Belladonna

Não é ruim mas também não é bom.

Good little point and click adventure. Its main attractions are the eerie atmosphere and the well put together, if rather abruptly ending, story. 7.5/10 craniums.

I bought this game several years ago. I remember it being new, and I was just beginning to play games. My first playthrough, I got to the part where you [spoiler] poison the cat [/spoiler], closed the game, and never reopened it until today. While this is a VERY short game, the story is so interesting and the art style is niche (so, naturally, I love it). It was too complicated for me to understand and appreciate at the age I was when I played it for the first time. I absolutely recommend this. Belladonna was ahead of its time. I'm going to look into more work by this dev. Now I'm trying to collect all the cards. If you need me, I'll be busy replaying this 50 times until I get all of them.

I enjoyed how gloomy yet cute this game's style is! The wlw/sapphic take on Frankenstein. The story and play send you searching for clues to answer that classic existential question: "Why am I here?"

Good Game

Belladonna (2015, разработчик — Niklas Hallin) — point‑and‑click‑квест в мрачном готическом стиле. Суть: героиня — ожившая «механическая» женщина с амнезией — исследует замок и по запискам восстанавливает историю трагической семьи, связанной с безумным учёным. Ключевые особенности: ручная рисовка, атмосфера в духе Тима Бёртона; сюжет о любви, потере и экспериментах над жизнью; озвучка главной героини, атмосферный саундтрек; классический геймплей: поиск предметов, комбинации, взаимодействие с окружением; платформа: PC; короткая продолжительность (45–60 минут). Минусы: очень мало головоломок, задачи простые; история подаётся почти исключительно через записки (много текста, мелкий шрифт); технические недочёты (баги с коллизиями, жёсткая анимация); ограниченная реиграбельность. Итог: подойдёт ценителям готики и атмосферных мини‑квестов — ради визуала и сюжета. Лучше брать по скидке из‑за малой продолжительности.

Belladonna is a somber, introspective gothic adventure developed by Neckbolt and published by Plug In Digital that places atmosphere, mood, and philosophical storytelling above traditional challenge or length. Rather than aiming for jump scares or complex puzzle structures, the game leans heavily into a quiet, unsettling tone inspired by classic gothic literature, creating an experience that feels closer to an interactive novella than a conventional adventure game. From its opening moments, Belladonna establishes a sense of melancholy curiosity that invites the player to explore not just a physical space, but the emotional and moral consequences of obsession, grief, and resurrection. The story begins with the player awakening as a reanimated young woman in a decaying laboratory, unsure of her origins or purpose. As the environment slowly unfolds, it becomes clear that the events surrounding her revival are deeply tied to the tragic history of Dr. Wolfram von Trauerschloss, a man consumed by grief after the loss of his child. His descent into forbidden science and moral compromise forms the backbone of the narrative, and the game carefully unravels this tale through journals, environmental details, and subtle interactions rather than overt exposition. The result is a narrative that feels intimate and reflective, allowing players to piece together the truth at their own pace and encouraging contemplation rather than shock. Gameplay follows traditional point-and-click adventure conventions, focusing on exploration, item collection, and light puzzle solving. The puzzles are intentionally straightforward and rarely obstruct progress for long, reinforcing the idea that Belladonna is more about narrative flow than mechanical difficulty. Interactions with objects often trigger internal monologues from the protagonist, whose dry humor and thoughtful observations provide a humanizing contrast to the grim setting. These moments of introspection give the main character a distinct voice, making her feel like more than a silent vessel for the player and strengthening emotional engagement with the story. The game’s presentation plays a crucial role in sustaining its atmosphere. Visually, Belladonna adopts a hand-painted, storybook-inspired art style dominated by muted colors, crumbling architecture, and shadow-filled environments. The world feels abandoned and stagnant, as if time itself has slowed to accommodate unresolved grief. Audio design complements this aesthetic with subtle ambient sounds and restrained music, reinforcing the sense of isolation without overwhelming the player. Rather than relying on loud cues or sudden effects, the soundscape gently underscores the weight of the environment and the unease of existing between life and death. One of Belladonna’s most effective qualities is its restraint. The game resists the temptation to over-explain its themes or escalate into spectacle, instead trusting the player to engage with its ideas thoughtfully. Themes of identity, bodily autonomy, and the ethics of resurrection are present throughout, woven into environmental storytelling rather than spelled out explicitly. This approach may feel understated to players expecting dramatic twists or branching narratives, but it gives the experience a lingering quality, encouraging reflection long after the game ends. That said, the game’s limited scope is noticeable. Belladonna is relatively short and can be completed in a single sitting, and players accustomed to longer adventure games with complex puzzles or multiple endings may find it slight. Interface limitations and minimal quality-of-life features also reveal its indie origins, though these issues rarely overshadow the overall experience. The game’s brevity ultimately works in its favor, ensuring that the narrative remains focused and emotionally consistent without overstaying its welcome. Taken as a whole, Belladonna is a carefully crafted gothic adventure that prioritizes mood, writing, and thematic depth over traditional gameplay complexity. It is not a game designed to challenge reflexes or puzzle-solving skills, but one that invites players into a quiet, unsettling space to reflect on loss, obsession, and the fragile boundary between life and death. For fans of narrative-driven adventures, gothic literature, and atmospheric storytelling, Belladonna offers a memorable and haunting experience that proves emotional resonance does not require scale or spectacle to leave a lasting impression. Rating: 7/10

It's really quite short and easy, takes under 30min to complete, so do not expect a real point and click game. That said, the graphics are lovely, great gothic vibes. And the main character is creepy and touching. An oddly sweet mini-adventure for spooky season. I got it on sale for 1€, so definitely worth it, but i would keep the above in mind if it's more expensive.

Frankenstein Girls Will Seem Strangely Sexy

The reason I recommend this is because it gets really cheap with sales. Not as cheap as it "should" be given how Plug In Digital somehow missed the memo on adding regional pricing for the LATAM region, but still cheap enough for me to let slide how short and [b]generally[/b] easy this is. I did spend a considerable amount of time going in circles because there's a crucial item that's needed at the game's most open point which I had to use a guide to use becuase I confused it with a mere artistic detail in a closeup scene. It does get slightly annoying in retrospect that right after this you unlock an in-game hint system which makes one end game subquest easier (it's an item which also blends with the background, though it's not as obscure). There's a fair share of flavour-only hotzones, though the game does seem to cheapen out a bit in a few rooms. Most of the plot gets delivered via some very obviously placed letters from the game's background characters. Only a few of these end up impactful on their own, but they're an okay gothic epistolary tale, albeit without much in the way of twists (hell, the final note you find does hint at a final twist that doesn't really go anywhere). It's also a bit deceiving in how it has tons of card drops for a game that's not even particularly replayable.