VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action

I love a good Cyberpunk game and this one's got it all. Fun game mechanics, great characters, hilarious dialogue and a deeply personal and emotional story. I'm still waiting for the sequel.

A very cosy game. It helps you feel a bit more sane... Even the "bad" end isn't all that bad, the bar tending is fun and the variety of characters is nice.
Great writing and music.

I hate bullethell games with a passion but the bartending visual novel part is fun and cute

this comes very very close to my ideal favorite game. the setting and worldbuilding is peak, with a dynamic and quirky but wonderful cast of characters.

a piece of art, and vibes to the max :)

In a gaming world often obsessed with bombastic action and high-stakes drama, VA-11 Hall-A (or "Valhalla") does something rare—it slows everything down. Developed by Sukeban Games, this cyberpunk visual novel and bartending simulator invites players into a smoky, neon-lit corner of a dystopian world, where the real action lies not in explosions, but in conversation. It’s a small game with a big heart, and it might just surprise you with how deeply it resonates.

You play as Jill, a jaded but empathetic bartender at the titular VA-11 Hall-A, tucked away in the shadow of Glitch City—a futuristic, corporate-controlled metropolis. The game isn’t about overthrowing regimes or hacking into mainframes. Instead, it’s about listening to your patrons, mixing their drinks, and slowly peeling back the layers of a world that feels disturbingly close to our own.

It’s this grounded approach to cyberpunk that makes VA-11 Hall-A so refreshing. You don’t save the world—you serve it. And in doing so, you witness the pain, humor, longing, and resilience of its people.

Gameplay is deceptively simple: customers come in, talk to you, and order drinks. You prepare these drinks by combining ingredients like Adelhyde and Flanergide, with optional tweaks like doubling the alcohol or serving it on the rocks. The twist? The drinks you serve can affect the dialogue and even the story itself.

This mechanic gives the player subtle control over the narrative. Do you give someone what they asked for—or what you think they need? The decisions aren’t world-shattering, but they are personal, and that intimacy is where the game shines.

The real core of VA-11 Hall-A is its writing, which is sharp, witty, and deeply character-driven. Every customer—from sex worker Dorothy to corporate hacker Alma, to the mysterious android Sei—feels fully realized, with unique personalities and layered backstories. Conversations are peppered with humor, vulnerability, and philosophical musings about technology, identity, loneliness, and survival.

Jill herself is a compelling protagonist—sarcastic, emotionally guarded, and painfully human. As the story unfolds, so does her own emotional arc, culminating in a narrative that’s surprisingly moving for a game about making drinks.

The game’s pixel art style is striking and effective, channeling an old-school PC aesthetic with modern flair. Neon colors and CRT-screen filters sell the cyberpunk vibe without going overboard. The character portraits are expressive and full of personality, which helps breathe life into the static visual format.

And then there’s the soundtrack—a lo-fi synthwave masterpiece by Garoad. The game lets you choose the background music from a jukebox at the start of each shift, and these chill, melancholic tracks do a lot of emotional heavy lifting. It’s one of those rare soundtracks you’ll want to listen to outside the game.

If you’re looking for action or high-stakes tension, VA-11 Hall-A isn’t your game. It’s slow, reflective, and driven by dialogue. But if you enjoy visual novels, narrative-rich indies, or cyberpunk stories that focus on the people living under the neon lights rather than the rebels trying to tear it all down—this is absolutely worth your time.

VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action is a game about empathy in a world that’s lost its soul. Its masterful writing, memorable characters, and immersive atmosphere make it one of the most unique and emotionally resonant games in the indie scene. It doesn't shout; it whispers. And if you're willing to listen, you might hear something profoundly human.

Drink responsibly—and listen closely.

