Rituals in the Dark

About

"Rituals in the Dark" is a narrative-driven game following Aspen Draper who, after finding her elderly neighbor's body, becomes obsessed with rumors of the neighbor's haunted house. When coerced by friends to break into the house, Aspen faces her fears and uncovers chilling secrets about her neighbor's past. The game delves into themes of guilt, grief, and the supernatural in a small seaside town.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 150 reviews

story46 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

Beautiful art and music that enhance the atmospheric storytelling.
Engaging characters and a well-constructed narrative that keeps players intrigued.
A unique blend of yuri and slightly creepy mystery elements that provide a captivating experience.

The story feels incomplete, with many unresolved mysteries and an abrupt ending.
Character development is lacking, particularly in the resolution of relationships.
Some players found the pacing scattered and the writing quality inconsistent.

story
122 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
60%
2%
The story of "Rituals in the Dark" is described as beautiful and atmospheric, blending elements of romance and mystery, though it suffers from predictability and pacing issues. While some players appreciated the character development and plot twists, others found the narrative scattered and lacking depth, with an abrupt ending that left them wanting more. Overall, it is seen as a visually appealing visual novel that may resonate well with fans of yuri and atmospheric storytelling, despite its shortcomings.
- “Rituals in the Dark is a very good visual novel game with a beautiful story.”
- “The story and setting are very interesting, the mood is well constructed and I was intrigued the whole way.”
- “I had a wonderful time going through this story!!”
- “No choices as stated, so it's basically a graphic novel whose story isn't properly fleshed out.”
- “The ending is very confusing and frustrating, as the main motivation for reading the story is finding out the truth, yet it is not delivered at all.”
- “The story is all over the place, and the background story is too long and scattered.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
58%
8%
The music in the game has received a mixed response, with many praising its beauty and ability to enhance the atmosphere, particularly in creating a gothic and moody setting. While some players found the soundtrack to be relaxing and fitting for the story, others noted it as standard or lacking in surprises. Overall, the combination of music, art, and writing is often highlighted as a strong point that contributes to the game's immersive experience.
- “I love the art style and music, both very fitting to the story and atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere (the writing, music, and art really come together to create a moody atmosphere of night and being lost in life).”
- “I loved the gothic atmosphere/mood with rainy nights and somber music. I also liked that the art is slightly more mature and unique than most GL visual novels.”
- “What is lacking in surprises is the music.”
- “The art is quite nice compared to many other games, and the soundtrack is rather standard.”
- “I didn't care for the music at times, but that's fine.”
atmosphere
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
42%
12%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its astounding, mysterious, and romantic qualities, enhanced by gothic elements, rainy nights, and somber music. Reviewers highlight the immersive combination of writing, art, and music that creates a moody and suspenseful vibe, making the experience gripping and emotionally resonant. However, some note that while the atmosphere is captivating, the overall plot pacing and character development may not meet the same high standards.
- “The atmosphere is astounding, mysterious, and romantic.”
- “I loved the gothic atmosphere with rainy nights and somber music. I also liked that the art is slightly more mature and unique than most GL visual novels.”
- “Really cute and heartfelt on the romance side with really good character writing and an incredibly fun spooky atmosphere that ends so disappointingly it just kind of leaves me with nothing.”
- “A kinetic visual novel game, with entirely too much writing in the front, but a slightly horror-like atmosphere and an emotional kick towards the end.”
- “Rituals have a lot to tell with its immersive atmosphere and setting that really gives lots of spooky vibes.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
32%
14%
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their unique art style and high-quality character sprites, contributing to a visually appealing experience that complements the story's atmosphere. While some users noted the artwork as beautiful and fitting, others felt that the graphics alone could not compensate for shortcomings in the narrative. Overall, the visuals are described as skillfully crafted, with a spooky aesthetic that enhances the game's charm.
- “Even more noticeable are visuals that were skillfully made by darksin and renmiou.”
- “As with all of ebi-hime's visual novels, Rituals in the Dark has fantastic dialogue, interesting dynamics between characters, and high-quality character sprites/artwork.”
- “I love the art style and music, both very fitting to the story and atmosphere.”
- “Unless you like reading with graphics that remain the same, then this isn't for you.”
- “I didn't enjoy this at all; the graphics are pretty, but the story detracts from it significantly.”
- “Even more noticeable are the visuals, which were skillfully made by darksin and renmiou.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players appreciating the heartfelt romance and strong character writing, while others feel the story's unresolved ending and themes of emotional abuse detract from the overall experience. The spooky atmosphere adds depth, but the lack of closure leaves many feeling disappointed and unsatisfied.
- “Really cute and heartfelt on the romance side with really good character writing and an incredibly fun spooky atmosphere that ends so disappointingly it just kind of leaves me with nothing.”
- “A kinetic visual novel game, with entirely too much writing in the front, but a slightly horror-like atmosphere and an emotional kick towards the end.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is well-executed and engaging, with strong writing that enhances the overall experience. While the character designs are described as nice but not exceptional, they complement the depth of the characters effectively.
- “Well written (like usual), great character development, interesting art.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and disorganized, leading to a frustrating experience.
- “This game is tedious and all over the place.”
- “This game is tedious and all over the place.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as both funny and sweet, contributing to a charming and lighthearted short story experience.
- “Funny and sweet, short story.”
- “Funny and sweet, short story.”