90s Cult Dating Sim Sentimental Graffiti Returns with a Modern Remake: "Sentimental Graffiti Re"
Sentimental Graffiti, which took Japan by storm in the late nineties and represented the golden age of the dating sim genre, is returning to the gaming world with a modern remake. According to the official announcement made during the 40th-anniversary live stream of Weekly Famitsu magazine, the new version developed by the Entergram studio will be titled Sentimental Graffiti Re. The original game's illustrator, Tomohisa Kai (also known as Toru Mizutani), shared a brand new key visual featuring the series' iconic characters in honor of the project's announcement.
The original Sentimental Graffiti was first released for the Sega Saturn platform on January 22, 1998, and quickly became one of the most important titles in the genre. Published by NEC Interchannel, the game was considered one of the "Big Three" of the genre at the time, alongside Tokimeki Memorial and Sakura Wars. The game's story follows a high school senior who travels across Japan to track down a mysterious letter he received from one of 12 different girls he met in the past, which simply reads, "I want to meet you."
The prepared remake version aims to not only offer a visual improvement but also bring the game mechanics and scenario up to modern standards. According to the statement, a portion of the original script will be revised to be "suitable for modern times," but the character designs and the spirit of the series will be preserved. The most notable change is in the voice acting cast; Sentimental Graffiti Re will feature an entirely new voice cast. In fact, the production team is holding public auditions for 6 of the 12 main female characters without requiring prior experience, and applications will remain open until July 31, 2026.
This comeback has been a huge surprise for the series' loyal fans. The series, which also had a 12-episode anime adaptation titled Sentimental Journey produced by the Sunrise studio in 1998, is known for its dramatic narrative and melancholic atmosphere. Entergram plans to capture both old players seeking nostalgia and a new generation discovering the genre with this remake. While the platforms the game will be released on and the exact release date have not yet been finalized, more details are expected to be shared in the coming months.