Rating: 9/10

Amazing game with hilarious dialogue and a great story. 10/10,

i lovvve this game. it's pretty chill, the story is okay and i like most of the characters. just a fun bartending game with a powerful message: "apologize/make up before it's too late"

it would be insane if i could earn that last achievement but that mini touhou-like game is way too hard for me and the lack of brief moment of invisibility after one hit is making me go crazy
overall really good game sadly i don't trust sukeban games anymore because what do you mean n1rv ann-a was supposed to come out 5 years ago

Pretty cool game with an interesting story and characters. I didn't expect to be so immersed in this cyberpunk, slice-of-life world, but I quite enjoyed it. The bartending mechanics were surprisingly engaging, and I loved how the narrative unfolded through the drinks you served. Honestly, getting to know all those unique customers and seeing how their lives connected was awesome. Also loved the soundtrack.

Very simple and neat visual novel. It's interesting how the setting and character bring a interesting dynamic with the cyberpunk setting I don't think I've seen. Gameplay is obviously very simple, but that's not really the part that matters. All the characters are fun and I am interested in learning more about them as well. The game is fairly casual, but you have the threat of rent looming over at all times to make you worry. I got the bad ending my first go cause I didn't realize how behind I was getting, you gotta really figure out how to manage that if you want to figure out what to do the first time. Very neat game, easy recommend if you are into visual novels.

The perfect getaway game: the music's great, and there's a perfect amount of interaction that reinforces your ability to absorb information given to you (either through your job in-game or character/story bits). I'm only on my first playthrough, and I'm already geared up to experience more of the different outcomes that comes with giving characters different drinks.

The writing of this game is very fun, it made me laugh a lot. The gameplay is basic, treat this as a visual novel.

It's a super cozy VN with lots of extra things you can do!! I highly recommend it for the plot especially if you're into retro style type of game. Took me around 10 hours to get all the endings so I'd say it's really worth your time for the price. OH ALSO!!

it has a bullet hell minigame that took me around 20 attempts to finish good luck gng

Everything I wish being an actual bartender was. Really nice atmosphere and set of characters to chill out too after a day doing the more lackluster irl.

A genuinely heart-wrenching and thoughtful story delivered in a MASTERFULLY crafted cyberpunk world. I'd even go so far as to call it life changing, in some ways.
Writing is consistently great, the humour - although crass at times (which I don't mind) - is on point and balances really well with the more serious and mature moments in the game, and none of the relevant characters felt forgettable or underused.
The art is charming and iconic; the soundtrack by Garoad is just perfection; and also, the game has a pretty rad shiba.
Now, even though I've neglected mentioning the mixing mechanics up until now, I'd argue it's because they're not THAT important. They're inmersive, but they don't really affect the gameplay or story that much outside of changing a client's dialogue if you give them a specific drink (or get them drunk). That is, unless, you serve a secret drink to see the easter eggs.
I'll be awaiting for Sukeban's future releases with great expectations. They've already proven they can create very special products.

yup, loved every second of it.. one of my favorite games now thanks to the characters and the general mood

definitely worth 15 Bucks!

Awesome writing, interesting characters, chill vibes, stress free gameplay :)

if you are looking for a cozy and a very funny game to play after a long day then this is that game for you

The ideal game for those who are lost and confused in life right now.

We play as the main character, Jill, who encounters different colorful characters in a dystopian but realistic world where human experimentation is common and prices are high. You mix drinks while getting to know the characters and their lives.

You don’t get to choose your dialogue - this isn’t that type of game. Rather, you get to interact with the people and help or hinder them based on the types of drinks you choose to serve. You can opt to give them their order or you can give them something they really want.

After a couple of days, you get repeat customers as you slowly discover more about their lives and their choices.

This fully encapsulates a cozy game. Cozy enough that I’ve often fallen asleep while playing this game because of the banger soundtrack - which you get to select at the start of every game! I played this with one hand since all you need is a mouse to click through the dialogue and drag the items around.

Although this was made in 2016, the themes and storylines here remain surprisingly relevant to today’s events, whether for good or for ill. The rise of AI in the form of Lilim was a favorite storyline to pursue.

If you’re doubting whether you should get this game or not, this is your sign to buy it. Especially if you’re going through an existential crisis and want a break from reality.

literally my favorite game of all time (i've played it multiple times on switch before getting it here) i couldn't not leave a review

The music is immaculate, the gameplay is simplistic but fun, the writing is complex and mature, and the vibe is groovy. However, not enough Fore. 9/10.

