Hookah Haze is a visual novel developed by Acquire and published by Aniplex. The player takes the role of a terminally ill protagonist, whose final wish is to manage a hookah lounge. Through this new job, they meet various patrons and bond with them through hookah. The game has been compared to VA-11 Hall-A and Coffee Talk by critics.
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Reception
Players96
Masterpiece
Hookah Haze is a short but sweet visual novel that tries to tell a lot. While it doesn't dive deep into the ideas it proposes it's still a fun time all can enjoy. All the characters stand out, and you will want to help them all. Great art and music accompany you in this story of death and life. While I wanted it to do more with its premise, I can't...
All in all, Hookah Haze is a charming exploration of trauma, friendship, and the importance of human connection. It looks great, sounds nice, and does a good job with its theme of time running out. It’s ironic that the game needed more time in order to reach its full potential.
Hookah Haze is good, despite its shortcomings. Really, my core criticism is that the foundation is so good that it’s a shame that it is sparsely built on. If anything it’s an indication of quality that I want more of these characters and this premise. I do recommend Hookah Haze, especially considering its lower price point, but with the acknowledgement...
