The Thief, the Witch, the Toad, and the Mushroom.
- March 22, 2024
- Jack McNamee
Get on SteamYou're curled up in front of the fire reading a folk tale on a cold winter's night. Something about it seems so familiar. Have you read this before? Explore a cosy and mysterious fantasy universe inspired by fairy tales. The old kind of fairy tales, strange and wild, before the edges were sanded off. Warm and comforting, but with parts you don't quite understand, and you don't know if you want…
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features exceptional storytelling with a gripping narrative that keeps players engaged and emotionally invested.
- The artwork and sound design are beautifully crafted, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience of the game.
- It's a unique and creative take on the choose-your-own-adventure genre, offering multiple paths and endings that encourage replayability.
- The game is relatively short, leaving players wanting more content and exploration of the story.
- Some players found the game to be too obscure or difficult to navigate, leading to frustration with certain choices and outcomes.
- There are moments in the writing that can feel preachy or overly sentimental, which may detract from the overall experience for some players.
- story50 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its engaging and unique narrative, characterized by excellent writing, charming characters, and a captivating atmosphere. Players appreciate the depth and complexity of the plot, which evolves based on their choices, offering a rich exploration of themes and secrets. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend humor, mystery, and emotional resonance, making it a memorable experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to uncover all its layers.
“A brilliant use of the Ren'Py engine to deliver a story that's quite unlike anything else.”
“The story is well written, the characters are charming, and the atmosphere is immaculate.”
“The story is so much larger than it initially appears, and the journey to uncover the truth is wrought with so many delightful, yet horrible turns.”
“It's far too obscure to actually win, but I nominated it for the 2024 game awards storytelling category, because even when you think you know the pattern it still has a lot of interesting things up its sleeve to throw at you, whether they are evolutions of the main storyline, or simply little side lines that you hadn't explored before.”
“Additionally, I answered correctly but still 'lost', which I wasn't sure was intentional by the developer, or if the story had to be forced into a certain direction to proceed.”
“The story appeared classically fairy-tale mundane at first, but as the choices made progressed and the plot became more convoluted, the story became much more personal and endearing.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as both quirky and engaging, with players appreciating the blend of funny situations and peculiar character interactions. While some noted a decline in humor as the game progressed, many found the dialogue to be a highlight, ranging from hilarious to unsettling, and contributing to a rich narrative experience filled with clever meta-jokes and references. Overall, the game's humor is a significant draw, enhancing its storytelling and character development.
“This game is as funny as it is peculiar (which is a lot).”
“The characters are great, the story is funny and it's almost hypnotic to just go through the game while exploring all the little secrets hidden that build up a very interesting background to the story.”
“A very strong visual novel with dialogue that ranges from hilarious to terrifying.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are highly praised for their beautiful and captivating artwork, which enhances the storytelling experience. Despite a limited budget and reliance on public domain art, the visuals are described as stunning and contribute significantly to the overall aesthetic and immersion of the visual novel.
“Spooky and aesthetic!”
“The artwork is beautiful, and I was drawn right into the story.”
“I also love the artwork; it’s so gorgeous.”
“This is likely the best visual novel I've ever read, despite its shorter length and its shoestring budget built on public domain artwork. This is a story I will not soon forget.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be deeply emotional, often describing it as heart-wrenching and tear-inducing, particularly noting that the ending elicits strong feelings and tears.
“This game was so heart-wrenching!”
“I cried a lot.”
“It made me cry in the end.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its adaptability and contribution to the immersive storytelling experience, enhancing the charm of the characters and writing. However, some users note inconsistencies in the soundtrack and art due to the use of freely-available assets, expressing hope for improved quality with a larger budget in the future.
“A gripping story taking the form of an old 'choose your own adventure' book, full of charming characters, great writing, and a lovely adaptive soundtrack.”
“The soundtrack adds a great deal.”
“I'd really like to see what he can pull off with an actual budget.”
“There's a bit of inconsistency in the music and art due to the developer using freely available assets for most things, so I'd really like to see what he can pull off with an actual budget.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
“While the music has potential, it often feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the atmosphere as immaculate, enhanced by a well-written story and charming characters, creating an engaging and immersive experience.
“The story is well written, the characters are charming, and the atmosphere is immaculate.”
