A YEAR OF SPRINGS

I'm two weeks late in responding, but I want to say: Thank you.

I first played the AYoS trilogy last summer.  I knew it was a collection of three older games (all of which were still available in their legacy forms at the time), but I had no idea you didn't originally plan it as a trilogy.  I cried through much of the game, shifting between tears of sadness and joy. 

I wanted to thank you for creating this wonderful game. It really is a heartwarming story.

Hi. Thank you so much for these games. I know they're about Japan, but they hit so close to home that I almost cried multiple times (I'm trans and ace)

It's been like, months since I last played this and I still think of it with so much fondness from time to time. This felt so hopeful and I love how the way the characters were written felt human instead of having their LGBTQIA+ identity as their only identity. Also, the art was so cute!!!

Thank you so much for this <3.

This game was amazing and a lot of it resonated with me as a trans woman. This story had such a positive impact on me, and I really hope everyone who needs the love this story can bring to them can find this story and experience it for themselves. Truly a work of art. Thank you.

I loved it!! I already told you on twitter lol, but aaaa this game is so beautiful!! <3

I completely forgot that I claimed a community copy back when this released. After having played it on switch and loving this collection finally came back to pay for the game on here. Thank you so much for this series, it means a lot to me :)

I love these! It's rather uncommon to see explorations of queer people navigating Japan and its culture in the VN space; i can't help but root for everyone in their journey to live their best lives

Thank you so much for making this series!

thank you for this. I can't express my gratitude, and I really hope you are proud of these beautiful games. It moved my heart and it made me learn a lot. Thank you<3

Hey Npckc!
Thank you for this amazing game.
I love all of it!

It's my new favorite game of yours, with a tavern for tea and a pet shop after dark.
Just... Keep doing what you do so well!

So I am admittedly a cheapskate on here and love all the free visual novels on here, but I am so glad I paid the $5 for this one! One of the most wholesome and heartwarming games I've ever played, especially as a trans woman myself. <3

I purchased and played through this on Xbox. As a transwoman, some of what Haru went through hit really close to home; especially the conversation with Erika towards the end of "Last Day of Spring". I really enjoyed my play through, despite the fact that I started crying uncontrollably haha.

Hi,

I recently claimed a community copy of this game on here, and once I was able to, I purchased it on Steam as well (alongside DLCs for the games available there) to show my appreciation for lovely and cute games like the ones in this collection that also deal with hard-hitting and important topics. Once I set aside some time to play it, I will be sure to leave a review and rating, and to notify others who may be interested in it as well.

wonderful game :)

I wrote this on the older version without realizing there was a newer one. I just want to know if you plan on releasing an Android version as well. Thanks. :)

Thank you so much for this game! It was such a great and eye-opening experience for me about how it feels to be trans in a society like today's. As someone who is questioning, Haru's story hit pretty hard for me, and it hasn't left my mind since buying it on Switch a few days ago. It even helped me about coming to terms with myself about who I am and who I feel like I am. 

Thank you <3

-Cathy Nekonin

I couldn't play this game because I don't have enough money to buy it myself and I don't think my parents would buy it for me, but I played the three games separately for free and I don't think a game ever impacted me this much, I never realized what trans people go through each day, thank you for making me understand and teaching me. These games are so well made and beautiful, so again, thank you! Keep up the good work ^~^

 (,,> <,,)

- Daisy <3

Wowowowow.  I have no words—except to say that this trilogy is absolutely beautiful.  The art style is so warm, the characters work amazingly together...it's all just so good.  ❤️  Thank you for an incredible experience!  Can't wait to gift a few copies to my friends.  :)

I bought this game on Switch, and I can confidentially say that no game has ever left this much of an impact on me.

So, some context: I'm Serena (formally Aiden), a transgender woman who fairly recently came out (I came out to my mom in September). I've had a lot of issues with gender dysphoria and being extremely unsure of my sexuality, and until recently I've really felt trapped.

So, I'm browsing through the eShop "deals" section, and I see a charming looking game icon which catches my attention, and upon reading the description I knew I wanted to get it. I'm still fairly new to being trans, so I figured that it would be interesting to play a visual novel featuring a trans protagonist, who I'd come to know as Haru.

Over the past two days, I binged the game and maaaaybe filled up my Switch with screenshots of the game- either way... wow. Getting to know Haru and realizing how much I relate to her and the problems she faces on a daily basis helped fill in so many blanks. It made so many things make so much more sense, and kind of just made me feel like someone... understood. Especially when Erika and the staff lady both went out of their way to show Haru comfort and acceptance, the game/novel gives me hope that things are gonna get better, that one day I will have that supportive friend/person who helps me take the next step and feel more comfortable as... myself. Be it the writer or Haru, I felt a deep connection right from the get go. I became invested in Haru's story, and I was excited to learn more about Erika and Manami, and it was a really exciting feeling.