Took almost a month to finish this game. Hear me out—here’s the method that made me enjoy it 200% more.
I saw someone play the game in real time like treating each in-game day per real-life day—so I tried that too.
Then I added a few things to make it even more immersive.

I always played at night, on a huge 32 inch screen, with ambient purple/pink/red neon LED lights matching the Valhalla aesthetic. I’d have a snack or drink, just like the game suggests. Sometimes, a soothing tea worked great too.
And let me tell you—IT HIT TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

It honestly made me feel like I was in the game, like I was blending reality with this altered life. It felt like a kind of social ritual, like going to your regular bar after work as an another regular sat behind on the bar something like that
Way more immersive than just playing a game. it gonna worth every single penny including snacks and alcohols (pretty sure spent more than 50$ on that lol) 10/10 or 9.5/10. some games could be an art and deliver deep philosophy itself

The game literally changed my life. Now I find myself mixing drinks and changing lives for a living.

The only truly terrible thing about this game (and many games of this genre) is that you can fully enjoy them only once in an entire lifetime.

I sure as hell did. It was a great rollercoaster of emotions.

The calm atmosphere, the relaxing soundtrack, the deep and personal character dialogues... I could go on and on about this game, but it's greatest quality is being capable of helping me through hard times when I just need a cozy game to tuck into, with a nice drink and maybe a snack. 10/10. Entirely worth your time.

Visual novels are not my usual foray, so its odd that this is one of my favorite games ever. I guess that's a testament to it.

a very relaxing vn with excellent dialogue made even better by its unique and very interesting cast of characters
not much more you can ask for

if you can look up the 24/7 tiddy jokes its pretty dam good. doesnt surprise me that the devs a complete perv on twitter. the mixing is a really fun experience but gets a bit repetitive after the first couple days, most regulars a.k.a. the interesting customers usually get the same thing everytime. games an amazing experience though with some spotify in the back with do not disturb on at 3am.

I just 100% this game and good god is it peak.. lesbian bartenders for life!

This game had me stressed about making the fake in-game video game rent while listening to some of the best songs I've heard in ages and experiencing the full range of human emotion over the various characters. Can't recommend it enough

Amazing game. I really love VA-11 Hall-A's depiction of a futuristic dystopian society. The thought to have Lilim, AI that is so advanced to the point where they are basically like humans and integrated in society, is a great addition to the cyberpunk feel of the game. All the characters have their own unique personalities and backgrounds that it is both easy and hard to choose a favorite character. Fantastic world building all together. This is probably my new favorite game.

cult classic. top-tier lovable characters / soundtrack / art-style.
best of the bartending / service style games

A story of little people in a big world. A nonsense setting of hellish cruelty and rampant exploitation, that nevertheless oozes the humanity of the people within it.

10/10.

very fun game, lore heavy and a good way to pass the time and get lost in the universe

Good game, mixing drinks and changing lives.

*Kira*Miki is the goat, that is all, play the game it's fun.
9/10

The story managed to leave me feeling things even though nothing major or emotional happens most of the time and that's saying a lot about the quality of the dialogue in this game, simply wonderful. Honestly a must-play for any cyberpunk fan out there. I hope we get the sequel in the next years.

I was browsing and buying a lot of games to distract myself after my father died exactly two months ago. I discovered and bought this game last month; I went through the motions trying to make my money's worth when it delved into the topic of grief. The line that hit me like a truck was:

"Having such regrets with the dead is a hollow effort."

which entirely shifted how I grieve my father's death.

I can tell the creators put their love and dedication to this craft, which I believe is what makes VA-11 HALL-A a terrific game that aims to comfort and relate to its players.

