Iwaihime

About

"Iwaihime" is a single-player horror simulation game with an intriguing story by hit writer Ryukishi07, featuring delightful visuals and stellar music. The game follows Toé Kurokami, the only daughter of Iwaimoto Shrine, and her interactions with Tsubakiko Harumiya and other characters, bringing to life a supernatural horror visual novel of sin, retribution, and penance.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 194 reviews

story72 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features a compelling and emotional story that explores deep themes of trauma and curses, with a satisfying conclusion.
The artwork and soundtrack are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
The character development is strong, with well-written arcs that allow players to connect with the protagonists and their struggles.

The pacing can be uneven, with a slow start that may deter some players before the story picks up.
The protagonist is often seen as bland and unremarkable compared to the more dynamic female characters.
Some scenes contain graphic and disturbing content that may not be suitable for all players, potentially overshadowing the narrative.

story
261 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The story of "Iwaihime," penned by renowned writer Ryukishi07, is a complex blend of horror, romance, and psychological themes, often described as a rollercoaster of emotions that intertwines dreams and reality. While some players appreciate its intricate narrative and character development, others find it disjointed and predictable, with tonal shifts that can be jarring. Overall, the story is engaging for fans of Ryukishi07's style, though it may not resonate with everyone due to its darker elements and pacing issues.
- “The story has multiple arcs that are all well tied together, featuring ryukishi's signature mood rollercoaster, with slice-of-life, cheesy and funny scenes interspersed, evolving into much darker and sadder elements.”
- “This is a beautifully crafted story, and right now I can barely find anything wrong with it.”
- “Overall, while iwaihime is an incredibly disjointed read at times, there's a real sincerity conveyed through its characters and story that makes the whole experience worthwhile.”
- “The characters are unlikable and have pretty unclear motivations, and the story writing isn't consistent.”
- “The other reviews have already mentioned this, but despite this visual novel being a ryukishi07 story - the legend who wrote Higurashi and Umineko - Iwaihime is surprisingly disappointing, with the story being bland and unoriginal.”
- “The story is a mess and the main character is terribly bland.”
music
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
30%
7%
The music in the game has received high praise for its variety and ability to enhance the narrative, with over three dozen tracks that effectively match the story's tone and atmosphere. Reviewers noted the quality of the voice acting and production values, highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that contributes significantly to the overall experience. While some felt the selection could be broader, many agreed that the music is a major highlight, making it a memorable aspect of the game.
- “Over three dozen songs offering great variety and fits very well with the story's tone, settings, and ups and downs.”
- “The music is absolutely good.”
- “The quality of the OST is superb, and while the offerings seem rather limited at first, I'm glad to say it's fleshed out nicely as the read progresses.”
- “The music and sound effects don't fall behind either, as expected of Ryuukishi's love for sound novels.”
- “I have no idea what the BGM sounds like, as I usually listen to my own music when reading; I thought the artwork looked nice enough, though good artwork is hardly the reason for why I read VNs; and the voice acting is something I always turn off when reading VNs, so I can't comment on its quality.”
- “The Iwaihime soundtrack isn't extremely vast, but I think it's perfectly okay given that each sound really sets the mood of the scene.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
40%
10%
The graphics of the game have received praise for their high quality and artistic style, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful artwork and effective use of visual effects that enhance the horror atmosphere. While some noted that the visuals may not stand out significantly compared to other visual novels, the overall production, including voice acting and music, contributes to a compelling experience. The artwork is described as both gorgeous and sometimes unsettling, effectively supporting the game's narrative and emotional impact.
- “The production values are solid, with a good soundtrack, graphics, and voice acting.”
- “I absolutely love the graphics and every time a CG popped up, I ended up getting even more fascinated.”
- “It has absolutely stellar voice acting, many memorable pieces of music, and gorgeous artwork.”
- “Extremely thinly veiled graphic descriptions of sexual assault is not what I wanted from this game, but it's what I got.”
- “Although the CGs are mostly not very graphical, the descriptions of the text are very vivid and were the thing that made me feel uncomfortable.”
- “And the game really likes using effects on top of its visuals, whether that be overlaying images on top of each other, stretching and moving them, or just applying a nasty filter to fit the scene.”
emotional
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its intense storytelling, which evokes a wide range of feelings, from heartbreak to discomfort, often leaving players in tears by the end. While the narrative shifts between horror, romance, and lighter moments, it ultimately delivers a powerful and satisfying emotional experience, with well-crafted scenes that resonate deeply. Despite some tonal inconsistencies, players appreciate the emotional depth and complexity, making it a memorable journey.
