History YMMV / NewGame

* FunnyAneurysmMoment:

* HarsherInHindsight:

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** After several mostly serious chapters that weren't as well received by the fans, Chapters 85-87 include some lighthearted fun that's more characteristic of the series.
** While Hifumi was OutOfFocus for much of the series, Volume 11 gives her some character focus. She laments that she feels left out due to Aoba spending time with her older(Nene, Hotaru) and newer(Momiji) friends, all of whom are more outgoing and ambitious[[note]]Hifumi only wants to draw quietly and [[ShrinkingViolet avoid social interaction]], which means she is not keen of raises.[[/note]] than Hifumi, so Hifumi having less time with Aoba comes off as a natural development rather than the story forgetting about her.

** Anime Tiddies.[[labelnote:Explanation]]Originates from Website/{{Tumblr}}. A user edited a frame from Chapter 11 of the manga when Aoba searches for GirlishPigtails to [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/af01.jpg a search for "Anime Tiddies"]], poking fun at {{Gainaxing}}. This image has become one of the most emblematic of that trope, despite people hardly know the original image comes from ''New Game!'' until the anime adaptation in 2016, nor does anyone from the series falls victim to that trope.[[/labelnote]] %%http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/anime-tiddies

* {{Moe}}: The style of the series. Aoba looks to be especially huggable. Taken UpToEleven when Aoba's in her Hi-bear-nating Bag, which reaches [[Manga/AzumangaDaioh Penguin Chiyo]] levels of adorable.

** Momiji, in the same arc, resorts to [[spoiler:punching Aoba out of her depression, essentially telling her she doesn't have the right to be sad because she (Momiji) wanted to be in her position instead.]] To throw salt into the injury, ''it works''. Doubly so, given Kou [[spoiler:(as described above) decide to relay a message through her, instead of Aoba's closet friend, Nene or even Hotaru herself]], making her essentially steal the spotlight from characters that did have narrative stakes in this situation.

* UnpleasableFanbase: As can be seen in the BrokenBase section there were a few fans unhappy with light tone and favorable depiction of working in the Game industry. But when the series went darker showing stuff like Aoba constantly being shafted for a position she really wanted, usually for reasons that had little to do with skill, or how many times everyone had to change jobs with each new game, including straight up leaving for another studio, fans also did not like this direction either

* WatchItForTheMeme: According to the Japanese Wikipedia article, the manga originally had a lukewarm reception until a panel of Aoba saying "I'll do my best today!" caused it to explode in popularity, which caught him off-guard since it was just a simple line of dialogue and not a statement of intent. But that meme pretty much single-handedly brought the manga to national attention in Japan.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: [[spoiler:Aoba]]'s breakdown and consequential HeroicBSOD only lasts a total of 15 pages across 2 chapters. Given this was supposed to be the last conflict of the series, and how dark this plot thread is compared to the rest of the series, it got solved way too quickly and nonchalantly for how heavy of a subject that was.
** Even worse is HOW that conflict was solved: [[spoiler:Momo]], who had absolutely no relation to this plot thread whatsoever, just went to a mentally broken [[spoiler:Aoba]]'s house, gave her a punch to the face and told her to get over it, because she wanted the position [[spoiler:Aoba]] had, and thus it wasn't fair that she got depressed. Have in mind that [[spoiler:Aoba]] has a much closer relationship with the people directly involved in this mess - [[spoiler:Hotaru]], who came out of nowhere to steal her thunder, and [[spoiler:Kou]], who essentially kickstarted the whole thing by not defending her when it counted. By stealing the spotlight, [[spoiler:Momo]] robbed the chances of either of them coming out in a better light through this whole mess, only being relegated to (somewhat) unwilling antagonists in the very final arc that was supposed to bring closure to their friendly rivalry.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Kou becomes this in the final arc. Not only does she refuse to [[spoiler:defend her decision to make Aoba the Key Visual designer for Fairy Story 4]], which leads her to a deep depression for a whole week, when it comes the time to show her trust in her subordinate by facing her head on like she's always done, Kou instead decides to not lift a finger and place all the responsibility on [[spoiler:Aoba]]'s shoulders. Bonus points for relaying a message through [[spoiler:Momiji]], of all people, instead of making any efforts to talk to her prior to the resolution.
** Momiji, in the same arc, resorts to [[spoiler:punching Aoba out of her depression, essentially telling her she doesn't have the right to be sad because she (Momiji) wanted to be in her position instead.]] To throw salt to the injury, IT WORKS. Doubly so, given Kou [[spoiler:(as described above) decide to relay a message through her, instead of Aoba's closet friend, Nene or even Hotaru herself]], making her essentially steal the spotlight from characters that did have narrative stakes in this situation.

