White Lavender

About

"White Lavender" is a calming and introspective game where you play as a character living in a small village, tending to their garden and interacting with the villagers. The game features a soothing art style and soundtrack, encouraging players to take their time and enjoy the simple pleasures of gardening and daily life. Through these activities, players can uncover the stories and secrets of the village and its inhabitants.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 281 reviews

graphics15 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style and a cute bug theme, making it visually appealing and enjoyable.
Gameplay is fun and engaging, with a good balance of challenge that is accessible for newcomers to the souls-like genre.
The game runs smoothly on lower-end hardware and offers a short, sweet experience that is worth the low price.

The combat system has issues with hit detection and lock-on mechanics, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
The game is quite short, with many players feeling it ends before it fully develops its potential.
There are several bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with item drops and character stats.

graphics
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
63%
6%
The game's graphics are characterized by a charming, minimalist art style that evokes a whimsical, pastel-colored world, reminiscent of 90s aesthetics. While the visuals are generally praised for their cuteness and serenity, some players note issues with camera clipping and hit detection that can detract from gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute to a cozy vibe, aligning well with the game's casual approach to the souls-like genre.
- “The visuals are impressive, though.”
- “Its simple and charming art style presents a dreamy, pastel-colored world that exudes serenity.”
- “I really like the art style and visual effects on the camera's perspective.”
- “For one, the lock-on system is pretty wonky and can target seemingly randomly at times, especially targeting distant disengaged enemies instead of the closer engaged enemies. The camera in this game can also clip through geometry, making it hard to see at times. Due to the art style, it is a bit hard to tell what counts as a hit, but this game can be pretty loose with hit detection, so you're often hitting (and getting hit) more often than you'd think.”
- “...surprisingly good and enjoyable for a souls clone, but set in the wobbly graphics of the 90's.”
- “It's basically a heavily simplified version of a Bug's Life game with much less graphics.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
8%
The gameplay of "White Lavender" is characterized by its relaxed approach, blending familiar souls-like mechanics with a calming atmosphere and exploration-focused design. While the combat is satisfying and intuitive, some players noted issues with movement and hit detection, as well as a frustrating loot system. Overall, the game offers a fun and forgiving experience, appealing to those who enjoy a chill vibe and engaging mechanics, though it could benefit from additional content and minor tweaks.
- “The interesting style and the 'good enough' action gameplay makes me want a little more of this kind of game in the future.”
- “Gameplay-wise, 'White Lavender' takes a relaxed approach.”
- “The gameplay focuses on combat, which feels satisfying and intuitive.”
- “The luck mechanic is busted; there are a ton of items that you will literally never see because they're random drops from enemies you encounter one time.”
- “At first, I thought the movement was very clunky because of the camera shake, but if you go into the game settings, you can reduce the camera sensitivity and turn off the wobbling, which improved the gameplay for me.”
- “You play this game for the vibe more than any groundbreaking gameplay.”
music
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
23%
10%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its quality and ability to enhance the overall experience, with many reviewers noting its calming and enjoyable nature. While the soundtrack features a mix of styles, including some that may feel out of place, the majority of players appreciate the ambiance it creates alongside the game's visuals and character designs. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout element, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The visuals and the OST are really nice!”
- “The art style, music, setting, characters, and general vibe of the game all work well together.”
- “Would recommend if you are into a short but sweet game with a good soundtrack.”
- “The only bad thing I can say about White Lavender pertains to the soundtrack.”
- “You can turn down the sound effects/music volume, but that doesn't affect the buzzing noise.”
- “It's basically a bugsoulslite with some decent mechanics, calming music, and a chill environment to run around and explore.”
story
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
81%
11%
The story in "White Lavender" is described as cute and simple, centering on a bug's quest to cure its sister, with a gameplay duration of about 2 to 3.5 hours. While the narrative is not heavily traditional and relies on environmental storytelling, it effectively complements the game's relaxing ambiance and engaging combat. Overall, the story serves its purpose, providing a light-hearted backdrop to the gameplay experience.
- “Storytelling in 'White Lavender' is subtle and open to interpretation.”
- “Cute little souls-like where you play as a bug on a quest to find a cure for your sister.”
- “There isn't a traditional narrative in the game; instead, it relies on environmental storytelling and player exploration to create a sense of wonder and intrigue.”
- “This approach may not appeal to those seeking a heavily story-driven experience, but it adds depth to the game's relaxing ambiance.”
- “From Sokware brings us another open-world souls-like with about 2 hours of main story content, not including some optional boss fights, side quests, and achievements.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming and laid-back design, which enhances the exploration experience across distinct areas. Players appreciate the soothing pace and artistic simplicity, making it a perfect choice for those who enjoy calm, discovery-focused gameplay. Overall, the atmosphere effectively combines mystery, variety, and challenge, contributing to a highly recommended adventure.
- “A terrific little souls-like adventure, bursting with charm and atmosphere.”
- “Each area of the game has a distinct atmosphere and charm, providing a sense of discovery as you move from one location to the next.”
- “However, the gentle pace and soothing atmosphere make it an ideal game to play and share with friends or loved ones who appreciate calm, exploration-focused gameplay.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game features a lighthearted sense of humor, highlighted by quirky character designs and amusing side quests that offer funny rewards. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into gameplay, including humorous references to game mechanics, making the experience enjoyable and entertaining.
- “It's a fun little soulslike with some nice humor at times.”
- “I actually recognize some of the quirks that come with working with a cinemachine camera for instance (though I am just guessing), so that's kind of hilarious to me.”
- “There are a few playful side quests, most of them are optional, and you get some pretty funny rewards for completing them, and even a few optional boss fights.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find it enjoyable and rewarding, particularly for character enhancement, others criticize the tankiness of enemies, especially after a certain point, making battles feel tedious. Overall, many appreciate that grinding does not feel monotonous and contributes positively to the game's short but addictive nature.
- “The enemies, especially after Flower Pot Village, are way too tanky; they are tedious damage sponges that simply do not go down, at least with a wizard build.”
- “The game is slightly challenging but not too difficult with a bit of grinding.”
- “It is a very short but addicting game, and it is one of the few games that I didn't get bored when grinding; you don't have to, but I like having a buffed-out character.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers significant replayability due to its variety of character builds and the potential for speedrunning, making it an engaging experience for players who enjoy experimenting with different playstyles. With a playtime of 2-4 hours, it combines a lighthearted tone with the challenge reminiscent of the Souls genre.
- “It's like an easy Dark Souls; it's very goofy and has tons of replay value through character builds and speedrunning the game.”
- “2-4 hours of a cute, easy Souls game with some replayability.”
- “2-4 hours of a cute, easy souls game with some replayability.”
- “2-4 hours of a cute, easy souls game with some replayability.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is generally perceived as fun and cute, but it suffers from notable bugs that affect stability, leading to a somewhat messy experience.
- “Fun and cute, but it's a bit of a buggy mess though.”
- “Little buggy boy adventures through Dark Souls.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional experience with the game, expressing a range of feelings from laughter to tears. Despite some initial discomfort caused by the visual effects, the overall emotional engagement and enjoyment of the game remain intact.
- “The perfect game, I laughed, I cried, and I wore a cup like a bomb squad suit of armor.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game features stunning visuals and captivating music, complemented by endearing character designs, which contribute to a strong sense of character development. However, specific details on the depth of character arcs or growth are not mentioned.