- “It's a heartbreaking story of love, pain, horror, and endurance with a dash of cheerfulness on the side.”
- “An emotionally exhausting experience, and one that's well worth having.”
- “This is a very emotional visual novel, the kind of storytelling I'd expect more from key's writers than ryukishi07.”
atmosphere
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
53%
18%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immaculate and immersive quality, effectively creating a suspenseful and creepy experience that enhances the horror elements. Reviewers highlight the stellar voice acting, beautiful artwork, and a haunting soundtrack that collectively contribute to a deep, unsettling ambiance, making it a standout in the visual novel genre. The integration of folklore and a focus on narrative over branching paths further enriches the atmospheric depth, appealing to fans of horror and romance alike.
- “The uneasiness of every chapter, the atmosphere, the voice acting, and the art makes this visual novel enjoyable.”
- “Integrating a deep folklore background, it’s an intricate story that taps into the Japanese supernatural horror atmosphere that blends dreams and reality.”
- “Yes, this game works with a spooky atmosphere instead of relying on jump-scares, which made the whole experience even better for me.”
- “It can be quite gross and creepy in places, and that atmosphere tends to linger around it.”
- “By that, I mean that this game nailed the spooky atmosphere thanks to its vivid writing, and I honestly cannot praise it enough.”
- “That reason I mentioned was the gorgeous art, stellar music with perfect voice acting, and that somewhat magical, creepy atmosphere.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
38%
38%
The gameplay is primarily linear and episodic, allowing players to progress from start to finish without major deviations. It includes standard visual novel features like auto-mode and fast forward, while also integrating suspenseful elements and high-quality artwork. Achieving all Steam achievements may require purchasing DLC, but many players find the story and gameplay experience worthwhile.
- “Touching on the gameplay for a bit, I had no problems unlocking all of the Steam achievements. Although if you want to get all of them, you will need to purchase the DLC (but it's worth it for the story alone).”
- “Moreover, it blends in with the suspenseful gameplay and breathtaking artwork created by Nippon Ichi Software.”
- “In regards to the gameplay, the story is mostly linear and is episodic, so you simply play through from beginning to end.”
- “Touching on the gameplay for a bit, I had no problems unlocking all of the Steam achievements; although if you want to get all of them, you will need to purchase the DLC (but it's worth it for the story alone).”
- “Gameplay has all the necessities that you expect from a visual novel, including auto-mode, fast forward, and an extra menu.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this visual novel is characterized by its unexpected and over-the-top comedic elements, which blend seamlessly with darker themes and horror tropes. Users appreciate the clever use of character personalities and the balance between slice-of-life moments and more serious narratives, creating a unique high-school horror-comedy experience. While some may find the humor detracts from the horror, many view it as a refreshing and enjoyable aspect of the story.
- “Again, I don't want to spoil, but I have to say that the whole 1000-year-old curse got destroyed in the most hilarious and unserious way I would have never imagined.”
- “The rhythm of the horror/eroge 1-2 punch is great; it toys with eroge tropes to deliver humor and horror.”
- “One thing I did not expect this visual novel to be is funny, and I am not talking about the comedic-relief characters, but everyone. The personalities of the characters are quite over-the-top, and everyone in this story has funny sides. Depending on perspective, some might think it's bad that a horror game is funny, but it is a plus for me. After some time, I realized that the best way to enjoy this one is to think of it as a high-school horror-comedy story, but that does not mean that this visual novel transforms into a comedy visual novel.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with some reviewers noting it falls short compared to expectations, particularly for characters like Mayu Hinagata. While the character designs are appreciated for their more realistic approach, the overall depth and growth of characters do not significantly enhance the gameplay experience.
- “Anyway, without a doubt, I can recommend getting this chapter as it adds more insight into Mayu Hinagata, whose character development fell rather short in the base game.”
- “The character designs are nice and are done less stylistically than what is usually seen in the medium, a bit more realistic while still maintaining that visual novel look.”
- “Character development is meh; straight 6/10 because it doesn't really have too much to offer in my opinion.”
- “I can't fault the game's production, but I was not crazy about the art or character designs.”
- “Without a doubt, I can recommend getting this chapter as it adds more insight into Mayu Hinagata, whose character development fell rather short in the base game.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of vocal performances significantly enhances the game's script, making it an integral part of the overall experience that players feel is essential for immersion.