Royal Alchemist

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Intrigue, betrayal, deaths! A survival stats-raising Otome / BxB Dating Sim in a high-fantasy royal court setting with RPG elements.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 438 reviews

story246 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game features a captivating story with unexpected twists and well-developed characters, making it engaging and immersive.
The art and music are beautiful, enhancing the overall experience and atmosphere of the game.
The protagonist is strong and witty, breaking the typical mold of a passive character in otome games, and the stat-raising mechanics add depth to the gameplay.

The stat-raising system can be frustratingly random, leading to frequent deaths and the need to reload saves, which detracts from the enjoyment of the story.
Some players may find the romance underdeveloped, with a lack of significant romantic interactions compared to the focus on the overarching plot.
There are occasional bugs and inconsistencies, particularly regarding character pronouns and the gallery system, which can disrupt immersion.

story
654 mentions
38 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of "Royal Alchemist" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and unexpected plot twists that keep players invested throughout. While the gameplay involves stat management that some find frustrating, many reviewers appreciate how it intertwines with the story, enhancing the overall experience. However, some critiques mention that the romance elements feel secondary and that certain plot points could have been better developed, leading to a somewhat rushed conclusion.
- “The story's extremely well-written and hit a lot of good beats, funny and bittersweet and everything in between.”
- “The plot is so very well written and is the perfect combination of a good general storyline and well thought out plot twists that I couldn't see coming yet fit into the story perfectly!”
- “The story is captivating, the writing and universe are excellent, the art and background art are beautiful.”
- “Unfortunately, your actions don’t affect the story.”
- “There is a big plot problem near the end, when one of the characters does something illogical that the plot fails to explain.”
- “The storyline doesn't significantly change from route to route - so you only get a small portion of unique storyline for your prince per route completion, almost the entire route will be a re-run.”
gameplay
90 mentions
42 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a blend of stat management and narrative choices, which some players find engaging while others consider it tedious due to its randomness. Many appreciate the strategic elements and the immersive mechanics that enhance the storytelling, though some desire a simpler experience without the stat-raising requirements. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful art, compelling characters, and a solid story, making it a worthwhile experience with significant replayability.
- “Engaging gameplay and interesting storyline which kept me hooked throughout.”
- “The production values of this game are fantastic: gorgeous art, strong writing, and well-thought-out gameplay (something that is often an afterthought in this genre).”
- “Simply put, this game is fantastic and it was so fun to read as it constantly kept my attention with enjoyable characters, a mature writing style, state-raising mechanics that made me suffer in a good way, great story, and just a pleasant experience overall.”
- “The core gameplay mechanic of classes and points can get a bit tedious considering its randomness.”
- “Moreover, if I failed at something, I could've been sent 5-30 minutes back in gameplay.”
- “Gameplay and choice: this is going to frustrate a lot of players; even in story mode, you will constantly save and load to get RNG for the best stat, because if not, you will not be able to get to the ending that you want.”
graphics
60 mentions
60 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful and stunning artwork, with many players appreciating the unique art style and character designs. While the visuals are generally considered a highlight, some users expressed a desire for more character artwork and CG scenes, particularly for male leads. Overall, the game's graphics contribute significantly to its enjoyable storytelling and character engagement.
- “I was hooked from the moment I saw the visuals and read the brief plot description, so coughing up the $20 was something I was more than willing to do.”
- “The visuals are beautiful and the story is interesting.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, and the writing is delightful--I found myself smiling or outright giggling through many scenes.”
- “The main critique I really have is there isn't enough CG/artwork in the game for the male leads, or really in general.”
- “However, I can understand why there isn't as much artwork, seeing as how quickly they were able to make this game.”
- “Tldr: love the writing, game, and characters, but wish there was more artwork and CG.”
music
54 mentions
59 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its ability to convey emotion and enhance the atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the excellence of the soundtrack, particularly during key scenes. While some found certain tracks repetitive or less memorable, the overall sentiment is that the music is beautiful and fitting for the game's setting, leaving players wishing for a wider availability of the soundtrack.
- “The soundtrack and sound design add a great mood and atmosphere to the game's many scenes and complement its characters and settings well.”
- “The cgs were beautiful and the music was amazing (my favorite was definitely the soundtrack during spicy scenes).”
- “And to be honest, I haven't gotten far enough in any of the stories to comment on them, but the art is gorgeous, the music is fantastic, and I can't wait to play more!”
- “The music wasn't very special.”
- “The general waltzy music they play otherwise got on my nerves by my 3rd playthrough.”
- “I'm not going to say all the music was good, but it is excellent where it matters.”
humor
30 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is consistently praised for its cleverness and wit, with many players highlighting the engaging banter between characters, particularly the interactions with the princes. The dialogue strikes a balance between being funny, meaningful, and heartwarming, often eliciting genuine laughter. Overall, the humor adds a refreshing depth to the narrative, making the experience enjoyable and memorable.
