nellyneko

June/July: Beach Read

It's sweatin' time again! Time to cool off at the beach, then relax with a good book! Don't know about you, but I'd actually rather stay inside in the shade, so let's just take that classic summer activity and turn it into our next theme! Play games taking place at the beach and/or related to books/reading (sure, regular visual novels count).


You can use the following format to track your progress in the comments, and/or add your own thoughts about the played game(s) to your post!

name of game 1 | language(s) | achievements obtained | playtime this month | unfinished/finished
name of game 1 | language(s) | achievements obtained | playtime this month | unfinished/finished
name of game 1 | language(s) | achievements obtained | playtime this month | unfinished/finished
total: | achievements obtained | language(s) | playtime this month | Number of games finished

Theme Song

We're just moments

FAQ

Do I have to participate in this month’s theme?
No, as with every theme, these are merely suggestions for anyone who is unsure about what to play next. If you already have a battle plan for your backlog and/or don’t like this month’s theme, you’re free to ignore it.

What happens if I don’t participate in the theme?
Nothing.

What happens if I play all of my unfinished games before the theme is over?
Your backlog will be a much smaller place.

I don’t have any unfinished games - I’ve beaten everything I’ve started.
Really? well that makes one of us… I salute you.

I already finished my entry can I play another?
Go ahead - the goal is to reduce your unfinished games list. The more you can play the better.

Meow?
Pspspspspsps.

coleypollockfilet

Hello and thanks for this summer theme ! I just come back from the sea, so that’s a good surprise ! :D

Loddlenaut beach 21/23 HLTB : 5h Time played : 7h Beaten (06/06/2026)
IS Defense beach 31/39 HLTB : 5h Time played : 9h Beaten (04/06/2026)

edit 04/06/26 : IS Defense beaten. It’s controversial, but the enemies are only armed terrorists, not civilians. Now, is the game itself any good ? Well, can’t ask much for 1€ but it’s like a repetitive basic flash minigame. This game but shooting at pigeons wouldn’t have made much of a difference. It also has achievements bugs, the missions ones just triggered mysteriously at some point after many attempts.
edit 06/06/26 : Loddlenaut main story beaten, it was grindy but surprisingly relaxing. I don’t have the motivation to evolve all the cute little creatures but still had some good fun cleaning the ocean.

That’s all to keep some other games for next month.

coleypollockfilet
Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia read 20/20 HLTB : 1h Time played : 1h30 Completed (26/07/2026)
Storm Boy Beach and read 11/11 HLTB : 30min Time played : 30min Completed (26/07/2026)
Beyond Blue Beach 30/30 HLTB : 4h Time played : 5h Completed (26/07/2026)

edit 26/07/26 :

  • Little Mouse’s Encyclopedia is a short walk with a few animals and plants. Every time you click, a short summary pops up, just like in the magazine “La Hulotte.” The little mouse is cute. I had to play twice to unlock all the achievements, and it was much faster and easier with a controller.
  • Storm Boy is a little story about a boy and his best friend a pelican. Short but very touching. On point game for this month theme.

edit 27/07/26 :

  • Beyond Blue, i was happy to see fish just like at the aquarium. Grinding through scanning fish isn’t exactly thrilling, but great soundtrack though !
Kyrrelin

I’d also rather stay inside in the shade. ;)

Name Category Achievements obtained Playtime Status
Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode Beach 0/1 0h unfinished
SIMULACRA Visual Novel 24/24 8.3h Completed
Dark Tales: Edgar Allan Poe’s The Premature Burial Collector’s Edition Book none 6h Completed
TOTAL:   24 14.3h 2
phantomreader42

I’ll see what fits:

Name Category Achievements Status
Loddlenaut Cleaning up near the beach at least 20/23 Beaten
Venba Visual Novel 15/15 Completed
Set Yourself on Fire Visual Novel Completed?
Karakara Visual Novel 7/7 Completed
Milky Way Prince: The Vampire Star Visual Novel 7/13 Beaten
Date Everything Visual Novel 6/42 Started
Summer in Mara Beach 1/51 Started
Book Bound Books 2/18 Started
Bury Me, My Love VN 5/19 Started
total:   63 5
StupidUselessHuman

Ah, this reminded me that I still haven’t played Danganronpa 2. I really need to get started on that one soon.

Name Category Achievements Playtime Status
Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair Visual Novel + Set in an Island/Beach 0/47 4.3h (4.3h from card farming) Never played
Jolly Good: Cakes and Ale Reading 62/62 26.5h Completed
Our World is Ended Visual Novel 40/40 119.5h Completed
Pentiment Reading 23/41 19.3h Beaten
The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante Reading 21/89 7.4h (2.8h from card farming) Beaten
Zombie Exodus: Safe Haven Reading 30/63 56.8 Unfinished

EDIT
2026-07-29 = Man, OWiE’s endings are really disappointing and underwhelming. I wish I spent that time playing Danganronpa 2 instead.

Tempête Joachim
Game Achievements Playtime Status
Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode 0/1 0h Not started
The Plucky Squire 0/24 0h Not started
total: 0/25 0h 0/2

List

masquerade
Game Category Playtime Status Review Link
Wednesdays Beach 3 hrs Completed A Brave, Direct, and Beautiful Experience
Tropico 4 Beach   In progress  
Amitte

This is definitely getting finished retroactively.

Name Category Achievements Playtime Status
Adventure of a Lifetime Beach + VN 0/20 playtime this month unfinished/finished
Beach Bounce Beach + VN 0/10 playtime this month unfinished/finished
Island Diary Beach + VN 0/7 playtime this month unfinished/finished
Paraiso Island Beach (?) 0/11 playtime this month unfinished/finished
Project Shoreline Beach N/A playtime this month unfinished/finished
Yozora Rhapsody Beach + VN 0/4 playtime this month unfinished/finished
TOTAL: Beach (6), VN (4) 0/52 playtime this month number of games finished