Belladonna

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 286 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Belladonna Game Cover
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"Belladonna" is a single-player horror arcade game now available on itch.io, previously exclusive to Steam. As a corpse girl rising from the dead in a gothic, twisted setting, uncover the mysteries of your own death and reanimation. The story follows a doctor and his wife dealing with the tragedy of their child's death, leading to a dark obsession and Belladonna's descent into despair. Experience sensational graphics, masterful music, and a chilling atmosphere in this gothic adventure.

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 286 reviews
story112 positive mentions
grinding5 negative mentions
  • The artwork and atmosphere are beautifully crafted, creating an engaging gothic experience.
  • The story, while short, is intriguing and draws on themes from classic literature, particularly Frankenstein.
  • The voice acting is decent and adds to the overall charm of the game.
  • The game is extremely short, taking only about an hour to complete, which feels unsatisfying for the price.
  • Puzzles are overly simplistic and do not provide any real challenge, making the gameplay feel lacking.
  • The narrative relies heavily on journal entries, which can be tedious to read and detracts from the interactive experience.
  • story331 mentions

    The story of the game is a short, linear narrative primarily conveyed through journal entries, which some players found tedious and lacking depth. While it features intriguing themes inspired by gothic horror and Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," many reviewers noted that the execution felt rushed and predictable, leaving little room for character development or emotional engagement. Overall, the story is seen as charming yet underwhelming, with potential for expansion in future iterations.

    • “The story is dark but well written and voice acted, but I can't personally say I would recommend paying $7 for something that you can speed through in about 20 minutes and lasts 90 minutes tops.”
    • “The story pulled me in from the very beginning, and the sound cues were perfectly timed.”
    • “The dark and macabre nature of the story was interesting to me, and will interest those who are also fans of this type of story.”
    • “The 'mystery' of the plot is spelled out so directly in pages of exposition on every screen that you'd have to be trying to be as oblivious as the protagonist, and the whole tale basically amounts to a bad fan fiction that just gets worse as the game goes on.”
    • “The story simply is too short and doesn't explore enough of the dark themes, and felt like a wasted potential.”
    • “The characters don't leave any lasting impressions (the central characters, despite being in a relationship, show no real emotion towards one another), too much of the story is told through journal entries rather than having revelations occur naturally, and the conclusion is very lackluster.”
  • graphics82 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and unique art style, with many reviewers highlighting the charming 2D visuals and atmospheric backgrounds. While some found the artwork to be minimalistic or inconsistent, the overall aesthetic is considered appealing, particularly for fans of gothic and steampunk themes. However, a few critiques mention that the graphics can feel rough in places or lack depth, suggesting a mixed reception regarding the execution of the visual elements.

    • “The artwork and character design are memorable, and the story is heartwarming and intriguing.”
    • “The graphics in this game are amazing, and the main heroine - the arizen lesbian maid - is great.”
    • “The art style was haunting and beautiful, and the story was something special.”
    • “I'm not really a fan of the art style, but it seems too crisp for what they were trying to pull off.”
    • “The 'artwork' on the backgrounds looks like it was done by a child.”
    • “I was really excited for this game because the art style promised so much, and I think that's the biggest disappointment of this whole experience.”
  • music45 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and how well it complements the art style. While some found the soundtrack enchanting and fitting for the game's tone, others noted that it can become repetitive and lacks variety, leading to a less memorable experience. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, though it may not stand out as exceptional.

    • “The music, enchanting.”
    • “The art, music, and voice acting complement the overall tone of the game very well.”
    • “There is an atmosphere of dread that is captured very well with the music, art, and voice acting.”
    • “The background music is a bit too loud and there's no options to balance it.”
    • “Buttons are wonky, music gets old very quick, there's no achievements.”
    • “The music does the job, but I can't say it's anything memorable.”
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily point-and-click, offering a straightforward and user-friendly experience, but it lacks depth and complexity, with minimal puzzles and a linear storyline that limits replayability. Many players noted the game is quite short, typically lasting around an hour and a half, and often feels more like an interactive story than a traditional game. While some mechanics are well-executed, issues like slow navigation and excessive reading can detract from the overall experience.

    • “The point-and-click mechanics are well-executed and offer an immersive and engaging gameplay experience.”
    • “Overall gameplay was straightforward and engaging.”
    • “Simple gameplay, user-friendly interface.”
    • “There's no puzzle element to the story or the sparse gameplay.”
    • “In terms of gameplay, there isn't much here; you wander about the castle solving minor point-and-click item fetch/search quests and trivial puzzle-solving sections. Mostly, the game is an interactive base for the story to be told, and it is all very linear, so little replayability here.”
    • “The downside is the gameplay length; the game is really short, and you’ll likely have it finished before getting all the card drops. Unfortunately, it also has a single storyline with no branches, so there is not much replayability.”
  • atmosphere34 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning gothic and macabre beauty, effectively complemented by atmospheric music and art style. While many players find the creepy ambiance captivating, some critique the voice acting as mismatched and amateurish, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its short length, the game successfully immerses players in a dark and engaging world, making it appealing for fans of gothic horror.

