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

EDIT : Looks like we might get Chapter 3 before GTA 6 after all.

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.

Great renders, great writing, great screenwriting, great characters. A lot of effort went into the renders, lighting, camera work, additional work on making the characters more unique and lifelike.
Can't wait for the next chapter!

Ch.2
The highest praise I could ever give one of these games is making me actually enjoy a sex scene; that scene was earned and erotic. This is a beautifully crafted VN with stylized visuals and incredible dialogue. It runs so naturally and has such a deeply intimate feel in every scene. I adore this vibe!! I'm really excited to see where this goes!
Also the DbD reference was very cute

I normally don't rate anything on this site but this is just- you should just try it out.

For someone going through the motions of life, this is for you. For those looking for a quick release, maybe also try it out and be caught up.

Actually great writing and believable lines. The release cadence and slow burn isn't my thing so I'll probably skip releases until there's a sizeable enough chunk, but amazing start so far. Will definitely come back on a full release.

You notice a polished story when you pay attention, it's the case for Strangers on Paper, there is a sign that game is a rare gem when a story can hook you up with a single plot.
I really enjoyed the story and interaction between characters, dialogues and atmosphere feel so realistic and tangible, you can see that writing and depiction of characters are so damn good.
If I want to complain about something probably will be lack of ample amount of choices on each routes and sometimes you can't be sure which decision making desirable result, but it's nitpicking really.
I very recommend Strangers on Paper to broaden your horizon.

Wow, this is good, great even.
I don't usually review games here, but I just have to recommend this.
This is a slow burn story-driven VN without any animation, yet the compelling characters and captivating story make up for all of that and then some.
It took me about 2 hours to finish one of two route, and i consider myself a pretty slow reader.
If you are here for porn, I suggest wait a few more updates, or just wait till full release. Because currently there is only one scene.
But if you're here for the story, stop reading this and go play it.
You won't be disappointed.

TLDR: Amazing writing + beautiful renders = great game

One of the best slice-of-life VNs out there.
I've seen some comments stating this VN is overrated and that it has ugly looking characters (I highly disagree with the latter). And I also know the lack of animations is a dealbreaker for some.
I understand these complaints but I personally just want to be immersed in a good story, with interesting characters and meaningful choices, and this VN delivers just that. Along with the beauty and intrigue of the mundane, seen through the eyes of a writer, a poet. With all the cringe, awkwardness and charm of life.
As someone who loves writing and reading poetry I was extremely happy to experience a story that has elements of poetry and artistic expression woven into the narrative.
All and all, it's an interesting story, with a relatable protagonist, stellar dialogue and immersive moments.
This for me is a 5/5 (no animations required) and I just hope this game continues to the deliver with updates like this latest one.
Despite all of the previous difficulties and delays, I like this project, enough to support it on Patreon and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
Best of luck to the developer, I will keep supporting him for as long as he keeps the train going, and if you're reading this and haven't played it yet, give it a try! TITSOAK