Emily is Away Too

This game is great, i really love the story, but replaying it over and over became quite stressful for me, the timed events are more heart poundingly difficult than one would think, it was really a great experience to play through once but i dont want to do it again it became a little tedious.

Love the story, love the little side interactions and achievements all in all a super cute game with some pacing probs here and there.

the characters really do make you feel in this game, i was on my knees devastated at times for them. Its worth it to play through in my opinion, but if you do want to grind out all the endings and achievements dont say i didnt warn you

This was a beautiful game, I believe that having knock-on effects from who you talk to and the statistics on how many did the same made the game fun to enjoy in a halcyon period of the first playthrough. Emily is still better than Evelyn

Cute and short game. The third one is my favorite, but this one is worth a play through. It's short and the music is decent as well.

A big step up from Emily is Away (the first one). If you lived through this era and situation, this game is sure to be a trip back in time.

the icon cameos are very funny

Emily returns with her friend evelyn and let me tell you i was pretty shocked at how this game holds you accountable for your decisions.
(spoiler warning for one ending)
i got the ending where i had to break up with evelyn because emily's big ahh mouth went to go tell evelyn i told her i wasnt who i was saying i was to her. the first time around i laughed so hard cuz i forgot i even told her something different. it felt very high school tho and thats one thing i did not like because i was made out to be this whole manipulative monster for telling one girl i wasnt sure about having a family (emily) and then later saying i could consider settling down w someone (evelyn). like im rlly sure im allowed to change my mind about something like that and it not be any of your business EMILY... thats literally highschool tho so i can appreciate how immaturely evb handles these situations. i like how more realistic this game continues to get, you can still love someone, not mean to hurt them and want to make things right with them but that doesnt mean that the person you hurt is ready to let you back into their lives. you should always be honest with yourself and others around you; most importantly you should put YOURSELF first because if i was evelyn i'd be pissed off too lol.

more on the being held accountable in-game, now when you're talking to more than one person there are sometimes timers on the choices and if you run out of time to answer on one person they take it as being ignored and will get upset with you. even if i dont particularly like Emily, its my fault i wasnt paying enough attention to her when she wanted to talk to vent because i was more focused on talking to evelyn. i love the way this series is keeping what made the first game so good and building more on it because thats what life feels like to me: we stay the same for most of life but our environment changes and how we interact with others does as well.

playing the third one today, and am expecting nothing less but a strong addition to the Emily is Away series :))

You can make out with punk girl
10/10

wow just wow great story , I could tell they put more effort in to this and tried to improve it

NGL Pretty Good And How Am I Supposed To Chat To Both Of Them At The Same Time

only thing missing from this time capsule of a game is my goat DOMO

Emily is back and she brought a friend. In the rampage of the internet it is easy for some one to talk to many people at the same time. Some people collect friends like coins online but only really talked to a few. Connections are a wacky thing because the bond with one person can be stronger than others depending on the relationship. Now you might think this is a continuation of the 1st game but its actual a different world. So you start fresh with Emily or you can start fresh with a new girl named Evelyn. Now depending on your choices you can pick on or the other but they game will force you into situations that make you have to make quick decisions. These conversations feel real or at least remind me of ones I have had in the passed. Like how this game calls out on behavior like that. Its a good thing. In life goals and dreams effect relationship and friendship. Its a part of growing up you know. I think this version is the best of the trilogy, because of the weight it have behind its writing. This might be a game but people are not a game. Becareful with how you treat people because you might lose the one person closest to you. 7/10

Probably more relatable to people still in high school, I think I'm too old now for the drama of these characters to hit the way it was meant to lol. I also find it really aggravating that you can lose the girl of your choice because you happened to tell the other one a slightly more nuanced answer than yes or no to their inquiries about whether you drink. Like seriously how tf is "I drink sometimes" an answer for one of them, but only "no, never" for the other? Your character is not allowed to change their mind about how they feel on anything throughout high school, otherwise they'll be accused of lying purposefully. I guess the lack of rational thought and melodramatics are par the course for high schoolers though lol

On the bright side, the fake AIM UI is even better this time around and the fake typing is just as fun as in the first game

If you liked the first Emily is away and are hungry for more the game is for you. This game doesn't have the same vibe as the first Emily is away in my opinion but being able to finally GET THE GIRL, makes the price worth it.