When I started the second game, I was a mixture of intrigued and excited. Getting to see things from Erika's perspective was a really interesting change of pace, as while she was a character that I got to know a little in 'one night, hot springs', it was really interesting to see things like her personal thoughts and feelings, living space and that, despite her daring/often rude undertone, she always meant well. It really built up both my understanding of Erika as a character and the relationship between Erika and Haru. It was really cute and I absolutely fell in love with this chapter.

The third game was definitely the game that shocked me the most, honestly. Seeing crossed-out choices that often times Manami would go against if picked... it honestly hit really close to home with me in terms of that anxiety and second-guessing everything, which is something Haru also does to a lesser(?) extent. Reading through her conversation with Haru and Erika about asexuality/aromanticy put me in tears. It all felt so... genuine. As with the rest of the game, the writing was superb, heartfelt and genuine.

I won't spoil the Epilogue, but it capped off an amazing, heartfelt visual novel the best way it could. In an odd way... I want to see more of Haru and Erika, even if their remaining stories are best left untold.

Thank you, npckc, for making this.

i played one night hot springs over a year ago over a friend's recommendation, and i am so so glad i did. the three stories and epilogue all deeply resonate with me more than anything i can think of, and having a character i can relate to as much as haru feels really nice.  

i want to thank you for all of the effort you put into your games.  ^v^

Finally, I had the time to play a year of springs and it is such a wonderful and lovely game. Especially the story of Manami felt so true to me as I'm asexual and I experienced some of the situations as well. Thank you for creating such amazing little games <3

Hello!

As I just had a baby, postpartum depression has been kicking my butt so, in my downtime, I was checking out games to play. 
This resonated so much with me.

I claimed a community copy was thrilled to find this such a wonderful playthrough on the various stories. The representation really just made me so happy.

I will purchase a community copy the moment I can. The soundtrack is so pleasing even my baby calms down when they hear it. Thank you so much ^-^

Since there really is no way for me to buy this game yet, I claimed a community copy in hopes of buying your games in the future. I've been a fan of your games since I discovered A tavern for tea, and i must say I really appreciate the work you put in each and every one of them. I attempted to go in as blind as possible and I was incredibly happy to see representation done so well. Can't wait to see more of your work!

btw the ost is absolutely amazing, I'm a sucker for good music in games and this one is gorgeous.

  fuck i just claimed a community copy by accident im so sorry lol what do i do 

wow, the sheer number of times i teared up playing this >.< congratulations on the steam release and good luck / have fun on the tokyo game show! you definitely deserve it.

the best part of this was the three different characters in three stories, and i LOVE how they're all so different, such that everyone in the lgbt+ community can relate in some way. haru that she's trans clearly and deals with the troubles it brings. erika dives right in and finds that she's sapphic and takes it in easily. and manami is clueless and needs a lot of companion and support to realise that she's aroace, and there are so many of those 'i thought you wouldn't support me, i'm so glad you did' kind of moments that just make me yearn for a better future

and the epilogue was SUCH a pleasant surprise! it's like... it gives me hope that there's a good future for us, that things will turn out all right in the end.

thank you so much for making these, i haven't loved a visual novel as much since butterfly soup! the art was simply 🤌 and the music was just lovely. the only thing that i have to comment on is that the music transition is sometimes kind of abrupt, but it was rare and didn't affect the experience much.

these games are phenomenal. they help lgbt+ people to accept and understand themselves and cishet people to learn more and understand their friends. a 10/10 experience.

good luck at the tokyo game show~!

dearest npckc,

i claimed a community copy as i really, really can't afford these games, but i will write a detailed review: 

i've played the original jam versions, but i must say: playing 'a year of spring' after discovering the originals made my heart so happy!! i never stop loving the games you make and the storytelling from the three different perspectives really made me feel like i was part of the whole experience.

in the game, i always choose to be honest with my friends and it's so rewarding to feel the connection that they have, but i also know that in real life, not everyone is as kind. this collection of visual novels provides a safe space for me and so many people, and i'm so happy that it's so pure, cute and relaxing.

i guess i really needed this when life got too stressful? i felt like Erika, Manami and Haru would always be there for me to play through the games and enjoy watching their relationships unfold. the music gave my surroundings such a warm, comforting feeling, yet the games still didn't disconnect me from reality by only portraying happiness and fluffiness and joy and rainbows.

these games show the harsh reality of being part of the lgbtq+ community, especially in an east asian country like where i live. i connected with the story in a way so personal to me that it even helped me understand my own life more. i could understand Erika's frustration at the discrimination, Manami's fear and confusion after realising that she was different and Haru's quiet acceptance of the cruelty directed towards her. 

these experiences that people of the lgbtq+ community go through are painted so beautifully, so simply and so impactfully in the games. they are powerful without being graphic or violently giving the readers the message. 

i feel that everyone should play these visual novels, whether for comfort, education or just fun. i loved interacting with the characters!

all i want to say is thank you so much. these are games that i will play again and again, through sunny mornings, rainy nights, heartbreaks and happiness, and their messages will stay with me for a long time.