- “The story's extremely well-written and hits a lot of good beats, funny and bittersweet and everything in between.”
- “While each romance route and ending stood out for its own unique reasons, I want to particularly call out the strength of the banter between characters - many conversations are absolutely sparkling with wit, and made me laugh by being truly funny rather than just surprising.”
- “A lot of the dialogue and banter was really funny and cute and made me laugh out loud sometimes.”
replayability
28 mentions
57 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its branching storylines, varied romance options, and a stat-raising system that unlocks new scenes and dialogue. Players appreciate the ability to explore different paths and achievements, with many noting that choices significantly impact the narrative experience. While some mention potential repetition across routes, the overall consensus is that the game offers a rich and engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “Replayability: main plot events can change depending on your romance choice, which adds a bit more fun to playing multiple times.”
- “Highly replayable with a great story, decisions that have consequences, many ways to die, and a prince to snuggle at the end of it all if you manage to survive.”
- “There is also tons of replay value since you can choose a friendship or romance option for each route, and see how scenes unfold differently when you pass or fail certain checks.”
- “- replay value could be underwhelming.”
- “Missions were nice to read, though you can’t really do much of them in one playthrough since you need to raise your stats - I guess that’s where the replayability value comes in.”
- “Not sure how much is repeated from route to route yet, so I can't speak to replayability.”
character development
26 mentions
69 % positive mentions
19 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its depth and the ability to transform initial perceptions of characters into affection through well-crafted narratives. The characters are described as multi-dimensional, with designs that reflect their personalities, and the overall storytelling is engaging, despite some critiques regarding the depth of the plot. The combination of beautiful art and compelling character arcs keeps players invested and eager to see how their choices impact the story.
- “The game has a really thrilling story and extremely likeable characters, and the character development of the main characters is so on point.”
- “The art is gorgeous, the characters were charming and intriguing, and the character development was stunning; I was at the edge of my seat with the twists and turns of the plot!”
- “As it gives me character development choices every week, it still disturbs me for I don't know when and how much I must prepare for the points check or I will receive a death ending.”
- “I ended up loving characters that I didn't really like at first because the character development is so well written!”
- “In-depth story and character development.”
grinding
12 mentions
0 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game can be excessively tedious, particularly due to its randomness and the pressure to meet combat stat requirements early on. While some players appreciate the skill-building and milestones that add depth to the gameplay, many feel that the grinding is overwhelming and could benefit from better pacing and clearer expectations. Overall, the experience can become monotonous, especially after multiple playthroughs.
- “Not to mention the grinding to get anywhere. I get it, we all loved 'Long Live the Queen', but not every visual novel like it needs this much stat grinding. If you want it to have this much insane grinding, scatter it out a little. Let the player know what they're getting into before throwing them into an event and getting them berated by the love interest for not having enough combat stats two weeks into the game!”
- “Endless, endless grinding.”
- “I would say the stat-raising aspect is a tad tedious after the first playthrough.”
emotional
10 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is described as heart-wrenching and impactful, featuring a blend of angsty, meaningful, and humorous dialogue that evokes a range of feelings, from laughter to tears. Players appreciate the romantic scenes that elicit joy and excitement, while also noting the frustration of in-game challenges. Overall, the game offers a thought-provoking adventure filled with memorable emotional moments.
- “The dialogue is angsty, meaningful, funny, and heartwarming.”
- “This game will make you think and will take you on a great adventure full of banter, laughs, and heartwarming moments.”
- “Very frustrating though because I don't like dying, but this is also the first game that made me cry, so props I guess.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in "The Royal Alchemist" is highly praised for its beautiful artwork, fitting soundtrack, and sound design, which collectively enhance the game's mood and complement the interactions between likeable characters and the main character. Reviewers appreciate how these elements work together to create an immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack and sound design add a great mood and atmosphere to the game's many scenes and complement its characters and settings well.”
- “Beautiful artwork and atmospheric music enhance the overall experience.”
- “The music was fitting for the game's atmosphere.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for resembling mobile games that require waiting and watching ads, despite players having already paid for the game. Additionally, the bundling of the guide with the art book is perceived as a cash grab, particularly given the high price point in Australia.
- “If I had to compare this game with anything else, I would probably compare it with mobile games where you have to wait a certain amount of time, play menial games to proceed with a plot, watch 10-second ads, etc. Except here, you paid for all this headache.”
- “My only real gripe is that the guide is attached to the art book... feels like such a cash grab as here in Australia the game is $28.95 and the art book + guide is $35.95!”