The game does not save at all on Linux / Steam Deck, even though this game has native Linux support. Will change back to recommended if this issue ever gets fixed

This game is designed to make you fail no matter what you do. The dev should quit making games and just write books

An extension of the pain and suffering from the first game, but hey, at least I got a good ending this time :)

Emily brings even more drama then ever - you'll have crushes (Evelyn <3), passive-agressive chats, and trying to figure out if you're actually dating or talking to yourself

100000% simulation of high school, but with more typing and less actual communication

Herobrine won't steal Evelyn from me never ever eve-a!

umm actually it should be "two" as it pertains too be a sequel

incredible game with an uh engaging story?
its quite hard to say its engaging for everyone as most of it is texting, but hey! theres a reason people read homestuck!
the story is cool!
and that is also true with this game
evelyn for ever btw

I love the nostalgia of this game! I also enjoy seeing where the different conversations go.

Loved the eastereggs interactions. Definitely recommend.

This game hurt my feelings and I liked it

friendzone simulator 10000
you can actually get a good ending
"i can't believe it's NOT depressing!" - satisfied customer

Easy game

amazing

Overview

Why is this game always breaking my heart! :(

really great game!!! it was rlly fun, plus i freaked out when i saw the 'the black parade' pfp!!!! i will be playing this game over and over again lololll! xD

Fun linear story game

I think the first game was waaay better

Good to remember the early 2000's

emerz35 is away
i l-word you.

The nostalgia is fantastic. I love the details with the icons and just capturing the motivation and tension in relationships through messaging. I agree it would be nice if there were a way to skip dialogue typing. But, there were also some writing issues with where what would happen in the game was unclear (and that inaccurate prompt leads to bad decisions). But once you are down a path in the game there's not much flexibility or alternative options so you can feel stuck 'losing' for an hour (and not intended in the same way as the previous game).

i love this game its so different and just really pulls u in, wish it was more to it and maybe a new game so we could maybe see them now with the new gen of texting and how big of a difference it is now

BBBBBBAAAAAADEDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

Fun game, two different girls you get to choose from, serious situations and storylines, funny and memorable profile icons *silly memes*, would def recommend!

coolbeans

super cool concept, I love the links that they can send now.

bitches be mad i can't type at the speed of hermes running a triathalon

And here is more gloomy nostalgia. The Sequel to Emiy is away. This time in Style of the AOL Messager. There is a little more production value behind the whole thing so this time you also expand your experience with a few websites you can visit and are set up by the author in reality. Also there are some nice songs included in teh experience and the 2005ish icon nostalgia. If you liked the original grab it.

Fans of part one can invest the five bucks. The other ones better play part 1 first and / or wait for a sale.

only got this game for the background, but it has a cool story

I... I'm not sure what to say about this game.
I've played the first one thinking it's more of a demo than a game and this game gonna be some story rpg with some sim elements itd? idk. What I do know is that I'm clearly not the target audience,
I do appreciate the design, mechanics, work put into this game including websites and files but the game itself feels weird and I don't really know what was that, no horror, no real story just exactly what was in first game just bit longer.

I didn't do research for it since I expected it to be story game and wanted to avoid spoilers but it bit me back.

Again, not a target audience, just leaving this one here for people like me who are looking for more story driven games rather than... mediocre teenage yapping? I have no clue how else to call that

i heart emily

Emily is Away Too is a big upgrade from the first game - it's a lot longer, has a fake Facebook/Youtube site people send you links to, etc. It's successful at evoking that time of being a teenager on the internet. Talking to two people at once adds a new dynamic, and the keyboard-mashing element is now optional. It actually has multiple endings.

