Skip to main content

Her Love, Like Poison

Her Love, Like Poison Game Cover
97%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, gameplay
97% User Score Based on 271 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCMac OSWindows
Buy Nowfrom $6.99
Buy NowGet on Steam $6.99
Her Love, Like Poison Game Cover

About Her Love, Like Poison

Her Love, Like Poison is a single player action game with horror, romance and anime themes. It was developed by ebi-hime and was released on July 28, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A dark lesbian horror/romance story so toxic it's emitting spores. Ethel, a shy university student, ventures into the wintry woods late one night, where she meets an enchanting raven-haired femme fatale - but all is not as it seems.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Skip Games Like Her Love, Like Poison

Games Like Her Love, Like Poison

Looking for games like Her Love, Like Poison? Here are top action recommendations with a horror, romance and anime focus, selected from player-similarity data — start with Kill or Love, Sweetest Monster or Heart of the Woods.

Kill or Love Image
90%1.8kreviews

Kill or Love

2020Casual Simulation
LinuxPCTablet+6
Games like Kill or Love
Sweetest Monster Image
94%670reviews

Sweetest Monster

2017Casual Simulation
LinuxPCMac OS+2
Games like Sweetest Monster
Heart of the Woods Image
96%705reviews

Heart of the Woods

2019Action
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+8
Games like Heart of the Woods
Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It Image
98%6.2kreviews

Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It

2025Action
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Games like Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It
It gets so lonely here Image
96%928reviews

It gets so lonely here

2023Action
LinuxPCTablet+5
Games like It gets so lonely here
Find Love or Die Trying Image
96%4.5kreviews

Find Love or Die Trying

2021Casual Simulation
Nintendo SwitchLinuxXbox Series X|S+8
Games like Find Love or Die Trying
Cage of Roses Image
88%169reviews

Cage of Roses

2025Casual Role Playing
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Games like Cage of Roses
First Snow Image
96%484reviews

First Snow

2020Casual Simulation
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Games like First Snow
Love at First Sight Image
94%1.1kreviews

Love at First Sight

2015Simulation
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Games like Love at First Sight
Lynne Image
86%438reviews

Lynne

2018Simulation
LinuxPCMac OS+1
Games like Lynne
More games like Her Love, Like Poison
Skip User Reviews

Reviews

97%Audience ScoreBased on 271 reviews
story58 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Atmospheric and immersive story blending dark romance, horror, and psychological themes with a compelling depiction of depression and loneliness.
  • Beautiful, distinctive art style and haunting, fitting soundtrack that enhance the mood and emotional impact.
  • Well-written characters, particularly the relatable and complex protagonist Ethel, with a narrative that deeply resonates with fans of toxic yuri and dark yuri visual novels.
  • Pacing issues due to excessive internal monologue and repetitive or lengthy tangents that sometimes detract from the overall flow.
  • Limited interactivity without choices or branching paths, which may disappoint players expecting more engagement or varied endings.
  • Story and ending can feel bleak, depressing, or unsatisfying for some, with controversial themes including toxic relationships, suicidal ideation, and implied assault that may be off-putting.

  • story

    171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    34% positive mentions, 64% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The story is a tightly crafted, atmospheric visual novel centered on Ethel, whose relatable portrayal of depression and toxic relationships drives a dark, emotionally charged narrative blending horror and love. While some found the plot predictable and occasionally padded with unnecessary tangents, the writing, art, and music create an immersive experience that resonates deeply, especially with themes of isolation, longing, and despair. Overall, the story is praised for its heartbreaking depth, compelling characters, and haunting tone, making it a memorable and impactful read despite its linearity and brief runtime.

    • “Her love, like poison succeeds in delivering a focused, atmospheric story that lingers long after the final scene.”
    • “The story’s strongest aspect is how it blends emotional frailty with creeping dread, crafting a narrative that feels both intimate and chilling.”
    • “I have to say, as someone who deeply relates with Ethel in like, 4-5 different ways, this story hit like getting punched in the gut for a day straight; I loved reading every second of it at the same time as it was tearing my heart out reading of a character whose struggles and problems are this similar to mine.”
    • “While I liked the ending, it did not feel impactful as there was never any other direction for the story to go.”
    • “Most of the plot felt like filler, padding around the late night trysts between the main characters.”
    • “I really wanted to like this game, but after the sixth or tenth or fifteenth random tangent that didn't feel like it added anything to the story, I was truly skipping through and clicking faster than I could actually read, until it got to the actually interesting parts.”

  • music

    53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    51% positive mentions, 43% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its eerie, haunting, and atmospheric qualities, perfectly complementing the game's dark and emotional tone. It features somber, minimal melodies that enhance the themes of loneliness and anxiety, often described as unique, memorable, and evocative. While most reviewers found it integral to the immersive experience, a few noted minor issues with specific tracks but overall considered it a strong, fitting soundtrack.

    • “Perfect length, great buildup, the music is unique and fits perfectly for the game, and the art is gorgeous.”
    • “The soundtrack, consisting of somber, minimal melodies, underscores the story’s focus on loneliness and longing.”
    • “In regards to the music, the tracks are disturbingly and hauntingly beautiful to listen to.”
    • “The music alone made me throw up out of anxiety, 10/10 no notes.”
    • “I also didn't think the music was very impactful or mood-setting, aside from the initial violin playing - that was great.”
    • “The music was very peculiar and kind of evocative, but there's one track that sounds kinda goofy because of one of the samples used.”