祝你幸福。

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful story with us. It's really powerful as a trans girl myself to see that experience represented with this kind of sensitivity and care, both to the problems that trans people face and the joys of living life as oneself. I think the game format was really perfect for this and I really can't recommend this game series enough to my friends and family. I might already have gifted it to two other people already ahaha.

And the two sequels! Just a perfect combo too. The exploration of what it means to be an ally in Last Day of Spring was, I think, really powerful, and in a way that felt very personal. 

And I think the self-discovery coming out story in Spring Leaves No Flowers was a very good portrayal of what the coming out process is like (I'm potentially ace-spec myself, but I'm not quite clear) both in that discovery that one's experiences aren't normal, and how it relates to others.

And, of course, the characters! I've talked about the story a lot in broad terms, but I think it's equally important to think of it as a story of three specific girls: Haru, Minami, and Erika. It's amazing how attached I was to them during such a short time, and how real and individual they managed to feel even with the player making choices for them.

Just. Thank you. These games really meant a lot to me. I don't think I'm going to stop recommending this, both as an exploration of queer experiences and as a lovely story about three girls finding their paths, for a long time.

As I queer (or LGBT+) person I normally turn to art which shows our struggles in very harsh ways, since I often cant relate to a fairy tale story, especially since the world is, still, very hostile to LGBT+ people.

This beautiful collection of heartwarming games manages to be extremely hopeful and comforting because it doesnt shy away from the hardships of our lives, but rather it totally revolves around them. The story of these three amazing women shows us that we dont need to live in a fairy tale to be happy, we only need friends (and maybe even lovers) to support us in our journey though life.

Thank you for making these games! 

I just finished the epilogue.  I'm AroAce and trans and I teared up during Haru and Manami's stories.

First of all, I love this game so much! The art was so cute (Erika's v-shaped smile omg) and the theme of friendship and acceptance were someting I really enjoyed.

I played most of it yesterday night and then came back to it today to get all of Manami's endings and read the epilogue.  When I started playing I didn't expect to fall in love with all three of the characters the way I did in such a short period of time but here I am, writing this comment with tears in my eyes hahaha. Manami's story especially touched me because I'm also aroace and her relationship with Tatsuya and the way she talked about love was something I could relate to. 

Thanks for creating this game ^-^ I'm looking forward to your future projects!!

Hi! I'm enjoying the game in Korean.(sorry to my poor English😥)I couldn't buy the bundle because I didn't have a way to pay for it, but I played all the spring trilogy in three hours as an Android version.

I joined itch.io because I really wanted to leave an impression of this great game!! It was so much fun because I was able to immerse myself deeply in the story while playing the game. I loved all the characters, and the illustrations and soundtracks of the game made me feel comfortable and happy.

I'm cisgender woman and also heterosexual, so maybe I can't fully understand people with different identities and directions from me. But through this game, I think I'll be able to get as close to queer as possible, even if it's not perfect.

It would be a great pleasure if many non-queers can understand queers through these games and to be able to accept them as members of society. Thank you so much for making a great game!!!

i was able to get a community copy a few months back and was yet to write a review/comment on the game until now

I absolutely loved the games!! thank you so so much for making them ;;o;; besides myself, I know some people who are trans and my own partner is trans as well - I couldn't help but relate quite a bit to erika about her relationship with haru and how she tried her very best to make things safe and comfortable for haru aaaaaaa-- 

all I can say is: these games are a HUGE comfort for me and i hope others will feel the same as i do 💙👉👈 thank you once again for making this wonderful trilogy!! i am very much looking forward to seeing more games or stories with the girls once more!! :D i hope you have a day as lovely as you!! <3 

Thanks for making these games! I honestly don't think I've ever related to a character as much as Haru and her internal decision making process, and I cried a fair bit at just how familiar some of the scenarios she found herself in were. amazing, amazing, amazing games that I'm sure I'll find myself coming back to time and time again

tl;dr: im in this photo and i like it

Thank you for making these games! I just finished and I really appreciate the message in the Special Thanks. Hopefully the world continues to grow to be a better place for us all :)

Has anyone else had trouble running the game? for some reason the game starts just fine but all the text is unreadable. there's just blurry lines where it should be. i downloaded the right version for my computer so it's not that. i have the game jam version of One Night, Hot Springs and that works so idk what's up.

Aww, what a beautiful ending.  I played the first game on steam about a year ago and I'm so glad I got the trilogy.  Very sweet and wholesome!  Very much looking forward to any games you make in the future.