Fading Afternoon Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Seiji Maruyama is a middle-aged yakuza recently released from prison. Known as "Gozuki" (one of the demon generals from Buddhist mythology) he is the power that his oyabun counts on. But there is one thing his aniki is not taking into account: Maruyama is getting old.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. 90
    I appreciate Yeo for being willing to put himself out there, put the art ahead of the commercial best practices, and craft something that is eccentric, nuanced, and even profound. Fading Afternoon isn’t an “entertaining” game in the traditional sense, but it’s a powerful one that will leave you reflective and pensive by the time you put it down. The games industry needs more people like Yeo.
  2. 85
    The world feels lived-in thanks to a narrowly focused daily life sim that pairs well with combat that is the most robust work they’ve done to date. Minor user interface issues aside, I find myself thinking about the next time I can boot it up, batter some bad guys (or baseballs), and see whether I can make good enough use of my time to progress the story further. I’ve appreciated witnessing the growth and refinement of Yeo’s development prowess, and this is their best work to date.
  3. Jul 9, 2024
    85
    Quotation forthcoming.
  4. Jun 12, 2024
    80
    An aloof Yakuza-sim that rewards those that stick around and pry, Fading Afternoon isn’t without some problems porting over to Switch, namely controls. However, it’s a minor issue in what is an overall unique and inspiring game that’s cinematic and moving if you embrace it.
  5. Jun 10, 2024
    77
    Like a veteran yakuza lieutenant, Fading Afternoon can be unapproachable, offering little assistance for new recruits. This approach can be daunting at first, but it’s undoubtedly premeditated, encouraging you to explore the game’s intricately crafted world. There might not be many visible character stats, but this is accomplished role-playing.
  6. 70
    Fading Afternoon tells the interesting story of Seiji Maruyama, an older Yakuza trying to re-establish himself in the newer world. There is a lot of interesting commentary on aging and reflections on the life you live, which I liked. To get to these moments, you have to battle through repetitive encounters. The game doesn’t give you much direction, so sometimes you aimlessly explore, hoping to trigger another cutscene on Seiji’s journey. If you can get through the repetitive combat, Fading Afternoon is worth checking out.
  7. Jun 16, 2024
    60
    Yeo created a beautiful and meaningful game in Fading Afternoon. It’s an interesting experience, and it can feel different from one run to another depending on your decisions. The problem is that some decision directions get in the way of it all, making it occasionally uncomfortable or inconvenient. Still, I’d say it is worth the trouble.

See all 9 Critic Reviews