VN - Ren'Py - Strangers on Paper [Ch.2 v0.2.2] [Gloomy Ghost Studio]

There isn't an abundance of content yet, but so far has the potential to be the best VN I've ever played. The visuals are stunning and the music is perfect for what it needs to be, but the real draw is the amazing writing. Hands down the most well-written game on this site. In the span of one or two interactions the characters come to life and an actual emotional connection is formed. Intriguing, heartfelt, amazing and essentially flawless.

Do you know how rare this is?

No, seriously, there's so much slop and shite and not even half-baked ideas and rushed jobs and whatnot in the AVN space.

The two lads making this game, however, were like...
"Hey, let's make an AVN!"
"Hell yeah, let's!"
"But you also know what? Let's make it good."
"Oh my god, that's a fucking genius idea!"

Visually - absolutely excellent. People who look real, yet beautiful, lighting as if from someone who knows what they're doing, composition, expressions, attention to detail.

Writing. THAT'S how you fucking do it. Once again, feels like real people interacting with each other, with real lives, reacting to everything and each other in ways that make goddamn sense.

Music - very, very good. Not only do the songs fit the scenes, but they're good.

Also in case the other reviews weren't warning enough, this is not a fuckfest, and don't you dare give it a lower score because this game isn't even trying to be something it is not.

Some of the best writing i've seen in an AVN so far. Really natural and authentic. Almost like two games in one so far. Pretty LI's are what usually get people to start an AVN but the writing is what keeps them around. One of the few games where I didn't want to skip text ahead through "stupid" or "cringey" parts.

I like the story and how its kinda 2 diffrent stories in one game, theres only 2 girls each with their own story and background, one is a lesbian/BI and the other is stright and about to get married which is a bit weird.

Not sure if you can somehow go after both at the same time since it would mean missing alot of content due to only being able to do one thing on a day, so you cant both go to a concert with one and go on a ride with the other.

To me theres only really one way to play it and thats going for one girl 100% and forget the other, then do a replay and try the one you dident.

I guess you can call it somewhat of a slowburn, atleast with one girl of the girls and the other you get to have sex with somewhat fast.

The one thing the drags it down is the lack of animations, right now theres not much sexual stuff so its a bit of a let down that dev dident get animations considering theres so little of it and thats also why i cant give this 5 stars.

Music is pretty standard background stuff and there is some sound effects every now and then as well.

As for choices some dosent seem to have any impact but others do.

Overall very nice game and one the puts story before sex which is very nice for once.

Review as of Ch.2 v0.2.2

The aesthetic is very well done in a more cinematic way than anything else, and really appreciate the effort because it's not that commont to come across.

I find that characters are interesting and layered enough to feel attracted to them in one way or another. It has that low key tone to it where it feels like a gentle breeze in a Summer day. I really dig that sense and liking it. I think it's the thing that makes the game stand out tall.

The renders are so pleasing, music selection is just feels right and adds up a lot to the game's tone.

So far I really liked it and think has good potential. Looking forward for more. Keep up the great work dev!

This game has really good visuals. All the characters look like they could be real people and no crazy proportions or anything like that. The story is the main focus which is something I'm a fan of in this genre where a lot of games seem like they have a single idea for a story and basically just use it to transition you between sex scenes. The characters feel real and they have emotions and pasts and conflict and I feel like I get way more into the game when it feels like the characters are more than just a body for MC to have sex with. I don't generally love stories where a romantic interest is already in a different relationship, but I feel like it's being handled well so far and MC isn't just a douche who steamrolls and ignores the nuance and complicated nature of that situation.

If they add a CG scene with free roam and a mini-game, I’d say this game would be absolutely incredible! It might take time, but if it's worth the wait, you should definitely do it. Go ahead and create a legend! [Gloomy Ghost Studio]

Some very unbalanced reviews on this one. There are good points but also lots of bad points.

The good is that the renders are very well done and the characters are actually written to act like humans, something not managed in a lot of vn's

The bad is that the renders are all a small size and you'll have big black borders. There is also zero player freedom and there are constant menus but they are NOT choices, instead they are annoying af quizzes to see how much you've remembered. That is not fun and makes me doubt whether the 5 star reviewers actually played it.

[Ch.2 v0.2.2]

This is amazing. I honestly don't see a single flaw with this AVN, which is quite rare in this industry. Both of the love interests are very interesting and only get more so as the story goes on. I recommend everybody to play this, you won't regret it.

What I really love about this game is how it prioritizes depth over breadth. Instead of overwhelming players with a huge cast of characters, it focuses on a select few, allowing for meaningful interactions and development. Each character feels well-rounded, with distinct personalities that evolve throughout the story.

The art is absolutely gorgeous, with detailed designs that breathe life into each character and scene. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the visual aspects, enhancing the emotional resonance of key moments. The environments are beautifully crafted, creating an immersive backdrop for the intimate stories unfolding within them.

The writing shines, too. The dialogue is sharp and insightful, diving into the complexities of relationships. I found myself genuinely invested in the characters’ journeys, as the narrative delves into their backgrounds and motivations. The choices you make really matter, impacting the characters in a way that feels authentic and meaningful.

Overall, Strangers on Paper masterfully balances stunning visuals with rich storytelling. It’s a visual novel that invites you to truly connect with its characters, making every moment feel significant. If you appreciate depth in storytelling, this game is an absolute gem!

Looking forward too move updates.

"Review of Chapter 2 v0.2.2"

Among the many VNs I've come across in the past few years, this work is already in the top 5, with fascinating characters, great visual expression and story.