* WatchItForTheMeme: According to the Japanese Wikipedia article, the manga originally had a lukewarm reception until a panel of Aoba saying "I'll do my best today!" caused it to explode in popularity, which caught him off-guard since it was just a simple line of dialogue and not a statement of intent.

** All the inspiration, positivity, and support Aoba and Hotaru give each other becomes more bittersweet when [[spoiler: Christine pits them against each other to decide who will do ''Fairy Stories 4'''s key visual.]]

* HarsherInHindsight: An early chapter has Aoba, Yun, and Hajime discuss how ''Fairy Stories 3'' might be cancelled, with a disclaimer that it happens a lot in the gaming industry. [[spoiler: Then, in chapter 135, development of ''Fairy Stories 4'' is shut down right as Aoba is on the verge of finally doing a key visual.]]

** While Hifumi was OutOfFocus for much of the series, Volume 11 gives her some character focus. She laments that she feels left out due to Aoba spending time with her older(Nene, Hotaru) and newer(Momiji) friends, all of whom are more outgoing and ambitious than Hifumi, so Hifumi having less time with Aoba comes off as a natural development rather than the story forgetting about her.

* AuthorsSavingThrow: After several mostly serious chapters that weren't as well received by the fans, Chapters 85-87 include some lighthearted fun that's more characteristic of the series.

** Naru gets a lot of hate from Nene fans for her animosity toward her fellow programmer. It also doesn't help that she indirectly insulted Umiko by accusing her of hiring Nene just for having connections. Her feelings of Nene getting special treatment has even sparked arguments in the fandom about whether Nene was hired for her potential skill or if the fact that she was friends with many at Eagle Jump had a bigger part. This even leads to discussion on hiring practices in general and whether its more advantageous to be highly skilled with no connections or moderately skilled and have connections. Still there are quite a few fans who believe Naru is justified in thinking that Nene just lucked into the very job that Naru is working very hard to obtain, and even Umiko herself has said that Nene lacks the skill needed to actually work on games at Eagle Jump, which somewhat confirms that while she was seen to have great potential Nene was mostly hired because of her friendship with Umiko. In fact, Nene herself admits that [[JerkassHasAPoint Naru isn't exactly wrong]].

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Ch. 142 and 143 introduce the idea that [[spoiler:Ko only chose Aoba for the Key Visual Artist for FS4 because she thought the latter wouldn't be able to win in a competition inside Eagle Jump and thus would not be chosen for the role. This leads Aoba in a spiral of self deprecation that makes her skip work for several days and is left crying in bed the entire time.]] Instead of exploring the consequences of that reveal and the fragmented relationship between the involved characters, Momo comes out of nowhere, punches [[spoiler:Aoba]] in the face and tells her to get over it. WHICH SHE DOES IMMEDIATELY!
** Some might find this plot unnecessary to begin with, given the show is supposed to be an ''iyashi-key'' with cute anime girls doing cute things, while others find the drama fine but dislike the way it was solved way too quickly. Bonus points if you think Momo is the CreatorsPet, then the whole situation described above is just infuriating.
** Bonus Bonus points if you think [[spoiler:Ko refusing to draw anything after saying she would be drawing for the competition]] was a non-apology for everything she made [[spoiler:Aoba]] go through. Some threads on reddit are filled with rewrites of [[spoiler:Ko]] handling the situation much better and actually apologizing.

** There are some who are disappointed that the series isn't a critical look into video game development, a bit like the gaming industry's equivalent of ''Anime/{{Shirobako}}'', while others are fine with it being a character-focused comedy. Some people contend that the author knows virtually nothing about the gaming industry, and that it shows, while others consider the series to be more believable.

