Bustafellows
| Bustafellows | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Extend |
| Publishers | |
| Platforms | Nintendo Switch, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Release | Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
|
| Genres | Visual novel, otome game |
| Mode | Single-player |
Bustafellows (stylized as BU$TAFELLOWS) is a 2019 otome game and visual novel developed by Tokyo-based[1] studio eXtend (Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Extend). It was released for Nintendo Switch and mobile devices in Japan, and an English version was released for Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows in 2021. A sequel titled Bustafellows Season 2 (stylized as BU$TAFELLOWS season2) was released in 2023 in Japan, and an English version was released in 2025. A third game called BUSTAFELLOWS FULLCIRCLE has been announced.
Plot
[edit]Teuta is a 21-year-old freelance journalist who has the unique ability to briefly time travel to the past by inhabiting other people's bodies. After she happens to witness the murder of "crooked" lawyer Limbo Fitzgerald, she uses her ability to prevent his death and is drawn into the criminal underworld with Limbo and his teammates. There are five male characters that Teuta can enter a romantic relationship with, and the game has multiple endings based on the choices the player makes.
Gameplay
[edit]Bustafellows is a visual novel where the player's decisions determine which route the story takes.[2] Some choices have a time limit attached, and making certain choices grants "memorabilia" that can unlock "extra episodes" for the player to read.[3]
Reception
[edit]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 86/100[4] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Hardcore Gamer | 4.5/5[2] |
| RPGFan | 85/100[3] |
| Digitally Downloaded | 5/5[5] |
| Siliconera | 8/10[6] |
Bustafellows received "generally favorable" reviews, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[4]
By 2024, over 100,000 copies of Bustafellows had been sold.[7]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Company". Nippon Cultural Broadcasting Extend Inc. (in Japanese). Retrieved 2026-03-22.[dead link]
- 1 2 Estrada, Marcus (July 30, 2021). "Review: BUSTAFELLOWS". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on July 30, 2021.
- 1 2 Fakhoori, Niki (August 12, 2021). "Bustafellows Review". RPGFan. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
- 1 2 "Bustafellows Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
- ↑ Matt S. "Review: Bustafellows (Nintendo Switch)". Digitally Downloaded. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
- ↑ Honea, Keri (August 4, 2021). "Review: Bustafellows Will Have You Bust a Fellow and Bust a Move". Siliconera. Retrieved March 8, 2026.
- ↑ Romano, Sal (2024-03-22). "BUSTAFELLOWS sales top 100,000". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2025-07-08. Retrieved 2026-03-09.