialogue and story pace is also quite good. The cringe and ween shit was also tolerable. But the Ending was Disappointing. It was just bunch of collective images not the Ending I was Hoping for. Overall,

Graphics - 3/5
Dialogue - 3/5
Story - 4/5
Music - 3/5
Character Development - 4/5

Personal Rating - 4.10/5

Once in a Lifetime is more than just an NSFW game—it’s a masterclass in storytelling within the adult visual novel space. It’s funny, sexy, and surprisingly moving. If you’re looking for a game that respects your time and intelligence while still delivering spicy content, this one’s a must-play.

*This is an AI tailor made review so take it with a grain of salt. Im too lazy to write one anyways just look at how many stars i give it that's where you can base how good the game is imo*

Just a great and interesting story with intriguing characters and wonderful animations. Would highly recommend giving it a try if you are looking for an adult game that is not just brainless fucking, but also has a great story with lovable attached to it.

I like the tone of this game. This game is giddy and good-natured, like a fairy tale with a possible harem ending.

That's why it all fits together. What is this game? A high-school slice-of-life? A supernatural horror? A post-modern, meme-obsessed, self-aware, geeky mismatch of travels between Japan, totally-not-Silent-Hill-abandoned coal-town, and Western megapolis outskirts?

I don't know. It's all there, but that's not it.

I'm tired of supposedly high-quality 'deep' stories in AVNs, which are actually as shallow as a puddle. I am mostly skeptical of 'deep' psychological characterization.

For me, AVNs are fantasies. The effect is jarring when it is forgotten. The characters are not real people, and they will never be. It's all tropes, that's what I am saying, and that's not a bad thing. The real life is out there, not in an .exe file.

This game gets it. Three times I have tried to play it, and twice I turned it off ten minutes after. I'm glad I finally gave it a chance.

Solid one, perso i havent any pb at all with the visual, even in 2025 it passes fine and above all the story & charas are well made favoring a good immersion.
Of course the step up is big with Eternum but still if you havent played OIAL again, dont hesitate a second it put a shame 90% of the avn released everyday

Despite the possibility the visuals may be a setback for someone, at the time of the game's release, they were seen as normal at worst. And I do believe the character development compensates this issue (in case you consider it to be a problem). Personally I'd choose these kind of games -- with soul put into the narrative, making it it's strongest quality, and not trying to appeal to everyone with the models -- and not the other way around, all day. One could say they look pretty much alike, and denying that would be closer to lying that telling the truth. But as I said before, I don't mind that at all, and I don't think anyone would. Are they archetypal? May be, but why would I care if someone tells me a story I already know how it'll follow and end, if the narrative plays in a level which is pretty high above the average? Other than the visuals, I don't think there's any other thing you can reproach the author for this masterpiece of a game. One that truly lives up to it's title.

This is so good!
A thoroughly engaging story, that will certainly stick in my mind as one of the better AVNs I've played.
Overall, this has a well wriiten plot, enjoyable interactions, nicely done artwork and animated scenes, plus some very funny moments.
I especially liked the way each character's personality is portrayed with more depth than is found in many other VNs.
I think the original premise of the MC being step-sibling makes far more sense than the i-patched version.
The escape room-style challenges, combat moves and quizzes are often very tricky to get right (best to use the walkthrough to avoid frustration).
My only criticisms are early artwork has weird alien eyes on some LIs. Also the closing part of the adventure and the end of the epilogue slideshow left me with more questions than answers, despite having a feelgood ending (if you made good choices).
I feel certain I will replay 'Once In A Lifetime' in the future and enjoy it all over again.

The game felt just refreshing to play.

The humor was a hit every time for me, the mystery story was interesting, at some parts predictable but never dull, and it was enjoyable till the end.

The animations are good; many allow different camera angles. The girls are cute; some look a bit too much the same, but never bad.

The endings for only romancing a single girl are lackluster; it's a harem game with a good harem ending on the right path. The other paths' endings feel strange for ignoring some girls, but well, it's the conclusion of your choices, so it's what you get.

Excellent all around, genuinely funny at times and the girls actully felt like people which many a creator misses. You have created something special here and i will keep both eyes on any future project fromm this developer

All time classic, if you want to know whether harem games (or VNs in general) are for you, this is the starting point.

The authors style of writing is one of the few that actually keep you somewhat engaged in the story. He is often funny and never takes the whole thing too seriously. The game just feels like a good time cuz you can tell the guy who made it actually had fun doing it. He cares about his characters and I'd say they are definitely written better than most basic VN characters. He obviously tries to hit a niche with most of them but he doesn't overdo it, which is refreshing. The world building and story are alright, but he knows how to get you invested into the secrets enough to keep on playing. But really the little things along the side are what makes this game great.

Kinda like the Harry Potter of adult VNs, except the author isn't challenged.

Without doubt one of the games I've enjoyed the most. The great strength of the game lies in its atmosphere.

The game's author has a sense of humour that I love. The plot is far more elaborate and captivating than most games. The slightly mystical atmosphere gives it extra charm.

Aside from that, the models are nice but on the negative point, they all look a bit the same.

Another small negative point is that I'm not a fan of the totally unrealistic "harem" & "incest" concept but the relationships are pretty well developed and the really feelgood and funny aspect of the game largely compensate it.

To sum up, I'd highly recommend this game, especially to those looking for a captivating and funny story and who won't be disappointed by the graphic quality, which is perhaps a little inferior to other games.

[v1.0]
The game is excellent.
The story is compelling, off shots are funny, nice touch of comedy. The scenes are nice, even though most are vanilla, allowing you to change the view on the action. There's a hint of incest since it your step sisters and mom, but there are other girls too. I enjoyed the harem ending.
Only drawback is the art design, the people sometime look like dolls, which is a sentiment that fades over time but you are reminded every now and then by some of the 'cheaper' renders. This is a minor thing, but for some might be unbearable.
5/5