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Her Love, Like Poison

Her Love, Like Poison Game Cover
96%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
Most mentioned negative aspects:grinding, gameplay
96% User Score Based on 233 reviews

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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.

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Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
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Her Love, Like Poison screenshot
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Reviews

96%Audience ScoreBased on 233 reviews
story54 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • The visual novel offers a unique, dark, and atmospheric yuri story with beautifully crafted art and haunting music.
  • Ethel, the protagonist, is a deeply relatable and well-written character whose struggles with depression and self-loathing add emotional depth.
  • The story successfully blends psychological horror, toxic romance, and melancholy into a compelling and immersive read that resonates with players who appreciate complex emotional narratives.
  • The pacing is often hindered by lengthy, repetitive internal monologues and tangents that slow down story progression.
  • Some players find the protagonist frustratingly self-deprecating and the narrative overly focused on her negative traits without offering alternative perspectives or development.
  • The linear structure and lack of interactivity, along with an abrupt or unsatisfying ending for some, may not appeal to those looking for branching stories or more hopeful resolutions.

  • story

    167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    32% positive mentions, 66% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The story is a dark, atmospheric, and emotionally intense visual novel centered on Ethel, a relatable protagonist grappling with depression and toxic love. While some found the pacing slow and noted occasional unnecessary tangents, the narrative effectively blends horror, romance, and psychological elements, delivering a haunting yet heartfelt experience. Overall, the story is praised for its compelling characters, beautiful writing, and impactful themes, despite its linear structure and occasional predictability.

    • “This is one of the first visual novels I've gone through and it's set a high bar; the music, art, story, characters, and overall feel were all beautifully crafted.”
    • “Her love, like poison is a kinetic yuri visual novel that blends dark, unsettling themes with a story of toxic romance.”
    • “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, really it’s 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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The story felt pretentious and preachy about Ethel's state of mind, and absolutely did not portray it in a way that would make me feel like she may, perchance, be wrong about how everyone and everything sucks.”

  • music

    47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    53% positive mentions, 41% neutral mentions, 6% negative mentions

    The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its eerie, haunting, and atmospheric qualities that effectively complement the story's somber and tense tone. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to evoke strong emotions such as anxiety and isolation, enhancing the immersive experience alongside the beautiful art. While generally well-received, a few found some tracks less impactful, but overall the music is considered a standout element that deeply enriches the game's mood.

    • “The soundtrack, consisting of somber, minimal melodies, underscores the story’s focus on loneliness and longing.”
    • “A fantastic read with beautiful art. I also really enjoyed the soundtrack with how eerie yet calming it sounded. If you're debating whether or not to pick this game up, I'd say go for it; it's worth your time.”
    • “Solid visuals and atmosphere brought together by one of the best soundtracks in an ebi-hime novel so far (and they are typically great).”
    • “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, kind of evocative, but there's this one track that just sounds kinda goofy because of one of the samples used I think.”
    • “The music was just okay - nothing too exciting, but it mostly matched the vibes on screen.”

  • emotional

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

    The game delivers a deeply emotional and melancholic experience, blending intimate, heartfelt storytelling with themes of emotional pain and creeping dread. Players often describe it as heartbreaking and impactful, eliciting tears and a lingering sense of sorrow, though some find the tone heavy or unsettling. Its precise pacing and atmospheric narrative enhance the emotional weight, making it resonate strongly, especially with those who relate closely to its themes of struggle and vulnerability.

    • “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, really it's 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.”
    • “But within its narrow scope, the novel achieves exactly what it sets out to do: it tells a dark, emotionally resonant tale that lingers like a bruise—difficult, unsettling, and strangely beautiful in its sorrow.”

  • atmosphere

    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    65% positive mentions, 22% neutral mentions, 13% negative mentions

    The atmosphere of "Her Love, Like Poison" is widely praised for its haunting, melancholic, and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the bleakness and loneliness of a small English town with a "creepy-cute" vibe. This mood is skillfully supported by stylish, evocative art and an exceptional soundtrack that together enhance the game's introspective and emotionally charged narrative. Overall, the game delivers a tightly controlled, atmospheric experience that lingers strongly with players despite its brief runtime.

    • “Solid visuals and atmosphere brought together by one of the best soundtracks in an ebi-hime novel so far (and they are typically great).”
    • “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 must have run out while writing because the same metaphors are repeated so often they lose their impact.”
    • “Soft gorgeous art pairs surprisingly well with the stomach-churning atmosphere and the bleakness of Ethel's outlook.”
    • “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, making it hard not to feel the rot creeping in.”

  • graphics

    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    35% positive mentions, 52% neutral mentions, 13% negative mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their unique, charming, and detailed art style that perfectly blends cute and eerie elements, enhancing a tense and immersive atmosphere. The visuals, complemented by an outstanding soundtrack, effectively convey mood and narrative depth, making for a memorable and emotionally impactful experience.

    • “Solid visuals and atmosphere brought together by one of the best soundtracks in an ebi-hime novel so far (and they are typically great).”
    • “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.”
    • “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 visual novel 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.”
    • “Cute art style, inconsistent pacing that improves after the introduction, while not detracting from the story in a way that makes me not want to finish it.”

  • humor

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

    The humor in the game is relatable and cleverly crafted, with amusing parallels like comparing characters to machines or toys. It resonates well with players, especially those familiar with procrastination or visual novel tropes, adding a lighthearted and engaging touch to the experience.

    • “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 repetitive, feeling that the exposition and character introduction could be more engaging and dynamic. The slow, meandering narrative detracts from the overall experience.

  • character development

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

    Users appreciated the character designs, highlighting them as a strong and enjoyable aspect of the game.

  • gameplay

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

    The gameplay is characterized by a linear story with no player choices, offering a straightforward and guided experience.

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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 It gets so lonely here, Z.A.T.O. // I Love the World and Everything In It, Find Love or Die Trying, Kill or Love, Sweetest Monster and others.