A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux

STORY

The most stressful year of high school is also the most fun to be had if you can balance classes, extracurriculars, and the oh-so elusive social life. 

You’re a high school junior starting the second quarter, who until now has made decent grades, held your own on the girls’ weightlifting team, and been through thick and thin with your supportive best friend, Billie Stevenson.

But maybe it’s time to switch things up and cross a few things off your bucket list? After all, there’s more to life than straight As, and maybe old and new friendships can blossom into something more. 

FEATURES

  • 5 Romance Paths
  • 1 Friendship Path (aro/ace friendly)


Different choices lead to different outcomes, with unique dialogue and events in each playthrough.

This game is rated 14+ for language, bullying, and suggestive humor.

CREDITS

STORY + PROGRAMMING • Gemini💛

CHARACTER ART Emily Head

GUI Foleso

MUSIC • Kevin MacLeod, HSDJY Soundtrack, Louie Zong


Download

Download
High School Daze: Junior Year(osx).zip 585 MB
Version 2.4.5 Feb 21, 2024
Download
High School Daze: Junior Year(win-linux).zip 600 MB
Version 2.4.5 Feb 21, 2024

Development log

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Comments

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hi just wondering but do you guys use AI-generated images for your backgrounds?

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Hi there! Nope, I'm staunchly anti-AI. All the backgrounds are either photos I've taken or royalty free ones that I've edited using Photopea. 

thank you for your answer!

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soo .. am i the only lydia apologist here? okay, cool. thanks, y'all. also also, i can't wait for the junior year 2's release this year!!

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😂💛 not at all, you've got a couple people in your corner (and me, I grabbed a seat lol!) Thanks for checking out game 1 and sticking around for game 2 shenanigans!

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Hi there! This is a completely SFW game as the main cast and side characters are all minors. 

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great job! I really enjoyed all of the routes (especially Ryan's)

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Aww thanks for playing!! (I admit, I had a lot of fun w/ Ryan's!)

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Will be there a sequel to this? where you can spend time with the characters you romanced?

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There's (short) extended epilogues on the way! The girls are first, Yuri Jam entry, and fingers crossed I can get the guys done and out to y'all by this December!

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Yay! Can't wait!

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Hey, so I was just curious but would pronouns/gender options be avaliable at any time or the future or is it just something you aren't planning for or focused on?

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Hi there! As the game stands and with the specific story I set out to tell, HSDJY won't offer anything outside of a female protagonist.

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just got back from a LONG day at work and am ready to unwind with this game i've been looking forward to for some time. going into it most excited for lydia, langston, and april, but i can't wait to try the other routes as well! thanks for your hard work <3

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Awww 🥰 hope you enjoy the game!!

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Played the GxG routes, think I liked Lydia's reconciliation route the most, but Florence and April's routes are pretty good too. <3

Near the end, there's a bit with Arnold/Jeffery and Billie, I think I like the name Jeffery over Arnold :).

There's a few typos but that doesn't detract from the overall good experience. Well done. <3

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Typo Queen at your service 😭 but thanks for playing and for your honest thoughts!

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i recall playing the demo a while back, and i'm so excited to find that the full version is out!! i've got it downloading now <3 i'm so hyped.

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Aww yay!! Hope you enjoy 💞

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I WANT A ROUTE ABOUT X I REALLY LIKE HIM(ik is not possible but dreaming is free) JSSADJH and his design is very pretty I also like the writing is so good?? omg and the characters <3, AND BILLIE HAS MY HEART, i like all of it I didn't finish all of the routes tho JAJA, anyways i love this dating sim and the mc was really cool,idk what to say more but this game is so nice kajhkj

"Dreaming is free" YO I love this and I'm borrowing it 😂💛 Thank you so, so much for playing!!

