Strange Horticulture

86%
Game Brain Score Based on 14,510 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Strange Horticulture Game Cover
If you enjoy games that don’t hold your hand, allow you to solve cryptic clues and search out information by yourself, then Strange Horticulture is for you.
Starting at $6.17Buy now
Get on Steam

An occult puzzle game in which you play as the proprietor of a local plant store. Find and identify new plants, pet your cat, speak to a coven, or join a cult. Use your collection of powerful plants to influence the story and unravel Undermere’s dark mysteries.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

86%
Audience ScoreBased on 14,510 reviews
story2,836 positive mentions
grinding274 negative mentions
  • story5,695 mentions

    The story in "Strange Horticulture" is generally well-received, characterized as engaging and intriguing, with a mix of dark, occult themes and cozy gameplay. Players appreciate the gradual unfolding of the narrative through customer interactions and plant identification, which allows for multiple endings based on choices made throughout the game. However, some reviewers note that the story can feel shallow or simplistic at times, with limited replayability and a desire for deeper character development and plot complexity. Overall, it offers a unique blend of puzzle-solving and storytelling that captivates many players.

    • “I really enjoyed trying to figure out the plants people wanted and the mysterious story that slowly unfolds as you fill out your plant book and explore the map.”
    • “The atmosphere is incredible; moreover, the mystery and the way the plot unravels are utterly immersive and entertaining.”
    • “The story is engaging, and I've had so much fun discovering all of the game's secrets.”
    • “The story has no depth, the gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
    • “The story though didn’t really get my interest, kinda like a white noise in the background.”
    • “Eh... an okay-ish mystery story spanning around 6 hours with little to no replayability.”
  • gameplay1,896 mentions

    The gameplay of "Strange Horticulture" is characterized by its focus on plant identification and puzzle-solving, creating a relaxing yet engaging experience. Players enjoy the cozy atmosphere and unique mechanics, although some find the gameplay repetitive and lacking depth as it primarily revolves around matching plants to descriptions. While the game offers a charming narrative and intriguing elements, many reviewers express a desire for more varied mechanics and a longer gameplay experience.

    • “Gameplay is simple and easy to grasp, the storyline is really good and I replayed the game a few times to make different choices to see the different endings.”
    • “Its engaging, minimalist gameplay with easy to understand concepts, and a puzzle game that is a relaxing experience rather than frustrating or time consuming.”
    • “The gameplay is at once relaxing and thrilling, and I love just having the freedom to decorate my greenhouse however I want to.”
    • “This is baby's first occult horror game, and it's got a cozy playstyle that's bogged down by some unfortunate problems with the mechanics.”
    • “The story has no depth, the gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
    • “Very boring gameplay loop.”
  • atmosphere1,335 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Strange Horticulture" is widely praised for its cozy yet eerie ambiance, enhanced by soothing rain sounds, melancholic music, and charming visuals. Players find the setting immersive, with a unique blend of mystery and relaxation that makes it perfect for leisurely gameplay. The game's ability to evoke a sense of calm while maintaining an underlying sense of intrigue and creepiness is a standout feature, making it a delightful experience for fans of atmospheric puzzle games.

    • “The atmosphere is incredible, moreover, the mystery and the way the plot unravels are utterly immersive and entertaining.”
    • “This game offers an incredibly calming and comforting atmosphere that completely washes over you; the soft pitter-patter of rain on the shop's window and the somber music work well to further immerse you in this story-rich, occult mystery.”
    • “The atmosphere created with your plants gently swaying on their shelves, the rain in the background soundscape and Hellebore's purring is unmatched!”
    • “Being frank, I think the atmosphere of the game was the biggest missed opportunity.”
    • “It sort of aims at a gloomy atmosphere and has an assortment of weak-to-pretty-darn-good puzzles and a story that's rather bland.”
    • “The overall plot is very cult-y and the music, while a tad monotonous, is a proper dirge for the atmosphere this game is setting.”
  • graphics1,246 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning artwork and unique art style, which create a cozy yet eerie atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed illustrations of plants and the charming aesthetic that complements the game's themes of mystery and horticulture. While some critiques mention that character designs may not be as strong, the overall visual presentation is considered beautiful and engaging, making it a highlight of the gameplay.

    • “Unique concept, stunning artwork, and a wonderfully eerie vibe.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous, perfect to play on a rainy autumnal afternoon.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, and as a cozy plant game it's really nice, it just doesn't quite sell itself on the mystery/story/investigation side.”
    • “The graphics are nothing to write home about, but the vibes are immaculate if witchy plant stuff is your jam.”
    • “However, the artwork for human characters is very...meh.”
    • “It's a beautiful game but would really benefit from additional visuals or playable scenes in different locations.”
  • music1,189 mentions

    The music in "Strange Horticulture" is generally described as soothing and atmospheric, effectively enhancing the game's cozy yet eerie ambiance. However, many players noted that the soundtrack is repetitive, with only one main track looping throughout most of the gameplay, which can become tiresome over time. Despite this, the combination of calming music, rain sounds, and engaging visuals creates a relaxing experience that many players found enjoyable, often recommending it for casual play.

