Astrologaster

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 348 reviews
  • humor
  • story
  • music
Astrologaster Game Cover
With witty dialogue and historical references galore, Astrologaster is a great experience for anyone interested in a good story that holds up for multiple playthroughs.
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"Astrologaster" is a single-player historical visual novel game set in 16th century London during the plague. As unlicensed medical professional and astrologer Simon Forman, players will help him win a medical license by performing astrological readings for clients and making story choices based on the movements of the stars. With delightful visuals, amazing music, and hilarious dialogue, players will explore Forman's life and relationships, making decisions that have consequences and unpredictable side effects.

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Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 348 reviews
humor189 positive mentions
atmosphere3 negative mentions
  • Astrologaster features excellent voice acting and a charming pop-up book art style that enhances the storytelling experience.
  • The game is filled with witty humor and clever writing, making it a delightful and entertaining journey through Elizabethan England.
  • Players can enjoy a unique blend of historical references and engaging character interactions, with the added challenge of making astrological predictions that affect the narrative.
  • The gameplay can become repetitive, as choices often lead to similar outcomes, limiting the overall replayability of the game.
  • Some players may find the lack of clear consequences for their choices frustrating, as the game sometimes feels like a guessing game rather than a strategic decision-making experience.
  • There are occasional technical issues, such as overlapping dialogue and audio glitches, which can detract from the overall immersion.
  • humor189 mentions

    The humor in "Astrologaster" is widely praised for its sharp wit, clever writing, and memorable characters, often drawing comparisons to British comedic styles like Monty Python and Blackadder. Players appreciate the game's blend of historical context and modern cultural references, with many finding themselves laughing out loud at the quirky storytelling and musical interludes. Overall, the game is celebrated as a delightful and humorous experience that effectively combines narrative depth with comedic elements.

    • “The humor is sharp, the characters are wonderfully eccentric, and the story is full of clever twists.”
    • “Laugh out loud funny, with numerous amusing storylines and wacky, memorable characters.”
    • “Astrologaster is a unique game that combines humor, history, and astrology in a delightful package.”
  • story115 mentions

    The story of "Astrologaster" is a humorous and engaging narrative set in the early 1600s, centered around the eccentric astrologer Simon Forman. Players navigate a choose-your-own-adventure format filled with clever twists, memorable characters, and sharp wit, enhanced by excellent voice acting and a delightful musical score. While the gameplay is primarily interactive storytelling with limited replayability, the well-developed characters and intertwining storylines provide a captivating experience for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “The humor is sharp, the characters are wonderfully eccentric, and the story is full of clever twists.”
    • “A delightfully humorous, tongue-in-cheek story about an astrologist who wants to get a license to practice medicine lawfully and to that end he needs to get 8 letters of recommendation from his customers.”
    • “Astrologaster presents a very comical and immersive narrative (based on the true story of Simon Forman), which, beneath the surface, outlines the true nature of astrology and occult practices - unpredictable, circumstantial and most times, very ironical.”
    • “Whenever I resumed the game later, I struggled to recall the storyline and had to review the in-game patient notes.”
    • “The story went nowhere and cut me off so quickly when it ended; I was left very confused.”
    • “Unfortunately, I think its replayability is limited as it seems that character story arcs don't change much, only their reaction to your reading of the stars and their opinion of you that determines their likelihood of writing a letter of recommendation.”
  • music95 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its excellent composition, catchy melodies, and clever lyrics that enhance the humorous and whimsical atmosphere. Players appreciate the original songs, choral elements, and voice acting, which contribute significantly to the overall charm and entertainment value of the experience. Many reviewers highlight the music as a standout feature, making it a memorable aspect of the game.

    • “The music is perfect.”
    • “The voice acting and music alone makes this game worth it.”
    • “The original music and songs are fantastic, as well as the voice acting.”
    • “The songs are short, so don’t worry, it’s all a musical :(”
    • “The music for the game really helped you to feel like you were in that period, and the voice acting was amazing.”
    • “It does help if you have a little familiarity with the history and the music of the period in which the game takes place, although the writing is funny enough to stand on its own even for players who are not acquainted with those things - but if you know where to look, the game is full of references both in the music and the writing.”
  • gameplay70 mentions

    The gameplay of "Astrologaster" is characterized by a simple, repetitive loop focused on making choices based on astrological readings, which some players find engaging while others deem it monotonous. While the mechanics are straightforward and the narrative is enriched by humor and historical context, the lack of depth and variation in gameplay may not appeal to those seeking more intricate challenges. Overall, the game is best suited for players who appreciate narrative-driven experiences over complex gameplay mechanics.