This game is VERY chill-- like a game you can play with one hand type of chill. I appreciate the mundane yapping that entirely consumed the game-play even though I got a bit bored in between, because it fleshed out the characters gracefully. The soundtrack is 10/10.
But there are some aspects in the story that left me confused or maybe I missed it entirely... Regardless, it was an enjoyable simulation on how to run a comfortable, run-off-the-mill bar in a dystopian society (we are getting there)

Even after being on and off with this game since November I finally finished it 6 months later. Planning to 100% during December as the game intended. Also, might have to become a bartender after this game, maybe even might have to buy the 9 inch Jill Stingray figurine




Oh god not the lesbians again

After many, many years I finally finished this game. I really enjoyed and I confess that until this last month the main reason I didn't play it before it was available time. It's a narrative game and a bartending game with a click and drag mechanic that is pretty simple to get used to. The interactions are quite interesting. Some are fun, some are sad, some are weird?, but the general feeling you get after finishing the story is... woah. That's it. I hope y'all give it a time. You will surely enjoy. And, as Jill says, time to mix drinks and change lives.

I usually do not like these types of games because the majority (if not literally every other) bartender visual novels have strange graphics/art style. This particular pixilized style hits a great chord for me and every mechanic of the game (minus exploring the extra routes myself) was engaging enough for me to read the wiki to figure out which drinks each character likes. I know we hear Jill the most in this game, but I wish I got to see her more- she's so cute.
The story/world happening outside of the bar is not the main focus of the game, but still isn't very interesting either. It's nice to know since it can sometimes provide context to the problems/background stories of each character but I think I could do without it. Maybe having the choice is the appeal.
This niche recommendation goes to those who like the pixilized art style and those who like attractive girls with pessimistic outlooks in life.

I'm already enjoying VA-11 Hall-A so far! The game has this unique charm and artstyle to it that it makes me want to play more of it! The characters are also witty and charming that it makes me want to get to know them more! I definitely recommend it if you have nothing to do or just want to chill and relax to with its amazing music tracks and OST!

I liked this game, but I didn't love it. The same goes for the characters. While I enjoyed some of the stories, I found myself cringing at much of the dialogue. I bought this game after loving the Coffee Talk series, but it felt much rougher, and the pacing seemed off. I enjoyed playing it while having a beer, but I would find it hard to recommend, as a lot of the dialogue felt immature and unrealistic. I love the concept, and I think it could really shine with better writing. I would recommend it, but only just.

Played this game through 3 times, 2 of which were done all the way through, over the course of about a year cuz i was playing a lot of other games at the time. Every time I played this game I greatly enjoyed every second of it (unless Donovan was on my screen fuck that guy)

The aesthetic and soundtrack kind of go without saying, but they are really enjoyable and fun and really immerses you into the world surprisingly well given the limited physical perspective of the game, which is also something the game plays around very well.

Overall the characters are not only very enjoyable and well designed, but very well written and personable, to the point that it sometimes genuinely feels like talking to a real person and understanding their life and their struggles. The story is kind of loose, and bounces between characters to focus on, but is extremely deep and riveting and really gets you to feel for these characters.

just finished my first play through of the game and all i can say is not many games endings give you goosebumps, but this ones did. easily the best visual novel ive ever played and (from visual novels ive played) the best in the genre. funny enough i found out about this game through reviews on Coffee Talk, which is a less popular game then this, at least i think. but everyone was saying that coffee talk is just a worse version of this, and i think id have to agree. I like coffee talk but this game is definitely better. but anyways yeah best visual novel ive played, blah blah blah. 10/10 game

edit: just beat that stupid minigame. it sucks, but i did it!

I just want to say that visual novels are something I normally do not play. They are just not games that intrigue me and really that is just a personal thing. That being said, this game is genuinely great.

The story is very cool, it takes the world of cyberpunk and does its own lore and setting that seems very neat and honestly feels like it would fit right into the usual world of 2077. It doesn't do anything crazy and if you read a synopsis would read as basic, but taking time with the characters and enjoying the vibe allows you to really enjoy all that it offers and really take a liking to all the characters it shows. Never did I really hate a character, they all have their unique charms and even the one character that I thought I would hate still grew on me to enjoy them. Additionally, learning about the world through the perspective of a bartender is a very cool idea. Learning how bars operate in the setting and learn how robots and some medical issues are dealt with is neat so if you like world building this game also has you covered.

