Strange Antiquities

Strange Antiquities is a gorgeously designed game that uses a shop management setting to explore the compelling story of a community ravaged by occult monsters.

90%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, character development

96% User Score Based on 1,981 reviews

Critic Score 84%Based on 10 reviews

Platforms

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About

Strange Antiquities is a single player action game with a mystery theme. It was developed by Bad Viking and was released on September 17, 2025. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Dear Applicant, I am pleased to offer you the role of Apprentice Thaumaturge at Strange Antiquities. You show promise – a sharp mind and a strong stomach – exactly what this work demands. I need you to run the shop while I attend to other pressing matters. You will need a keen eye for detail as you provide the townsfolk of Undermere with occult objects for their arcane needs. Undermere might se…

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,981 reviews

story228 positive mentions

grinding27 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging puzzle gameplay with a unique deduction system requiring multiple methods to identify occult artifacts.
Captivating dark, cozy atmosphere with excellent art and soundtrack that enhances immersion in the occult-themed world.
Multiple endings based on player choices add replayability and provide satisfying narrative depth alongside intriguing characters.

Some puzzles and clues can be vague or overly obscure, leading to guesswork or reliance on walkthroughs.
The UI and inventory management, including navigating books and cross-referencing materials, can be cumbersome and tedious at times.
Narrative and character development are sometimes weaker or less impactful compared to the predecessor, with limited player agency in choices.

