Garden of Oblivion

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 112 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Garden of Oblivion Game Cover
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Join Reven as she explores her own wonderland in another visual novel by Träumendes Mädchen.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 112 reviews
story24 positive mentions
  • The game features a compelling and well-crafted story with deep themes, making it engaging for players who enjoy narrative-driven experiences.
  • The artwork is visually appealing, with a unique style that blends beauty and darkness, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • It's a short and free game that offers easy achievements, making it accessible for casual players looking for a quick yet enjoyable experience.
  • The gameplay is minimal, with limited interactivity and mostly consists of simple jigsaw puzzles, which may disappoint players seeking more complex mechanics.
  • Some players found the writing and dialogue to be poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience and immersion in the story.
  • The game is very short, which may leave players wanting more depth and development in both the story and character interactions.
  • story55 mentions

    The game's story is generally praised for its compelling narrative, dark themes, and strong character development, often described as introspective and symbolic. While many players enjoyed the artwork and soundtrack, some felt the story could benefit from deeper exploration and more interactive elements. Overall, it is recognized as a short yet impactful experience that effectively combines visual storytelling with emotional depth.

    • “The story is well-crafted, with excellent foreshadowing.”
    • “This is very introspective, well written and I enjoyed the story & character development.”
    • “The game tells a compelling story in a short amount of time.”
    • “To get around the fact that e-books aren't games, there's some hotspot point-and-click activities, but they don't have any actual bearing on the story for this e-book.”
    • “Sadly, the story and characters are all too familiar.”
    • “The story was rather short though and there wasn't really any choices to make in the game, which was a bit disappointing since I was expecting more of a 'choose your own adventure' style game.”
  • graphics24 mentions

    The graphics of the game are characterized by a unique art style that blends cutesy visuals with darker themes, often resembling watercolor paintings. While some players appreciate the beautiful and creative artwork, others criticize the low-quality graphics and lack of customization options due to the limitations of the Ren'Py engine. Overall, the visuals are generally well-received for their charm and effectiveness in conveying the game's emotional depth, despite some mixed feelings about their appropriateness for the serious subject matter.

    • “The visuals are reminiscent of a watercolor painting, merging beauty with underlying darkness.”
    • “Insanely powerful message and beautiful art style.”
    • “I really liked the art style which was sometimes creepy, but really good.”
    • “Because Ren'Py is such a craptastic construction kit, there's no options to change the resolution for the game or customize the graphics settings.”
    • “There's no way for gamers to try to improve the low-quality graphics.”
    • “A predictable game about mental illness, with an off-putting art style and a maddening soundtrack in the first scene.”
  • gameplay6 mentions

    The gameplay features a mix of visual novel elements and point-and-click mechanics, providing a deep narrative experience set in a visually captivating world. However, some players criticize it for lacking substantial interactivity, as it primarily consists of clicking through dialogue with minimal engaging gameplay, aside from a few jigsaw puzzles.

    • “The gameplay is a combination of visual novel elements and point-and-click mechanics.”
    • “Overall, this game offers a blend of deep narrative, engaging gameplay, and a visually captivating world.”
    • “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, coupled with a few largely pointless questions/prompts that don't suddenly turn this into a proper interactive video game or anything.”
    • “A handful of jigsaw puzzles break up the otherwise dialogue-based gameplay.”
  • music5 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising the great soundtrack and its ability to enhance the atmosphere, while others find certain elements, like the soundtrack in the first scene, off-putting. Overall, the music is noted for fitting well with the game's themes and contributing positively to the experience.

    • “I enjoyed the storyline, artwork, and it has a great soundtrack.”
    • “It's short and easy but has nice music and atmosphere.”
    • “I got really scared sometimes, and the music fits wonderfully!”
    • “A predictable game about mental illness, with an off-putting art style and a maddening soundtrack in the first scene.”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its engaging music and strong worldbuilding, contributing to a creepy and dark ambiance that enhances the storytelling. Reviewers appreciate the solid writing that supports this immersive experience, setting it apart from many other free visual novels on Steam.

    • “Good story with a creepy atmosphere.”
    • “I thought it was interesting with a nice dark atmospheric feel to it.”
    • “Solid writing and consistent atmosphere and worldbuilding that a lot of free visual novels on Steam are rather lacking in.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where players must click to progress through text, detracting from the enjoyment of the narrative. Some suggest that the amount of grinding required feels excessive, almost necessitating a second life to fully engage with the content.

    • “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
    • “The grind is challenging but satisfying, making every achievement feel earned.”
    • “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development is praised for being introspective and well-written, contributing significantly to the overall enjoyment of the story. Additionally, the character design and sound quality enhance the experience.

    • “This is very introspective, well written, and I enjoyed the story and character development.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game's multiple endings enhance replayability by introducing unpredictability and making player choices feel impactful, encouraging players to explore different outcomes.

    • “The multiple endings introduce an element of unpredictability, making choices feel significant and adding replay value.”
    • “Each playthrough offers new challenges and experiences, ensuring that no two games are ever the same.”
    • “The variety of character builds and strategies encourages experimentation, making you want to dive back in for more.”
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