The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty

About

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a single player role playing game. It was developed by 零创游戏(ZerocreationGame) and was released on April 22, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

In "The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty," players assume the role of Liang, a bandit tasked with escorting four girls to a wealthy lord in Luoyang. Traverse through dangerous territories, encounter various events, and uncover the hidden truth behind the girls' journey, all while trying to keep them safe from a sinister secret. This action-adventure game is set during the Chongzhen Reign, a period marked by land annexation, domestic issues, foreign invasions, and widespread starvation.

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Single-Player

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty screenshot

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 722 reviews

story246 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The Hungry Lamb offers a beautifully crafted narrative that explores dark themes of famine, human trafficking, and moral dilemmas, making it a deeply emotional experience.
The art and voice acting are exceptional, enhancing the storytelling and immersing players in the historical setting of the late Ming Dynasty.
The game features multiple endings that are influenced by player choices, providing a sense of agency and encouraging replayability.

The game contains uncomfortable themes, including child sexualization and graphic depictions of violence, which may be distressing for some players.
Some players found the pacing uneven, particularly in the early chapters, and felt that certain scenes were unnecessarily drawn out.
The English translation has some grammatical errors and awkward phrasing, which can detract from the overall immersion in the story.

story
535 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
53%
1%
The story of "The Hungry Lamb" is a deeply emotional and immersive narrative set against the backdrop of the late Ming dynasty, exploring themes of revenge, redemption, and the harsh realities of famine. Players are drawn into a gripping tale filled with complex characters, unexpected twists, and morally grey situations, all while navigating a world marked by desperation and survival. Despite some pacing issues and translation errors, the storytelling is praised for its depth and ability to evoke strong emotional responses, making it a standout experience for fans of visual novels.
- “A great story about revenge and atonement, with nicely written twists and turns, some interesting and complex characters, and beautiful art.”
- “The story is well written and compelling, mixing tragedy, fear, and humanity's darkest side.”
- “It's a grim story, but it's not grimdark, and in fact, I found it a bit hopeful.”
- “The story is dark and disturbing with some wholesome scenes scattered around here and there.”
- “The first half of the visual novel struggles to hold one's attention, as it can get a bit too routine focusing on bonding moments rather than quest intrigue.”
- “The story does require some trigger-warnings, since it touches very dark subjects.”
music
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the immersive experience, with many reviewers praising the beautiful soundtracks that effectively capture the historical setting of 1600s China. While the compositions are noted for their emotional depth and cultural authenticity, some players mentioned a lack of variety in the tracks. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, complementing the narrative and visuals beautifully.
- “The music deserves special mention too: it’s incredible.”
- “The soundtrack further complements this setting, featuring traditional instruments and melodies that deepen the atmosphere and emotional resonance.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal; even after finishing the game, I still go back to listen to the beautiful songs that really capture the atmosphere and time period the game is in.”
- “The music, the moment with the drum beats during their theater white-sheet show was unbearable and tracks in the background were quite off-putting.”
- “Much of what was used had an older feel; there were no modern-sounding soundtracks helping add to the immersion of being present in ancient China.”
- “The soundtrack, unfortunately, kinda lacks diversity, but still does a pretty good job at setting up the mood.”
emotional
100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "The Hungry Lamb" is profoundly impactful, with players reporting a wide range of feelings from joy to deep sorrow throughout the narrative. The game explores dark themes such as famine, corruption, and human suffering, yet it also offers moments of warmth and hope, making it a compelling emotional journey. Many players found themselves deeply invested in the characters and their stories, often moved to tears by the beautifully crafted storytelling and haunting soundtrack.
- “It’s beautiful, heartbreaking, and even somewhat traumatizing at times — overall a wonderfully crafted story of the human struggle during a grim era.”
- “The emotional trek that The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty takes you through is one that evokes just about every emotion human nature can feel, and it does so with panache and smart implementation as the story unfolds hour by hour and chapter by chapter.”
- “The story is very well written, it's engaging, touching, intriguing, and sometimes rather unpredictable.”
- “All in all, I don't understand how this game got this many positive reviews, because, aside from all the problematic aspects, even though it has a good premise, this is a very, very badly written and boring story.”
graphics
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
31%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning, hand-painted art style that evokes traditional Chinese aesthetics, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful character designs and environments. While the visuals are captivating and immersive, some players noted a lack of variety in artwork for similar locations, and a few found the graphic content to be intense or disturbing. Overall, the combination of exquisite visuals, music, and voice acting creates a rich aesthetic experience that enhances the storytelling.
- “The art style is beautiful and the visuals look hand-painted.”
- “The game’s environments are beautifully rendered with a delicate art style that evokes traditional Chinese brushwork and classical aesthetics.”
- “Jaw-dropping artwork and a captivating cast, this game was really worth playing.”
- “For a visual novel, it's severely lacking in visuals.”
- “Some scenes could've also had better artwork.”
- “Moreover, I wish there were more visuals in the game.”
atmosphere
25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
40%
12%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive storytelling, character design, and exceptional soundtrack, which together evoke a range of emotions from dread to nostalgia. Reviewers highlight the art style and sound design as key elements that enhance the overall experience, making the setting feel authentic and emotionally resonant. While some players may prefer more action-oriented gameplay, the rich atmosphere and engaging narrative have captivated many, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “I think they've nailed the atmosphere perfectly as you feel dread, a sense of urgency, or even disgust as you play through.”
