Now & Then
Play Now & Then
Now & Then review
Master choices, scenes, and endings in this captivating visual novel adventure
Ever stumbled upon a game that hooks you with steamy choices and branching stories? That’s Now & Then for me—a choice-based visual novel where every decision shapes your relationships and unlocks wild scenes. I remember my first playthrough, fumbling through Chapter 7 and missing key love points with Carol and Naomi, only to reload saves obsessively. This guide dives deep into Now & Then gameplay, from maximizing points to nailing those elusive threesomes and endings. Whether you’re chasing alternate dialogs, kinks like Incest Play, or pregnancy reveals, I’ve got actionable tips to elevate your experience. Let’s turn your runs into legendary playthroughs!
How to Master Choices in Now & Then Game?
Let me paint you a picture of frustration. 🎨 There I was, deep into my first playthrough of Now & Then, convinced I was on the perfect Carol path. We’d shared moments, built what I thought was a solid connection, and then… Chapter 7 happened. I made what seemed like a reasonable choice, only to watch the storyline crumble. I missed a crucial scene with Carol, got a cold shoulder from Naomi, and ended up with an ending that felt about as satisfying as a flat soda. 😩 I’d messed up the delicate balance of Naomi love points and Carol’s Trust without even realizing it.
That experience taught me one thing: in this captivating visual novel, every click matters. Mastering Now & Then choices isn’t just about picking what you feel is right; it’s about understanding the invisible scoreboard of Love, Trust, Nerve, and Conflict points that silently dictate your entire adventure. This chapter is your redemption arc. We’re going to break down the core mechanics, navigate the pivotal Chapter 7 choices Now & Then throws at you, and set you on the path to unlocking everything this rich story has to offer. Forget guesswork—let’s build your perfect run.
What Are the Best Paths for Carol and Naomi?
Think of your relationship with Carol and Naomi as a delicate teeter-totter. 🎢 For much of the game, boosting one often means the other loses a bit of footing. This is the central drama of the best Now & Then paths. You generally can’t max out both simultaneously until very specific conditions are met later. So, you need to decide where your loyalties (or desires) lie early on.
The Carol Path: This route is about building a deep, protective bond. Carol’s path hinges on Trust and Love points. She responds to choices that show care, stability, and patience. Getting her to open up is a slow burn, but incredibly rewarding. To truly master the Carol path Now & Then, you need to be consistent. Choosing comforting options, being her rock in scary situations, and, very importantly, being attentive to her needs during intimate moments are key. She’s not about wild risks; she’s about building a safe connection in a world that’s anything but.
The Naomi Path: Naomi is a whirlwind. 🔥 Her route is fueled by Nerve and Love points. She’s drawn to confidence, boldness, and a bit of playful rebellion. Where Carol might need reassurance, Naomi is often testing you, seeing if you’ll match her adventurous spirit. Making the daring choice, showing initiative, and not shying away from her more forward advances are how you stockpile those precious Naomi love points. Her path is electric and fast-paced, but it can burn out if you suddenly switch to a more reserved approach.
Pro Insight: The game’s secret “golden” route involves carefully balancing these points to eventually open the possibility of a threesome. It requires near-perfect timing and specific checks in later chapters. For your first dedicated run, I strongly recommend picking one woman to focus on and sticking to her preferred choice pattern.
Unlocking Kinks and Extra Dialogs Early On
One of the most rewarding parts of a deep Now & Then walkthrough is accessing all the hidden content—the alternate dialog, additional scenes, and yes, the kinks. 🎭 This isn’t just about sexy options; it’s about seeing the fullest version of the story and characters.
The mechanic is elegant: many Now & Then choices don’t just give you points; they unlock Alternate Dialog later in the conversation or Additional Dialog in completely different scenes. It makes every playthrough unique. But let’s talk about the intimate scenes, as they are major gateways for both points and extra content.
Here’s a tactical breakdown that changed my game. When you reach a consensual intimate scene with Carol (often a key moment on her path), the game presents options like Finger, Oral, Missionary, Cowgirl. Your goal isn’t just to proceed to the main event.
- Do Finger Once. This unlocks specific dialog and reactions.
- Then, Do Oral Once. This unlocks another layer of interaction.
- Finally, proceed to your preferred main option.
By doing this sequence, you often trigger a mechanic where you can get Carol off three times before the scene culminates. Successfully achieving this usually grants a +1 Love point and, crucially, unlocks significant Additional Dialog in future chapters that wouldn’t appear otherwise. It’s the difference between a good scene and a great, story-enhancing one.
Now, for unlock kinks Now & Then. These are special narrative flavors you can enable, usually found in the settings or as very specific dialog choices during intimate moments. They don’t change the plot but add spicy role-play layers:
* Incest Play: Introduces “daddy” dialog during scenes.
