High Times combines the management of a specialty donut shop with social simulation and visual novel storytelling. Developed by Yangyang Mobile, the game arrived on Steam in July and has already received Very Positive reviews. Its main distinction lies in the donut preparation mechanics, allowing players to add fillings and toppings infused with ingredients that alter customers’ emotions, evoking feelings such as courage, happiness, and nostalgia. At The Hotbox, a shop where people can literally consume their own emotions, players must discover which flavors best suit each visitor’s needs.

Running the shop involves preparing orders, experimenting with recipes, collecting tips, and unlocking tools to expand production possibilities. The establishment can also be customized with different decorations, while new ingredient combinations offer additional ways to influence customers’ moods. Each donut serves as a form of advice, helping people overcome personal struggles, regain their confidence, and navigate troubled relationships.

The narrative features more than 30 customers, each with their own stories and motivations, alongside six characters with whom players can develop romantic relationships. Their conversations explore personal conflicts, unresolved feelings, and reunions with former partners left behind in the past. Decisions made during customer interactions influence these relationships, while the donuts served can change the course of events, leading to two or three different endings for each romanceable character.

The experience also allows players to customize the protagonist, with options to change features such as skin tone, hairstyle, and clothing. The visual presentation draws inspiration from comic books, featuring more than 70 vibrant, animated illustrations that accompany the unfolding story. The cast also features full English voice acting for all characters except the protagonist, including performances by Nola Klop, LilyPichu, and Johnny Yong Bosch.

The original soundtrack blends rock, city pop, and lo-fi influences to accompany different moments throughout the journey. By combining shop management, narrative choices, and relationships that evolve according to players’ decisions, High Times turns donut preparation into a way to explore emotions, support customers, and discover whether some wounds from the past can finally heal.