
73
MONSTER
Afterlove EP is a slice-of-life adventure about love, loss and music. Explore modern Jakarta as Rama in his journey to learn about himself, create music, find love and come to terms with the loss of his girlfriend Cinta, whose voice still lives on in his head.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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86
Afterlove EP is an intense, emotionally resonant journey through grief and love, with Rama’s haunting exploration of loss and healing hitting hard. Praised for its authentic, poignant storytelling, relatable characters, and branching endings, the game’s depth is amplified by the developer’s real-life tragedy. While some critique uneven pacing or underdeveloped moments, its raw honesty and introspective themes cement it as a standout narrative-driven experience that lingers powerfully.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
86
Positive Reviews (80-100)
79%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
21%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
Afterlove EP is an intense, emotionally resonant journey through grief and love, with Rama’s haunting exploration of loss and healing hitting hard. Praised for its authentic, poignant storytelling, relatable characters, and branching endings, the game’s depth is amplified by the developer’s real-life tragedy. While some critique uneven pacing or underdeveloped moments, its raw honesty and introspective themes cement it as a standout narrative-driven experience that lingers powerfully.
Gameplay Mechanics
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67
Afterlove EP dazzles with its narrative-driven charm, blending visual novel, rhythm, and dating sim elements into a heartfelt, choice-filled story—but its simplistic, repetitive gameplay and lack of meaningful player agency leave it feeling like a passive, skippable experience. While emotional depth and relationship mechanics shine, rhythm sections and hidden solutions frustrate, making it a polarizing title that prioritizes story over substance.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
67
Positive Reviews (80-100)
21%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
75%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
4%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Afterlove EP dazzles with its narrative-driven charm, blending visual novel, rhythm, and dating sim elements into a heartfelt, choice-filled story—but its simplistic, repetitive gameplay and lack of meaningful player agency leave it feeling like a passive, skippable experience. While emotional depth and relationship mechanics shine, rhythm sections and hidden solutions frustrate, making it a polarizing title that prioritizes story over substance.
Graphics and Visual Design
Expand for full analysis
81
Afterlove EP’s manga-inspired, Jakarta-tinged visuals steal the show—vibrant, expressive, and culturally rich, they elevate atmospheric storytelling. While some critics call out minor hiccups in cohesion and subtlety, the stylized art remains a bold, niche-driven triumph, proving that emotional depth and bold visuals can coexist, even if not perfectly.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
81
Positive Reviews (80-100)
73%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
27%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Afterlove EP’s manga-inspired, Jakarta-tinged visuals steal the show—vibrant, expressive, and culturally rich, they elevate atmospheric storytelling. While some critics call out minor hiccups in cohesion and subtlety, the stylized art remains a bold, niche-driven triumph, proving that emotional depth and bold visuals can coexist, even if not perfectly.
Music and Sound Design
Expand for full analysis
77
L’Alphalpha’s Afterlove EP soundtrack is a haunting, genre-defying triumph, blending shoegaze, emo, and post-rock to evoke profound grief and hope. Critics rave about its emotional depth and narrative cohesion, but rhythm gameplay mechanics fall flat—repetitive, lackluster, and poorly integrated, turning musical moments into chores. While the score’s impact is unquestionable, its disconnect from gameplay creates a divisive experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
77
Positive Reviews (80-100)
36%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
59%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
5%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
L’Alphalpha’s Afterlove EP soundtrack is a haunting, genre-defying triumph, blending shoegaze, emo, and post-rock to evoke profound grief and hope. Critics rave about its emotional depth and narrative cohesion, but rhythm gameplay mechanics fall flat—repetitive, lackluster, and poorly integrated, turning musical moments into chores. While the score’s impact is unquestionable, its disconnect from gameplay creates a divisive experience.
