Rosewater

Rosewater combines the Wild West and traditional point-and-click mechanics with relative success, taking players on a road trip that is more about relationship building than the trip’s purpose. Which is both its biggest selling point and frustration. Rosewater is full of well-written and performed characters, but it’s hard to care about all of them when they’re not your headline.

91%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

atmosphere, character development

94% User Score Based on 306 reviews

Critic Score 75%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

Rosewater is a single player action adventure game. It was developed by Grundislav Games and was released on March 27, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Rosewater is an action-packed single-player game featuring a captivating story and beautiful mechanics. Players join Harley Leger and her companions on a thrilling treasure hunt across Western Vespuccia, where choices and relationships shape the unfolding adventure. With perfect visuals, a splendid soundtrack, and multiple solutions, every journey is unique and immersive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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94%

Audience ScoreBased on 306 reviews

story74 positive mentions

character development2 negative mentions

The game features a captivating narrative with well-developed characters, making players feel invested in their stories.
The art style and animations are stunning, with beautiful pixel graphics and rotoscoped animations that enhance the overall experience.
Voice acting is top-notch, with a talented cast that brings the characters to life, adding depth to the storytelling.

The pacing can be slow at times, particularly in the middle sections where the story feels like it drags with filler content.
Some puzzles may be too easy or straightforward, lacking the challenge that some players might expect from a point-and-click adventure.
The main character's voice acting is criticized for being flat and lacking emotion compared to the other characters, which detracts from the overall experience.

