My Lovely Empress
- August 20, 2024
- GameChanger Studio
- 19h median play time
Get on Steam"My Lovely Empress" is a narrative-driven strategy game where you play as Emperor Hong, ruler of the Crimson Empire. After the loss of your mother and empress, you must navigate political challenges and manage your empire with the help of forbidden, powerful creatures. Balancing the needs of your people and other rulers is crucial as you work to grow and prosper the empire, while also dealing with the grief in your heart.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 5
Steam Deck
Windows
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features a unique art style and captivating storyline that keeps players engaged.
- Gameplay mechanics are improved from previous titles, offering a satisfying mix of strategy and resource management.
- The presence of multiple endings and character development adds depth and replayability to the game.
- The game can become excessively grindy, requiring multiple playthroughs to unlock all endings.
- Some players find the gameplay repetitive, with similar scenarios occurring frequently.
- The moral implications of the gameplay, including sacrificing characters, may not appeal to all players.
- gameplay72 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally well-received, featuring a satisfying mix of resource management, decision-making, and character interactions that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the mechanics engaging and addictive, others note that the gameplay can become grindy and repetitive, particularly in the early stages. Overall, the game offers a deeper and more complex gameplay experience compared to its predecessors, though it may not appeal to those who prefer simpler mechanics or less demanding gameplay loops.
“The gameplay loop is addicting (even though it could get grindy) and I really love the art style of the characters and the world.”
“The robust gameplay mechanics offer a satisfying mix of diplomacy, resource management, and narrative-driven choices.”
“The gameplay builds upon the foundation of 'my lovely wife' with much greater depth when managing your actions, resources, and characters.”
“The game's story, while interesting, is overshadowed by repetitive gameplay loops.”
“I think the only gripe is that the gameplay can become too grindy at times or RNG can screw you, so you have to start over and hope it doesn't happen again.”
“But these are minor complaints relative to the gameplay issues, and I could overlook them if the game were fun.”
- story56 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mix of compelling themes such as love, betrayal, and moral dilemmas, centered around an emperor's desperate quest to resurrect his deceased wife. While the narrative features intriguing characters and engaging plot twists, it suffers from predictability and repetitive gameplay, leading to a lack of satisfying resolutions. Overall, the story is appreciated for its depth and cultural elements, but many players feel it could benefit from more impactful character involvement and less monotony in execution.
“The artwork is unique and the storyline leaves you captivated by the journey the multifaceted characters take you on.”
“From the start, the game hits you with a heavy story—Hong's wife dies, and he's desperate enough to summon ancient spirits, the yaoguai, to bring her back.”
“The story follows Emperor Hong and the hard decisions he has to make, and trust me when I say hard, the decisions are sometimes impossible to make.”
“However, the game fails at storytelling and providing any really satisfying endings, which for a game like this is a fatal flaw.”
“The inability to skip through all the dialogue to decision-making leads to a dull monotony of watching the same story transpire over and over.”
“The main plot revolves around resurrecting your dead wife by keeping her soul alive, which requires soul essence.”
- graphics29 mentions
- 62 % positive mentions
- 28 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and captivating art style, which blends traditional Asian aesthetics with modern design elements, resulting in stunning visuals that enhance the storytelling experience. Players appreciate the detailed hand-drawn graphics and the vibrant character designs, although some feel that the gameplay mechanics may not fully utilize the artistic potential. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's appeal and immersion.
“The artwork is unique and the storyline leaves you captivated by the journey the multifaceted characters take you on.”
“I would highly suggest this game as it has a beautiful and unique art style that you can appreciate.”
“I see the game visuals as stunning, culturally rich, and immersive.”
“The art style is okay; surprisingly, they used 3D character models with 2D style colorings.”
“Colour has some watercolor marks, and everything seems like artwork became interactive.”
“Not quite as expansive as earlier games, but the style agrees with the Chinese aesthetic, and the games are much more vibrant than before in a way that benefits it.”
- grinding14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The game features a significant amount of grinding, particularly in the mid to late stages, which can feel tedious and repetitive, especially when trying to unlock various endings or manage resources. While the gameplay loop is generally engaging and the mechanics are decent, some players find the grind to be excessive at times, leading to frustration with RNG elements and merchant quests. Overall, the experience is enjoyable, but the grinding aspect may deter those who prefer a more streamlined progression.
