Comparison

Hakuoki vs Pub Encounter

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hakuoki

Experience the origin story of a popular otome game series, set in the chaotic Edo period. Follow a young woman's journey as she becomes entangled with the Shinsengumi and uncovers their dark secrets. Fully voiced in Japanese with beautiful illustrations.

Highlights
  • Fully voiced Japanese audio
  • Beautiful illustrations
  • Origin story of a popular series
  • Additional 'Tea ceremony event' scenario
  • Historical Edo period setting
Features
Read full description

“Hakuoki”- the otome game that has gained popularity not only in Japan but around the world, is now available in English! The whole story is fully voiced in Japanese by popular voice actors, and the beautiful illustrations have been perfectly ported from the PSP version! This work was the basis for the series' culmination, "Hakuoki Shinkai" which released in 2015. The "Hakuoki" series started in 2008, and until "Hakuoki Shinkai" released, fan disks and anime have been created based on this game. You can play the origin story of "Hakuoki" along with the additional scenario, the "Tea ceremony event ". ■Story It is the end of the Edo Era, and the 3rd year of the Bunkyu Era... The protagonist, Chizuru Yukimura, was raised in Edo and is daughter to a Rangaku scholar. Having lost contact with her father in Kyoto, Chizuru decides to visit him. There, Chizuru witnesses a Shinsengumi soldier killing a bloodthirsty monster. By strange happenstance, Chizuru finds herself connected to the Shinsengumi, and the assassins desperate to kill them. As time progresses, Chizuru will discover their terrible secret.... Tortured by their own thoughts, the men of the Shinsengumi wield their blades in defense of their faith and ideals, in an era torn apart by chaos. Hidden in the riots that defined the passing of the Edo period, a dark battle within the Shinsengumi begins: A battle that will never be recorded in the pages of history... ■Tea ceremony event In February 1867, Chizuru is asked to attend a tea party on Kondo’s behalf. She accepts to go accompanied by the Shinsengumi warriors. What’s hidden behind that sudden invitation? What awaits her...? Find out by spending some sweet time with your favorite character! *This scenario can be enjoyed by purchasing the "Tea ceremony event". It is recommended you play this scenario after completing the main story. [CAST] Toshizo Hijikata(CV:Shin-ichiro Miki)/Souji Okita(CV:Showtaro Morikubo)/Hajime Saito(CV:Kohsuke Toriumi)/Heisuke Toudou(CV:Hiroyuki Yoshino)/Sanosuke Harada(CV:Kouji Yusa)/Isami Kondou(CV:Toru Okawa)/Keisuke Sanan(CV:Nobuo Tobita)/Shinpachi Nagakura(CV:Tomohiro Tsuboi)/Kodo Yukimura(CV:Ryugo Saito)/Chikage Kazama(CV:Kenjiro Tsuda)/etc *Japanese Only. <Recommended devices> iOS 10.0 or higher *Please note that we do not support devices other than the recommended devices. Please note that we do not guarantee operation or provide refunds for use on unsupported OS/unsupported devices. *We recommend downloading the game over Wi-Fi. *Save data cannot be transferred after changing devices. <User Support> *User support is available only in Japanese. If you have any problems with the operation of the application, please check the "Frequently Asked Questions". Frequently Asked Questions https://www.ideaf.co.jp/support/q_a.html If your problem is not resolved after checking the FAQ, Please contact us using the mail form on the following page. <Contact us> https://www.ideaf.co.jp/support/us.html Please note that once the billing process has successfully completed at the store, the download to the compatible device is considered to be complete, and no refunds will be issued after that.

About

Pub Encounter

Immerse yourself in a romantic visual novel set in a cozy pub. Meet charming older gentlemen, make choices that shape your relationships, and discover multiple endings. Features gorgeous artwork and an emotional soundtrack.

Highlights
  • Mature and engaging romance story
  • Meet five charming gentlemen
  • Multiple story paths and endings
  • Gorgeous artwork and character designs
  • Emotional soundtrack and voice acting
  • Optimized for mobile play
  • Replayability and collectible CGs
Read full description

