Name: The Kids We Were
Rating: 4.8 (116 reviews)

About The Kids We Were

Think back, if you will, and picture what it was like when
you were young, before the busyness and responsibilities
of adulthood weighed on your shoulders.

Playing, learning, seeing the world with fresh eyes...

Hopefully you had good friends at your side, special
connections that you treasured, great dreams and hopes...
Do you remember what it was like, and who you once were?

--------------------------------------------------------------
Overview:

This is a narrative adventure game that
attempts to capture and recreate those golden memories
of a more innocent age. Join Minato, a young boy who finds
himself on a strange adventure one warm summer's day.
His journey will take him to unexpected places, and many
twists and turns await him before it draws to an end.

This title tells an emotional tale steeped in a mix
of modern and retro Japanese aesthetic. If you're interested
in poignant stories or what life is like for everyday Japanese
folk, we recommend giving this game a shot!
Oh, and it's also the latest entry in Gagex's series of
heartwarming story-focused games, so if this appeals
to you, please check out our other titles!

--------------------------------------------------------------
Story

Welcome to Kagami, just an average town on the outskirts
of Tokyo. Minato, his mother, and his younger sister Mirai
have stopped by to visit today.

However, Minato isn't just here for fun—he's on a secret
mission! Somewhere in this town lives his father, estranged
from his family after a hard divorce. Minato needs to find
him, because there's a lot of things his dad needs to know.

After searching high and low, Minato finally finds a clue
to his father's whereabouts. However, it seems his quest
won't be that simple, for the clue he finds is a mysterious
notebook left by his father, titled...The Seven Mysteries.

With his father's notebook as his guide, Minato sets out on
a harrowing journey. But this journey isn't through space,
no—it's one through time! To his astonishment, Minato finds
himself transported 33 years into the past, to the day his
mother and father met!

Will Minato's odyssey into the past heal his family,
change the future, and alter a tragic destiny?

The only way to find out is to accompany him on
his amazing adventure!

Note: This game is free to play from start to finish.
You can enjoy the whole story without paying a dime!

Wholesome and Moving
Dec 8, 2020

By Gono8

This is one of the few free app store games that I genuinely feel should be paid for. The amount of effort and heart this little and short game has trumps the majority of other unoriginal content on the app store. The story is very well written and I loved the dialogue. Even if it was just translated from Japanese to English, it didn’t lose its meaning and sounded very smooth and casual. There were times where I laughed at the wackier moments, but most of the time, the environment and atmosphere alone were able to move me to tears. It really does bring back a sense of nostalgia to a time gone by, which is amazing, considering that the game is set somewhere unfamiliar to most international players. And to add, going through the game and realizing the internal struggles of each of the characters, you really can’t help but to wish for their happiness. I ended up getting overly attached to each of the kids and really, I hope more people could learn from them. Overall, I highly recommend you to get this game, the ads aren’t very obstructive, and there are a few bugs, but they didn’t bother me too much. I’ve also recommended this game to all my other friends looking for a game suggestion. It’s just that good. And if you’re wondering, yes, the ending was definitely worth it; all endings were satisfying in their own way.
more less
Apr 3, 2021

By Niharika Sharma

This game,"The Kids We Were" is out of my words,I just loved it. All your games just get to my heart but this one it just,amazing I don't understand how to explain.The story was awesome,yeah the ending was a bit sad, but he tries his best and changes the future.Keep making such games and heads off to the whole team who made such a wonderful, beautiful game. Thank you.....
more less
Uniquely beautiful
Mar 7, 2021

By Jmarsh997

As so many others are saying, this game is really special. With tears tricking down my face, I can testify to how intriguing and emotionally-provoking the story is. The music is beautiful, the scenery is attractive and synergies effectively with the melodies, and the plot, as long as you’re patient enough, is really moving. I would love nothing more than for the devs to make another game, whether a sequel or a different project, which could further demonstrate the exceptional storywriting and game design that was expressed throughout “The Kids We Were”. It’s so unfortunate that in my playing so many mobile games for the past 7 years, it wasn’t until this weekend that I stumbled upon this app. In a sea of forgettable games, this one is worth your time and money, if you wish to pay for VIP mode ($3.99). Regardless of which mode you pay for, take time to explore the town and to interact with the townspeople, as well as the coin machines, both of which are elements that point to the incredible effort and creativity put in such an underrated app. Again, I really look forward to seeing what the devs will produce in the future, as this was a really great experience and one I will be thinking about for quite some time.
more less
Jan 15, 2021

