William at GameCloud writes:
"Cinders is all about learning to understand the motivations of people, no matter how awful they might appear on the surface. As such, the novel is filled with many grey decisions that are hard to predict, and that is a large part of its success. Every line of dialogue matters, and I was surprised with just how different my relationships could based on seemingly small choices. After several playthroughs, I am yet to achieve what I would consider the “golden ending,” and I am more than okay with that. Most games only present the “illusion of choice”; with Mass Effect being one of the most infamous examples. This is not the case here, and while it’s certainly a different experience to a conventional game, it stands independent as a beautiful and uniquely engaging experience. The writing isn’t perfect, but Cinders is still an outstanding example of the nuances of decision making, as well as the consequences that follow. I believe that it deserves to be experienced by anyone who enjoys reading or games."
Michael Kitchin writes, "Cinders has a charm to it that I've rarely found in the visual novels I've played. The writing manages to contextualise and add to a familiar story whilst allowing the main character to branch in interesting ways. It's a shame the story doesn't break completely from the source material but there's some intriguing ideas on display, here. The detailed, animated backgrounds help create a lively setting and the music maintains an airy feel. It's a striking effort that largely succeeds."
Dave writes: "Approach Cinders on Xbox One with caution. If you like a bit of melodrama in your life, and the prospect of a well-crafted, alternate take on Cinderella sounds appealing, this glass slipper may well fit."
Neil writes: "It's safe to say that visual novels have taken off in a big way over recent years, with a whole multitude of offerings available in the genre, giving players the chance to sit down, controller in hand, and take in a number of wonderful tales. But perhaps none of them have been able to deliver the ultimate tale, until now, as Cinders comes to Xbox One and PS4."