Voice Acting
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70
Afterlove EP’s voice acting shines through Cinta’s emotionally charged performance, praised for deepening Rama’s grief-stricken journey, but technical glitches, repetitive dialogue, and overbearing presence undermine immersion. While critics laud its narrative impact and uniqueness, the reliance on a single voice actor limits depth, creating a polarizing "double-edged sword" that’s essential to the game’s identity yet restrictive in execution.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
70
Positive Reviews (80-100)
29%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
65%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Afterlove EP’s voice acting shines through Cinta’s emotionally charged performance, praised for deepening Rama’s grief-stricken journey, but technical glitches, repetitive dialogue, and overbearing presence undermine immersion. While critics laud its narrative impact and uniqueness, the reliance on a single voice actor limits depth, creating a polarizing "double-edged sword" that’s essential to the game’s identity yet restrictive in execution.
Technical Performance
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58
Afterlove EP's technical flaws—buggy PC/PS5 versions, sporadic glitches—undermine its narrative charm, though Xbox/Switch run smoother. A polished experience awaits post-launch fixes.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
58
Positive Reviews (80-100)
8%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
75%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
17%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Afterlove EP's technical flaws—buggy PC/PS5 versions, sporadic glitches—undermine its narrative charm, though Xbox/Switch run smoother. A polished experience awaits post-launch fixes.
Replay Value
Expand for full analysis
69
Afterlove EP delivers emotional depth and branching romance paths, but its linear storytelling, shallow choices, and gameplay flaws drag down replayability. A bittersweet mix: worth revisiting for fans of its heart and music, but structural shortcomings leave many unimpressed.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
69
Positive Reviews (80-100)
19%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
75%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Afterlove EP delivers emotional depth and branching romance paths, but its linear storytelling, shallow choices, and gameplay flaws drag down replayability. A bittersweet mix: worth revisiting for fans of its heart and music, but structural shortcomings leave many unimpressed.
Overall Verdict
73
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
73
Positive Reviews (80-100)
51%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
49%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
0%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Afterlove EP is a poignant, visually stunning narrative gem that prioritizes emotional storytelling and artistic depth, earning acclaim for its authentic themes and heartfelt writing—yet its technical glitches, underdeveloped gameplay, and limited interactivity temper its impact, making it a flawed but compelling choice for fans of story-driven experiences.
73
MONSTER
Reviews
48 reviews found90
NintendoWorldReport
Feb 13, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
The reviewer highly recommends Afterlove EP, praising its storytelling, character development, and emotional depth, considering it a peak achievement for the development team.
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90
Adventure Gamers
Feb 20, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP is a distinctive and brilliant game that challenges players emotionally while providing a rich narrative and engaging gameplay. Despite some minor flaws, it stands out as a meaningful experience.
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90
Shacknews
Feb 13, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP is a beautifully crafted game that offers a poignant exploration of grief and personal growth, supported by strong writing, engaging gameplay, and stunning visuals, despite some minor technical flaws.
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85
GameBlast
Apr 8, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP offers a deeply emotional narrative and strong visual design, but it suffers from gameplay and technical shortcomings that affect the overall experience.
84
GAMES.CH
Feb 13, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, 'Afterlove EP' is a poignant narrative experience that effectively combines storytelling with interactive gameplay, making it a compelling title for fans of the genre.
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80
Loot Level Chill
Feb 13, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP is an emotional and heartfelt game about coping with loss, featuring great writing and a lovely atmosphere, though it should not be approached as a fast-paced rhythm game.
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80
TheXboxHub
Mar 4, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP is a moving and memorable visual novel that effectively tackles themes of love and loss, despite some flaws in character likability and the impact of choices.
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80
Checkpoint Gaming
Feb 13, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP is a deeply heartfelt experience with strong storytelling, engaging characters, and a charming visual style, despite some gameplay limitations and a lack of challenge in rhythm sections.
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80
GameMAG
Mar 5, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Afterlove EP is an emotional journey about loss, love, and music, leading players towards a bright ending if they avoid darker paths.
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80
Siliconera
Feb 18, 2025
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Overall, Afterlove EP is described as a touching and beautiful game that effectively explores themes of grief and moving on, making it a charming final project from its creator.
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