The Bell Chimes for Gold

About

"The Bell Chimes for Gold" is a simulation game where you play as Maria, a skilled herbalist seeking to earn money and marry after being rejected by her mentor. Meet and woo five rugged middle-aged men by exploring various dungeons to gather materials and crafting items to win their hearts. A happy ending awaits you, but only if you can earn and save enough to marry the man of your dreams.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

79%

Audience ScoreBased on 14 reviews

humor6 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a charming story with humorous dialogue and engaging characters, particularly the protagonist Maria and her interactions with the bachelors.
The music is surprisingly good, enhancing the overall experience and making it enjoyable to play.
The casual dungeon crawling gameplay adds variety, making it a fun and relaxing experience for players looking for a light-hearted game.

This version is misleadingly labeled as having sexual content, while it lacks any explicit scenes, making it feel incomplete compared to the 18+ version.
The gameplay can become repetitive and grindy, especially when trying to earn money for the love interests, which may detract from the overall enjoyment.
The all-ages version is significantly shorter and has a different storyline, leading to disappointment for players expecting the original content.

story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The game's story varies significantly between the all-ages and 18+ versions, with the latter offering a deeper narrative and character development that includes darker themes and more complex backstories. The all-ages version presents a simplified, surface-level story focused on a character's quest to open an alchemy shop and earn money, which can become repetitive. Overall, while the all-ages version is charming and accessible, it lacks the depth and engagement found in the 18+ counterpart.
- “Heartbroken Maria decides to heed her former master's final advice and opens her own alchemy store, making her ultimate goal to earn so much money she can buy herself a new hubby!”
- “The game has simple dungeon crawling gameplay, to which the story progression is tied - you explore dungeons with one of the romanceable heroes as your bodyguard, earning money and finding potion ingredients.”
- “It's a good story and a wonderful charming game.”
- “This 'all ages' version is extremely surface level - no depth to the story or the characters at all.”
- “The 18+ version is so much better that I'm shocked it even had all of this cut out, not only the sex scenes but also all the backstory.”
- “Notwithstanding... as long as you have enough squinting skills to see only the text and forget about the peculiar drawing aesthetics... well you'll find that the narration is also less professional both technically and in terms of storytelling.”
gameplay
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The gameplay primarily involves clicking through dialogues and engaging in simple dungeon crawling mechanics, where players explore dungeons with romanceable heroes as companions. While the progression is straightforward and can become repetitive, the integration of romance and event scenes adds depth, and the option for a more challenging 18+ version is available for those seeking a darker experience. Overall, players find the gameplay enjoyable, despite its simplicity and potential for boredom.
- “Aside from the gameplay mechanics, the bachelors and romance/event scenes were really nicely done.”
- “The game has simple dungeon crawling gameplay, to which the story progression is tied - you explore dungeons with one of the romanceable heroes as your bodyguard, earning money and finding potion ingredients.”
- “The progression is pretty simple and if you invest heavily in one hero, after a few hours of gameplay he'll become virtually invincible.”
- “As for the gameplay, you'll mostly click with your mouse through the dialogues until you reach the dungeon crawler parts.”
- “The progression is pretty simple, and if you invest heavily in one hero (there's no need to switch between them after taking each to a dungeon for the first time and unlocking their routes), after a few hours of gameplay he'll become virtually invincible.”
- “With no time limit or real penalty for losing in a dungeon, it'll take only your patience and a basic understanding of the mechanics to farm enough money and unlock all the story (and yeah, it does get pretty boring).”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a lighthearted tone that elicits genuine laughter, particularly through witty dialogue and clever character interactions. While the 18+ version caters to fans of JRPG tropes with its innuendos, some players find the humor a bit repetitive. Overall, the comedic elements, especially in character routes like Brian's and Maria's, contribute to an enjoyable experience, despite some grindiness and varying character appeal.
- “The tone is lighthearted, and I was grinning or even laughing a lot while playing through the events.”
- “This game has some pretty hilarious dialogue.”
- “Brian's route is a gold mine of tongue-in-cheek entitlement from our resident ex-noble, and Maria's refusal to take (most of) the guys' crap leads to some pretty funny scenarios.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's graphics feature a retro-inspired art style that some players appreciate, while others find it unattractive, particularly criticizing the portrayal of male characters. Overall, the visuals are considered unremarkable, and players may need to overlook the aesthetics to enjoy the narrative.
- “The game has an interesting, retro-inspired art style, which I personally liked a lot.”
- “The music is so good - way better than I was expecting given the quality of the artwork.”
- “The graphics aren't anything special.”
- “Notwithstanding... as long as you have enough squinting skills to see only the text and forget about the peculiar drawing aesthetics... well, you'll find that the narration is also less professional both technically and in terms of storytelling.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat repetitive, but opinions vary; some enjoy the grind while others feel it could be excessive. Despite the grindiness, many appreciate the humor and overall enjoyment of the game, making the experience worthwhile for them.
- “There was a little too much grinding involved, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant.”
- “It's kind of grindy, and the characters may not appeal to everyone, but it's pretty funny and pleasant enough to warrant playing.”
- “The only downside is that it can be a little repetitive to earn the money, but since I don't mind grinding, it was no issue for me.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game has received high praise, with many users noting its quality surpassing expectations based on the artwork. The soundtracks are catchy and memorable, leaving a lasting impression on players.
- “The music is so good - way better than I was expecting given the quality of the artwork.”
- “The soundtracks have been getting stuck in my head in a very good way.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized as a blend of goofiness and heartfelt moments, appealing to players seeking a lighthearted experience without deep emotional investment.
- “Goofy but also heartfelt.”
- “If you're looking for something cute that won't tie you in emotionally, this is for you!”