Blackberry Honey

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"Blackberry Honey" is a kinetic novel set in Victorian times: Overworked maid Lorina finds herself drawn to the mysterious Taohua, leading to a cute lesbian love story. The game features detailed backgrounds, original music, and a tale of 100k words, suggesting 7-10 hours of reading. Rumors that Taohua is a witch add intrigue to the story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 198 reviews

story70 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

Amazingly developed story with well-written characters and engaging dynamics, particularly between Taohua and Lorina.
Beautiful visuals and a captivating soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Successfully tackles important social issues while maintaining a light-hearted and romantic tone.

Some characters, particularly Lady Constance, lack resolution in their story arcs, leaving loose ends.
The sexualization of characters, especially the main character's exaggerated physical features, may detract from the experience for some players.
The pacing can feel slow at times, with certain scenes dragging on without significant plot development.

story
264 mentions
27 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Blackberry Honey" is a beautifully crafted, heartwarming romance set in Victorian England, focusing on the relationship between two maids, Taohua and Lorina. While the main narrative is engaging and emotionally resonant, some reviewers noted that side characters, particularly Constance, lacked resolution, leaving certain plot threads unaddressed. Overall, the writing, art, and music complement the story well, making it a recommended experience for fans of yuri and historical romance, despite some pacing issues and a linear structure.
- “I was thoroughly engaged throughout the story, and I felt clear emotions during key moments and with the characters.”
- “Blackberry Honey is a beautiful love story set in believable, period-accurate England, and it is one of the most beautiful sapphic/lesbian romance stories I have ever read.”
- “The art, music, writing, and characters all come together wonderfully to create a masterful 6-10 hour experience. I got invested in the characters and felt emotions as dictated by the story, and if you ask me, that means it's doing its job perfectly!”
- “All the lovely writing in the world cannot overcome the tedious 'breasted boobily' nature of the art, nor the sexualization of children present within the story.”
- “The main story is mostly fine, one real complaint though is that Constance's story is not fully resolved and it would have been nice to have a final scene where maybe she could have shown a tiny bit of redemption, if not her, at least trying to be on a path toward it.”
- “The story consists mostly of cycles of Lorina overworking and getting tired, getting bullied by other maids and Constance, getting saved by Taohua and having some confusing and potentially romantic interactions, going to church and sitting there confused about religion, and Lorina getting ready for bed while contemplating her potential romantic feelings for Taohua.”
music
90 mentions
46 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful compositions and ability to enhance the storytelling, with many reviewers highlighting the opening song "Blackberry Honey" and the atmospheric background music that complements the Victorian setting. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack is engaging and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the emotional depth of the narrative. The combination of delicate piano melodies and orchestral elements creates a charming ambiance that resonates with players, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The music captured my attention as well as the story.”
- “I greatly appreciated the beautiful composition; the delicate string instruments and beautiful pianos really come together to make a soundtrack that blew me away, and aided in making me feel as if I was there in the moment at times.”
- “The writing is top notch, the UI is gorgeous, the art is consistent and beautiful, and the music is phenomenal.”
- “The music is reused situational, so you’ll recognize it after a few chapters.”
- “The music gets a bit dull after listening to it for three or so hours, but I didn't get so annoyed that I turned the volume off.”
- “The music is really well done but I found a few of the tracks a bit overused in too many areas, but there are worse problems to have.”
graphics
42 mentions
45 % positive mentions
48 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their unique and beautiful art style, which enhances the storytelling experience. While some users found certain elements of the artwork off-putting, the overall visuals are described as high-quality and well-executed, with a vintage aesthetic that complements the narrative. The soundtrack is also noted for being pleasant and fitting, contributing to the game's overall charm.
- “The visuals are very entertaining and provide additional clarity to story events.”
- “The artwork is beautiful and goes well with the narrative.”
- “The graphics, soundtrack, plot, and the portrayals of the characters are exceptionally excellent.”
- “Most of the sexy art just looked off-putting with this game's linework and art style.”
- “Graphics were okay, although I am not too fond of the oil painting-ish style of them in anime.”
- “The art and music in Blackberry Honey all feel very vintage, with soft amber tones throughout all the visuals that make it feel very dated and era-appropriate.”
emotional
21 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many reviewers noting its heartwarming and touching narrative that effectively captures the complexities of love and personal struggles. Players report feeling deeply invested in the characters, often experiencing a range of emotions from joy to sadness, with some even shedding tears during poignant moments. Overall, the game is recommended for its ability to evoke genuine emotional responses through its well-crafted story and character interactions.
