Sumire is a dazzling visual novel adventure from developer GameTomo that succeeds in delivering a memorable, compelling experience in spite of its short runtime and gameplay-light approach. In the tradition of visual novel titles, Sumire is almost entirely dialog-based, with the bulk of its gameplay coming in the form of narrative decisions, puzzles, and mini-games. Those additions are just enough to support a game that shines brightest when examining the darker elements of adolescence.
Sumire is set in a Japanese town and follows the story of its titular character Sumire, who is in the middle of some transformative experiences within her own life and her family. Following the loss of her grandmother and the sudden absence of her father, Sumire's mother gradually becomes less present emotionally, leaving the young girl to face her demons on her own - until the sudden discovery of a magical, talking flower turns the narrative on its head and begins the cycle of the title's day-long adventure.
Sumire's visual novel story features a number of different choices that can dramatically impact the progression of its characters, and in spite of its short runtime, it provides enough growth through its divergent universes that each one is well worth exploring. The gameplay element of these choices manifests in karma, which can either be improved or worsened based on decisions made by Sumire. Worse karma affects her status among the friends, bullies, and acquaintances she'll meet over the course of the story, while positive karma gets Sumire closer to the ideal outcome.
Players will also be given mini-games to help break up the weight of Sumire's surprisingly heavy story, offering up card and board game segments to help diversify the experience. Ultimately, though, Sumire is mostly about the way its story develops, and the fact that it's replayable and presents numerous goals for Sumire to achieve in the span of her one-day adventure gives it staying power it might not otherwise have.
Sumire is also supported by its aesthetic; simply put, the game is a joy to observe on Nintendo Switch, with a mix of pastel lights and moody darks helping to convey the emotion of each scene. Controls don't factor into gameplay much, but work well on Switch all the same, while the game runs at a steady framerate and features no prominent glitches or bugs to water down the experience.
Positives aside, however, Sumire definitely isn't for everyone. Most notably, even with its puzzles, mini-games, and choice-driven narrative, the game is most heavily inspired by the visual novel genre, which means those looking for games with a bit more action or dynamic movement to them will need to find that elsewhere. Sumire's replayability is also tested by an inability to skip dialogue on a second playthrough (and subsequent third). While the game is only hours long, it can still be somewhat annoying to slog through repeatedly, especially in the moments that aren't really affected by karma or player choice.
Sumire successfully toes the line between charming tale of overcoming life's hurdles and a dark introspection into more troubling aspects of the adolescent psyche, though, and small issues aside, it's an impressive achievement. Its impact is helped along by an equally arresting video game soundtrack, which ranges from more prominent auditory moments and a subtle few notes to punctuate a character's feelings non-verbally. Those touches work, like much of the game, to create a whole that's greater than the sum of its parts.
Sumire is the type of game that anyone who loves story-telling and visually stunning environments will be drawn in by. It doesn't reinvent any of its inspirations - and in some places, like its puzzles and its replayability, it's noticeably less impressive than some of its peers - but the experience as a whole exceeds these individual qualities. GameTomo delivers on the promise of its premise, and Sumire is an easy recommendation for those who enjoy visual novels or memorable narratives.
Sumire is available now on Nintendo Switch and PC. Screen Rant was provided with a Nintendo Switch code for the purpose of this review.