Gilded Shadows
- May 12, 2022
- Steamberry Studio
- 122h median play time
Get on Steam"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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features impressive worldbuilding and lore, making the universe feel rich and immersive.
- Each love interest has a unique storyline, providing a variety of experiences and emotional depth across different routes.
- The main character, Morgan, is well-developed and customizable, allowing players to feel a strong connection to her journey.
- Some players found the dialogue to be overly wordy and repetitive, leading to moments of skimming through text.
- The initial choices for personality traits may feel misleading, as the main character's established personality can overshadow player choices.
- A few routes may lack the romantic tension needed to make the passionate endings feel fully earned.
- story124 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story is highly praised for its intricate worldbuilding, compelling characters, and unique narrative paths that diverge significantly across different routes, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. Players appreciate the depth of the lore and the emotional investment in both the overarching plot and individual character arcs, although some express a desire for more closure in the epilogues. Overall, the writing is described as captivating, with a blend of adventure, fantasy, and romance that keeps players immersed throughout their journey.
“The story, worldbuilding, and characters were phenomenal.”
“The story is really well written, and I've enjoyed every route so far.”
“Each route has a unique storyline, giving even more details and life to the world and characters.”
“I wasn't sure what to expect from him going in since we don't really see a lot of his character in the other playthroughs, but by the 2nd chapter in his story, I just wanted to hold onto him and never let go.”
“There were moments, dialogue lines, and plot scenes where the personality choices mattered very little in the game.”
“After taking a certain route, emerging into the story, playing for hours and getting emotional, I did not get all the scenes/dialogues the route held only due to the personality choices at the beginning.”
- graphics17 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 18 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beautiful artwork and character designs, with many reviewers noting the significant effort put into the visuals. While some mention that the graphics may be basic in certain aspects, the overall aesthetic, including the art style and music, enhances the experience. The artwork is described as gorgeous and a noticeable improvement over previous titles, contributing positively to the game's compelling narrative and romantic elements.
“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 provides is nice.”
“The art style is a little weird at first (everybody has the same lips), but it doesn't take away from the story at all.”
“A lot of work has been put into the graphics and dialogue of the game.”
- music14 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 7 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many players enjoying the soundtrack even outside of gameplay. While some reviewers noted a limited selection that can become repetitive, the majority found the music to be compelling and well-integrated with the game's beautiful artwork and engaging story. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's immersive atmosphere.
“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.”
“The music.”
“There were several times that I found myself pausing, just to take in the music or stare in awe at the background.”
“The art, the music, the story itself... it's like Christmas has come early!”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its well-crafted romance and character development, allowing players to engage deeply with the story through meaningful choices. Players report a rich blend of humor and heartfelt moments, with emotional journeys that resonate, particularly in specific routes like Magnus. The ability to shape the protagonist's personality adds depth, enhancing the overall emotional experience.
“After taking a certain route, emerging into the story, playing for hours and getting emotional, I did not get all the scenes/dialogues route held only due to the personality choices at the beginning.”
“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.”
- humor10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, featuring a relatable main character with witty dialogue and charming banter, alongside a diverse cast that adds to the comedic elements. Players appreciate the blend of science fiction romance with humorous moments, although some critiques mention that certain character reactions may detract from their likability. Overall, the humor is a significant highlight, contributing to both the entertainment and emotional depth of the game.
“Although... it had Jack dressed as Andy Samberg in this one... so that was hilarious.”
“It has a funny and relatable main character, a diverse cast of guys to romance, and even a built-in flowchart to help you navigate your way through all the endings.”
“She just has various moments of witty dialogue and what I thought was very adorable and humorous banter.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability with multiple endings—ranging from three to five—and seven romance options, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. Both good and bad endings are compelling, enhancing the overall experience and justifying the game's higher price, especially when purchased on sale.
“There is plenty of replay value; some routes have 4 or 5 endings, others 3. With 7 romance choices already, it justifies the higher-than-usual price for a visual novel, though buying on sale always makes it so much better and is recommended.”
“Good and bad endings alike are equally intriguing and replayable.”
“This is such a cool feature and really helps with replayability!”
“The game lacks significant replayability; once you've experienced the main story, there's little incentive to go back.”
“While there are multiple endings, the paths to reach them feel too similar, making replaying the game less appealing.”
“After completing the game once, I found that the choices didn't significantly alter the experience, which diminished my desire to replay it.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
While the art style and character designs are praised for their beauty, there is no specific mention of character development in the reviews, suggesting that this aspect may not be a focal point in the game's narrative.