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JAJA,TY TO YOU FOR MAKING IT <33

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Awwh the game was such a lovely ride!! Such lighthearted fun with beautiful banter. The whole cast was such a blast to be around, loved the tiny dynamic changes of the characters too depending on which route you're on and how everyone treated the Mc in their own way. Especially loved Lydia's arc, with her starting out as an estranged friend and how they tackled that.
Also Mc being in the female weightlifting team is such a cool thing!! You go girl, being a bundle of energy.
As for Vanessa, I know she isn't exactly a likable person but still couldn't help but feel bad in the end. She probably has her own demons to fight that made her lash out like this. Not excusing her actions, just wish there was a way to reconcile with her maybe, but then again, you can't be friends with everyone in life and that's just how it is sometimes, especially as a teen where literally everything overwhelms you.
But yeah, thank you so much for sharing this with us! I had a great time with it :) <3

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Thanks for playing and for your kind review! 🥰

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i just now finished every route and honestly? i loved this game.

the writing made me feel homely and immersed while the characters were beautifully written and unique! though i have to say my favorite was lydia! kinda wished we could learn about whats up with vanessa?

also to see poc in a game where they aren't portrayed as stereotypes is huge too!! we love to see it!

Lydia love 🤧 someone after my own heart! And yes, I often wonder about Vanessa myself (though I love her to pieces too LOL!) Thank you for giving this game a shot!

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The game is so cute and fun! Really have the high school vibe. Made me feel a little nostalgic.

I'm in my second route now, but I love all the characters. Your writing is... How I say it? Fun, soft in some way, makes me feel cozy and this is something I love in lighthearted games.

Good job and thanks for sharing your game with us.

Oh my gosh thank you for playing and thank you for sharing your thoughts!! 💞

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ughh I love Lydia I am hoping to get more scenes with her

Lydia has my heart TOO!!! Hope you'll check out the full game for more Lydia content 🤗

when its gonna be released?

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If all goes to plan, this October!

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No android????

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Sorry friend! Maybe in the future it'll be something to consider, but for now it's just the PC/Mac builds 💛

okeey...thanks for answer xixix....

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Hey! I just played the game today and I love it! Although, I don't know how other people feel, but, I'd personally be interested in seeing a romance route for Billie! I'm guessing that she isn't one of the 3 seeing as she didn't seem to have any romance options in the demo. Don't just change anything on my account though. Just giving my thoughts! All in all, it's an amazing game so far and I can't wait to play the final product!

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Thanks so much for checking out the demo!!  You're right, unfortunately Billie isn't one of 3 but I'm so glad you love her as much as I do (but I hope you'll give Lydia, April, or Florence's route a chance come the full game if you're looking for GxG routes 💛)

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I've been meaning to play High School Daze for a long while now - and I like it!! This game is an adorable, wholehearted slice of life. Although the love interest introductions were very brief, I was making heart eyes at April on sight and - indeed - stared after her longingly. I really want her bee shirt, too.

I'm most curious about what could have happened with the ex best friend Lydia, and if there might be some reconciliation on the table - I'm also curious about the role Billie will play as the current best friend, although I can already tell she's going to be supportive when I decide to kiss someone. Also the protagonist is on the weightlifting team, which is literally one of the coolest character traits ever? Ever.

Your list of fears seem like they apply to the actual character routes not included in the demo, so it's a shame I won't be able to assuage them - but I already can tell that each character will have a unique dynamic with the protagonist.  Thank you for sharing your hard work with us, I look forward to getting to know the cast. ❤︎❤︎❤︎

(+1)

Thank you so much for playing and I'm so, so glad you enjoyed the demo!! And yes, I'm currently running on caffeine, sweat, and tears so I appreciate you taking the chance to play and rate the game, it means a lot!

Hi I wanted to try the the demo, and I don't if it's me or the game but it won't let me download the demo for Windows, it's getting a error, saying it can't read the property build

Oh no! I'm sorry to hear that! Do you mind sending/attaching a screen of the error?

Okie, are you attempting a download through the itch.io app or through the web browser? And if the app, have you been able to download other games?

I'm using the app and yes I have been able to download other games

I wasn't able to find a permanent fix on my end, but I'll keep looking into this in case someone else has problems. Please send an email to  hummingbirdstudio (dot) games (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll send the zip file for the Windows build!

(+3)

i love how lighthearted and accurate this is!! also, the characters are super cute and everything is veryyy pretty <3 looking forward to more of this game!!

(+3)

Aww, thanks so much for your kind words!