Mask of the Rose

Mask of the Rose's writing and characters shine, but the game underneath them never fully gels together.

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"Mask of the Rose" is a visual novel game set in the same universe as "Fallen London" and "Sunless Sea." The game follows a group of characters as they investigate a series of mysterious disappearances in Fallen London, using their wits and social skills to uncover the truth. With multiple branching storylines and vividly realized characters, "Mask of the Rose" offers a rich, immersive narrative experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews

story28 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging setting in the Fallen London universe, with rich lore and interesting characters.
The writing is excellent, capturing the dark, gothic atmosphere and humor that fans of Failbetter Games have come to love.
The matchmaking mechanic allows for diverse relationship options, including platonic and romantic paths, catering to a wide range of player preferences.

The pacing is rushed, with only 16 in-game days and limited actions per day, making it difficult to fully explore storylines and develop relationships.
The lack of manual save options and reliance on autosaves can lead to frustration, as players may lose progress or have to replay large sections of the game.
Character interactions can feel shallow and forced, with the game often prompting players to define their relationship intentions too early in the narrative.

story
158 mentions
18 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players praising its rich world-building, engaging characters, and intricate plotlines, while others criticize the shallow character development and clunky storycrafting mechanics. Many reviewers express frustration over the limited time to explore multiple storylines, leading to a feeling of incompleteness and the need for excessive replaying to uncover all narrative threads. Despite its flaws, the storytelling is often described as entertaining and filled with humor, making it a worthwhile experience for those willing to navigate its complexities.
- “The story progression is so smooth and sweet, so wherever you go, it doesn’t feel like the story is hanging there for no reason and there’s always something to pick up with every encounter.”
- “The story is fun, the characters are all so incredibly their own selves and it just makes the murder mystery a joy to navigate.”
- “At its heart, however, is a story of surprisingly human (even when, species-wise, they are not) characters, themes of second and third chances, redemption, growth, and love in all shapes and sizes.”
- “They are not characters; they are dummies with plot and background stories.”
- “The big flaw, as many have mentioned, is that the whole 'story-writing' investigation system still seems clunky, and I didn't succeed on either of my runs in solving the murder.”
- “Unfortunately, the game's writing seems far more interested in progressing the plot than allowing for cute moments, forgetting that these moments are the very thing that makes us attached to the characters and thus invested in resolving the plot.”
gameplay
67 mentions
21 % positive mentions
69 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Mask of the Rose" is a blend of visual novel, detective elements, and dating sim mechanics, but it suffers from unclear mechanics and sluggish performance that detracts from the overall experience. While the innovative story crafting and relationship-building aspects are praised, many players find the lack of manual save options and the need for multiple playthroughs to explore different endings frustrating. Overall, the game offers engaging narratives and beautiful art, but the execution of its gameplay mechanics leaves much to be desired, often feeling clunky and underdeveloped.
- “The gameplay is a visual novel that is also both a detective game and a dating sim.”
- “Mask of the Rose is a solid game with some engaging gameplay aspects, a wide-ranging story that encourages player choice, and more playthroughs with a distinctive art style and soundtrack.”
- “There is a lot to love about this game-- fantastic writing and worldbuilding, and a genuinely innovative gameplay format.”
- “I learned on my second playthrough that it's through befriending witnesses that you can gradually gain info, which isn't what the game established as the mechanics in the first act.”
- “That said, I cannot for the life of me understand why there is no manual save function, nor the ability to copy a save file; the accessibility of the game is massively undercut by the need to replay the entirety of the plot to get different endings, especially when many of the underlying gameplay elements are, in the style of Fallen London, rather arcane and opaque.”
- “The gameplay loop is a grindy mess and entirely unsuited to telling the story.”
music
28 mentions
57 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and atmospheric qualities, with many reviewers highlighting its haunting and mesmerizing nature. While some noted that the soundtrack may feel repetitive over time, it still contributes significantly to the immersive experience, complementing the game's art and storytelling. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, enhancing the emotional depth and ambiance of the game.