However, with the game being a lot longer, I realised something. Teenagers are really god damn boring. It's three hours of listening to two teenage girls talk about their favourite music, going out with their friends, obsessing over whatever inane problem is going on in their life at that moment. Quite a few times the words "I don't caaaaaare" flashed through my head as they were talking. There's a big theme of honesty in the game but I felt like there's no way the main character would keep talking to these girls about such boring stuff unless he was trying to date them. He talks in a pretty effeminate way and is very emotional, so even though there are a lot more 'normal' dialogue options than the first game, he still comes across like a beta Nice Guy kinda character.

The Gameplay:

The Story:

The Visuals:

The Sound:

The Experience:

Probably my favorite game, like ever.

emily is a bitch

Good game very easy 100% just like the last one.

Team Evelyn, she introduced me to mid 2000s punk rock and we had a blast. 10/10 game, it's an emotional roller coaster especially if you mess up some of the important choices, but I highly recommend

Emily is Away Too is a nostalgic, dialogue-driven adventure game developed by Kyle Seeley. It is a sequel to Emily is Away, and like its predecessor, it is set in the early 2000's, mimicking the look and feel of an old-school instant messaging platform akin to AOL Instant Messenger (AIM). The game explores themes of friendship, romance, and the complexity of communication in the digital age.

Story and Gameplay:
You play as a high school student chatting with two central characters, Emily and Evelyn, as you navigate branching conversations that shape your relationships with them. The game captures the essence of teen angst, emotional growth, and the misunderstandings that can arise from online communication. The characters feel relatable, and the dialogue offers a glimpse into both playful and more serious topics, such as love, trust, and betrayal. Choices you make determine the trajectory of your relationships, with multiple possible endings.

The conversations are highly interactive, and the typing mechanic where you press random keys to "type" your responses makes the game feel immersive. It reinforces the feeling of chatting with real people, as you not only choose responses but also deal with the consequences of your words and actions.

Themes and Nostalgia:
One of the game's strongest aspects is its overwhelming sense of nostalgia. From the user interface mimicking old desktop operating systems to the carefully curated pop-punk music references and links to real websites, Emily is Away Too transports you back to the mid-2000's internet era. It captures the excitement and uncertainty of forming digital relationships, complete with profile customization, statuses, and cryptic away messages that defined teenage online interactions during that time.

Replayability:
The game’s branching narrative encourages replayability, as different choices lead to different outcomes. Conversations can go in multiple directions, and you can cultivate unique relationships with Emily or Evelyn, depending on how you handle certain dialogues. This gives the game depth, though some players may find it frustrating that certain outcomes feel inevitable despite best efforts.

Visuals and Aesthetic:
Though minimalistic in design, the game’s retro-inspired look feels intentional. The chat windows, profile pictures, and the simple desktop environment contribute to its charm. The authenticity of the early internet aesthetic is spot-on, and small details like song references or browsing a character's profile help make the world feel lived in.

Criticisms:
The game's reliance on nostalgia could be seen as a double-edged sword. For players who didn't grow up in that era, some of the references and emotional beats may not land as well. The conversations can also feel somewhat limited at times, with the illusion of choice becoming apparent in certain interactions. Additionally, while the game taps into emotional storytelling, the depth of the characters can occasionally feel shallow, especially when compared to more robust visual novels or interactive storytelling games.

Conclusion:
Emily is Away Too excels in creating an intimate, nostalgic experience that reflects the struggles of communication in digital spaces. It’s a heartfelt journey for players who fondly remember the early 2000's internet culture or are curious about it. While its narrative scope may be limited and at times predictable, the game’s emotional core, paired with its nostalgic charm, makes it a unique and worthwhile experience.

Rating: 8/10
Great for fans of retro-style visual novels, those who crave a nostalgic trip, or players who enjoy narrative-driven, choice-based games.