BUSTAFELLOWS

PC (Microsoft Windows), Nintendo Switch • 2021

2021

Quick resume

A new visual novel from the legendary eXtend! Mixing dangerous romance with murder mystery, BUSTAFELLOWS is a steamy noir mystery that will make you shiver but ask for more!

Global score

86/100

Genres

Adventure, Visual Novel

Similar games

Pros

Engaging and mature story with complex characters
High-quality art with animated backgrounds and sprites
Full voice acting including voiced protagonist
Strong found family theme and character chemistry
Multiple romance routes with meaningful choices

Cons

Technical issues with pc port controls and resolution
Some untranslated dialogue and cutscenes
Lack of save during choices and unintuitive keybindings
Short romance routes and rushed endings for some
Minor localization errors and inconsistent text

Motivations

Autonomy

Game with the same Autonomy vibe

4

"Players make meaningful choices affecting story and romance outcomes, with freedom to pursue different characters and endings."

Seduce Me the Otome
"Players control the protagonist Teuta with meaningful choices affecting romance routes and story progression, showing personal freedom and decision-making."
Competence

Game with the same Competence vibe

3

"Players engage in narrative choices that impact outcomes, requiring attention and some skill in decision-making, though gameplay is mostly linear."

TAISHO x ALICE episode 1
"Players engage in narrative choices and mystery solving, requiring attention and some skill in decision-making, though gameplay is typical for visual novels."
Competition

Game with the same Competition vibe

-4

"Focus is on personal story experience and romance routes without competitive elements or player comparison."

Hakuoki: Kyoto Winds
"Focus is on personal story experience and romance routes without competitive or ranked elements."
Continuation

Game with the same Continuation vibe

4

"Players report long play sessions, replaying for different endings and achievements, showing strong attachment and habitual play."

The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters
"Players report long playtimes, multiple route replays, and strong attachment to characters encouraging habitual and extended play."
Cooperation

Game with the same Cooperation vibe

-3

"Gameplay is primarily single-player and narrative-driven with limited social or cooperative interaction."

Backfirewall_
"Gameplay is single-player narrative focused with limited collaboration; social aspects are through story interactions rather than player cooperation."
Creativity

Game with the same Creativity vibe

2

"Players creatively explore different storylines and character interactions, though within a structured visual novel format."

Angels with Scaly Wings™ / 鱗羽の天使
"Players can influence story paths and romance outcomes, but within a structured visual novel format with limited creative construction."
Domination

Game with the same Domination vibe

-5

"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and respectful."

Harvest Moon: Light of Hope Special Edition
"No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions are balanced and respectful."
Escapism

Game with the same Escapism vibe

5

"Players use the game to immerse themselves in an emotional, fictional world, escaping real-life stress and engaging with complex narratives."

Hush Hush - Only Your Love Can Save Them
"Players use the game to immerse in a noir-inspired fictional world, escaping real life through story, characters, and atmosphere."
Expectation

Game with the same Expectation vibe

-4

"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."

Prison Architect
"Players engage voluntarily out of interest and enjoyment, with no indication of obligation or external pressure."
Experimenting

Game with the same Experimenting vibe

2

"Players try different romance options and explore multiple story branches, though gameplay mechanics are relatively fixed."

Romancelvania
"Players explore different romance routes and story outcomes, trying new narrative paths and character interactions."
Exploration

Game with the same Exploration vibe

3

"Players discover new story routes, character backgrounds, and endings, driven by curiosity and narrative exploration."

Fatal Twelve
"Players discover new story branches, character backgrounds, and mysteries, encouraging curiosity-driven narrative exploration."
Expression

Game with the same Expression vibe

1

"Limited character customization; some self-expression through dialogue choices but no avatar personalization."

Tails Noir: Prologue
"Limited character customization; some expression through choice of romance routes and dialogue but no avatar personalization."
Fantasy

Game with the same Fantasy vibe

3

"Game features imaginative fiction with time travel, fantasy settings, and RPG tropes."