    • “This game offers an incredibly calming and comforting atmosphere that completely washes over you; the soft pitter-patter of rain on the shop's window and the somber music work well to further immerse you in this story-rich, occult mystery.”
    • “The music is soothing, and the setting, while simple, is intriguing.”
    • “The ambiance created from the music, rain, scratching of pencil, rustling of paper, cat purrs, and scrapping of tools on the wood desk just gives it this deliciously cozy and calm feeling.”
    • “Only one song loops for the entire game (excluding the 'final' segment) so the visual search gameplay is tedious.”
    • “Music in this game is so bad and has no variety at all.”
    • “The same music track playing all the time is kind of tiresome.”
  • replayability570 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while it features multiple endings and choices that can affect the narrative, the overall experience is relatively short (around 5-10 hours). Once players memorize the plant identification mechanics, the incentive to replay diminishes, leading to a consensus that while there is some replay value, it may not justify the price for all players. Overall, it offers a charming experience with enough variety to warrant a few playthroughs, especially for those interested in exploring different endings.

    • “The ability to get a different ending based on the choices you make makes this a great replayable favorite.”
    • “Part puzzle, part investigation, & part supernatural murder mystery, this game has at least eight endings, so the replayability is pretty high, too!”
    • “The story is compelling and with the multitude of endings, the replayability is very high for this game.”
    • “Eh... an okay-ish mystery story spanning around 6 hours with little to no replayability.”
    • “Its very short, though, and the replay value is limited.”
    • “Unfortunately, not much in the way of replay value, as everything except the ending remains the same.”
  • grinding296 mentions

    The aspect of "grinding" in the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding certain mechanics tedious, particularly the repetitive tasks of identifying and labeling plants, managing inventory, and navigating through the plant encyclopedia. While some appreciate the relaxing atmosphere and engaging puzzles, they note that the gameplay can become monotonous, especially during replay attempts for different endings. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable but often marred by tedious elements that can detract from the experience.

    • “The mechanics do get a little boring, but because it's so short, it isn't too tedious.”
    • “It's puzzles have a rhythm that lasts long enough to be rewarding, but not tedious.”
    • “Nothing overly challenging, not grindy, nice mellow soundtrack, hellebore is adorable.”
    • “The grinding to get the will to travel annoyed me a bit.”
    • “Towards the end you have 70+ plants and it gets really tedious to find the correct one.”
    • “The plant identification is a fun concept; however, by the end, you have so many plants crammed on the shelves it becomes a bit tedious to find what you're looking for.”
  • emotional80 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game elicits a range of feelings, from moments of joy and satisfaction when solving puzzles to frustration due to a lack of character relatability and depth. Players appreciate the cozy atmosphere and the sense of accomplishment it provides, though some express disappointment in the emotional connections with characters, leading to a hollow experience at times. Overall, the game is described as a unique blend of wholesome and eerie, fostering a sense of empowerment and relaxation while engaging with its intriguing plot.

    • “Genuinely a masterpiece, and made me feel how I haven't felt since I first played the room games.”
    • “The story is so much deeper than I thought and I cried when I realized I got a bad ending because I didn't understand how I got there.”
    • “The audio made me fall in love immediately - every page you turn sounds crisp, the cat purring, the rain outside... this game immediately made me feel invited and cozy, despite the occult vibes.”
    • “It'll replace your life; I cried a bit.”
  • humor44 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a mix of cute and dark elements, often resulting in a tone that feels inconsistent but still entertaining. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, quirky character interactions, and humorous mechanics, such as the amusing plant descriptions and the ability to pet a cat for achievements. Overall, the game balances spooky themes with lighthearted moments, making it enjoyable and occasionally laugh-out-loud funny.

    • “It's very relaxing and the humor in this game is pretty funny if you pay attention to the dialogue.”
    • “Short but very addictive with funny character shenanigans and you can pet the cat and get an achievement for it!”
    • “Funny little riddle game with nice history and a cute cat.”
  • character development24 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while the character design is detailed and creates immediate connections, the depth of development is often lacking due to minimal dialogue and predictable story elements. Players appreciate the well-crafted stories and engaging puzzles, but some feel that the character arcs do not build sufficient suspense or intrigue. Overall, the game succeeds in creating a captivating atmosphere, yet it falls short in delivering impactful character growth.

    • “I am really enjoying the puzzles and the character development/stories.”
    • “Character design, after one meeting with each, I have a connection with them, whether it's hate (Isodore - I dislike him) or Simone who helps me all along the way.”
    • “Well written stories and character development.”
    • “Overall, the big mystery is fairly obvious halfway through the game if you literally pay attention at all, but the character development that would have been required to make it interesting or impactful isn't supported by the slight dialogue the game provides.”
    • “It doesn't build any sort of suspense, intrigue, or character development.”
    • “Even though it doesn't do anything groundbreaking gameplay-wise, and the character design style seemed a bit off at first, I was instantly sold on the atmosphere.”
  • stability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most users reporting no significant glitches. However, some players have encountered minor bugs, particularly with plant labels and the hint system, which can be frustrating. The game runs well on the Steam Deck, and despite occasional graphical glitches, it maintains a pleasant aesthetic.

    • “No glitches that I noticed.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, just keep the magnifier handy.”
    • “Only frustrating part are some glitches where plant labels seem to be missing after a few days, or plants being identified as two different kinds.”
    • “It can be a little buggy - particularly in the hint system, I think.”
    • “The game offers some nice graphics and a nice aesthetic, although some ugly glitches here and there, it is pleasant all the same.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization is mixed, with some users reporting smooth performance and overall enjoyment, while Mac users specifically note issues with smoothness and a lack of visual optimization for their platform.

    • “It runs smoothly and is just overall enjoyable.”
    • “Overall impressions & performance are positive.”
    • “The game runs smoothly.”
    • “The game is not visually optimized for the deck.”
    • “The overall performance leaves much to be desired, as it feels unoptimized.”
    • “There are significant issues with optimization that hinder the gameplay experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

83% average critic score

Buy Strange Horticulture

Play time

6hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 102 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games

Game News