Typical High School Setup

Your mother wants grandchildren, so she decides to send you to a high school that recently became co-ed. Needless to say, you’re going to be the only boy there. In My Sweet High School Memories from Genius Studio Japan, you play as a young boy navigating high school life surrounded by girls. A dream come true for some, but for you, it’s an awkward introvert’s nightmare. Thankfully you meet three girls who try their best to make the experience as nice as possible. Admittedly this is one of the better Japanese sims I’ve played, but that doesn’t mean it’s perfect.

Baby-Faced Cash Grab

My Sweet High School Memories Talking With Kei

After naming your boy, you eventually go on to meet your three different love interests. The first is Kei, a dark-haired girl who everyone looks up to, though she’s lonely and stressed about keeping up appearances. Next is Yuzu, a chronically shy pink-haired girl who loves making art. And finally, Aiko, an outgoing silver-haired girl who does martial arts and has a hidden soft side. They all look significantly younger than high schoolers, but I’ve come to expect that from Japanese media. My Sweet High School Memories has you pick between two different choices when it comes to who you want to end up with. One option is better than the other. However, the better options cost Rubies. You have 30 Rubies at the start of the game. You’d think the price of better choices would start small and gradually go up. Unfortunately, the very first one cost 22 Rubies.

This says to me that Genius Studio Japan. made this game just to force people to give them money. Which is unfortunate because the translation is actually one of the most perfect I’ve ever seen in a Japanese game. No grammar mistakes or spelling mistakes. It was very easy to read and follow along with. Additionally, the art and character designs were very pretty and detailed. So it was very sad that this game ended up being just another cash grab. An extra 20 Rubies costs $2.49, which is the cheapest option, while 400 Rubies cost $39.99, which is the most expensive. You can play a slots minigame to earn Points to get Rubies for free, but even that is unfair. 12 Points earns one Ruby while 60 earns five. You need 120 Points just to get into the double digits. A lot of potential was wasted on this game.

Stay in School

My Sweet High School Memories is a cute dating sim that could’ve been done better. Well-written dialogue and gorgeous art doesn’t change the fact that players must jump through hoops to make the best decisions. No one should have to pay to play for the best possible outcome.