By Nysa Blimes

Good game. Probably could've killed me. I would PAY for the continuation... Which is saying a lot... Because I'm broke. Always, the coin finding factor is fun. Everytime you close the hint tab you get an ad, so basically, you would get about the same amount of money as someone who watches ads for coins, and someone who clicks the hint tab over and over while looking for coins. Great mind trick for a stupid person for me. Anyways, I'm glad that's not the end, because otherwise I would've broken my phone, and like I've said, I'm broke, and can't pay for another one. Pleasetellmethatsnottheend.
more less
This game gave me something bordering on a human emotion, and in 2020 that’s a real feat
Sep 29, 2020

By Ultramario1998

I don’t write reviews often, but this game’s been getting so little traction that I thought I might as well. If you can’t tell from the screenshots, this is a visual-novel style game where you move a voxel boy around a small Japanese town and solve various mysteries. Aside from walking around and talking to people, there’s no gameplay to speak of. If that turns you off, this game probably isn’t for you. Personally, I’m into this kind of game, and the story (while short) was enough to keep me engaged, and yes, made me actually feel something. It took me about a day and a half, playing off and on, to beat it, but YMMV. I would not recommend playing with ads. Every couple of minutes, something’s going to pop up. Additionally, after each chapter, you’re going to be required to watch a few 30 second ads to progress to the next one. Given that there are 16 chapters and each is really short, this becomes a constant interruption. This is removed with the IAP—if I were to replay this, I’d recommend it.
more less
Dec 31, 2020

By Sergio Garcia Jr.

This is one of the greatest games that I've ever played. The story is amazing and has so much thought put into it. I hope this game gets a chance at an anime in the near future. I recomend getting the V.I.P mode it does give the game a much better experience. If you have not gotten it already this should help you decide.
more less
Best story games
Sep 28, 2020

By papiflatcheeks

I love story type games like “7 years from now” which really made me get into them. But since then, I never really found any good games that could compare to it. Some had terrible plot lines and endings, too much ads, terrible graphics, etc. But this one was very different. I preordered it, because the graphics looked very cute and the title seemed interesting. And the game itself was not disappointing whatsoever. The graphics were very cute and matched each timeline very well. The story itself was very bittersweet and predictable but at the same time had so many unpredictable twists. You also get to actually play the game by finding unique items from the “80’s” and talking to side characters and finding coins and much more instead of just reading chat lines. One downside is that it does take up your battery a lot but you can change that by turning your graphics down. No payment required with some ads showing up a few times. The story itself is also very long too and not just some 10 minute story game. In the end definitely recommend.
more less
So beautiful,
Oct 5, 2020

By {Review Master}

This game is the most wonderful story game ever created.. it’s so sad at the end, it’s left unfinished.. but that just makes it prettier.. Wonderful storytelling, it takes time to the next level. It makes me wish I had never played it, but only so I can play it again, and feel the emotions so vividly. You understand, right? You watch a sad movie, an dab the emotions you feel are to strong, but if you watch it again their sort of.. faded. It makes you wish you had never watched it, but only so you can watch it again, and feel the emotions just as strong as before. To me, it’s always the ending that counts, it has to be inspiring, and sad. This game fits it all, I’m so passionate about it, you have to play it. There are some ads, and usually I hate ads, but these didn’t really bother me. It’s beautiful, that’s all I can say, I’m in awe of it, I love it. It is a flax-golden story. Play it- feel it. “Do not cry, for I have already cried for you”- Unknown
more less
Jan 26, 2021

By zoe dobson

Great fun, interesting and cute game! Love all the Gagex games and hope they make lots more! :)
more less
So I just finished this game.
Oct 3, 2020

By Ddckhnkfchfgkhvmhvmhcrfbh

And, oh my god. Seriously, I know every review on the face of the App Store begins with ‘I don’t usually write reviews...’ but I really don’t. However. I will for this one, because I just spent the day playing it, and now that I’ve finished it I am all up in tears. Trying my best to tiptoe around the minefield of Spoilers, the ending chapter was... a lot. I found myself stunned, enthralled, and deeply, deeply sad. My movements slacked as what was happening set in, and at the end of it all I had to take a moment and just cry. TIPS FOR THE GAME: Talk to every townsperson, at each time of day. (That’s when I observed that their dialogue changed, and their stories were told to me from an observer’s perspective.) Another tip? Get all the coins. No, it doesn’t do anything, I’m just a completionist. Five stars. If I could give it six, I would. And if I could put all my tears in a vial and send them over to the devs to say “look what you did”, I would.
more less