    • “The atmosphere and setting of the game are simply stunning, with a gothic and macabre beauty that draws you in and keeps you hooked.”
    • “The key feature here is the story and atmosphere, although be warned the main bulk of the story is divulged in extensive diary entries and letters you find lying around as you progress through the story.”
    • “Yet the strong points of this game is the atmosphere it creates and most of that was due to its musical scores.”
    • “The visual atmosphere doesn't match the voice acting, in my opinion.”
    • “For a simple, linear indie game, it does have a bit of a gothic atmosphere, but the bland voice acting, in-your-face references, and 'plot twists' visible from a mile away didn't help.”
    • “The game ended up being too short and quick-paced; sometimes it sort of skipped things over when the progression of the story would have been more enjoyable if time was given to build the atmosphere.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    The game has been widely criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it features a linear storyline, simple puzzles, and minimal content beyond the initial playthrough. Players report finishing the game quickly, often in under an hour, and express disappointment that there are no alternative endings or significant challenges to encourage multiple playthroughs. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers little incentive to replay once completed.

    • “The downside is the gameplay length; the game is really short, and you’ll likely have it finished before getting all the card drops. Unfortunately, it also has a single storyline with no branches, so there is not much replayability.”
    • “Not much for replayability; unless I missed something, there is only one way for the story to end.”
    • “I've beaten it 10 times in just over 3 hours, and really the only reason I've been playing beyond the first time is to try to get a better completion time. There is no true replay value, and simply checking everything makes the game take a little over 40 minutes.”
    • “Outside of trading cards, there is very little replay value. The puzzles are beyond easy, and if I had not gotten it on sale, the price would have left me very salty after finishing the game.”
    • “The downside is the gameplay length; the game is really short, and you’ll likely finish it before getting all the card drops. Unfortunately, it also has a single storyline with no branches, so there is not much replayability.”
    • “This is overall a good game; I would recommend it if it weren't for the following: I've beaten it 10 times in just over 3 hours, and really the only reason I've been playing beyond the first time is to try to get a better completion time. There is no true replay value, and simply checking everything makes the game take a little over 40 minutes.”
  • character development10 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the memorable artwork and intriguing story, many criticize it as rushed and lacking emotional depth. Despite the strong character design reminiscent of classic titles, the overall development feels minimal and underexplored, leaving players wanting more.

    • “The artwork and character design are memorable and the story is heart-warming and intriguing.”
    • “Carrying the same rich character design featured in 'Monkey Island' or 'Day of the Tentacle', combined with the same developing in-game plot-line featured in 'Whispering Willows', players find themselves thrust into a classically bleak gothic environment where science and mysticism converge.”
    • “Great story, I loved the character design.”
    • “Character development is very rushed and can be emotionless at times.”
    • “Poor character development.”
    • “You get a glimpse of what this game could have incorporated in the ending title card where you see a bunch of other character designs.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews; while some players find the story heart-warming and memorable, others criticize it for being boring and poorly written. The game's rushed pacing, particularly towards the end, detracts from its emotional impact, leaving some players feeling that it lacks the depth needed for a truly engaging narrative.

    • “The artwork and character design are memorable, and the story is heartwarming and intriguing.”
    • “Surprisingly emotional!”
    • “Playtime isn't always the most important thing if there is enough emotional impact.”
    • “Very easy, kind of a boring story, awkward animations, and super short.”
    • “This game has a boring story and the writing is just plain bad.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while the relatively short length and appropriate pricing prevent it from becoming overly tedious, the extensive reading of journal notes can feel monotonous and detracts from the enjoyment for some. Despite this, many appreciate the depth it adds to the plot, making the grinding feel necessary for a complete understanding of the story.

    • “Secondly, constant reading can feel boring and tedious.”
    • “Most of the story is told through reading notes that got tedious.”
    • “You will however spend a lot of time reading on your first playthrough, as there are a lot of journal pages to collect, which can get tedious.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The game's humor is characterized by a blend of unexpected narrative twists and black comedy, which elicits genuine laughter at times. However, while it begins with a promising and intriguing premise, it ultimately shifts into a less effective silly farce that fails to deliver the wit needed to sustain its comedic tone.

    • “There was a pleasant level of strangeness; small but unexpected narrative elements are planted throughout the game, turning the classic Frankenstein story into something we haven't seen before, and it made me laugh a couple of times too.”
    • “It has a more black humor and is well written.”
    • “The story starts out very promising, if predictable, but instead of continuing and ending on a more poignant note, it unexpectedly descended into a silly farce that wasn't witty or funny enough to pull it off.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is widely criticized as a cash grab, suggesting that players feel the game prioritizes profit over player experience.

    • “This game feels like a cash grab!”
    • “The monetization is overly aggressive and ruins the experience.”
    • “I can't enjoy the game when it constantly pushes for in-game purchases.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game's character performance has been criticized, with users finding the protagonist unengaging and the acting subpar, leading to a frustrating experience.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
1-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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