Evoland Legendary Edition
"Game features imaginative fiction elements including time travel and noir crime drama, though grounded in a realistic setting."
Fellowship

Game with the same Fellowship vibe

3

"Strong sense of community through character relationships, party interactions, and shared story experiences."

The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
"Strong sense of found family and group dynamics among characters, fostering feelings of community within the story."
Growth

Game with the same Growth vibe

3

"Players learn story details, character backgrounds, and develop understanding through multiple playthroughs."

Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- The Prophecy of the Throne
"Players learn character backstories, mysteries, and develop understanding through multiple playthroughs, supporting personal development."
Health

Game with the same Health vibe

-5

"No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; sedentary visual novel experience."

Heaven Will Be Mine
"No physical activity or health-related gameplay elements; sedentary visual novel experience."
Idle

Game with the same Idle vibe

-3

"Requires focused attention on story and choices; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."

Batman: The Enemy Within - The Telltale Series
"Requires focused attention to follow story and make choices; not designed for background or casual intermittent play."
Intimacy

Game with the same Intimacy vibe

4

"Game emphasizes forming close relationships and emotional connections with characters."

House Party
"Game emphasizes forming close emotional relationships with love interests and side characters through narrative."
Leadership

Game with the same Leadership vibe

-4

"No leadership or management roles; player follows protagonist's story without directing others."

Eliza
"Player follows protagonist's story without leading or managing others; no leadership roles evident."
Progression

Game with the same Progression vibe

3

"Players unlock new routes, endings, and story content, showing narrative progression and accumulation of knowledge."

Dies irae ~Amantes amentes~
"Players accumulate story knowledge, unlock routes and endings, and progress through narrative arcs."
Relaxation

Game with the same Relaxation vibe

2

"Game balances tension and humor, providing moments of flow and catharsis amid chaos."

Zort
"Game balances tension and humor, providing moments of flow and catharsis but also suspense and emotional strain."
Sensation

Game with the same Sensation vibe

3

"High-quality art, voice acting, and music provide sensory stimulation and emotional engagement."

Dies irae ~Amantes amentes~
"Visual and auditory stimulation through high-quality art, animations, voice acting, and music enhance emotional engagement."
Status

Game with the same Status vibe

-4

"Game focuses on individual story experience without social recognition or status systems."

The Outer Worlds
"Game experience is personal and narrative-focused without social recognition or status systems."
Story

Game with the same Story vibe

5

"Narrative immersion is central, with complex plots, character development, and multiple endings."

Love Curse: Find Your Soulmate
"Narrative immersion is central, with complex plots, character development, and multiple endings."
Strategy

Game with the same Strategy vibe

-2

"Limited strategic decision-making; choices affect story but require minimal planning."

Stay! Stay! Democratic People's Republic of Korea!
"Limited strategic or problem-solving gameplay; choices affect story but require minimal planning or logic."
Thrill

Game with the same Thrill vibe

3

"Some suspense and mystery elements create tension and emotional engagement."

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers 20th Anniversary Edition
"Mystery and suspense elements create tension and emotional highs, though outcomes are predictable in some routes."
Value

Game with the same Value vibe

4

"Players report high perceived value due to extensive content, replayability, and quality production."

OZMAFIA!!
"Players report high perceived value due to story depth, character development, and replayability despite technical issues."
Violence

Game with the same Violence vibe

-3

"Violence is present in story themes but gameplay focuses on narrative and relationships rather than combat."

Love, Money, Rock'n'Roll
"Game contains themes of violence but gameplay focuses on narrative and relationships rather than combat or destruction."
Survival

Game with the same Survival vibe

-2

"Story involves threats but gameplay does not emphasize survival mechanics or resource management."

When The Night Comes
"Some narrative elements involve danger, but gameplay does not emphasize survival mechanics or resource management."

Analysis

A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Intimacy, Survival, Violence, Competition. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Fellowship, Thrill. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Strategy.

How to use the graph

Similar games map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

Where to buy

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Last update: 30/04/2026

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