Quietly compelling, there’s just something about the setup in Just Deserts. By day, you’re managing your time, building relationships, and trying to make sense of a normal life. By night, you’re a soldier holding the line against an alien invasion.
It’s a strange contrast, but one that gives the game its identity.
Now available on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, this console release brings a mix of visual novel storytelling, light strategy, and character-driven choices to a wider audience.
At A Glance
- Game: Just Deserts
- Developer: Vifth Floor
- Publisher: Ratalaika Games
- Price: £9.99 (Xbox Store)
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch
- Game Type: Visual Novel / Dating Sim / Strategy
Balancing Life When Everything Is On The Line
At its core, Just Deserts is about how you spend your time. Every day is split between choices that feel small in isolation but quickly start to stack up. You might decide to train, head out on a mission, or spend time with one of the seven heroines.
You’re always weighing up what matters most in the moment, knowing that focusing too heavily on one area will come back to bite you later. Ignore your duties, and combat becomes tougher. Neglect your relationships, and those story paths begin to close off.
It’s not about finding a perfect balance. It’s about dealing with the consequences of the one you choose.
More Than Just A Story
While the visual novel side of things carries most of the emotional weight, Just Deserts isn’t content to stay purely narrative-driven. Combat plays a regular role, shifting the pace with turn-based encounters against alien forces.
These moments aren’t overly complex, but they do enough to reinforce the idea that you’re part of something bigger than just your own personal story. You’re protecting a city, even if most of your time is spent trying to keep your own life in order.
Relationships That Shape The Outcome
The real heart of the game sits with its characters. There are seven fully voiced heroines, each with their own personalities and storylines, and your interactions with them determine how things unfold.
What makes it work is how those relationships are tied directly to your choices. Spend time with someone, learn more about them, and you’ll open up different paths and endings. Spread yourself too thin, and you might not see any of those stories through.
It gives Just Deserts a reason to revisit, as different decisions lead to different outcomes.
A Simple Idea That Finds Its Own Space
Just Deserts doesn’t try to overwhelm you with systems or complexity. Instead, it sticks to a straightforward loop of choices, conversations, and occasional combat, letting the combination do the work.
It’s a mix that won’t be for everyone, but for those who enjoy visual novels with a bit more going on, there’s something here that stands apart. The blend of romance and responsibility, paired with the constant background threat, gives it a tone that feels a little different from the usual.
And sometimes, that’s enough to make it worth a look.
Find it on the Xbox Store for Xbox play, the PlayStation Store and the Nintendo eShop.