“Not too grindy, although it's hard to unlock every route.”
“A bit grindy sometimes.”
“If you enjoy four hours of grinding for four lines of text across two PowerPoint slides, then this game is for you.”
“Even the story itself is quite enjoyable for the most part, only held back a bit by the tediousness of the actual gameplay grind.”
“Overall very good game, but can get extremely grindy towards mid-late game.”
- music7 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- -29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music and sound design in the game are generally praised for their quality and fitting aesthetic, particularly the Asian-inspired soundtrack that complements the visuals. However, some users noted that certain elements, like character humming, can become repetitive and detract from the overall experience.
“The music and art are great.”
“The UI is clean, the graphics are stylized and appealing, and the Asian-inspired soundtrack fits perfectly.”
“Plus, it runs smoothly and looks great, drawing from traditional Asian art styles with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
“The music and sound effects are decent, but the character's humming becomes repetitive and tiresome after a while.”
“The soundtrack lacks variety, making it feel monotonous during extended gameplay.”
“While the sound design is adequate, the music fails to create an engaging atmosphere, leaving it feeling flat.”
- character development6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, character development in the game is praised for its appealing 3D designs and engaging motifs, contributing positively to the overall experience. While some players feel the story is simple, they appreciate the improvements from previous installments and find the character designs and aesthetics captivating. The combination of art and character development is highlighted as a key factor in maintaining player interest.
“I've gotten 2 hours so far and the improvement from the previous game is astounding. The gameplay is much improved, the character designs are 3D renders now and are better looking to me. The character motifs and plot developments are all wonderfully engaging; I'd highly recommend it, especially if you've played the previous games.”
“I liked the character designs and the story is fun, if simple.”
“I've gotten 2 hours so far and the improvement from the previous game is astounding. The gameplay is much improved, the character designs are 3D renders now and are better looking to me. While I would say I've kind of been worn out on the Chinese fantasy aesthetic from other games, the character motifs and plot developments are all wonderfully engaging.”
“But the art, character design, and story really keep me going.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its unique playthroughs influenced by political and supernatural elements, distinct yaoguai designs, and multiple endings. Players can enhance their experience by altering decisions and exploring different routes, making each session feel fresh and challenging.
“Each playthrough feels unique as you navigate the treacherous waters of politics and supernatural elements, making it a highly replayable experience.”
“Its core loop is quite challenging; each yaoguai's design is unique and distinct, and this game offers many kinds of endings which improve the replayability even further.”
“Other forms of replay value include changing your decisions at each turn or figuring out which route you want to take.”
“Its core loop is quite challenging, each yaoguai's design is unique and distinct, and this game offers many kinds of endings which improve the replayability even further.”
“Other forms of replay value include changing your decisions at each turn or figuring out which route you want to partake.”
- emotional3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game presents a wholesome narrative intertwined with dark themes such as death and betrayal, creating a complex emotional landscape. Players express disappointment over the lack of impactful emotional connections, particularly with key characters, as the bond formed does not significantly influence the story's outcome. Despite this, the emotional support provided by interactions with characters offers a glimpse of depth amidst the overarching focus on the emperor's journey.
“No h-scenes, wholesome story with dark moral implications, death, betrayal, mass human population sacrifice, and more...”
“The interactions you have with them provide the closest thing the emperor gets as emotional support during the game, unlike the deceitful advisors and other rulers who seek to use you. It's disappointing that your bond with them doesn't significantly affect the ending or other aspects of the story.”
“While I might have preferred a slightly stronger emotional connection with the empress compared to the daughter and wife in previous games, I understand that the fantasy of becoming emperor is the primary focus of this title.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its smooth performance and impressive visuals, which are inspired by traditional Asian art styles, complemented by a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.
“Plus, it runs smoothly and looks great, drawing from traditional Asian art styles with a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its unexpected moments, providing a lighthearted contrast to the otherwise intense storyline.
“The story is pretty intense in some parts, and there was a funny moment that caught me completely off guard.”
“The humor in this game is cleverly woven into the narrative, making even the serious moments feel lighthearted.”
“I found myself laughing out loud at the unexpected jokes and witty dialogue throughout the game.”
