Gilded Shadows

About

"Gilded Shadows" is a narrative-driven detective game set in a mystical 1920s city. As private investigator Abigail Fellows, you'll uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and navigate complex relationships while dealing with supernatural elements. The game features a rich, immersive story with multiple endings, influenced by player choices throughout the investigation.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 154 reviews

story57 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features an intricate and immersive world with extensive lore and well-developed characters, making each route feel unique and engaging.
The writing is compelling, with a strong protagonist who has agency and depth, allowing players to connect with her journey and the various love interests.
The art and music are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience and making the game visually and audibly appealing.

Some players found the initial exposition and world-building to be overwhelming, leading to a slower start that may deter some from fully engaging with the story.
There are instances of dialogue that can feel overly long or repetitive, which may disrupt the pacing of the narrative.
A few players noted minor grammatical errors and typos, which, while not significantly detracting from the experience, could be improved for a more polished presentation.

story
176 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The story in this game is highly praised for its intricate world-building and unique, multi-threaded narratives across nine distinct routes, each offering a different perspective and character development. Players appreciate the depth of the characters and the engaging plotlines that intertwine romance with broader themes, making each route feel like a standalone story while contributing to an overarching narrative. The writing is described as compelling and mature, with meaningful choices that impact the story, ensuring a rich and immersive experience for players.
- “The depth of world building and multi-threaded plot lines is enthralling and really draws you in.”
- “The story is very well written; it's easy to get attached to the characters, and we can easily understand the universe in which it takes place.”
- “Each route has a unique story line, giving even more details and life to the world and characters.”
- “The only downside to this is that I don't think I can play any of the other routes because I can't imagine being more pleased with the story.”
- “I don't regret playing it, though for the price tag I do wish the story didn't feel like it just abruptly stopped.”
- “The fact that each story reveals more of the world and adds another layer to every character is beautifully done and very well written.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous artwork and stylish character designs, contributing significantly to the overall aesthetic experience. While some users noted minor quirks in the art style, such as uniform lip designs, the visuals are generally considered a highlight, enhancing the engaging story and character interactions. Overall, the combination of beautiful graphics and compelling narratives makes it an appealing choice for fans of visual novels.
- “The art style and character designs are lovely.”
- “The scene and character artwork is beautiful.”
- “Gorgeous artwork, compelling story, wide variety of love interests, and even a character creator!”
- “Graphics (4/10) it gives you the bare basics and what it gives are nice.”
- “Omg, the graphics!”
- “A lot of work has been put into the graphics and dialog of the game.”
music
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
18%
18%
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players enjoying the soundtrack even outside of gameplay. While the art and music are described as breathtaking and integral to the game's atmosphere, some users noted that the limited selection of tracks can become repetitive. Overall, the combination of compelling music, stunning visuals, and engaging storytelling contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
- “The worldbuilding and lore is impressive (and there are flowcharts!) the sprites are lovely; the background art is absolutely gorgeous; and I enjoy listening to the soundtrack even when not playing the game.”
- “If you want a story that does have the romance you are itching for, but also has amazing music, aesthetics, and an intriguing story that keeps you on the edge of your seat... then look no further.”
- “The game has breathtaking art and an original soundtrack that will send you to space.”
- “I only wish there was an additional soundtrack or at least, somewhere in the extras section of the main menu where you can listen to individual tracks.”
- “The music.”
- “Others were hired to do music and the background art and some coding work.”
emotional
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-crafted romance routes that offer a deep and heartfelt journey, allowing players to choose between emotional and analytical traits for the main character, which influences the narrative. While some players found the exposition occasionally frustrating, the overall experience is enriched with humor, touching moments, and significant character development, particularly in routes like Magnus that resonate strongly with those seeking an emotional connection. The customization options further enhance the player's investment in the story, making it a compelling emotional experience.
- “You wanna go on an emotional journey?”
- “The romance itself for all routes is well written, touching, and has a lot of buildup, so it never feels rushed or like it came out of nowhere.”
- “Warning to any of my fellow saps out there - the Magnus route especially (in my opinion) was emotional.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with a mix of witty dialogue, relatable characters, and amusing situations that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the comedic elements brought by various characters, particularly the main character, who delivers funny commentary and engaging banter. While some moments may not resonate with everyone, the humor is generally well-received and adds a delightful layer to the narrative.
- “I definitely recommend this game for anyone who loves science fiction romance mixed with a touch of fantasy, mystery, humor, and a bit of political (and historical) intrigue.”
- “Although... it had Jack dressed as Andy Samberg in this one... so that was hilarious.”
- “She just has various moments of witty dialogue and what I thought was very adorable and humorous banter.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers significant replayability with multiple endings (ranging from 3 to 5) and 7 romance choices, encouraging players to explore different story paths and personality traits. The intriguing nature of both good and bad endings enhances the overall experience, making it worthwhile, especially when purchased on sale.
- “There is plenty of replay value; some routes have 4 or 5 endings, others 3, and with 7 romance choices already, it justifies its higher than usual price for a visual novel. Buying on sale always makes it even better and is recommended.”
- “Good and bad endings alike are equally intriguing and replayable.”
- “The selection of different personality traits opening or blocking certain story paths adds to how replayable the game is, with so many different options and paths to choose from.”
- “There is plenty of replay value; some routes have 4 or 5 endings, others 3, and with 7 romance choices already, it justifies its higher than usual price for a visual novel, though buying on sale always makes it so much better and is recommended.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development as exceptional, highlighting the appealing art style and character designs that enhance the overall experience.
- “The characters and character development are amazing.”
- “The art style and character designs are lovely.”
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The gameplay of *Gilded Shadows* features multiple routes, offering players a variety of choices that enhance the overall experience.
- “As for the gameplay, 'Gilded Shadows' has multiple routes.”
- “The gameplay in [i]Gilded Shadows[/i] feels repetitive and lacks depth.”
- “I found the controls to be unresponsive, which made the gameplay frustrating.”
- “The pacing of the gameplay is inconsistent, leading to moments of boredom.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the effort put into creating unique stories that maintain interest, but some find the initial information dumping tedious, making the early stages feel like a grind. However, persistence through this phase often leads to a more enjoyable experience.
- “The one thing I found at times to be tedious was the telling instead of showing; there is a lot of information dumping, especially at the start, which made it hard to initially get into the game. But once I persisted through it, I found it a lot more enjoyable.”
- “I can see a lot of love put into making each story different enough to keep you interested rather than grinding through dialogue just because you've 'picked a side before'.”