Just Deserts

Just Deserts is a visual novel blending dating sim elements with turn-based combat and resource management, featuring five fully voiced heroines. Players manage limited time and money over a 29-day period to build relationships, fight alien invaders, and progress through multiple endings, including a harem route. The game offers charming character designs and a catchy soundtrack, but gameplay is often slowed by unskippable battle animations and repetitive grind mechanics. Combat is simple but can feel unfair due to RNG and enemy AI spamming heals and shields. The story is light and sometimes inconsistent, with some endings feeling abrupt. Bugs and interface frustrations, such as tedious item management and quest randomness, detract from the experience. However, the developers actively update the game and listen to community feedback, promising improvements and additional content. Overall, it is an enjoyable but flawed indie title best appreciated on sale or by fans of the genre.

Highlights

Players praise the fully voiced heroines and their distinct personalities, which add charm and humor. The artwork and character designs are consistently well-received, with particular acclaim for CGs and backgrounds. The soundtrack and voice acting (especially some characters) enhance immersion. The simple yet strategic combat system offers a unique twist for a visual novel, and multiple routes with varied endings provide replay value. The game’s blend of dating sim and RPG elements creates an engaging experience for fans of both genres.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the slow, unskippable combat animations that make battles feel tedious. The grind-heavy gameplay and randomness in quests and enemy encounters frustrate players, especially with limited in-game time. The money management system is seen as unbalanced, with expensive equipment and low rewards. The interface is clunky, lacking features like batch item buying/selling and auto-targeting. Some quests are impossible to complete due to character schedules or item availability, leading to affection penalties. Voice acting quality varies, and some story elements and endings feel rushed or underdeveloped. Bugs persist but are being addressed by developers.