The gameplay is very simple. You simply click through the dialogue and you make drinks that you always have access to the recipes without issue. If you remember the tutorial then you will understand the whole game. However, the option at certain moments in the game to give people a different drink than they order and get completely different dialogue and added content to your run rewards you for paying attention to the characters and their likes. The in-between shifts stuff is neat as well, managing your purchases and your bills adds another layer to the gameplay and once again rewards you for giving people correct orders. If you don't purchase items or pay your bills, Jill will get distracted and not remind you on what people order so it makes for a very neat penalty.

The aesthetic is awesome and I didn't really have any negatives. Like my only issues I had were that one of the minigames you need to complete for an achievement is very very difficult but its completely optional and you can still cheese it. The other one I thought would be a negative was that the game was very horny in its writing but honestly thinking back to 2077 that had a lot of those moments as well which makes it the authentic cyberpunk experience. I think my genuine only critique is that the game should have something for you to figure out the secret drink without needing to look outside the game, but again that's extra content. So honestly none of these gripes should take away from the experience of the game.

TLDR: I'd highly recommend checking it out if you are into visual novels or if you want to give one of these kinds of games a try. Especially if you like world building or just the idea of a cyberpunk bartender.

Chill bartender simulator about serving drinks to various types of customers and slowly unraveling the dystopian cyberpunk setting the game takes place in.

The gameplay's simple, a customer comes in, makes a drink request, you add the necessary components, mix and serve but it's in the dialogue and writing that the real "meat" of the game, per se, lies in, instead of expositing the story and the characters in a mundane and dull fashion, you come to learn about both by offhand comments and dialogue between Jill (the protagonist) and the customers she finds herself serving. The dialogue and the characters are very well designed and in every interaction I found myself connecting with their struggles and the various facets of their lives, funny stories, regrets, routines, etc. The game also features a splendid presentation, the pixel art looks nice, the tracks available to play while you're serving customers are easily one of the best parts of the whole experience and small details like mouth movement animations accompanied by appropriate sound effects make the experience much more immersive.

If I had to discuss what I didn't like about the game, I'd say my main pet peeves are that, for one, the game doesn't tell you of some additional controls typical of visual novels (i. e. Tab or mouse scroll shows you the transcript of previous dialogue, CTRL skips dialogue and V disables / enables dialogue sfx) and that, although mentioned in the store page, different drinks don't affect the story in all that of a grandiose manner, certain drinks to certain characters may unlock new endings and you can also get characters drunk faster via a certain meachanic, as the game mentions in the tutorial, but it only unlocks some additional dialogue from the few NPCs that it works on. Additionally, while not really a problem or issue with the game, it should be mentioned that, as the +18 rating may indicate, there is quite a bit of dialogue surrounding sexual relations, sex jokes, innuendos, prostitution, etc. so if that's not your cup of tea it may be a good idea to skip this one.

VA-11 Hall-A doesn't have a story that will blow your mind nor super iconic characters but it's a good game for those looking to sit back, relax and partake in a much more laidback experience with a few standout moments here and there.

This game single-handedly made me appreciate life and the people around me even more, I only regret not buying it even sooner

Great Game. Definitely do your first playthrough without spoilers or looking at a guide if you can, and save each day in a new slot so you can go back later to grab achievements or explore other dialogue, there's plenty of save slots.
One piece of advice is that if you get tired of drag and dropping you can use QWERT for the ingredients, AS for ice/age, and space to start/stop/serve.
The artstyle and music are both a vibe.

Love this game. Great world development, characters, humour. Art style and music are lovely.

This for me is how you are supposed to do LGBT themes. We all know they exist okay. You don't need to throw that shit down our throats every second.

In other games the dialogue just HAS to remind you that you are talking to a gay, trans, android, whatever. You don't NEED to say it. Just make the character!

In this a lady turns up with cat ears and a cyber-eye thing. No one even mentions it. They just have a normal adult conversation. THEN later on you find out from a piece of dialogue that she's a Cat Boomer etc etc.

Write them into the story like an adult and let us figure it out for ourselves. They don't need a sign around their neck.

This game does that perfectly and I love every character in it.

I'm a sucker for the setting and the characters were well written and believable.
Overall a good visual novel.

good vibes, good storytelling, good characters; story ends a lot earlier than i expected unfortunately