- Primary Subject: Class of '09
- Key Update: For players burnt out on wholesome life simulators, Class of '09 serves as an edgy, dark comedy palate cleanser driven by an unapologetically cynical protagonist and chaotic choices.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 21, 2026
- Quick Answer: Class of '09 acts as a dark comedy palate cleanser for cozy gamers, offering unfiltered cynicism, chaotic choices, and edgy high school satire.
I'll be the first to admit it: I have an addiction to cozy and wholesome games.
I have over 40 hours on Hello Kitty Island Adventure. I've reset my island on Animal Crossing: New Horizons multiple times so I could start from scratch. At one point, I was even obsessed with the puzzle game Is This Seat Taken? I played so many wholesome games that I ended up getting tired of it. Sure, I loved coming home and interacting with the NPCs, but I started wanting some spice in my gaming.
It didn't take long for me to find something right up my alley. I was doomscrolling on TikTok (as every Gen Z does) and came across a game called Class of '09. It had the edgy humor I was dying for without straying too far from the visual novel style I adored. And honestly? I loved every second of it.
I Played Class of ’09 for the Absolute Chaos - And I Loved It
I found the game on Steam for $9.99. Since it was relatively affordable, I decided I would go in blind - no reading reviews or digging deeper into the plot. That might sound risky, but it honestly made playing the game even more fun - I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
Booting the game up felt like getting splashed with cold water after being used to hot showers. The cozy, wholesome games I know and love always greeted me with pastel colors and the happy faces of my villages. Class of '09 was the total opposite. You were immediately greeted with a grungy 2000s aesthetic that screamed angsty teen. The main character, Nicole, speaks with unfiltered cynicism - and it's a breath of fresh air.
READ MORE: Heart Over Stats: What Truly Makes Cozy Games Feel Like Home
Nicole isn't trying to be a traditional, relatable protagonist who yearns to be loved by the player. She isn't seeking a redemption arc or trying to be the hero. Instead, all her interactions are fueled by her razor-sharp wit and unfiltered honesty. As someone who is used to the main character being good, Nicole finally felt like something new.
In Class of '09, you aren't trying to build something up or revitalize a land. This game is instead filled with lewd jokes, memes, and teenage rebellion. It's a total dumpster fire of bad decisions - and as a goody-goody in high school, it makes me wonder if this is how it was being part of the "cool crowd."
As a visual novel, your choices dictate the ending. But Class of '09 didn't really have good endings. Instead, your choices could either derail a situation or completely turn it around for the worse. Throughout the game, neither Nicole nor the other characters (like her best friend, Jecka) ever held back or softened their blows, and the choices were either "do the dumb thing" or "do the other dumb thing."
READ MORE: Modern Games Prove Turn-Based Combat Is Anything But Outdated
Did it get a lot at times? Absolutely. There were definitely some crude jokes made that I was like "Oh..." But overall, it was a great palate cleanser for someone who spent most of their time playing wholesome, cozy games. It was a mean-spirited dark comedy that took me on a whirl.
There are two more games in the Class of '09 universe, but the first one is definitely the best. So if you're looking for a break from your usual cozy routine, consider giving this edgy visual novel a try.
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news, reviews, features, and guides.