The dialogue boxes, which are like movie subtitles, make the story easy to follow without interfering with the images of the wonderful characters, which is another point that makes this work highly rated.

I would highly recommend this work to anyone who wants to enjoy a story-focused VN.

I really enjoyed these 2 chapters of the game, the visuals are so unique, it has a really cool art style to it, and I also like the fact that there are just two main girls who have very distinct personalities, for now it seems like a really well developed story, overall the game has a lot of potencial and I think it is definitely worth giving it a shot.

This game has it all, top-tier writing (no one is asking for Tolkien stuff), beautiful renders, well-written characters and a grounded enough setting for the genre we are all in. It is a "tight" game, just solid overall, great for those looking for a standard human tale. The MC is also decent enough, not a loser, incel, or a horndog for no reason.... just a normal guy. The soundtrack is nice too and the "artsy" aesthetic is also another point in my book.

The game has a great story and good characters dynamic. beautiful renders. stands out among the AVNs I've played. Its really amazing and it doesn't even have any lewd scenes yet. I hope developer sees the game to the end. my favorite girl - Rebecca.

Review for Ch.2 v0.2.2

I'm a little speechless; this game is something very special and precious. It tells an intricate and beautiful story in such a magical way. You can feel the emotion of every scene, the writing is superb and just the Vibe of it all... WOAH

Be warned, there's no H scenes as of yet, but I couldn't care less honestly, the story is just so engrossing, it's hard to let it go.

The only downside of this game is that it took the Devs a little less than 15 months to release Chapter 2, so don't expect chapter 3 before GTA 6 and chapter 4 before TES 6 basically.

Other than that, if you like a good story focused on relationships and their complicated nature, you OWE it to yourself to play Strangers on Paper.

Maybe I'm just a victim of overhype, I don't know. I deliberately held off on playing the first chapter, but seeing how highly everyone thought of the game, I went in expecting a masterpiece. I didn't get it.

It's hard for me to really level harsh criticism at this VN. It is stylish. The art and lighting is good. But, I wasn't really attracted to either of the LIs (Everyone seems to love Becca, but she just didn't do it for me. I liked Amy better, but she's really nothing special, either). The story is good, but really, it doesn't feel nearly as special as it wants us to believe that it is. It's not bad, don't get me wrong. It's engaging and even interesting, but special? Not quite there. I know a lot of care and effort went in to this particular visual novel, but at the end of the day, it didn't grab me nearly as much as I hoped that it would. This is a dev with considerable skill, though. I wouldn't be surprised if they suddenly pulled everything together and changed my mind. As it stands now, though, this one was a decent experience, but not one I'm champing at the bit to continue with, and at the end of the day, that's what the great ones are to me.

[Reviewed as of Ch.2 v0.2.2]

SoP is a beautifully crafted Visual Novel that can be proudly recommended to even the most normie of friends, to show how passionate (and talented) the creators of this medium are sometimes.

A ton of effort has went into SoP and it shows in every tiny part of the VN.

Though treading some familiar territories, SoP offers more than enough gravitas to make you feel invested in the story and the characters. And the splendid art direction just takes it to a whole new level.

Easily one of the best games to have graced this site. Can't wait to officially buy it whenever it debuts on Steam.

Review for Ch. 2 - 0.2.2 .

man. i love this.
i love Becca and i Love Amy. i love every second of this experience.
Renders are Amazing.
The story is also cool but we are only at the beginning so for now it satisfied me.

The branching is also cool but it may not be for everyone.
Before I came across this hidden gem I already thought there is no quality SlowBurn romance stories anymore and here is this miracle.


I will definitely support the developers on patreon and you should too.

the only negative thing I can say is the music. however, this will surely be improved in the next updates.

Everything everyone is saying about this game is true.

Simply put, this game is for people who enjoy high quality - nothing cheap, nothing pandering. Even through two (content-rich) chapters, I have full confidence that this dev knows what they are doing both from a storytelling perspective and an artistic one. The level of writing, characters, and art is some serious professional shit.

And of course, the sexual tension - spoiler about content: The one, unanimated sex scene so far with Becca did more for me than 90% of scenes in other games that are technically solid but ultimately just made for fan service and don't really have real buildup. Those absolutely have their place - but this game is not one of them. This is not a fuckfest harem game and the dev is pretty clear about that. Some might complain about lack of animation - truthfully i'm not even sure animations will fit with this art style and story flow. The devs seem like they are staying true to the story they want to tell, and I love that. This is a game where the focus is more on sexual tension and writing - just know that and set your expectations properly

One of the best AVGNs ive ever played.

The best part of this game is the writing. The characters feel very relatable and very human. I loved how the main character thinks, hes a writer so alot of his exposition is really tacky in a cute kinda way. But both of the girls have unique personalities which makes both routes feel very fresh.

The renders are fucking amazing. Becca has to be the hottest girl ive ever seen in a game. Shes just fucking perfect and i love the detail on her face especially. Her freckle's are so damn beautiful. Somehow they made her hotter in the 2nd episode (god bless you devs). But honestly all the models are great, the main character is hot, and so is the other girl Amy. Alot of the side characters are well done as well.

There are slight issues, but i dont think that any of them take away from my rating. There are some scenes that dont have any audio to them, it just feels a little bit weird considering that most of the game has some sort of background audio and or music. So having some outliers in the sound area does break the immersion a little. Sex scenes were really good, but i could use some more shots of the main characters dick, as there was basically none in the scene.