Although Soul Touch released at the end of 2025, it has recently showed up a few times on Chinese social media. Since there haven’t been many new releases, it seemed like the perfect time to replay it and see if those fond memories were justified. Initially the plan was to just enjoy it, but some parts stood out enough for me to highlight them. My review back in December only scratched the surface, so consider this a supplement. This deep dive covers three main areas: tone, succubus visions, and Xu Zhaozhao. Please be aware there will be minor spoilers.
A QUESTION OF TONE
Soul Touch establishes its tone effortlessly but it also transitions naturally. The use of humor, emotion, and a darker theme make it stand out.
IT’S KIND OF A FUNNY STORY
Soul Touch quickly establishes a light and funny tone. Landing some early jokes only helps those that come later, as players will know what to expect. Like when you had a man a cigarette, he takes it, but when you offer him a light, he says he doesn’t smoke. This is a simple example but it demonstrates an effective collaboration between writing, directing, acting and editing. Your boss is also a strange guy who adds a layer of humor to almost every scene, including the water-fight and later when Yu Zhi pretends that he is having an affair. So the game naturally finds a lighter tone.
EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER
Funny games can struggle with genuine emotion. Soul Touch manages to create several melancholic scenes. One is when you relive Zhong Ran’s childhood through hypnotism. Another is near the end where the characters leave behind letters of regret, albeit with optimism. The transition between emotional states is gradual as the back half is sadder than the beginning. This is also when it weaves in heavier romance as you get closer to the three love interests. Its ability to pair both emotions together is actually a lot harder than it seems but also a good combination.
THE HEART OF DARKNESS
One thing the game sets up nicely is its darker tone that permeates the user interface and general play. Unlike most dating sims, where the UI could be swapped over and it would not matter, here it all feels very deliberate. The sound that plays when you increase the horny (desire) value is basically a moan. The 3D church you visit between chapters also reinforces the mature theme. The developers behind the game had a vision and they pulled it off.
THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT
The succubus visions that bookmark the end of chapters feature one love interest in her alternate form. This works because of anticipation, teasing and it circumventing the unwritten rule of fiction.
IN YOUR DREAMS
Dreams are something all fiction writers should avoid, unless they’re extremely talented or the dreams are short and interesting. Fortunately the succubus visions are not dreams; they appear to be manifestations caused by your landlady. She could be a deity that feeds on desire, although it is never directly explained. But it means the visions are connected to the actual characters and events.
CHAINS AND WHIPS EXCITE ME
Obviously the succubus sequences are useful for marketing because who doesn’t want to see these characters dressed up in leather and collars? Such outfits that would be more at home in an S&M party. So you may look forward to them at the end of every chapter. But there is another angle. Each time you leave a vision, the succubus promises something next time as well. Such anticipation is a useful tool.
SUCH A TEASE
In these visions you can ask for more information about one of the love interests. The answer refers to something that comes later in the game, typically in the next chapter. When Lord Zhaozhao mentions how real-world Zhaozhao’s favorite place is “home”, you remember it when she asks where to place ice cream spoons in the house she made in the sand. Once players realize that these visions can actually help, they shift from mere eye candy to being invaluable.
WHERE FOR ART THOU, ZHAOZHAO?
Although all of the love interests are good, Xu Zhaozhao is one of the best in the genre. She was ranked #7 in my list of best characters from 2025, but perhaps that undersold her quality. My replay focused on her and she stands out because of attitude, naivety and also the actress behind the character.
HAPPY TO SEE YOU
Zhaozhao is often positive and cheerful, which is naturally infectious. She will also support what you do, acting as a great cheerleader. But these are not unique traits in the dating sim world. The reason her positive attitude works so well is because it is regularly justified by context. She gets happy when the project at work succeeds or when you go to the movies together. And so when you see her happy in other situations, there is usually a reason.
YOUNG BUT NOT CHILDISH
Typically love interests much younger than the protagonist fall into the common traps. They act like children, maybe even with baby talk. Tiantian from Tommorow's Love Puzzle is not the worst example of this type, but she has some of these negative traits. Immaturity is too often exaggerated. Then that character usually suffers romantically.
Zhaozhao sidesteps these pitfalls because she is trying to mature. She cooks for you. She tries hard at work. And she moves in next door. All these give her the aura of taking on more responsibility. Often she is hesitant and careful about how she talks, pulling back from her natural inclination. When we see her play in front of a giant mascot at the ice cream shop, we know she’s still young and energetic. But these moments are endearing because she is aware of it and wants to grow up.
A TOUGH ACT TO FOLLOW
Xu Zhaozhao’s actress, Sun Yijia (孙艺珈), is very talented. Even when put directly against veteran Qiao Yaona, she steals the show for a few reasons.
First she locks onto the camera like few others can. It is almost like a trance. The most obvious comparison here is Wang Han, from Knowledge or Know Lady, who similarly enters the ‘zone’ and is almost impossible to turn away from. Sun Yijia also has no issues with close-ups either. Some actresses hit a wall when they need to get closer than about a meter to the camera. This often manifests into mid-air kisses, rigid or quick embraces, and twitching eyelids. Sun Yijia embraces you effortlessly and stays close for a prolonged time.
It is possible she needed many takes to get things right, but if her best take is as good as the best in the genre then it’s just a matter of experience. It would not surprise me if Sun Yijia ends up being a TV or movie star in the future, like Fang Jin, but that depends on luck and opportunities. It would be a huge loss for us if she wasn’t able to star in another FMV game, but we are subject to the whims of the industry.
ONE HELL OF A GOOD TIME
Replaying Soul Touch was a joy from start to finish. Choosing Zhaozhao for everything made me appreciate it even more than trying to remain balanced. Even then, you spend enough time with the other love interests to get to know them quite well. It was extremely hard to turn down the gentle soul Zhong Ran, but I was more than happy to crush her heart into a million pieces for Xu Zhaozhao. Lots of work went into the script, which is not surprising since the developers say it took years of refinement.
It’s not a flawless game. The video quality is surprisingly blurry for a game that is nearly 60GB in size. This does not matter in the succubus visions, which bleed light in a cool way, but in regular play it needed to be sharper. There are some English translations missing, although the localization quality is actually better than average. Hopefully the people behind Soul Touch are working on another title because they have made something with lasting allure that is worth playing more than once.