Great game
Feb 20, 2021

By Bigbuckeroonio

The game had a great storyline although I feel there’s more that I’m missing. I’ve gotten all the Gacha items but I’m missing like 3 or 4 quest items. I also read a review about there being more than one ending yet I keep getting the same one because I have the storeroom key perhaps? Or possibly it could be due to the choice I made when Minato was having one of his forgotten moments? Either way it’s a great game and if you’re reading this you should check the game out for yourself.
more less

Wholesome and Moving
Dec 8, 2020

By Gono8

This is one of the few free app store games that I genuinely feel should be paid for. The amount of effort and heart this little and short game has trumps the majority of other unoriginal content on the app store. The story is very well written and I loved the dialogue. Even if it was just translated from Japanese to English, it didn’t lose its meaning and sounded very smooth and casual. There were times where I laughed at the wackier moments, but most of the time, the environment and atmosphere alone were able to move me to tears. It really does bring back a sense of nostalgia to a time gone by, which is amazing, considering that the game is set somewhere unfamiliar to most international players. And to add, going through the game and realizing the internal struggles of each of the characters, you really can’t help but to wish for their happiness. I ended up getting overly attached to each of the kids and really, I hope more people could learn from them. Overall, I highly recommend you to get this game, the ads aren’t very obstructive, and there are a few bugs, but they didn’t bother me too much. I’ve also recommended this game to all my other friends looking for a game suggestion. It’s just that good. And if you’re wondering, yes, the ending was definitely worth it; all endings were satisfying in their own way.
more less
Apr 3, 2021

By Niharika Sharma

This game,"The Kids We Were" is out of my words,I just loved it. All your games just get to my heart but this one it just,amazing I don't understand how to explain.The story was awesome,yeah the ending was a bit sad, but he tries his best and changes the future.Keep making such games and heads off to the whole team who made such a wonderful, beautiful game. Thank you.....
more less
Uniquely beautiful
Mar 7, 2021

By Jmarsh997

As so many others are saying, this game is really special. With tears tricking down my face, I can testify to how intriguing and emotionally-provoking the story is. The music is beautiful, the scenery is attractive and synergies effectively with the melodies, and the plot, as long as you’re patient enough, is really moving. I would love nothing more than for the devs to make another game, whether a sequel or a different project, which could further demonstrate the exceptional storywriting and game design that was expressed throughout “The Kids We Were”. It’s so unfortunate that in my playing so many mobile games for the past 7 years, it wasn’t until this weekend that I stumbled upon this app. In a sea of forgettable games, this one is worth your time and money, if you wish to pay for VIP mode ($3.99). Regardless of which mode you pay for, take time to explore the town and to interact with the townspeople, as well as the coin machines, both of which are elements that point to the incredible effort and creativity put in such an underrated app. Again, I really look forward to seeing what the devs will produce in the future, as this was a really great experience and one I will be thinking about for quite some time.
more less
Jan 15, 2021

By Nysa Blimes

Good game. Probably could've killed me. I would PAY for the continuation... Which is saying a lot... Because I'm broke. Always, the coin finding factor is fun. Everytime you close the hint tab you get an ad, so basically, you would get about the same amount of money as someone who watches ads for coins, and someone who clicks the hint tab over and over while looking for coins. Great mind trick for a stupid person for me. Anyways, I'm glad that's not the end, because otherwise I would've broken my phone, and like I've said, I'm broke, and can't pay for another one. Pleasetellmethatsnottheend.
more less
This game gave me something bordering on a human emotion, and in 2020 that’s a real feat
Sep 29, 2020

By Ultramario1998

I don’t write reviews often, but this game’s been getting so little traction that I thought I might as well. If you can’t tell from the screenshots, this is a visual-novel style game where you move a voxel boy around a small Japanese town and solve various mysteries. Aside from walking around and talking to people, there’s no gameplay to speak of. If that turns you off, this game probably isn’t for you. Personally, I’m into this kind of game, and the story (while short) was enough to keep me engaged, and yes, made me actually feel something. It took me about a day and a half, playing off and on, to beat it, but YMMV. I would not recommend playing with ads. Every couple of minutes, something’s going to pop up. Additionally, after each chapter, you’re going to be required to watch a few 30 second ads to progress to the next one. Given that there are 16 chapters and each is really short, this becomes a constant interruption. This is removed with the IAP—if I were to replay this, I’d recommend it.
more less
Dec 31, 2020

By Sergio Garcia Jr.