story
481 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
52%
1%
The story in Strange Antiquities is an engaging, atmospheric, and darkly cozy narrative that unfolds through investigation, character interactions, and puzzle-solving, with multiple endings influenced by player choices. While many found it compelling and a natural extension of Strange Horticulture, some felt it was less gripping or somewhat repetitive, with occasional pacing and clarity issues. Overall, it offers a richly woven mystery that complements the gameplay and is well worth experiencing for fans of story-driven puzzle games.
- “Incredibly well-written and complex story with multiple endings, I was gripped the entire time and loved how my decisions mattered.”
- “The pace of the narrative is improved and the story at the heart of this strange little game is thoroughly compelling.”
- “Fantastic game, great story, great sense of mystery.”
- “For me this game didn't really compare to Strange Horticulture. It felt like there were too many things to do each time to identify an item. I didn't find the hints or clues all that helpful, and the story didn't grip me as much as Strange Horticulture did. I got so close to the end that I decided to finish it using Google and walkthroughs. Having to slip through different books became tiresome, and it wasn't obvious where and how your choices could affect the story like it was in Strange Horticulture.”
- “Sadly the story and its progression, while still great, feels a lot worse than from its predecessor.”
- “Needless to say the story is the same old 'oh no a threat is rising guess we have to stop it' - again, it's been a while since I played Strange Horticulture but I think it was pulled off more smoothly and I actually somewhat cared about the ending I got (I did not care about the story of this game at all).”
gameplay
345 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
67%
2%
Strange Antiquities builds on its predecessor’s core gameplay loop of identifying mystical items using books and clues but expands and refines the mechanics with more complexity, layers, and quality-of-life improvements. Players appreciate the deeper puzzles, varied investigative methods, and engaging map-based riddles that enhance immersion without adding undue stress, though some find certain mechanics abrupt or occasionally unclear. Overall, the gameplay maintains a cozy yet eerie atmosphere with satisfying deduction-driven challenges that appeal to fans of thoughtful, slow-paced puzzle games.
- “An excellent sequel that maintains the cozy yet simultaneously eerie atmosphere of the first game, while greatly expanding on its puzzles and mechanics.”
- “Strange antiquities takes the base gameplay of strange horticulture and adds more map-based puzzles.”
- “The gameplay is pretty much the same as horticulture but it's still fun and the story is unique and easier to follow.”
- “The story, characters, and every secondary mechanic improved, in exchange for the core gameplay mechanic getting worse.”
- “Compared to SH, the core gameplay mechanic -- investigating, sorting, and identifying your items -- is more complex, but not in a good way.”
- “Unfortunately, I felt like these added mechanics just resulted in puzzles that were either too easy or too hard, often tedious and rarely satisfying.”
atmosphere
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
29%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of cozy and eerie, creating a moody, immersive experience enriched by evocative sound design, hand-drawn art, and a subtle folk horror aesthetic. Reviewers highlight its ability to balance spooky, mysterious elements with warmth and comfort, often comparing it favorably to its predecessor and similar titles in the genre. This richly detailed, slow-paced ambiance strongly enhances the narrative and puzzle-solving, making the game highly engaging and perfect for players who enjoy atmospheric mysteries.
- “The atmosphere is pitch-perfect, balancing cozy moments with chilling unease, elevated by a soundtrack that’s simple but hauntingly beautiful.”
- “Strange antiquities, developed by Bad Viking and published by Iceberg Interactive, is a richly atmospheric puzzle adventure that invites players into the haunting world of Undermere—a fog-drenched town filled with secrets, whispers, and cursed relics.”
- “The atmosphere is one of the game’s strongest assets—heavy with mist, candlelight, and ambient sounds like distant thunder, creaking floorboards, and muffled voices.”
- “It lacks the freshness and novel atmosphere of sh, but makes up for it by adding complexities.”
- “This only takes away from the tension and the atmosphere of the game as well as potentially trapping players in a bad gameplay loop if they misunderstand something or if they get stuck.”
- “It's a ~6 hour deductive reasoning game with a darker atmosphere.”
graphics
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game receive widespread praise for their beautiful, clean, and cozy art style that masterfully blends spooky, occult, and folk horror aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the detailed, atmospheric visuals and charming character designs that enhance the immersive narrative and puzzle-solving experience. While some note the art is simpler or cleaner than its predecessor, most agree the visual presentation is stunning, thematic, and a key factor in the game's unique, relaxing, and mysterious ambiance.
- “The visuals are stunning and the music is the best, not mentioning the story.”
- “A few years of refinement have made the art even stronger, and the occult‑Victorian aesthetic feels natural rather than trope‑heavy or forced.”
- “The artstyle and the individual animations were incredible and the Victorian elements together with the slightest hint at modern influence were bound perfectly into one cohesive feel and immersion.”
- “But because of the rather clean and monotonous art style, plant objects just looked like normal plants, so you have to rely on their flair texts to add the mystical element in your head.”
- “The only problem I have is with the characters' art style.”
- “Worst game ever - poor graphics, boring mechanics, rigid dialogues, stupid puzzles.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
3%
The music is widely praised for its soothing, atmospheric, and hauntingly beautiful quality, greatly enhancing the game's cozy yet mysterious ambiance. Many users highlight the relaxing and immersive soundscape, often mentioning the charming addition of the cat's presence alongside the soundtrack. While generally celebrated, a few note that the soundtrack can feel limited or repetitive at times, but overall it significantly contributes to the game's mood and immersion.
- “The soundtrack is superb, subtly increasing a sense of urgency throughout the game, not without first giving you ample opportunity to just have a cup of tea or hot chocolate, drawing the curtains and read through all the lore, arrange your antiquities and take notes.”
- “The atmosphere is pitch-perfect, balancing cozy moments with chilling unease, elevated by a soundtrack that’s simple but hauntingly beautiful.”
- “From the music and sound effects to the thoughtful world-building, the atmosphere is so immersive you can easily get lost in it (and not at all something I was expecting from a puzzle game).”
- “The soundtrack is extremely limited.”