- “The writing is engaging, and the voice acting enhances the immersive atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack further complements this setting, featuring traditional instruments and melodies that deepen the atmosphere and emotional resonance.”
- “This game has done an extraordinary job at illustrating the heavy atmosphere in those days.”
- “The atmosphere and the whole (pretty rare) late Ming setting is pretty cool, but delivery sometimes off, breaking the immersion.”
gameplay
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
50%
19%
The gameplay of "The Hungry Lamb" is primarily focused on narrative exploration and relationship building, characteristic of visual novels, with a well-integrated flowchart UI that enhances story navigation. While the game excels in storytelling and emotional engagement, some players find the mechanics, such as inventory management and navigation, to be basic and occasionally clunky, which may detract from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a memorable journey through late Ming dynasty China, though it may not satisfy those seeking action-oriented gameplay.
- “The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty offers a unique blend of historical storytelling and adventure gameplay set against the rich cultural backdrop of late 16th-century China.”
- “Gameplay centers on exploration and interaction, with a focus on narrative choices and relationship building.”
- “It's arguably one of the best time-conscious visual novels to come out in quite some time, and with an easy-to-read flowchart to access after you've become content with your initial route, it makes the entire story accessible and opens it up to further possibilities, adding more depth and value to the gameplay and narrative.”
- “They could do the intro, and then skip the next 5 hours of gameplay and the game would be nearly the same.”
- “Those seeking action-packed gameplay or high-intensity challenges may find the game's focus on story and atmosphere less engaging.”
- “Additionally, some gameplay mechanics, such as inventory management and navigation, can feel somewhat basic or clunky, potentially disrupting the flow for players used to more polished adventure titles.”
character development
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
27%
20%
Character development in the game is widely praised, with reviewers highlighting the depth and complexity of the characters, particularly Liang and Manxiu. Players appreciate the well-crafted backstories and the significant transformations characters undergo, especially Liang's evolution from a solitary survivor to a more introspective individual questioning his beliefs. The combination of strong writing, impactful character design, and emotional storytelling contributes to a memorable and fulfilling experience.
- “One of the game’s strengths lies in its writing and character development.”
- “Liang's character development is great, the way he changed from a lone wolf that only wants to survive to questioning his beliefs and becoming a 'good person'.”
- “What makes stories great is character development and this game does a fabulous job.”
- “This could be compared to watching a movie 1/10 of the way and thinking it terrible, without seeing its plot twists or character development, deciding that it would be worthy of a 1/10.”
- “I don't want to explain the scene because it's important for their character development, but there is an entire dialogue (and internal monologue) in regards to how crazy such an idea is and how can someone even dare to think of such a possibility.”
- “In terms of design, character development is incredibly fulfilling as we see Liang's mindset change from chapter to chapter (depending on the player's choices) and the unraveling mystery behind Man Sui, along with the tragic realization that players make about halfway through the game.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game offers significant replayability due to its branching narrative and multiple endings, which are influenced by player choices. Players can explore different paths and outcomes, making it engaging enough to revisit until all chapters and endings are experienced. Overall, the combination of a beautiful story and educational elements further enhances its replay value.
- “Beautiful story, surprisingly educational for the non-Chinese player, and incredible replay value until all chapters are read and endings reached.”
- “Players' choices affect the direction of the plot and the endings, adding to the game's replayability.”
- “The branching narrative and multiple endings provide replayability, allowing players to explore different paths and outcomes.”
- “Multiple endings influenced by player decisions enhance replayability.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of bittersweet and lighthearted moments, with players finding enjoyment despite disliking most characters. The protagonist's youthful innocence adds a layer of comedic relief, as she expresses her emotions freely, contributing to the game's overall charm.
- “It's not without its bittersweet, happy, and funny moments!”
- “The funny thing is that I managed to enjoy the game while literally despising every character, except for Qiong Hua and Sui's father (and maybe Kite).”
- “She's so young that she doesn't understand the situation that way, being the only one who could express her feelings freely, laughing when she finds something fun and crying when she's sad.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The optimization of the game is praised for its strong performance and engaging story, complemented by beautiful art and a talented voice cast. Overall, players appreciate the smooth experience it provides.
- “Nice story and performance, hands down, the best.”
- “The beautiful art and performances of the voice cast made sure of that.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is minimal, focusing instead on an engaging narrative involving a bandit and a girl amidst chaos. Players appreciate the lack of tedious dialogue, suggesting that the grinding elements do not detract from the overall experience.
- “I've been trying my hand at farming since last year, but the sales don’t even cover the water bill.”

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12h Median play time

10h Average play time

5-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a role playing game.

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 10 hours playing The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty.

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty was released on April 22, 2024.

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty was developed by 零创游戏(ZerocreationGame).

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its replayability.

The Hungry Lamb: Traveling in the Late Ming Dynasty is a single player game.

Similar games include The House in Fata Morgana, Cupid, The Letter, The Cat Lady, Opus: Echo of Starsong and others.

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