Available exclusively for Crunchyroll Mega and Ultimate Fan Members. Welcome to Pub Encounter – A Romantic Visual Novel of Sophisticated Love! Step into a cozy, old-fashioned pub and immerse yourself in a heartwarming tale of love, fate, and companionship. Pub Encounter is a beautifully illustrated otome visual novel where you find yourself meeting a group of charming and distinguished older gentlemen, each with their own past, personality, and secrets. As you spend time together, bonds will form, emotions will deepen, and romance may blossom. Will you find love in this intimate setting? Or will your journey lead to an unforgettable friendship? The choice is yours in Pub Encounter! KEY FEATURES - A Mature & Engaging Romance Story – Follow a beautifully written storyline that explores deep emotions, personal growth, and meaningful relationships. Each character has a unique past, and your choices shape the journey ahead. - Meet Five Charming Gentlemen – Engage in heartfelt conversations with a group of older, sophisticated men, each with distinct personalities and life experiences. Will you fall for the cool and mysterious businessman, the kind-hearted bartender, or the elegant writer? - Multiple Story Paths & Endings – Your decisions influence how the story unfolds. Will you find romance, friendship, or an unexpected twist of fate? Explore different paths and unlock various endings based on your choices. - Gorgeous Artwork & Stunning Character Designs – Experience breathtaking illustrations that bring the characters and their emotions to life. Every scene is beautifully crafted to enhance the storytelling. - Emotional Soundtrack & Voice Acting – Enjoy a captivating atmosphere with a rich soundtrack that enhances the emotional depth of each moment. Some scenes even include Japanese voice acting, making the experience even more immersive. - Optimized for Mobile Play – With intuitive touch controls, you can easily navigate the story at your own pace. Save your progress, revisit past scenes, and enjoy an effortless visual novel experience. - Replayability & Collectible CGs – Play through different story routes, make new choices, and unlock beautifully illustrated CGs for your personal collection. CHARACTERS YOU’LL MEET - Sanosuke Sawamura – The confident and flirty businessman who always knows the right thing to say. Can you see past his charm and discover his true self? - Yamato Nishina – A calm and reserved gentleman with a quiet strength. His mysterious aura hides a past he rarely speaks of—will you be the one to uncover it? - Iori Sazanami – An intelligent and elegant writer with a way with words. He understands the power of a good story, but is he willing to write his own love story with you? - Akira Kokonoe – The kind-hearted bartender who has seen many love stories unfold in his pub. But what about his own? - Toma Kiriya – A playful and charismatic actor who can be charming one moment and deeply thoughtful the next. Can you see past the roles he plays and discover the real him? Who will steal your heart in Pub Encounter? Let us know your favorite character and moments! Don’t forget to leave a review and share your experience! ____________ Crunchyroll Premium members enjoy an ad-free experience, with full access to Crunchyroll's library of over 1,300 unique titles and 46,000 episodes, including simulcast series that premiere shortly after premiering in Japan. In addition, membership offers special benefits including offline viewing access, discount code to Crunchyroll Store, Crunchyroll Game Vault access, streaming simultaneously on multiple devices, and more! Privacy Policy: https://www.crunchyroll.com/games/privacy Terms: https://www.crunchyroll.com/games/terms/

Screenshots

Hakuoki4 screens
Pub Encounter4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pub Encounter at 5.0 against Hakuoki's 4.3. Hakuoki's advantage is ratings volume (72 vs 2) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hakuoki sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Pub Encounter sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $13.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pub Encounter holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hakuoki has 72 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Hakuoki versus Pub Encounter: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHakuokiPub Encounter
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (72 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews65.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings72 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size670 MB314 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperIDEA FACTORY CO., LTD.Crunchyroll, LLC

Customer experience

Hakuoki

All ratings72 ratings
Positive81.9%
Neutral5.6%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral11.9%
Negative22.4%

Pub Encounter

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Hakuoki

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Purchases not showing up
  • App won't load (black screen)
  • Game crashes after intro
  • Black screen after introduction
  • Game crashes
Show 8 more
  • Screen goes blank after intro movie
  • Game not working
  • Black out after intro
  • Black screen with border, no click option
  • Stuck on title screen (black screen)
  • Black screen after intro song
  • Game fails to save progress
  • Mouths don't move when characters speak

Requested features

7 requests
  • Make game available to those who can't pay
  • More free chapters
  • Consider making more parts free
  • Fix the glitch where progress isn't saved
  • Make other games localized (SSL)
Show 2 more
  • Add Shiranui's route
  • Explain difference between free and premium editions

Pub Encounter

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Hakuoki

One-time10
  • Common Route Chapter 1$3.79
  • Common Route Chapter 2$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Common Route Chapter 3$3.79
Show 7 more
  • 【HAKUOKI】Toshizo Hijikata Route Chapter 4$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Toshizo Hijikata Route Chapter 5$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Hajime Saito Route Chapter 4$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Hajime Saito Route Chapter 5$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Souji Okita Route Chapter 4$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Souji Okita Route Chapter 5$3.79
  • 【HAKUOKI】Chikage Kazama Route Chapter 4$3.79
1 purchases

Pub Encounter

Subscriptions1
  • Mega Fan [Monthly]$13.991 Month

Questions

Is Hakuoki free?
Hakuoki is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pub Encounter free?
Pub Encounter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hakuoki or Pub Encounter?
Pub Encounter is rated higher. Hakuoki averages 4.3 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while Pub Encounter averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Hakuoki or Pub Encounter have ads?
Neither Hakuoki nor Pub Encounter shows ads.

Other comparisons