- “The music is gorgeous.”
- “Haunting and beautiful music!”
- “The soundtrack is exceptional, featuring heavy strings that create an inviting and mysterious feel with some sinister undertones.”
- “Also, the music, while fine, lacks some of the character of the Sunless Seas/Skies soundtracks, unfortunately.”
- “Realistically speaking, the music may feel repetitive after a couple of games, but it never annoyed me to the point of needing to turn it off or switch to something else.”
- “Other people's feelings may differ, but I find that offering a more varied soundtrack would have been beyond the scope of this game.”
atmosphere
13 mentions
54 % positive mentions
23 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charm, depth, and emotional impact, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging writing, stunning music, and intriguing characters. While the overall ambiance is described as dark and moody, it also offers a sense of freedom in storytelling and romance options. However, some players express frustration with pacing and clarity, feeling that the immersive experience is hindered by rushed gameplay and a lack of guidance.
- “It's got a wonderful atmosphere, characters, and secrets for you to uncover.”
- “Wonderfully atmospheric and engaging with excellent writing.”
- “The atmosphere and setting is both charming and mysterious.”
- “The atmosphere and setting are both charming and mysterious.”
- “The prose is gorgeous, characters surprise with their depth as you get to know them more, music and overall atmosphere is 11/10.”
- “I love the game's atmosphere; I just felt like it ended way too soon and the game itself didn't even warn me that I was only going to get a few 'days' in which to impact things.”
replayability
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
45 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits strong replayability due to its multiple endings, varied story paths, and the depth of its characters, encouraging players to explore different outcomes. However, some players noted issues such as pacing and the lack of manual saves, which can detract from the experience, particularly for those seeking a more casual playthrough. Despite these concerns, many players express a desire to replay the game to uncover all its secrets and improve upon their previous attempts.
- “I played for 7 hours straight... managed to complete the game, but it has such huge replayability potential that you actually want to play again and again in order to find out all the secrets and multiple endings.”
- “As a result of the variety of different ways the story can play out and the paths that can be pursued, replayability is highly encouraged. Once the player has gone through the game once and understands how it works, they can achieve much more on subsequent playthroughs.”
- “The universe, character depths, and replayability really work for me.”
- “I would say that this game does have some problems with replayability in the yule season and also left me rather confused on my first run about what to do, but it was still a nice and enjoyable experience.”
- “In a genre that's all about replayability and discovery, this seems a strange choice.”
- “After my first playthrough of 'Mask of the Rose' and after reading several reviews, I have to agree with people who criticize the pacing and lack of manual saves—both of which lead to poor replayability.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Mask of the Rose" is polarizing; while some players appreciate its touching and intriguing narratives, others find the emotional responses of characters confusing and lacking depth, leading to a diminished investment in the story. Despite the game's innovative ideas and quality writing, many reviewers express disappointment in the emotional payoff, feeling that the time spent does not yield satisfying returns. Overall, the game may resonate with those who enjoy complex narratives but may frustrate players seeking a more traditional emotional experience.
- “It's a totally different view of the people of Fallen London, not trying to 'make life bearable' but 'avoid starving or being slain by the unknown and wretched things of this strange country.' As with all Failbetter games, Mask of the Rose is very much a matter of taste; those who want a normal experience of visual novel style or a game that doesn't sometimes hurt you emotionally may not enjoy.”
- “I've discovered secrets I shouldn't know and made actions that even made me feel ashamed of myself, drowning them in the subconscious with different concoctions, honey, and visits to Dr. Schlomo.”
- “Exactly the profoundly tangled, deliciously alluring, and deeply heartfelt journey that I hoped it would be.”
humor
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is praised for its tasteful and engaging execution, blending dark comedy with well-defined characters and intriguing narratives. Players appreciate the balance of funny and spooky moments, as well as the satisfying interactions, whether through friendships or romances. Overall, the writing is noted for its quality, with humor that resonates alongside deeper emotional themes, although accessing all content may require some effort.
