ACE Academy

not very good but not terrible

I wish I played this before the company shutdown. Just started playing last month and I really enjoy the characters and the greater GEAR world. And it's refreshing to play a VN with English voice acting and built for a western audience. It sucks that I won't be able to play the Kaori fandisk for this game or the other works atm, but I am holding out hope that they find a way to distribute these games once more, and maybe make more games in the future. (I write this not knowing why the PixelFade closed, just hoping everyone involved was able to do okay afterwards)

From what I've seen in trying to pursue Mayu's route Kaori is not a tsundere, she's a toxic ♥♥♥♥♥. Story revolving around her completely ruined the experience for me

(Already finished this game before, ignore my time played) ✅ Surprisingly high production value for an indie VN ✅ Fully voiced main cast adds a lot of personality ✅ Characters are likable and the comedy actually lands ✅ Relationship routes feel natural and well‑paced ✅ UI, art, and CGs look polished and modern ✅ Easy to get into even if you’re not a big VN player ❌ Story is fun but not very deep ❌ Choices don’t drastically change the overall plot ❌ Mecha combat was awful ❌ Some scenes drag a bit depending on the route ❌ A few jokes miss, especially if you’re not into anime humor Sadly, the publisher has permanently pulled the plug for this game so you can't legally buy/play it anymore. I still would highly recommend it (assuming you enjoy VN) if you can play it some other way

ACE Academy is one of those games you finish and immediately wish you could experience again for the first time. The characters feel genuinely alive, the humor actually lands, and the choices matter enough that you start second-guessing yourself in the best way. The mix of slice-of-life moments, mecha action, and wholesome character routes kept me hooked way longer than I expected. What surprised me most is how naturally the story pulls you in. It’s lighthearted when it should be, emotional when it counts, and never drags. If you enjoy visual novels with charm, personality, and a cast you’ll actually remember, this one’s an easy recommendation. Honestly? One of the most enjoyable VN experiences I’ve had on Steam.

played it like 8 years ago but I finished it so it's prolly good

Last time I played this game was 3 years ago and since then it's still my favorite out of all VNs I came across. The story itself is entertaining, the soundtrack quite enjoyable and the mouse controls are really convenient. Although their other games are recommendable too, IMO Ace Academy is the best VN Pixel Fade created.