This is one of the greatest games that I've ever played. The story is amazing and has so much thought put into it. I hope this game gets a chance at an anime in the near future. I recomend getting the V.I.P mode it does give the game a much better experience. If you have not gotten it already this should help you decide.
more less
Best story games
Sep 28, 2020

By papiflatcheeks

I love story type games like “7 years from now” which really made me get into them. But since then, I never really found any good games that could compare to it. Some had terrible plot lines and endings, too much ads, terrible graphics, etc. But this one was very different. I preordered it, because the graphics looked very cute and the title seemed interesting. And the game itself was not disappointing whatsoever. The graphics were very cute and matched each timeline very well. The story itself was very bittersweet and predictable but at the same time had so many unpredictable twists. You also get to actually play the game by finding unique items from the “80’s” and talking to side characters and finding coins and much more instead of just reading chat lines. One downside is that it does take up your battery a lot but you can change that by turning your graphics down. No payment required with some ads showing up a few times. The story itself is also very long too and not just some 10 minute story game. In the end definitely recommend.
more less
So beautiful,
Oct 5, 2020

By {Review Master}

This game is the most wonderful story game ever created.. it’s so sad at the end, it’s left unfinished.. but that just makes it prettier.. Wonderful storytelling, it takes time to the next level. It makes me wish I had never played it, but only so I can play it again, and feel the emotions so vividly. You understand, right? You watch a sad movie, an dab the emotions you feel are to strong, but if you watch it again their sort of.. faded. It makes you wish you had never watched it, but only so you can watch it again, and feel the emotions just as strong as before. To me, it’s always the ending that counts, it has to be inspiring, and sad. This game fits it all, I’m so passionate about it, you have to play it. There are some ads, and usually I hate ads, but these didn’t really bother me. It’s beautiful, that’s all I can say, I’m in awe of it, I love it. It is a flax-golden story. Play it- feel it. “Do not cry, for I have already cried for you”- Unknown
more less
Jan 26, 2021

By zoe dobson

Great fun, interesting and cute game! Love all the Gagex games and hope they make lots more! :)
more less
So I just finished this game.
Oct 3, 2020

By Ddckhnkfchfgkhvmhvmhcrfbh

And, oh my god. Seriously, I know every review on the face of the App Store begins with ‘I don’t usually write reviews...’ but I really don’t. However. I will for this one, because I just spent the day playing it, and now that I’ve finished it I am all up in tears. Trying my best to tiptoe around the minefield of Spoilers, the ending chapter was... a lot. I found myself stunned, enthralled, and deeply, deeply sad. My movements slacked as what was happening set in, and at the end of it all I had to take a moment and just cry. TIPS FOR THE GAME: Talk to every townsperson, at each time of day. (That’s when I observed that their dialogue changed, and their stories were told to me from an observer’s perspective.) Another tip? Get all the coins. No, it doesn’t do anything, I’m just a completionist. Five stars. If I could give it six, I would. And if I could put all my tears in a vial and send them over to the devs to say “look what you did”, I would.
more less

Feb 2, 2021

By KILLER KAWAKI

Its a good game but the only problem is the camera can you make the camera rotatable
more less

Some annoying bugs
Mar 27, 2021

By Guy person dude bro

I find the story to be engaging and I like the soundtrack, however after I returned to the construction site in chapter 3, I started hearing a triumphant soundtrack that didn’t fit the game at all, and was playing in conjunction with the main soundtrack. This is extremely annoying and preventing me from enjoying the game since the main music is peaceful while this weird triumphant soundtrack is fast-paced and loud. Please fix this audio bug, it is extremely irritating because I love the soundtrack of the game. Even when I turn off sound effects and BGM, I still hear this triumphant soundtrack.
more less