Following their release of the first Mystery Lover visual novel a couple of years back, developer Never Knows Best and publisher Cyberisle return to show that the Chinese market has quite a bit to offer in the visual novel space, a genre of game that has heavy prominence in Japan and a still-growing demand in the West. Arriving on the Nintendo Switch is Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth, which, despite the “2” in its title, invites newcomers while still winking at returning fans. Across four endings and two romance routes, it asks what truth costs in an always-online world – then lets you decide how far you’ll bend reality to find it.
Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth thrusts you into the shoes of protagonist Leed, whose quiet move to the snow-draped Riverville goes sideways the moment his and his girlfriend’s private info leaks online and strangers start piling on lies. To erase the damage, he slips into a shadowy group called the BCC under the codename “Target,” trading favours to get to the puppeteer known only as “Guest.” The story combines grounded cyber-sleuthing with a supernatural twist: “Mysteries,” oddities born from human desire that can alter reality. The choices you make in dialogue steer relationships, truth-seeking tactics, and ultimately, which of the four endings you see, keeping the stakes personal even as conspiracies widen.
Characters carry the plot. Leed isn’t just a stereotypical victim; he grows as he learns when to protect, when to expose, and what “truth” actually costs. Layna and Angerona form the two romance routes, each reflecting a different outlook: idealistic persistence versus pragmatism. Their routes rarely feel tacked on and are both enjoyable enough reads from start to finish. Twists land regularly, with red herrings that reward attention rather than button-mashing.
While this is technically a sequel, the references to the first game are light enough that newcomers won’t be lost, and returning players will catch a few nods. The only real narrative stumbling block is the uneven English script – occasional clunky lines or untranslated terms that momentarily pull you out before the drama drags you back in.
Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth relies on clean, expressive character art and moody backdrops, rather than flashy set pieces, utilising warm autumn hues that gradually transition into winter blues to mirror the story’s emotional chill. The in-game smartphone UI feels well-placed rather than gimmicky, and the option to hide the interface lets the nicely designed CGs breathe when it counts. That said, backgrounds and poses do repeat, and more variety would have been welcomed, but ultimately, it is enough for a visual novel.
The soundtrack does precisely what a VN score should: sit under the text until a moment requires that extra nuance only a musical beat can provide. Full Chinese voice acting gives scenes a welcome lift; even without understanding the language, tone and delivery sells urgency, tenderness, and menace. There’s no English dub, and occasional mixing quirks can be jarring, but overall, the audio offering is well-suited for Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth.
This is a read-first, tinker-second VN, but the Switch build makes that flow painless: button or touchscreen to advance, auto/skip/history toggles to breeze past déjà‑vu, quick‑saves to fork paths without fear, and a chunky Tips glossary that quietly decodes terms and lore as you go. As far as visual novels go, while Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth doesn’t redefine the core experience of playing one, it doesn’t do anything that makes you want to give up based on the reading experience alone. At ~12–16 hours for a first run and multiple endings/routes plus Galleries and Music to mop up, it’s just a solid visual novel experience.
In short, Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth demonstrates that the Chinese VN scene has plenty to offer, pairing a twisty truth-chasing plot with tools that make it easy to read on Switch. The art and music do their jobs quietly but well, keeping the mood steady while you click through. Reused visuals and a shaky English script keep it from being a total standout, yet the heart is still there. Newcomers can jump in without homework; returning fans will catch the nods. At this length and price, it’s an easy pick for anyone who finds the narrative intriguing!
Final Score for Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth
This review was conducted on a Nintendo Switch version of Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth, with a review code kindly provided by Cyberisle to facilitate the review.
Mystery Lover 2: Forgotten Truth is now available to purchase on the Nintendo eShop, priced at $12.99 USD, with a 10% discount running until 29 July 2025.