    • “Great game, fun mechanics and compelling aesthetics!”
    • “Overall, Astrologaster gets a big thumbs up from me for its unique concept, engaging gameplay, and positive vibes.”
    • “The game mechanics offer you interesting choices and an intriguing mechanism for making them: interpreting sometimes contradictory indications from the heavens in a series of astrological readings.”
    • “The actual gameplay becomes repetitive pretty quickly, but there's also not quite enough intrigue or depth to make it a compelling visual novel.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit basic so far, and doesn't require a great deal of thought, so this is not the game for people looking for puzzles.”
    • “However, the gameplay on decisions gets too repetitive and making decisions at some points yields better results by just randomly choosing them.”
  • graphics57 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pop-up book aesthetic and hand-drawn art style, which effectively brings the historical setting to life. While some reviewers note that the visuals are simple and may not push hardware capabilities, the overall presentation, combined with excellent voice acting and witty writing, creates an engaging experience. The unique art style, though minimalistic, adds to the game's whimsical and theatrical feel, making it a delightful visual treat.

    • “The art style is gorgeous, and the voice acting is top-notch, making the entire experience feel like a whimsical stage play.”
    • “The hand-drawn art style brings the historical setting to life, and the peculiar characters add so much charm to the game.”
    • “The pop-up book/paper doll art style and 'stage' feel is a perfect fit for the game.”
    • “Graphically, this game will not push your computer very hard.”
    • “Graphics are quite minimal (although the paper cutout effect is cool), emphasis is on sound and voice acting (which is unusual).”
    • “Graphics are... well, this could easily be a mobile game.”
  • replayability24 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the ability to explore different choices and outcomes, many feel that the limited narrative branches and predictable story arcs reduce its long-term appeal. Although there are multiple dialogue options and some variations in character interactions, the consensus is that the game is more suited for a one-time playthrough rather than repeated sessions. Players express a desire for more significant changes in the storyline to enhance replay value.

    • “Making astrological decisions and navigating the challenges presented in each consultation kept me hooked, and the branching storylines added a layer of replayability that I appreciated.”
    • “This game has high replayability if you want to see the different endings for the patients.”
    • “I should also mention that because of the multiple dialogue options throughout, this game has replayability value, and that means a lot to me.”
    • “The game isn't really replayable - different choices don't really open up narrative branches as much as they affect your scoring and relationship with characters.”
    • “I only wish there were some replayability, but I will definitely watch while my friends and family play.”
    • “Only complaint is there is no replayability value as it's a one-and-done story.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by a delightful blend of Monty Python humor and Shakespearean wit, enhanced by appealing art and entertaining music. The lighthearted dialogue and engaging narration contribute to a comical and whimsical environment, making the experience enjoyable and immersive. However, some players feel that the absence of multilingual subtitles could hinder decision-making without disrupting the game's unique "old England" vibe.

    • “The art is appealing and the music creates a comical atmosphere, which leads onto further ridiculous stories.”
    • “Extremely entertaining, amazing vocals/music really adds to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The dialogue maintains a very lighthearted atmosphere, and after treating the first few clients as the doctor, Simon Forman, it becomes clear that the game doesn't take itself too seriously.”
    • “Also wish the game had subtitles in dialogues in other languages; it would not break the 'old England' atmosphere, but would help to make some decisions.”
    • “The art is appealing and the music creates a comical atmosphere, which leads to further ridiculous stories.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The game effectively balances humor and heartfelt moments, creating a compelling narrative that resonates emotionally with players. Users report developing strong attachments to characters, enhancing the overall experience, while the gameplay elicits a range of emotions from pride in clever deductions to humility in missteps. Overall, it is praised as a rare gem for its clever and touching storytelling.

    • “Balancing humor with a heartfelt light.”
    • “A tale compelling, touching hearts.”
    • “You will see the same people coming back time and time again, and you start to develop a rapport and even an emotional attachment with them.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game exhibits several minor bugs, glitches, and typos, including instances where players are presented with two choices but can only select one, indicating a need for further stability improvements.

    • “There are also a bunch of minor bugs, glitches, and typos left.”
    • “There are sometimes glitches where the game shows you have two choices, but you can only pick one.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The reviews highlight that the game's optimization is not explicitly mentioned, but the overall experience is enhanced by its witty writing, excellent vocal performances, and engaging art style, suggesting that the game runs smoothly and effectively supports its creative elements.

  • grinding1 mentions

    Players express that the grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time akin to having a second life to fully engage with it.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The grinding feels endless and tedious.”
    • “Grinding takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The character development is praised for its authentic design, effectively capturing the real-life portraits of the characters from their historical context, which adds depth and realism to their portrayal.

    • “The character design truly resembles what the real-life portraits of the characters looked like back in their day; that's a plus.”
    • “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to their personality, making them feel more relatable and real.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, facing challenges that shape their beliefs and relationships.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

69% average critic score

Buy Astrologaster

Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6hMain story
7hCompletionist
5-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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