The Crown of Leaves

About

"The Crown of Leaves" is a visually striking hybrid of non-kinetic visual novel and point-n-click adventure. Players follow the story of Roui, a resilient city dandy who returns to his rural homeland, Latori, after a failure. Struggling with local mystical beliefs and seeking a way back to his old life, Roui's fate becomes intertwined with a prosperous order, leading to mystical riddles, ghosts, and beasts. Handcrafted illustrations and original music enhance the immersive atmosphere in this intriguing debut game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 585 reviews

story214 positive mentions

stability2 negative mentions

The art style is stunning and beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
The story is intriguing and well-written, with engaging characters that draw players in.
The game features meaningful choices that impact the narrative, encouraging replayability to explore different paths.

The game is currently very short, with only the first chapter available, leaving players wanting more.
Some players found the lore and terminology overwhelming, making it difficult to fully grasp the story.
There are occasional bugs and performance issues that can disrupt the gameplay experience.

story
439 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
50%
1%
The story of "Crown of Leaves" is widely praised for its unique universe, engaging characters, and intricate world-building, drawing players into a rich narrative filled with unexpected twists and emotional depth. While many appreciate the captivating art and music that complement the storytelling, some express frustration over the episodic format and the current lack of completion, leaving them eager for future chapters. Overall, the narrative is described as immersive and thought-provoking, making it a strong draw for fans of story-driven games.
- “Crown of Leaves has a great, dynamic story that is well-grounded and while fast-paced, felt seamless.”
- “The story is very good and world-building is top tier, personally had me hooked pretty much from the beginning. The visuals are almost perfect, they match the mood of the currently happening scene no matter if it's bloody and moody or happy and full of emotions, and they're nicely accompanied by a simple but really good soundtrack that even sometimes tells part of the story.”
- “The story is intriguing as well, and I can hardly wait for the second chapter to reach completion!”
- “The story doesn't make sense...”
- “I adore the characters, the art, and the story, but with a heavy heart, I have to leave a negative review because the game has been out for 5 years and we're just on chapter 2 (like 4 hours worth of gameplay).”
- “The story is confusing and fluffed.”
graphics
158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn artwork, vibrant character designs, and detailed backgrounds that enhance the storytelling experience. Many players appreciate the unique art style, which is described as both beautiful and evocative, effectively complementing the game's mood and themes. Overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive world-building.
- “The visuals are absolutely gorgeous, the characters are endearing to their own and have wonderful designs, and the story keeps me hooked and anticipated for each new act.”
- “The art style is exquisite and evocative, and the character design and animation is absolutely perfect.”
- “The mysterious and intriguing story, beautiful soundtracks, stunning art style; I've enjoyed simply every single aspect this game offers.”
- “I'm playing on a desktop with a newer graphics card, so I thought that was a bit frustrating.”
- “On my computer, I had a problem of not running the game properly due to the graphic issue.”
- “Edit: I had major issues with bugs, game crashes, and save-file problems, but the very active and devoted devs have actually changed the game engine (update to come) as well as adding some animation to the sprites, which will fix most issues and add to the visuals.”
music
154 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
36%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and storytelling, with many reviewers praising its beauty and emotional depth. The soundtrack is described as captivating, fitting seamlessly with the game's visuals and narrative, and is often noted as a highlight that players enjoy even outside of gameplay. Overall, the combination of stunning artwork and a well-composed soundtrack creates an immersive experience that resonates with players.
- “From the beautiful art style to the captivating story and soulful characters, and don't even get me started on the gorgeous soundtracks throughout the whole game.”
- “The soundtrack doesn't fall behind, either, as it sets the precise tone for each scene - of course you don't get epic boss themes or such, as it's on par for the genre, but for a score this serves the purpose fantastically and it's definitely worth checking out and buying.”
- “The music contributes to the atmosphere really well, and music is something I usually only notice because it's either really good or really annoying/bad, so that's high praise.”
- “I've encountered only minor bugs, like the soundtrack disappearing for a short dialogue or two.”
