Hydrangea

About

Hydrangea is a single player action game with horror and romance themes. It was developed by Meiri Games and was released on September 13, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Hydrangea is a romance and psychological horror visual novel inspired by the Hanahaki disease trope. You play as someone whose sweetheart, customizable to your preferences, falls ill with a mysterious condition just as you reconsider ending the relationship. Drawn closer by their plight, you find yourself navigating a love that deepens into obsession, where affection takes a dark turn and the peta…

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

story5 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

The game provides a deeply emotional and realistic portrayal of abusive relationships, resonating with players who have experienced similar situations.
The visuals and voice acting enhance the immersive experience, contributing to the game's overall atmosphere and emotional impact.
It effectively tackles heavy themes such as emotional abuse and generational trauma, making it a valuable tool for raising awareness and understanding of these issues.

Some players found the writing to be overly explicit and on-the-nose, which detracted from the overall storytelling experience.
There are technical issues, such as bugs and inconsistent voice acting, that can disrupt gameplay and immersion.
The game may feel short and shallow to some, with limited impactful choices that do not significantly alter the narrative.

story
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
68%
12%
The game's story, while free and short, delves into the heavy theme of abuse, resonating with players through its emotional depth and unique portrayal of toxic relationships. However, some reviewers noted that the writing lacks depth and nuance, making it feel surface-level at times, despite the compelling subject matter. Overall, the narrative is praised for its beauty and emotional impact, though some players wished for more choices and a deeper exploration of the characters' experiences.
- “Despite being free and short, this game packs a deep story that tackles the critical issue of abuse.”
- “I really liked how the story dealt with heavy topics, the messages it provided and how some toxic actions or dynamics were called out or pointed out; it was really refreshing to see.”
- “A beautiful and emotional story, I highly recommend this!”
- “I don't know if this was done intentionally or not, because I can think of reasons why the game developers would want to make it as obvious as possible this is abuse, but it still felt like it contributed to a weaker story.”
- “My absolute biggest gripe is that it is in fact a story about abuse, while only ever tackling the subject on a very surface level.”
- “The story feels forced and lacks depth, making it hard to care about the characters.”
graphics
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
37%
27%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beauty and engaging visuals, particularly the artwork and character designs. However, some users noted inconsistencies between the character sprites and the CGs, as well as mixed feelings about certain artistic representations, such as depictions of crying. Overall, the visuals significantly enhance the emotional depth of the story, contributing to a captivating atmosphere.
- “Amazing game, great visuals and super engaging!”
- “The main graphics were very pretty and the story was well done too.”
- “More importantly, the things this game says and the way it says it are just as beautiful as the artwork the game boasts.”
- “My only critique is that it would be nice if the CGs matched the art style of the sprites a little more.”
- “I wasn't sure about some of the artwork in Hydrangea, particularly the strange representation of crying and sobbing.”
- “Beware that it might be triggering, as it contains realistic depictions of an extremely unhealthy relationship.”
emotional
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game delivers a profoundly emotional experience, particularly for those familiar with the realities of emotional abuse, as it realistically portrays manipulation and gaslighting. Reviewers commend its haunting narrative and vivid character experiences, which evoke deep feelings of despair and resonance, making it a powerful exploration of love and trauma. Overall, it is described as a beautifully written story that effectively addresses difficult topics like generational trauma and emotional neglect.
- “I haven't played a visual novel that's portrayed emotional abuse through manipulation and gaslighting in such a realistic, haunting, and heart-wrenching way before that makes it perfectly clear that what's happening is abuse and that it is blatantly horrifying and unhealthy.”
- “Maybe I'm biased because I've been in exactly Ember's shoes before to an emotionally abusive partner who acted very similar to Yuu/Yua, but this game has truly portrayed the reality of love and abuse and the mental turmoil of it all in such a vivid and genuine way that I'm left in awe.”
- “I was not prepared for the sheer visceral emotionality of the writing here, and I mean this in the best of ways.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and chill qualities, enhancing the overall ambiance and complementing the art and storyline effectively. Reviewers appreciate the sound design, noting that it contributes significantly to the immersive experience.
- “I also really liked the music; the comfy, chill tracks playing during the flashbacks make me feel quite nostalgic for some reason.”
- “The art, music, and storyline were fascinating to experience.”
- “It also has great music, sound design, and the overall ambiance is well realized.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the visual novel is highly praised for its emotional depth, enhanced by exceptional voice acting and visually striking elements, particularly the presence of hydrangeas throughout the game.
- “This visual novel deeply touched me; the voice acting adds so much to the atmosphere, and I loved the visuals with hydrangeas all over the place.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers praise the character development for its impressive art and design, as well as a compelling narrative that enhances the overall experience.
- “The art, character design, and narrative are amazing.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users have noted that stability may vary depending on the character choice, with some suggesting that playing as yuu results in fewer glitches compared to yua. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent.
- “I've been playing with Yuu as the sweetheart, so there might be fewer glitches if you choose Yua.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced multiple bugs that disrupted my gameplay experience.”