- “A truly heartwarming love story between two maids as they overcome their difficulties at the Bly estate.”
- “Each arc of the story escalates perfectly, and there's genuine tension and heartfelt emotion that radiates from the final product.”
- “It's a very warm and heartfelt story that I did not expect.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by clever dialogues, memorable lines, and entertaining character interactions that often elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the blend of dry English humor and lighthearted moments, particularly through the dynamics between characters like Lorina and her friends, as well as the amusing scenarios involving side characters. Overall, the humor is well-integrated into the narrative, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the story.
- “The humor is perfectly intertwined with memorable lines and touching moments.”
- “I don't want to give too much away, but the line about the allergy to sunlight was so funny I genuinely wonder if the author actually came up with that one themselves.”
- “On numerous occasions, I found myself chuckling at some entertaining character interactions, often involving Effie, who is one of my favorite characters from any game I've played.”
character development
8 mentions
38 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
Character development is a standout aspect of the story, particularly for the main character, whose growth is effectively portrayed against the backdrop of 1800s England. While the supporting cast, especially Lady Constance, shows potential for deeper exploration, their development feels underwhelming and leaves some narrative threads unresolved. Overall, the character designs complement the story well, enhancing the emotional depth of the characters.
- “Love this story so much, the scenes, character development, and overall story are amazing, with music that perfectly sets the tone for the events as they unfold.”
- “I especially liked the character development for the main character.”
- “The story is portrayed by notable days, and while we cannot encounter any dragons there, we are subject to visible character development of our protagonist as well as some difficulties of life in nobility.”
- “The character development of the supporting cast, especially with Lady Constance, was quite interesting, but ultimately led nowhere, leaving me with a feeling of bitterness.”
- “This lack of character development leaves me slightly disappointed since she had such a big impact on the maids.”
- “While we cannot encounter any dragons, we are subject to visible character development of our protagonist as well as some difficulties of life in nobility.”
atmosphere
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its beautiful and immersive soundtracks that complement the Victorian setting, enhancing the overall experience. The elegant music and well-designed user interface work together to create a sophisticated ambiance that effectively transports players to the time and place of the story. Overall, the atmospheric elements contribute significantly to the game's narrative and emotional depth.
- “The soundtracks are beautiful and atmospheric.”
- “To add more to the noble atmosphere, Blackberry Honey’s story is accompanied by Victorian, pleasing-to-the-ear background music, which perfectly complements the concept of the place and timeline the story is set in.”
- “To sum up, all parts of the game created just the right atmosphere of sophisticated and elegant England.”
- “The musical atmosphere sticks well with Victorian England, which puts us more into the game.”
- “It also has a soothing and tuneful tune, which plays a big role in the creation of the plot atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
150 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while the writing in the game is appreciated, the grinding aspect is criticized for being tedious and overshadowed by uncomfortable themes, such as the sexualization of characters. Players feel that the narrative could benefit from a more engaging approach rather than relying on repetitive elements.
- “The grinding in this game feels endless and repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “I found the grinding mechanics to be tedious and unfulfilling, detracting from the overall experience.”
- “The constant need to grind for resources takes away from the enjoyment of the game.”
gameplay
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is engaging and immersive, with a captivating story and well-written dialogue that keeps players invested. The combination of beautiful art and realistic character personalities enhances the overall experience, making it a memorable journey.
- “It is very rare for stories to grip me, especially in visual novels, but I finished this in less than 24 hours with 6 hours of gameplay. The story was wonderful, the dialogue was fantastically written, and the characters and art were absolutely gorgeous. The personalities felt somewhat realistic, and I really loved my time with this game.”
replayability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Many users feel that the game lacks replayability, viewing this as a drawback that diminishes the overall experience.
- “For some folks, this might seem like a negative as it takes away any semblance of replay value.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to go back and play it again.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users have reported issues with stability, noting that certain animations, such as the character playing the piano, exhibit bugs that detract from the overall experience.
- “The cutscene of her playing the piano is buggy.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
- “I experienced constant frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”