The Hero Unmasked‪!‬ 12+

This game has it all: vivid characters, dynamic plot, carefully detailed choices with plenty of replay value, rich worldbuilding. The idea of separate "issues" as chapters was clever, and the epilogue was one of my favorite sequences ever. The romances were much more subtly and realistically written than usual (particularly the choice of sexual orientation - there's no clunky screen where you pick your preferred gender, it just weaves itself into the narrative). I also loved that there was an option for asexual characters that continued to influence how the MC viewed other characters without dictating them, instead of either being a throwaway line or putting an end to romance altogether.

The only very minor issues I came across were a few instances of railroading, as well as some of the more fantasy-ish elements ringing a little false in the mostly realistic setting. Really, though, the fact that I even noticed these issues showed how immersive and real this world felt most of the time. Simply put, the game made me care about each character and their world, in a way few others have achieved. An excellent achievement.

Out of all the COG I've played; this one is by far the one with the least "railroad" feel to it. It's very refreshing. The basic plot points are there- clearly- but there's so many options with different outcomes that lead you to the next point. It makes replays much more enjoyable. Leading to point #2...
There's SO MANY achievements. I LOVE to (attempt to) unlock all of the achievements in a COG. I've played through so many times and still haven't found the keys to unlock them all. Which leads to my final point.
My greatest, and really only, issue with the story is the Stats. They don't do much and after a number of replays I'm still not 100% sure how to play them to get what I'm aiming for achievement wise. Honestly a few choices are made at the start and then the stats just sit there. I don't mind having to work to achieve my desire stat to get an achievement but it's very difficult in this game.

I've played a large number of CoG titles, and this one is one of the most responsive--a surprising number of things will change based on your choices, and even in what other games would be critical failure states that require a restart, you are instead given alternate scenes that still allow you to continue and make a comeback. Worth replaying to see just how much variability there is!