- “It loops oddly on some soundtracks, like overlapping or hiccup when it loops; it's hard to explain in words.”
- “There isn't a whole lot of different music in the game, but the sounds fit the visual novel well.”
gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
71%
8%
The gameplay is primarily a point-and-click visual novel experience, featuring simple mechanics and minimal puzzles that enhance the narrative without overwhelming the player. While some users appreciate the unique world-building and character interactions, others criticize the lack of challenge and the slow progression of content, with only a few hours of gameplay available after several years. Overall, the game offers an engaging story and aesthetic, but its gameplay may not satisfy those seeking more complex mechanics or immediate action.
- “It has the great characters and world-building of a top-tier visual novel, but with a point-and-click gameplay loop to hold your attention.”
- “The gameplay is simple; it's a point-and-click visual novel with a few puzzles every so often.”
- “The gameplay is fantastic, with an arsenal of lovable characters and different attitudes to talk to them, from politeness to downright snarkiness.”
- “I adore the characters, the art, and the story, but with a heavy heart, I have to leave a negative review because the game has been out for 5 years and we're just on chapter 2 (like 4 hours worth of gameplay).”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay, aside from a few simple choices; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which poses the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “It may have a few point-and-click adventure aspects, but there's really no challenge gameplay-wise.”
character development
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
34%
12%
Character development in the game is highly praised, particularly for its main character and the overall character designs, which are described as unique, well-fleshed out, and seamlessly integrated into the story's setting. Reviewers highlight the beautiful art style and animation, noting that the characters are not only visually appealing but also well-written, contributing to an engaging and immersive narrative experience. The combination of intriguing plot twists and strong character arcs has left players eagerly anticipating future chapters.
- “The character designs to me are a massive standout, with everything feeling properly fleshed out and unique without looking like it's trying too hard to stand out - it blends naturally into the setting of the story.”
- “Beautiful artwork, intriguing story and lore, wonderful character design!!”
- “The characters are all interesting and well written, the character design shows not only a high amount of effort, but a labor of love being put into them.”
- “The character design might not be very unique because I've seen similar concepts before, but the way they and the backgrounds were drawn here is fabulous.”
- “So far as visual novels with anthropomorphic characters making up the entire cast, this is pretty much the only one that is professionally made with interesting writing and worldbuilding that pushes it well beyond the rest of them.”
- “Okay, what can I say? Amazing, purely amazing, fantastic story and characters. The world is fascinating as well. I was really left shocked at the end and eagerly awaiting chapter 2 now that I completed the first chapter.”
atmosphere
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
37%
13%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by unique characters, beautiful artwork, and a captivating soundtrack that complements the various environments. Players describe it as charming, mystical, and rich in detail, evoking a sense of nostalgia and wonder. Despite some technical issues, the overall ambiance contributes significantly to the storytelling experience, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “I couldn't help but sit there and enjoy the magical atmosphere it had, making me feel like a child again, a child that actually believes in the created worlds, as if they are part of these worlds.”
- “Charming, atmospheric, mystic, and just outright beautiful.”
- “The atmosphere that is coming from the environment and characters is immersive, especially in chapter 2 act 1 where it's all bleak, unknown, and scary.”
- “The music contributes to the atmosphere really well, and music is something I usually only notice because it's either really good or really annoying/bad, so that's high praise.”
- “There's no looping/cycles to keep up the audible atmosphere continuously.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and relatability, particularly through well-written characters like Roui, who combines tragedy and comedy effectively. Players appreciate the funny interactions, dynamic expressions, and surprising choices that lead to hilarious outcomes, making the overall experience enjoyable and engaging. The humor enhances the storyline, contributing to a delightful point-and-click adventure.
- “The interactions are funny and charming!”
- “If you are into easy, relaxing point-and-click adventures, you will probably like this game, and if you like funny furry characters, you will most definitely enjoy it.”
