Growing Pains

Editorial Has potential

Growing Pains is an early-stage ass-expansion visual novel that has struck a notable nerve in an underserved niche. The prologue shows confident writing and appealing character dynamics—players consistently praise the wit, the tomboy leads (Riley and Izumi), and the developer's refreshing willingness to center a fetish rarely given top billing. Community appetite is genuine and enthusiastic. However, the build is extremely sparse. The current release is a rough sketch: about 10–15 minutes of content, unfinished visuals (one player notes render quality issues), and the developer is still learning the engine. The project has seen months of silence since launch, with the most recent activity being a dev post in late 2024 acknowledging abandonment concerns and promising monthly updates. Until actual new content ships, skepticism about follow-through is justified. For players willing to check in periodically on a passion project by a solo, inexperienced dev, the premise and early tone suggest real potential—but right now, there is very little game to play.