** A good amount of the series' idealism towards the games industry is this; while the field was still something of an enigma to laypeople when the manga began in 2013, by the end of the decade the industry's darker side would become increasingly better-known outside of its own members, with stories of staff abuse and crunch culture among both AAA and indie development teams in both the United States and Japan making their way to the public and radically changing the public image of video game development as a whole. These new revelations also contributed heavily to the BrokenBase regarding the manga's treatment of the games industry, and nowadays the series comes off as a product from a more naïve time.

** There are some who are disappointed that the series isn't a critical look into video game development, a bit like the gaming industry's equivalent of Anime/{{Shirobako}}, while others are fine with it being a character-focused comedy. Some people contend that the author knows virtually nothing about the gaming industry, and that it shows, while others consider the series to be more believable.

* VindicatedByHistory: A minor case, but the second season/the Peco arc has been somewhat more fondly remembered in comparison to the dodgeball arc (which, as of this writing, has not been adapted into the anime). Reasons include the tone being significantly lighter, [[spoiler:Kou still being at Eagle Jump]], and there still being roles for secondary characters like Hifumi.

** The dub avoids giving specific money amounts, likely to avoid having to explain to Western viewers how much various sums of yen are worth. For example, when Nene unwittingly eats Ko's pudding, which cost 100 yen(roughly $1 US), Ko says the pudding cost "pocket change."

** A good amount of the series' idealism towards the games industry is this; while the field was still something of an enigma to laypeople when the manga began in 2013, by the end of the decade the industry's darker side would become increasingly better-known outside of its own members, with stories of staff abuse and crunch culture among both AAA and indie development teams making their way to the public and radically changing the public image of video game development as a whole. These new revelations also contributed heavily to the BrokenBase regarding the manga's treatment of the games industry, and nowadays the series comes off as a product from a more naïve time.

* FunnyAneurysmMoment: Early on in the series, Hajime ponders what she'd do if she got promoted and became Kou's boss, resulting in Kou and Yun saying they'd quit if that happened, and Aoba sheepishly being unable to say anything in Hajime's defense. Hajime eventually does become the director, [[spoiler:after Kou leaves for Blue Rose(Yun, however, stays on)]], and the arc with her at the head of the company was somewhat poorly received by viewers.

** In Chapter 25, after Kou runs into a pole, Rin says, "But it's good that you didn't get into a traffic accident like your name, XX-chan," (Kou's name is bleeped out of the surveillance camera footage). In the localization of the manga, Rin makes a pun about Kou suffering a "Kou-cussion."

** Hifumi. A lot of fans love her for her shy tendencies and LesYay moments, but many don't think highly of her due to the fact that she's OutOfFocus often and doesn't get the character development that other characters do. Fans of the Aoba/Ko and Aoba/Nene pairings tend to go the hardest on her [[ShipToShipCombat for obvious reasons]], saying that she has hardly any romantic teases with Aoba.

** Rin. Season 2 gets her pretty bad due to having slightly less screentime, and her jealousy to Ko is slightly more obvious (Its even lampshaded by ''Hifumi'' of all people), mainly resulting her almost always being annoyed at Ko being oblivious to her. On the other hand, the Rin/Ko ship is very popular, and enough people enjoy their dynamic that they're disappointed when [[spoiler:Ko leaves for France, which results in Rin getting less screentime with Ko(and to a lesser degree, in general)]].

** There are some who are disappointed that the series isn't a critical look into video game development a la Anime/{{Shirobako}}, while others are fine with it being a character-focused comedy. Some people contend that the author knows virtually nothing about the gaming industry, and that it shows, while others consider the series to be more believable.
** Chapter 49/ [=S2E06=]. Detractors criticize the arc of having borderline [[spoiler:BreakTheCutie]] elements that is unsuitable for the {{Iyashikei}}[==]-heavy ''Magazine/MangaTimeKirara Caret''. Supporters instead say the discussed situation is common at least among Japanese developers, and Tokuno's playing it LighterAndSofter.
** Season 2 is either a refreshing, more dramatic take on the series with real conflict and interesting new characters, or a massive downgrade that focuses too much on the drama and brings new characters at the cost of older ones falling {{Out of Focus}}. Not helping is how Naru and Momoiji are [[BaseBreakingCharacter pretty divisive to begin with]].