One of the best slices of life out there. If you're familiar with VA-11 Hall-A, it's basically this but with shishas instead of cocktails.

What seems like a dating sim is in fact a reflexion about death, what we do with our life, how to deal with our traumas and grieves, and how to find hope along the way. It's in the simplest of things. And what distinguishes Hookah Haze from the other games or even Visual Novels which shared the same themes is how it's using dating sim archetypes to deliver its message. Rarely we saw these types of characters seem so... real ? They truly care for the MC and maybe you'll truly care about them too. And since they shared our burdens, maybe you'll somehow find a game that truly cares about you.

Yeah sure, it's a cute dating sim released in 2024 with LOTS of influences and references, what could go wrong :)
Joke aside, it was deeper than some of said references and i enjoyed the entirety of the ride. Plus, it's free, it's short, really, i wouldn't understand anyone not recommending it, especially if you're curious about Visual Novels and such. Comes with an excellent music album too.