- “One tip, turn off the depressing music and put something else on.”
- “I loved Strange Horticulture, and Antiquities is everything I had hoped for: more chances to make the wrong deductions (half of the fun), the lovely map puzzles make a return, only the music is as afterthoughty as before, couple of soft piano tracks in the background which start to get old quickly.”
replayability
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
68%
8%
The game offers moderate replayability primarily through multiple endings and decision-based branching paths, which encourage players to revisit for alternate outcomes. However, its relatively short, linear narrative and consistent puzzle elements limit deeper replay value, as item knowledge and story beats remain largely unchanged across playthroughs. Overall, replayability is enhanced for achievement hunters and fans of narrative puzzles but may feel limited for those seeking extensive variation.
- “The fact that there are many different endings based on the free choice sections gives great replayability, and I've already started my second game.”
- “Such a wonderful cozy and oddly thrilling game; the atmosphere is great and the multitude of endings gives it replayability. The music is stellar and art style is adorable. Would recommend others to play this, especially if you're fond of some puzzle solving and decision making as some interactions do decide the fate of others.”
- “I like how there are multiple endings, so there's the replay value, and so many objects that in a few months I can probably replay again without remembering much and get to enjoy the game again that way too.”
- “Unfortunately, there is no real replay value since the story is always the same up to the last couple days and the branches aren't too much different; it's not worth a full playthrough again.”
- “However - it's very linear and at 6 and a half hours, doesn't really offer much replayability.”
- “Just be aware that the actual puzzling is on the lighter side, the game is somewhat short with limited replayability (despite multiple endings), and you aren't going to get the same hermeneutical advancement that comes in games like Cultist Simulator, Magnum Opus, or Noita, where your knowledge of the world and mechanics of the game fundamentally alters what you can do.”
grinding
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
7%
90%
Grinding in the game is frequently described as tedious and time-consuming, especially in the late stages where managing numerous items and repetitive puzzle-solving becomes overwhelming. While the puzzles and exploration maintain some interest, the excessive clicking, obscure clues, and cumbersome inventory management often lead to frustration and diminished enjoyment. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as more of a chore than a rewarding challenge.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Unfortunately, towards the end the game gets too tedious, with repeated riddles (omg the clocks...) being boring, searching through books and notes is uncomfortable, and dragging dozens of items towards the lens is not much fun.”
- “The number of details you’re expected to either remember or reference is too high in the late game; it becomes tedious to mouse over dozens of objects multiple times to reference information.”
- “It's less about deductive reasoning and research skills, and more about your willingness to tediously click through every possibility on every screen.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes a cozy, immersive atmosphere that makes players feel like clever apprentices or magical detectives, skillfully solving puzzles without frustration. Its rich thaumaturgic themes, varied artifacts, and well-written characters foster a strong emotional connection, enhancing the sense of discovery and expertise. While occasionally unsettling moments arise, overall it provides a deeply engaging and rewarding experience for those who enjoy thoughtful exploration and arcane mysteries.
- “The puzzling is tight and clever, without being too gnomic or impenetrable - every item I identified, every clue to a hidden treasure I successfully followed, every puzzle I solved made me feel smart, and I think that's the true sign of a masterfully-crafted puzzle game.”
- “However, learning the thaumaturgic themes by interacting with various characters of Undermere and studying their usage of strange artifacts really made me feel like an apprentice thaumaturge.”
- “Awesome game, made me feel like Gandalf pouring over books in my study to uncover secrets of magical artifacts.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is a blend of funny, cute, and slightly macabre moments that provide a chill yet engaging atmosphere. It balances Lovecraftian themes with lightheartedness, including playful touches like a mischievous character and witty in-game notes that occasionally tease the player. Overall, the humor adds charm and enjoyment without overstaying its welcome.
- “Funny and chill investigation game.”
- “Scary, cute, funny and Lovecraftian, it has made me want to go back and play Strange Horticulture again (which I am going to do now!).”
- “Jupiter is so cute and funny, knocking things off shelves.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development features distinct and consistent character designs that fit the game's somber setting, though some find them pedestrian and lacking in depth or uniqueness due to a lack of underlying systems to enhance distinction.
- “Great game with a fun art style and character design; I'm only sad it isn't longer.”
- “The character designs are pretty mundane, as one would expect from a sullen setting like this, but each one feels distinct enough to avoid confusion.”
- “The art design is generally attractive, but is consistent to a fault, and without underlying systems to reveal through the art produces artifacts and character designs which are insufficiently distinctive.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well optimized, delivering smooth and stable performance across various play styles, including handheld and controller modes, making it accessible and comfortable for players with different needs.
- “Performance: smooth and stable so far.”
- “I’m a handheld/controller player due to chronic pain, and I really appreciated how well optimized this game is across different play styles.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game demonstrates strong stability, with no reported glitches or soft locks during playthroughs.

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84%Critics’ scoreBased on 10 critic reviews

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10h Median play time

9h Average play time

8-12h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Strange Antiquities is a action game with mystery theme.

Strange Antiquities is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac OS, Steam Deck and others.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Strange Antiquities.

Strange Antiquities was released on September 17, 2025.

Strange Antiquities was developed by Bad Viking.

Strange Antiquities has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Strange Antiquities is a single player game.

Similar games include The Room: Old Sins, The Rise of the Golden Idol, The Room Two, Whisper of the House, The Room and others.

Strange Antiquities

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