Now & Then

Dive into branching paths, love stats, and replayable scenes in this captivating visual novel

Hey there, fellow adventurer—have you stumbled into the intriguing world of Now & Then, the visual novel that’s got players hooked on its branching stories and steamy encounters? I remember my first playthrough; I was glued to the screen, juggling love points with Naomi and Carol, chasing that elusive threesome scene. This game isn’t just about choices—it’s a web of relationships, stats, and hidden endings that keep you coming back. In this guide, we’ll break down everything from core mechanics to pro tips for maxing out your gallery. Whether you’re new or replaying for all paths, stick around to master Now & Then like a pro and uncover every intimate moment.

How Now & Then Works: Mastering Choices and Stats?

My first real “oh wow” moment in Now & Then came embarrassingly early. I was faced with a simple choice: comfort the worried Naomi or check on the seemingly distant Carol. Thinking I was just being a decent person, I went to Naomi. The game didn’t just acknowledge my choice—it swung an entire relationship meter. That’s when I realized Now & Then gameplay isn’t just about picking dialogue; it’s about managing a delicate, living web of emotions. Every decision is a weight placed on a scale, and the balance determines your entire path. If you’ve ever felt that panic of “did I just ruin everything?”, this guide is for you. Let’s break down how your Now & Then choices shape the world, your relationships, and your gallery. 🕹️

Understanding Love and Conflict Mechanics in Now & Then

At its heart, Now & Then is driven by two powerful, interconnected forces: Love and Conflict. Think of them as the emotional currency of the game. Every significant interaction you have with the four main characters—Naomi, Carol, Sydney, and Alice—will affect these hidden stats.

The genius (and sometimes frustration) of the Now & Then conflict mechanics is the “teeter-totter” effect. The game often presents you with decisions that directly pit one character’s interests against another’s. You can’t make everyone happy all the time. For example:

• Approaching Naomi might grant you +1 Love (Naomi) but simultaneously cause -1 Love (Carol).
• Taking Sydney’s side in an argument could boost your bond with her while creating +1 Conflict (Alice).

These aren’t just numbers on a screen. They are thresholds. Reach a certain Love level with a character, and new, intimate branches of the story open up. Let too much Conflict build up, and you might find doors closing, characters becoming cold, or even being locked out of crucial support later in the apocalyptic story.

🎯 Personal Insight: I learned this the hard way. I was blindly nice to everyone early on, not realizing I was spreading my “love points” too thin. By mid-game, I hadn’t hit the high threshold with anyone, and I missed a major romantic branch entirely. Focus is key!

The game tracks these stats independently for each lady. Major story beats, like the pregnancy reveals, are directly tied to these numbers. For Naomi and Alice, this occurs near the end if they are your main lover. For Sydney and Carol, their reveals happen during the endings chapter, provided your relationship stats are high enough. Keeping a mental (or actual!) note of your key decisions is a game-changer.

Navigating Branching Paths and Key Decisions

With over 16 chapters and a staggering 430+ renders and animations in Chapter 11 alone, the Now & Then branching paths are vast. Your journey through the pandemic-ravaged world is uniquely yours, dictated by hundreds of big and small choices.

The branching isn’t random. It follows a logical cause-and-effect chain based on your accumulated stats. Think of it like this: Early Now & Then choices set your direction, while later choices open or close specific gates along that path. A high Love stat with Carol might unlock a tender private moment in the safe house, while a high Conflict stat with Alice might mean she volunteers for a dangerous supply run alone, leading to a completely different scene.

Here are some classic examples of how choices directly manipulate your love stats Now & Then:

• “I’ll stay and talk with Naomi.” → +1 Love (Naomi), -1 Love (Carol)
• “I agree with Sydney’s plan.” → +1 Love (Sydney), +1 Conflict (Alice)
• “Comfort Alice after the argument.” → +1 Love (Alice), -1 Love (Sydney)
• “Defend Carol’s actions.” → +1 Love (Carol), +1 Conflict (Naomi)

To visualize which stats to watch for with each character, here’s a quick reference:

My most memorable branching experience was chasing a specific threesome scene. I had high love with two characters, but I’d completely forgotten about a BI setting from much earlier in the game. Because I’d left it disabled, the entire branch vanished. The path was there, but my earlier, seemingly unrelated choice had closed the gate. This is why Now & Then save tips are not a suggestion—they are a necessity.

Tips for Unlocking Replayable Scenes Early

Want to see everything Now & Then has to offer without playing through 16+ chapters a dozen times? Here’s the strategic approach to how to unlock scenes Now & Then efficiently. 🗝️

1. Save, Save, and Save Some More. This is the golden rule. Before any major decision—especially ones that feel emotionally charged or involve two characters—create a new save file. Label it clearly (e.g., “Ch5_Choice_NaomiVsCarol”). This gives you a backtrack point to explore the other branch without replaying hours of content.

2. Manual Stat Tracking is a Power Move. The game doesn’t show you a live stat screen, so grab a notepad or a simple text file. Jot down your big decisions and who they likely impacted. Are you aiming for a Sydney ending? Note every time you boost her love. This awareness prevents that “mid-game drift” where you lose focus.

3. Embrace the Focused Playthrough. Don’t try to max everyone on one go. It’s nearly impossible. Pick a single love interest (or two, if you’re navigating a specific triangle) for a playthrough and commit to their path. Make choices that favor them, even if it costs you points with others. This is the surest way to reach the high-stat thresholds needed for exclusive scenes and endings.

4. The “Unlock All” Lifesaver. 🎁 Once you’ve experienced the story your way, the final version of the game includes a wonderful feature for completionists: the Gallery’s “Unlock All” button. This is the ultimate pro tip. Use it! It respects your journey but lets you immediately access every animation, render, and scene variant you might have missed due to those tricky Now & Then branching paths. It’s the perfect reward after your personal story is complete.

FAQ

• What if my stats “teeter-totter” too much and everyone is mad at me?
  This can lead to a lonelier, more difficult path, but it’s a valid story! The game accounts for low relationship stats. You might not get romantic endings, but you’ll see a version of the story focused on survival and conflict.
• Can I recover from a major wrong choice?
  Sometimes, but not always. A single choice is rarely a game-ender, but a pattern of them can lock paths. This is why strategic saving is so important. If you’re several chapters past a mistake, it’s often faster to reload an old save than to try to compensate.
• Are all scenes tied to love stats?
  Primarily, yes. The most intimate and relationship-defining scenes require high love (and sometimes low conflict) with a specific character. However, general story progression and some group scenes are unlocked simply by playing through the main plot.

Mastering the Now & Then gameplay loop of choice, consequence, and stat management is what makes it so deeply replayable. Every playthrough writes a new story. Now go forth, save strategically, and shape your own unforgettable journey in this captivating world

There you have it—your roadmap to conquering Now & Then‘s twists, from juggling love stats to nailing those hard-to-trigger scenes like the Naomi-Sydney threesome. I went from frustrated newbie to gallery completionist after applying these tips, and you’ll feel that rush too. Whether you’re romancing your fave or hunting every ending, the real magic is in those personal paths you forge. Grab your save files, dive back in, and share your wildest playthrough stories in the comments. What’s your go-to route? Let’s keep the conversation going—what secrets did you uncover?