story
225 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
65%
2%
The story in "Rosewater" is a captivating blend of adventure and character-driven narrative, set against a whimsical wild west backdrop. Players navigate a branching storyline where their choices significantly impact character relationships and the overall outcome, leading to multiple endings. While the pacing can feel uneven at times, with some side quests appearing disconnected from the main plot, the engaging writing, charming characters, and high-quality voice acting create an immersive experience that resonates with fans of story-rich games.
- “Your decisions shape the story, lead to different endings, and can even change the fates of your friends and allies.”
- “We’re treated to a story of adventure and friendship, one that is captivating, superbly written, and brought to life by an outstanding cast.”
- “A compelling storyline, a broad cast of varied characters who are truly, meaningfully diverse - a range of histories, childhoods, experiences and values that shape how each character responds to the challenges in front of them - a real love for adventure in the old west and a collection of engaging puzzles and problems to solve make this a game I'm going to come back to over and over again.”
- “The pacing feels very off, characters seem dull and boring to me, the story doesn't seem to know what it wants to be and the riddles are either non-existent or super easy.”
- “Until the very end scene, how their journey would conclude didn't seem to really matter to the characters, so it was a bit hard for us as the player to then care about where the story would end up, which at times was a frustrating feeling.”
- “The main issue here is that none of these really serve to progress the story.”
graphics
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
45%
7%
The graphics of Rosewater have received widespread acclaim for their beautiful pixel art and careful attention to detail, effectively capturing the charm of classic point-and-click adventures while incorporating modern aesthetics. Many reviewers praised the game's art style, animations, and overall production values, noting that the visuals enhance the immersive atmosphere alongside a compelling soundtrack and strong voice acting. However, some criticism was directed at the character designs, which were described as lacking in quality compared to the rest of the game's visuals.
- “Rosewater also nails its art style with gorgeous pixel graphics, painting the western landscapes with great care.”
- “I loved my time with Rosewater; the art and visuals are as carefully crafted as the intricate story.”
- “Beautiful graphics and animations, a great soundtrack, and fantastic voice acting combine to create a great western atmosphere.”
- “Usually I enjoy pixel graphics, but the characters are all crappy pillow shaded junk.”
- “It seems to not be doing anything special at all, using old school graphics, using old school controls.”
- “Not everybody will like the 90's style visuals and voice but if you are even reading this you probably already know that's exactly what you want.”
music
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
39%
8%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere and immerse players in the experience, with many reviewers highlighting its beauty and variety. The soundtrack, complemented by excellent voice acting and high production values, contributes significantly to the game's nostalgic and compelling storytelling. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature that elevates the game's emotional depth and engagement.
- “Complementing the visuals is a soundtrack that immerses you further into the game's atmosphere.”
- “Wonderful adventure game, feels like the developer is really firing on all cylinders here - great art with tons of attention to detail, lovely soundtrack, and a fantastic cast of voice actors.”
- “The music and voice work amplify the immersion, and the art and animations are delightfully nostalgic.”
- “The game excels in multiple aspects, including writing, voice acting, and music.”
- “It has very high production values with lovely background art, buttery rotoscoped animation, charming music, and fully-voiced characters.”
gameplay
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
55%
10%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a blend of narrative-driven mechanics and traditional point-and-click elements, offering multiple solutions to puzzles and a focus on player choice. While some players appreciate the innovative mechanics and immersive storytelling, others find inconsistencies in timing and presentation that can detract from the experience. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging art style, varied gameplay, and the emotional depth of its characters, making it a compelling adventure for fans of the genre.
- “Not huge into point and clicks but I can say I was decently impressed from the first hour of gameplay by the nice art style, clean animation, and lovely cinematics.”
- “The gameplay is relatively simple with straightforward adventure game design, but it delights in offering different pathways to your goal.”
- “The writing is excellent and a lot of puzzles can be solved in different ways, affecting the gameplay forward, which is really cool.”
- “The game seems to feature two mechanics meant to increase replay value, but in my opinion neither are implemented the way they should be.”
- “Some of the gameplay inconsistencies also stem from the developers' ambitions – sometimes an event might be timed and it doesn’t feel like there’s enough time to even understand what is expected of you, and sometimes an event feels narratively timed, but isn’t and you can faff around.”
- “What I didn't like very much was that sometimes the game becomes too formalistic in the presentation of the gameplay, which slightly reduces the value of the cinematic plot.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
35%
18%
The game boasts strong replayability due to its branching narrative, multiple solutions for tasks and puzzles, and random encounters that encourage players to explore different choices and outcomes. Many reviewers highlight the significant impact of player decisions on the story, as well as the variety of dialogue options and character interactions, making each playthrough feel unique. While some feel that certain mechanics could be better implemented, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich, engaging experience that invites repeated play.
- “This offers an almost irresistible replay value, encouraging exploration of every narrative path.”
- “Filled with adventures and intrigue, Rosewater offers a rich and replayable choice-driven story, with a wonderful professional voice cast and numerous highly detailed pixel art sceneries.”
- “The game’s branching narrative allows for a high level of interactivity and replayability, with decisions that significantly alter the course of the story.”
- “The game seems to feature two mechanics meant to increase replay value, but in my opinion neither are implemented the way they should be.”
- “Puzzles also have multiple solutions, and randomized events or 'vignettes' pop up throughout the game, adding replayability.”
optimization
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
12%
25%
The optimization of the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the outstanding voice performances and solid writing that enhance the narrative experience. Players find the puzzles engaging and generally solvable, contributing to a well-rounded gameplay experience. Overall, the strong voice cast and character development significantly elevate the game's appeal.
- “If you like good narratives, beautiful artwork, puzzles, and great performances, this game is a must.”
- “Solid writing, excellent performances from a star-studded cast of actors, and aside from getting stumped once on a lockpicking riddle, no puzzles that weren’t solvable if you’re paying enough attention.”
- “Performance?”
- “The voice talent is another highlight of the game, adding to each of the characters with performances that really interest you in their story.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The game's atmosphere is richly crafted through stunning visuals, masterful lighting, and an immersive soundtrack, all of which work together to create a captivating western ambiance. The combination of beautiful graphics, fantastic voice acting, and a compelling art style enhances the overall experience, making it feel alive and engaging.
- “Beautiful graphics and animations, a great soundtrack, and fantastic voice acting combine to create a great western atmosphere.”
- “The lighting is masterfully executed, casting beautiful shadows and highlights across every 2D scene and imbuing them with life, mood, and atmosphere.”
- “Art style, atmosphere, animation, writing, music - all top notch.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of heartfelt storytelling and thematic contrasts, offering a refreshing take on the point-and-click genre. While it features a character-driven journey that is often wholesome and accessible, some players feel it occasionally leans towards simplicity, making it feel more suited for a younger audience. Overall, it presents a unique emotional experience that balances lightheartedness with deeper narrative elements.
- “Rosewater is a refreshing, heartfelt take on the point-and-click genre, where the puzzles don't exist to stump you for hours, but rather to gently nudge you forward through a beautifully written, character-driven journey.”
- “Grundislav has built something special here - a heartfelt western adventure.”
- “Sometimes it's overly simple or a little too wholesome and feels like a child's game, and other times it is more standard for an adult/young adult kind of retro storyteller.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as subtle and fitting, reminiscent of western movies, with moments that can evoke genuine laughter despite the overall serious tone. While some characters may not be particularly likable or funny, the narrative design and occasional humorous elements contribute positively to the experience. Overall, players appreciate the balance of humor within the game's ambitious storytelling.
- “The best part of the game for me was the ambitious narrative design and charming story that occasionally hits on more typical western tropes and a bit of humor.”
- “The subtlety of the humor got me laughing quite often and is very fitting and reminiscent of western movies, not too quirky or tongue in cheek.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised to find a couple of really funny moments in an otherwise serious game.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Reviewers express a desire for deeper character development within the game's narrative, suggesting that encounters could have better served to enhance the main story and stakes. While the overall quality, including voice acting and storyline, is praised, some feel that the character development could have been more impactful, especially in comparison to classic games like "The Oregon Trail."
- “As expected, everything is top notch: voice acting, story line, character development, puzzles, etc. The Wild West isn't my favorite setting, but this wasn't cheesy at all and explored many facets of the genre.”
- “If this was an episodic release of mini-games, this would be fine, but in a single game, we'd have preferred these encounters be used to enhance and deepen the main story and character development, and to drive up the stakes of the adventure.”
- “Reminded me a lot of 'The Oregon Trail' and 'The Yukon Trail' with a lot more character development.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect tedious, particularly due to the repetitive back-and-forth movement required between characters, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “It felt tedious to have to go back and forth between all the characters.”
- “The grinding is repetitive and feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- “I found myself spending hours on tasks that didn't feel rewarding or meaningful.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report that "Rosewater" runs smoothly with no bugs, contributing to a positive and immersive narrative experience.
- “Mechanically, Rosewater runs great.”
- “It's been bug-free and a really great narrative experience.”