* Schoolgirl Play: Unlocks specific uniform-themed role-play, often tied to a Chapter 12 scene.
* Butt Stuff: Enables anal options when the narrative allows.
* Nothing: Keeps the scenes without these specific themes.
You can experiment with these on any path; they’re about personal preference and seeing all the content the writers crafted.
Avoiding Common Mistakes in Chapter 7 and Beyond
This is it. The make-or-break chapter. My original disaster happened right here. 🚨 Chapter 7 choices Now & Then are arguably the most important branching point in the early game. You’re separated from the group with both Carol and Naomi, and what you do here sets the trajectory for the rest of your story.
The scenario: You’re in the house. You hear a noise. Here’s where players, including past-me, stumble.
- The “Apologize” Choice: If you check on the noise and it’s Naomi, you get a choice. Apologizing gives you +1 Naomi Trust, which is solid for her path. But it’s a very safe, almost passive choice.
- The “Check on Carol” Route: This is the critical path for Carol. You go upstairs, find her, and have a tender moment that can lead to fingering. Be warned: choosing the intimate option here will apply Carol Nerve -1. It’s a trade-off for closeness.
- The “See Naomi” Alternative: If you go to Naomi’s room, you might witness her pleasuring herself. Watching unlocks unique dialog and is a huge boost for her path.
- The “Continue with Carol then Naomi” Path: This is the advanced maneuver. If your stats are right, you can have a moment with Carol, then go to Naomi for her scene. This is a prime example of using save scumming (saving before the choice and reloading to see both branches) to maximize content.
- The “Kitchen” Trap: 🚫 Going to the kitchen first means you miss all the sexy character content with Carol and Naomi. Instead, you fight Infected in a sequence that has its own funny dialog based on how many enemies you’ve killed (at 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 25 beats). It’s amusing once, but a tragedy if you’re aiming for romance.
To visualize the pivot points, here’s your tactical guide:
| Choice | Action | Stats Gained / Effect | Content Unlocked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investigate Noise > Apologize | Resolve tension with Naomi | +1 Naomi Trust | Alternate peaceful dialog branch |
| Check on Carol > Be Intimate | Comfort Carol upstairs | Carol Nerve -1, Potential +Love | Key romantic scene, crucial for Carol path |
| See Naomi > Watch | Observe Naomi in her room | Significant Naomi Love/Nerve boost | Unique voyeur scene, additional flirty dialog later |
| Go to Kitchen | Skip character scenes | None (romance) | Combat dialog, misses all romantic development |
The biggest mistake is not having a clear goal for this chapter. Are you all-in on Carol? Then you must Check on Carol. Are you pursuing Naomi? See Naomi. Trying the difficult balance? You’ll need precise prior stats to navigate the “continue with both” option. Walking to the kitchen is essentially pressing the “skip romance” button.
My successful run looked like this: I’d prioritized Love points with Carol from the very start. In Chapter 7, I Checked on Carol, shared the intimate moment (accepting the Nerve hit), which solidified our bond. Because I had built enough foundation earlier, I was later able to recover my standing with Naomi through careful choices, eventually leading to the famous threesome setup. It all hinged on understanding that Chapter 7 is a funnel, not just another scene.
To wrap up your mastery of Now & Then choices, here are your top five actionable tips to implement right from the start:
- Decide Your Primary Love Interest Early: Commit to either Carol or Naomi for your first serious playthrough. Flip-flopping leads to mediocre endings.
- Mentally Track Your Stats: Get a feel for what type of choice gives which point. Is this a bold (Nerve) or comforting (Trust) option?
- Save Scum Liberally: Save before every major choice. This isn’t cheating; it’s how you explore the best Now & Then paths and see all the content in one playthrough.
- Sequence Your Intimate Actions: Remember the Finger, then Oral, then main event strategy to unlock maximum dialog and bonus points.
- Chapter 7 is Your Commitment Point: Walk into this chapter knowing exactly which scene you’re aiming for. Use the table above as your cheat sheet.
Mastering this game is about embracing its depth. With this guide, you’re no longer just playing—you’re crafting your perfect story, unlocking every secret, and truly experiencing all the poignant, thrilling, and steamy moments this incredible visual novel has hidden behind its Now & Then choices. Now go reload that save and build your perfect ending. 🏆
Diving into Now & Then has been a thrill—those pivotal choices with Carol, Naomi, and beyond create endless replay value, from kink unlocks to epic threesomes and endings. My top takeaway? Always chase those Love and Trust points early to open every steamy path. Whether you’re replaying for gallery completion or hunting pregnancies with Sydney and Carol, this visual novel rewards bold decisions. Grab your save files, experiment with every branch, and share your wildest runs in the comments. What’s your favorite scene? Time to play Now & Then again and make it legendary!