Salome's Kiss

About

Salome's Kiss is a single player action game with romance, drama, anime, historical and others themes. It was developed by ebi-hime and was released on April 26, 2022. It received positive reviews from players.

A lesbian gothic romance tale set in Victorian England, in which an anxious governess is aggressively pursued by her unruly, tempestuous pupil.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 90 reviews

story27 positive mentions

monetization2 negative mentions

Exceptional gothic Victorian atmosphere with lush, detailed visuals and an evocative, melancholic soundtrack.
Deeply immersive and emotionally raw storytelling with complex, believable characters and mature themes explored thoughtfully.
Well-paced, kinetic (linear) visual novel format that allows for a tightly woven, tightly controlled narrative with effective foreshadowing.

The story's tone and especially the ending are very dark, bleak, and tragic, which may leave players feeling upset, frustrated, or emotionally drained.
Lack of interactivity and choices makes it more akin to reading a novel than playing a game, which disappoints those expecting a typical visual novel experience.
Certain plot elements and the final twist have been criticized as feeling rushed, contrived, or unearned, causing dissatisfaction and undermining the story's impact for some readers.

story
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The story of "Salome's Kiss" is a haunting, gothic tale set in Victorian England that explores themes of forbidden love, manipulation, and tragedy with richly developed characters and a melancholic atmosphere. While its linear, non-interactive format allows for precise pacing and emotional depth, the narrative's bleak and abrupt ending divided players—some found it powerful and thought-provoking, others felt it undermined the preceding story. Overall, it is praised for its evocative writing, complex emotions, and suspenseful twists, making it a compelling if somber experience that lingers with the reader.
- “Set in the Victorian English countryside, the game invites players into a world of crumbling morals, subtle dread, and forbidden desire, using expressive art and rich prose to tell a story where love and manipulation blur until they become indistinguishable.”
- “The narrative demands emotional engagement and close reading, which may not appeal to everyone, but those who commit to the experience are rewarded with a story that lingers.”
- “Suffering... that's the word which comes to mind when thinking about Salome's Kiss, but in a good way... in a way where you got hooked by the amazing writing of this emotional experience, caused by great and unique art, fascinating characters combined with fitting music, and an incredible story, which lets you rethink your own relationships and your status in human society... suffering... there it is again... because of this masterpiece... and you want to read it again... feel it again... suffering...”
- “My only critic towards the ending is that it invalidates the entire story before.”
- “The ending felt rushed, compared to the slow buildup of the rest of the story (and I mean slow, the prologue especially could be its own game).”
- “I enjoyed everything apart from the ending: its absolute bleakness aside, the way the main protagonist is discarded and just ignored makes the final passages feel rushed and somehow disjointed from the rest of the story.”
music
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
16%
12%
The music in this game is consistently praised for its beautiful, melancholic, and orchestral piano-driven soundtrack that perfectly complements the eerie, brooding atmosphere and stunning visuals. It effectively enhances the emotional depth and storytelling, immersing players in the setting and elevating the overall experience. The soundtrack's delicate, soft nature aligns seamlessly with the game's tone, making it a standout aspect alongside the art and narrative.
- “Complementing the visuals is a gentle, melancholic soundtrack—dominated by piano and orchestral textures—that further immerses players in the game’s brooding atmosphere.”
- “The music consists mostly of orchestral and pianos but it fits in extraordinarily well with the setting along with highlighting scenes such as a normal almost disorganized day with 'working again' or serene moments with 'from a distance' or pure melancholy with 'better left unsaid'.”
- “The whole soundtrack is an excellent set that displays the pain, passion, and perseverance of the human spirit.”
- “The music consists mostly of orchestral and piano pieces, fitting extraordinarily well with the setting and highlighting different scenes such as the chaotic day in 'Working Again', serene moments in 'From a Distance', or pure melancholy in 'Better Left Unsaid'.”
- “As for the soundtrack?”
- “The music, the art, the twists and turns... oh and there's an adult patch which is definitely worth it if you like some spice in your stories like I do.”
emotional
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Salome’s Kiss delivers a deeply emotional and atmospheric experience, weaving a slow-burning, tragic, and psychologically complex narrative that evokes intense feelings of longing, suffering, and vulnerability. Its poetic writing and richly crafted gothic romance demand close engagement, resulting in a haunting story that lingers long after completion. While emotionally exhausting and sometimes unsettling, the visual novel is praised for its profound impact and literary ambition.
- “Salome’s Kiss, developed and published by ebi-hime, is a deeply atmospheric yuri visual novel that combines gothic romance with psychological complexity in a slow-burning, emotionally devastating narrative.”
- “Their relationship becomes the emotional core of the narrative—tender, volatile, and ultimately tragic.”
- “The game slowly unspools their connection, balancing moments of vulnerability with a looming sense of danger, as the gothic backdrop reinforces the uncertainty of Letitia’s emotional and moral footing.”
graphics
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
42%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their lush, intricate, and elegant artwork, featuring ornate period costumes and expressive character details that beautifully complement the brooding Victorian setting. The minimal and classy UI harmonizes with the visuals, while the overall aesthetic is enhanced by a gentle, melancholic soundtrack, creating an immersive and sophisticated atmosphere. Many highlight the artwork as a standout element that significantly elevates the storytelling experience, especially when paired with the adult patch providing uncensored, highly detailed visuals.
- “Rock CR’s artwork is lush and intricate, portraying the characters with ornate period costuming and expressive detail.”
- “The artstyle is simply stunning and I'm sure will be the main draw for many.”
- “To put things simply, everything IMO sticks together here: the graphics/drawings are well done, beautiful even, the music is soft and delicate, the presentation is soberly classy, with no excess of style; and all of this combined serves in a very just way the game's settings, of an old Victorian England.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Salome’s Kiss is praised for its deeply immersive and gothic atmosphere, enhanced by melancholic piano and orchestral music, detailed visuals, and masterfully drawn CGs. The slow-building narrative and rich descriptions effectively draw players into a brooding, emotionally complex world that captivates and enhances the storytelling experience.
- “Salome’s Kiss, developed and published by ebi-hime, is a deeply atmospheric yuri visual novel that combines gothic romance with psychological complexity in a slow-burning, emotionally devastating narrative.”
- “Complementing the visuals is a gentle, melancholic soundtrack—dominated by piano and orchestral textures—that further immerses players in the game’s brooding atmosphere.”
- “The writing style and the atmosphere setup via excellent soundtrack and visuals were exceptional and elevated the overall delivery of the story.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the character design for its quality and atmospheric, masterfully drawn CGs, though it may take some time to get used to. However, specific mentions of character development beyond design are limited.
- “The character design takes a bit to get used to but CGs are masterfully drawn and very atmospheric.”
- “That character design is pretty good.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The provided texts do not offer relevant or clear information regarding the game's monetization. Therefore, no meaningful summary on monetization can be derived.
gameplay
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The gameplay is linear with no player choices available, focusing primarily on a straightforward story progression.
- “As for the gameplay, there are no choices presented since the story is linear.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without any performance issues.
- “Ran fine, didn't have any performance issues.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of awkwardness and self-deprecating moments, often highlighting relatable social missteps in a lighthearted, laugh-at-yourself manner.