VN of the Month August 2023

Big companies seldom release titles in August as there's big competition from Comiket, so let's try to overview some of the prominent doujin games.

1. Purukura Aruma プルクラアルマ [230811] Seiran Soft
Theo has escaped to the human world from the war between the Land of Dreams and the Land of Illusions. While searching for a girl who can save the land of dreams using the legendary magic tool Purukura Aruma, she is attacked by a monster from the land of illusion. And such girl answers her help plea. 
As you can see, more or less typical dark mahou shoujo fantasy.

2. Haiyuuenchi no Memento Memoria 廃遊園地のメメントメモリア [230813] Asanoha Seisakujo
A world devastated by war. While there are grown-ups who engage in endless battles and power struggles, some displaced children have built their own little paradise by name "Lagoon". 
Boy Kai lives in "Lagoon" abandoned amusement park. He works as a "mercenary" to deal with enemies who seek expansion. Kai spends his days with his roommate and childhood friend, the doctor. However, there is a sense of incongruity...
Story does not stretch imagination as it's typical boy meets girl in a ruined world plot, but worldbuilding is done well and there are many side characters that feel alive, so everything is on a good level.

3. KUMA Mercy the Bear.  [230813] non color
Main character meets a rude bear girl.
Work is built around long and polite speech of confused protagonist in contrast to calm and rude tsundere bear speech. It's short, but is able to produce a sense of nostalgia and warmth.

4. Uso kara Hajimaru Koi no Natsu 嘘から始まる恋の夏 [230813] LYCORIS
“Love can so easily turn people into liars.”
On a hill overlooking the sea is Minatocho’s Aoba Dai-ichi High School.
One night, 2nd year student, Tachibana Kaoru is completely heartbroken by her middle school homeroom teacher, Shimotsuki Mirei.
That scene is also seen by Minagi Shiori, a model student who is also in Kaoru’s class.
In state of despondence, Kaoru opens up to Shiori about her past with Mirei.
After listening intently to Kaoru’s story, Shiori, with a mysterious air about her, poses a question.
“Instead of forgetting someone you cared about… do you think it’s possible to simply overwrite those memories with different ones?”
“I’m not sure if it’s truly possible or not, but I might have to try something like that if I’m going to get over her.”
With that, Shiori suddenly makes a surprising request to Kaoru:
“I need you to help me forget about my older brother.”
It is a request to overwrite the memories of her older brother by going through a tour of her past memories.
Shiori has always wanted to live up to the standard of excellence that her older brother embodied,
but as she held a career counseling sheet in her hand, she realizes that she no longer made decisions for herself.
“Sure, okay. But how?”
Kaoru is enthusiastic about this “tour of memories” that she will go on with Shiori.
She too wants to forget about her teacher, who was her first crush.
Their relationship is then discovered by Inohara Riku, a fellow classmate who also harbors feelings for Shiori.
And so the curtain rises on this sometimes slapstick fun as well as poignant love story.
This yuri already has a translated tech demo and English release is only a matter of time, so there won't be lack of impressions

5. Zankyou Chitai 残響地帯 [230813] Paradolast
Eiji Shibukawa is a high school student who is preparing to take university entrance exams the following year. He was in the middle of self-study when he fell in love with Hotaka Gozair who was soaking wet outside. Eiji let her in the house for the Golden Week. However, the situation reaches point of no return by the end of the Golden Week as Hotaka circumstances get revealed.
System is difficult time management as you need to constantly search maps which takes from a minute to over one hour time. So it's easy to miss events that are planned for set time. Mystery and story can be called sloppy, but reaching True ending after all these flags gives a sense of accomplishment.

6. Harem x Shangri-La ハーレム×楽園 - Harem × Shangri-La - [230825] Hadashi Shoujo
The main character, Yoshiiri Amane (Changeable Name), is a transfer student who enjoys board games and puzzles. When he learns that his new school has a club activity related to board games and puzzles, he gladly joins. However, the board game club is...
“There is no need for activities like board game clubs in a school for learning!”
That's what the overly serious student council president decided, as the puzzle club was on the verge of a shutdown due to lack of members. Amane takes advantage of his clear mind to face the problems of the two club activities.
Surrounded by many girls who are members of the board game club and puzzle club, Amane's school life is turbulent. What is waiting ahead of him? Is it paradise? Or something else...?
This is clearly a barely concealed nukige that's not marked properly, but it's the closest thing to regular professional release that can be found in August if we don't count Otome. 

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