  • atmosphere

    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    64% positive mentions, 24% neutral mentions, 12% negative mentions

    The atmosphere is widely praised for its haunting, melancholic, and immersive qualities, enhanced by simple yet effective music, distinctive art style, and evocative soundtracks. Many highlight the game's ability to create a tense, introspective mood that perfectly complements the story’s emotional depth and setting, often describing it as both eerie and beautifully atmospheric. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and narrative pacing delivers a memorable, emotionally charged experience.

    • “The art, music, and atmosphere were absolutely phenomenal.”
    • “The atmosphere of a small English town in the countryside really stresses the struggles and loneliness that dominate the life of the protagonist.”
    • “Tense atmosphere with impeccable artwork and music that are soothing as well as eerie, a constant stream of thoughts that are too personal, too human, so much so that it's hard not to feel the rot creeping in.”
    • “You're beaten over the head with useless details that fail to build on the atmosphere, and their creativity seems to have run out while writing because the same metaphors are repeated so often that they lose what little impact they have.”
    • “Soft, gorgeous art pairs surprisingly well with the stomach-churning atmosphere and the bleakness of Ethel's outlook.”
    • “For some players, the tight control over pacing and direction works well; but it can restrict the narrative's ability to build atmosphere organically, limiting the impact of optional paths.”

  • emotional

    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game delivers a deeply emotional and often heartbreaking experience, evoking tears and a strong sense of melancholy through its intimate portrayal of frailty, confusion, and emotional pain. Its tightly controlled narrative and atmospheric art enhance the story’s weight and vulnerability, blending intimate emotional struggles with a chilling undercurrent of dread. While some find the emotional impact intense and difficult, others appreciate its raw honesty and resonant portrayal of complex, dark themes.

    • “That ending is one of the most heartbreaking and emotional scenes that I've read in my time playing games.”
    • “I have to say, as someone who deeply relates with Ethel in like, 4-5 different ways, this story hit like getting punched in the gut for a day straight. I loved reading every second of it at the same time as it was tearing my heart out reading of a character whose struggle and problems are this similar to mine. In the end she gave up; it’s really hard to read the ending as anything different than suicide, which is why it makes me this emotional, and I can only hope that at least I won’t be led to the easy way out like she did.”
    • “Her love, like poison is a compact but emotionally charged visual novel from ebi-hime, a writer known for atmospheric, introspective stories with a melancholy edge.”

  • graphics

    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    32% positive mentions, 54% neutral mentions, 14% negative mentions

    The game's graphics feature a unique, charming, and often "creepy-cute" art style that is both detailed and atmospheric, greatly enhancing its dark, tense mood. Complimented by one of the best soundtracks in its niche, the visuals effectively balance comfort and dread, immersing players deeply into the story’s emotional and eerie tone. Overall, the artwork is praised for its style, care, and strong contribution to the game's memorable presentation.

    • “The artwork is gorgeous and the BGM is great at establishing the mood.”
    • “Tense atmosphere with impeccable artwork and music that are soothing as well as eerie, a constant stream of thoughts that are too personal, too human, so much so that it's hard not to feel the rot creeping in.”
    • “The art style can be easily recognized as the same artist (mossinasi) that does 'it gets so lonely here.' I love how unique and easily recognizable it is!”
    • “In my opinion, it would have been better to start the plot with Ethel’s family leaving for their vacation, and then use the same pacing the rest of the story had to build into the romance—rather than making the first day of the VN feel so unbelievably long through huge amounts of telling the backstory instead of showing it through visuals or dialogue.”
    • “This game has its own style; firstly it’s 4:3, then the art style is unique. There are not that many CGs, but they are stylish, atmospheric, and cool.”
    • “The art style is really cute, and the characters are likable and quite interesting, with some mentions and strong hints at depression and self-esteem issues.”

  • humor

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The humor in the game is relatable and lighthearted, often drawing laughs from the protagonist's struggles and playful character comparisons. Its comedic elements have broad appeal, attracting even those new to visual novels through clever marketing and witty jokes.

    • “It was very funny to watch the protagonist struggle to work on her thesis since I was also procrastinating working on mine while playing this game!”
    • “I liked how both Ethel and Sparky were compared to machines/toys, which creates a really funny parallel between them.”
    • “I don't normally play visual novels but I saw the marketing for this on Tumblr and it appealed to me with some funny joke posts.”

  • grinding

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Users find the grinding aspect tedious and slow-paced, particularly criticizing the repetitive and drawn-out exposition that hampers engagement. The lack of dynamic progression makes the experience feel monotonous and uninteresting.

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    Users praised the character development, highlighting the appealing and well-designed character visuals.

  • gameplay

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 100% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The gameplay is linear with a fixed story path, offering no player choices or branching options.

Skip Game Offers

Buy Her Love, Like Poison

Skip Videos

Videos

Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Her Love, Like Poison is a action game with horror, romance and anime themes. Common tags for Her Love, Like Poison include indie, lgbtq+, linear, surreal, psychological and others.

Her Love, Like Poison is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

Her Love, Like Poison was released on July 28, 2025.

Her Love, Like Poison was developed by ebi-hime.

Her Love, Like Poison has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Her Love, Like Poison for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Her Love, Like Poison is a single player game.

Similar games include Kill or Love, Sweetest Monster, Heart of the Woods, Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It, It gets so lonely here and others.