- “This game approaches it tastefully and with good humor.”
- “The writing is top notch, evocative and humorous; the characters are all well-defined and engaging.”
- “It balances dark and hilarious vibes, and romance is entirely optional - in fact, you can perfectly enjoy the game by just befriending everyone - even the monsters!”
graphics
9 mentions
33 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Mask of the Rose" are highly praised for their detailed, hand-drawn art style that beautifully captures a Victorian London atmosphere infused with dark, Lovecraftian elements. Players appreciate the game's engaging visuals and aesthetics, which complement its intriguing narrative and gameplay, despite some pacing issues. Overall, the game is considered visually stunning and worth experiencing for its artistic presentation.
- “Mask of the Rose is a truly beautiful game, full of incredibly mesmerizing writing, delightful visuals, and colorful music.”
- “I love the art style!”
- “The graphics are detailed and hand-drawn, and each piece fits well with a Victorian London look meshed with a more dark and Lovecraftian feel.”
- “Visually and aesthetically a very pleasing game, but it suffers from pacing issues.”
- “If you are looking for graphical descriptions, they are indeed available, but it's still worth noting that Mask of the Rose is more of an adventure game with extra romance than a conventional dating simulator.”
grinding
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while some players appreciate the charm and fun of grinding in games like "Fallen London," many find the grinding mechanics tedious and overly repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. The lack of manual saves adds to the frustration, making it difficult to experiment without risking progress. Overall, the gameplay loop is often criticized for being a "grindy mess" that undermines the narrative.
- “An interesting idea done in the most tedious way imaginable.”
- “The lack of manual saves is a bummer - not only does it make it tedious to try new options or to figure out where something went wrong, it also can destroy a run if you misclick.”
- “But the gameplay loop is a grindy mess and entirely unsuited to telling the story.”
optimization
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is criticized for long load times and sluggish performance, particularly in dialogue interactions and screen transitions, which detracts from the experience. While the PC version runs smoother with reduced loading times, the gameplay mechanics and "action economy" feel poorly optimized, limiting player engagement to only certain conversations.
- “I will say that the game is more optimized for PC, in that it runs smoother, with less loading time.”
- “A better optimized way might be to do this through the dialogue tree as a 'last minute' change, rather than forcing the long load times to and from the dressing room.”
- “However, the gameplay is kind of frustrating, and while the UI design is good, using it feels just awful, given the weird mandatory delays on every line of dialogue, super slow screen transitions, and just generally sluggish performance - a bizarre thing to say about a visual novel, but here we are.”
- “The 'action economy', to put it in another game's terms, is incredibly unoptimized, and I felt as though I had to only pursue conversations in which I knew would have an outcome that would further a storyline.”
character development
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-67 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being overshadowed by unengaging visual designs and sparse writing, making it difficult for players to connect with the characters' intriguing backstories. While the art is praised, the focus on romance options detracts from deeper character exploration.
- “The art is lovely with great character design, and there are intriguing stories hidden within, but they're too hard to access.”
- “The writing is sparse, and whatever character development there might be is buried beneath a constant flurry of 'do you want to romance this person?'”
- “The writing is sparse, and any character development that exists is buried beneath a constant barrage of 'do you want to romance this person?'”
- “Character arcs feel rushed and underdeveloped, leaving players with little emotional connection to the characters.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development makes the experience feel shallow and unengaging.”
stability
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be quite unstable, with numerous bugs affecting gameplay, particularly when using the fast forward feature, which can lead to unintended actions. Users recommend waiting for a sale or a patch to address these issues, especially for Mac users, as experiences may vary by platform.
- “Super buggy.”
- “There is a fast forward, but using it at all got buggy fast—it would sweep past things when I didn't want it to, and the logs don't go back indefinitely, and turn on randomly.”
- “If you're really a big Sunless-head this is pretty fun, but I'd wait until it goes on sale, certainly at least until it's not so buggy (I'm on a Mac though, so your bugs may vary).”