Kabaret

Kabaret has ambition, but that ambition gets in its own way. It asks tough questions and never shies away from the realities of life. Different perspectives are properly explored which provides depth for each viewpoint. It deftly weaves Southeast Asian culture into the story and it immerses you in the culture. But the story becomes too complicated and loses its best messages towards the end. The lack of stakes for the mini-games also makes them less appealing. Preparing tea is unnecessarily hard and vague, becoming a frustrating activity instead of a relaxing one. It’s a good visual novel with stories that don’t shy away from difficult content, but one you’re unlikely to revisit often because it feels like a lot of work.

This is a lot for a visual novel to tackle, and sometimes Kabaret’s writing falters. There were moments when I cringed at how heavy-handed the game was in making the character reconsider their previous statements, and moments in which the dialogue didn’t do its narrative justice. Most of the game still held up, with some very evocative writing and plenty of statements that made me confront my own ideals. The major characters were impressively layered, considering they’re based on mythical beings. I have no regrets about giving eight hours to this visual novel, and I came away changed. It is definitely worth your time.