- “Roui is an excellent protagonist who is as charming as he is funny, the hallmark of any main character you wish to play in an adventure title.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the game offers strong replayability due to its multiple storylines and dynamic options that encourage players to explore different paths and interactions. While some reviews note that once all routes are completed, replayability may be limited, many players appreciate the variety and depth that each playthrough provides, making it worthwhile to revisit. The game's design allows for significant exploration, ensuring that players can discover new experiences even after initial completion.
- “Has good replayability with all the different storylines.”
- “There are dynamic options that add a hint of replayability to see what might change, as well as interactions and lines that you may miss entirely!”
- “The initial playthrough took me less than 90 minutes, but there's a lot of replayability because decisions matter and different decisions reveal different paths.”
- “It is unfortunate that games of this kind have limited replayability ('once you've done all the routes, you're done!') but that is not to say that this limitation detracts from it.”
- “Despite only being one chapter, there is replayability and different paths you can take.”
- “The initial playthrough took me less than 90 minutes, but like I said there's a lot of replayability because decisions matter and different decisions reveal different paths.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with users reporting persistent performance issues such as stuttering and jerky backgrounds that detract from the overall experience. Many feel that the game is being marketed in a way that suggests it is more polished than it actually is, leading to frustration among players. Overall, the lack of optimization has made the game unplayable for some, overshadowing its artistic appeal.
- “The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I appreciate how the developers have focused on optimizing the game, resulting in a much more enjoyable experience.”
- “The game runs beautifully after the latest optimization updates, making it a joy to play.”
- “Hopefully some ironing out of performance and stuttering issues.”
- “The game is apparently very short, being only one chapter long. I personally don't mind and was very interested in the game and its art, but the constant stuttering is annoying and makes it unplayable for me. I don't play a visual novel to be frustrated.”
- “Mild performance issues: the background jerked around a bit for me whenever I tried panning the camera.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its wholesome atmosphere and pleasant art style, with emotionally resonant story arcs involving characters like Ingrid and Lazy that evoke both heartwarming and bittersweet feelings. Players find the experience to be emotionally fulfilling, making it a worthwhile choice for a relaxing evening.
- “I enjoyed the arcs with Ingrid's family and Lazy's were heartwarming and a little sad.”
- “I picked this visual novel just to spare a free evening and didn’t have any regrets; that was the most emotionally fulfilling 6 hours I ever had.”
- “The game is very wholesome and the art style is quite pleasant!”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game is praised for its story, music, and atmosphere, but it suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and performance problems such as freezing and stuttering during interactions. Reviewers express concern over the developers' inexperience, which contributes to these ongoing stability challenges.
- “Fantastic story, music, and atmosphere, but there are quite a lot of bugs and glitches.”
- “The game freezes and stutters all the time. Every time I interact, or even just hover my mouse over an interactable object, the game stutters.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy has been criticized for employing aggressive tactics, such as cliffhangers and prompts to purchase full content, which some users find off-putting and reminiscent of exploitative advertising methods.
- “What a surprise that the artist uses 'click here to buy the full video' style advertising to try and goad people into breaking through the paywall after a cliffhanger.”
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, constantly pushing players to spend money instead of enjoying the game.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind a paywall, making it hard to fully experience the game without spending extra.”

Buy The Crown of Leaves

7h Median play time

6h Average play time

2-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

94%1.7kreviews

Heartbound

2018

Role Playing

$Major\Minor Image$

79%358reviews

Major\Minor

2015

Role Playing

This game contains adult content

68%3.5kreviews

Backbone

2021

Role Playing

87%1.5kreviews

The Dream Machine

2012

Casual Puzzle

97%3kreviews

Tails Noir: Prologue

2019

Role Playing

91%1.4kreviews

Fault Milestone One

2014

Simulation

This game contains adult content

76%2.8kreviews

Dreamfall Chapters

2017

Action Adventure

95%1.2kreviews

Crystalline

2018

Role Playing

84%917reviews

Forgotton Anne

2018

Casual Role Playing

+13

75%657reviews

Dysfunctional Systems: Learning to Manage Chaos

2013

Casual Role Playing

The Crown of Leaves

Platforms

About

Buy The Crown of Leaves