Fields of Asphodel

So, I am subscribed to a lot of Patreons, including about half a dozen Hosted Games authors whose works in progress are of particular interest to me. It's funny that until its release on Steam, I'd not heard about Fields of Asphodel at all. Not even an inkling of its existence. When I finished Fields of Asphodel, I immediately opened up Patreon and subscribed to the author, who is working on a sequel. This story is just absolutely terrific. I have nothing negative in the slightest to say about it. I think a common sentiment is that while the average level of quality in Choice of Games titles is higher than the aggregate Hosted Games average, that the most emotionally resonant and artistically meaningful stories are found in Hosted Games titles. Thinking here of the big ones; Fallen Hero, Infinite Sea, the Forgotten One, Golden Rose, and (not for me, but for many) Wayhaven. Rare is the interactive fiction that is not just enjoyed but beloved. Fields of Asphodel is one such title. I cannot guarantee that you will love it, or even that you will like it, but I can tell you I loved it from the beginning to the end, and will be returning to it again and again just as I do all the careworn books I've read and re-read many times over the years.

Это не подземное царство Аида, это веган-кафе "Фрик" («горизонтальный сейф-спейс с консенсусным принятием решений»). Классно было бы, если бы у автора было хоть какое-то понимание собственного сеттинга, а то у нас тут с одной стороны все кругом чутко сообщают свои местоимения (мы не спрашивали) и интересуются эмоциональным комфортом и личными границами мертвой души, перевозимой через Стикс на лодочке, а с другой - древнегреческих мифологических персонажей отсылают на вечные страдания в жутком посмертии, и все вместе в соседних главах это выглядит столь же гармонично и уместно, как эполет, пришитый к штанам.

By the time I realised what I have gotten myself into it was too late for a refund so I thought yolo and finished it (with multiple tea and mental breakdown breaks because honeslty what the h is this). So. If by any means you are a big fan of tons of scenery descriptions and badly written autistic Hades asking consent for holding your hand then be my guest and buy this game.

也算不上特别不推荐，但确实很无聊很坐牢。主角被迫和hades结婚然后在冥界认识不同神的故事，没什么跌宕的故事，也没有有趣的ro。最后故事绕了一圈就是大家成为了好朋友。 切入点很糟糕，像一本大型设定集，整本都是非常琐碎的流水账以及和剧情无甚关联的背景介绍，感觉像是那种希腊神话半科普性质的fanfic，作者可能是写爽了但我完全没get到这点东西有什么好专门拿出来写这么长一本的。 居然还cue了一点安提戈涅。

I like this game but it quite disappoint me in some way. It's okay but I DON'T suggest to people who take Greek Mythology seriously because If you are ,the Lore in story may be make you feel confused,conflict and not fun . It quite full of ... [spoiler] diversity [/spoiler] and make me feel uncomfortable when I read and the pronoun that it's weird in Greek Mythology era and make me dislike it .

I'm not someone who is typically interested in reimaginings of the Persephone and Hades myth, but this story is so well constructed and its characters so enchanting and the ways you can develop your character are so nuanced that I have been hooked since I first tried the demo years ago. I will say that, based on reading some of the negative reviews, I think some people are coming to this story with the wrong expectations. If you are looking for an epic adventure story, you will be sorely disappointed. While there are big events (unavoidable, I think, when using Greek mythology as your inspiration) they are not the central focus of the narrative. Rather, this story is primarily character driven and focuses on the development of your player character ("Persephone") and their interpersonal relationships with the characters around them. If you enjoy that sort of story, I highly recommend this one! My one complaint would be how inconsistently spaced and far apart in general the save checkpoints are. Losing an hour or more of story progress when I need to reload is frustrating.

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 282: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10) I wasn’t expecting to fall this hard for [i]Fields of Asphodel.[/i] This IF is deceptively simple at first glance—1.3 million words of text, no visuals, no sound FX. I do find retellings of Hades and Persephone trite, boring, and ironically almost anti-feminist. But underneath? A richly crafted Underworld story that held me captive with its original take. Myth meets cozy slice-of-life, with just enough mystery to make it feel meaningful rather than meandering. 🪐 [b]Pros:[/b] [list] [*]A deeply lived-in world with Greek myth reimagined. You play as a demigod in an arranged marriage with Hades, and what starts as a classic myth retelling becomes a nuanced character-driven epic. The setting—an underworld built on bureaucracy, familial tensions, and ancient debts—feels examined yet fresh. The lore breathes through culture, language, and everyday choices. [*]Exceptional inclusivity and character customization. Want to role-play as nonbinary, neurodivergent, gay, or ace? Yes. All must play as the main god of spring, and many romance options are available regardless of your gender. If representation matters to you, this one nails it. [*]Meaningful relationships, not just wallpaper characters. Your interactions with characters like Hades, Persephone, Kerberos, and others are layered. The friendships and romances develop over time, and NPCs react based on consistent character traits, not preset conversation trees. The relationship between your character and Demeter is a standout. [*] Choice and consequence that feel grounded. There’s conflict, but not every scene ends in fire and betrayal. You choose how to react to potential friends, lovers, allies, or enemies. You even have smaller choices: how to decorate your room, what you like to eat, the type of ruler you want to be, etc. [*]A cozy tone with emotional depth. The pace is gentle, guided by introspection and subtle conflict rather than explosive drama. Yet it still feels consequential. It's very sweet, but when drama hits, it surprises you. [*] The length! At 1.3 million words, this is one of the longest IFs out there. Lots of bang for your buck. [/list] 🌑 [b]Cons:[/b] [list] [*] If I’m not wrong, nothing big happens until the end. This is slice-of-life at heart. If you want bloodshed, political coups, or battlefield choices, you’re going to be disappointed. There’s a fight, but it’s far an RPG "swords crossing" type fight. The broader themes are subtle—healing, autonomy, season cycles—but the emotional stakes rise slowly, which demands patience. [*] The tone can feel earnest to a fault. Listen, I don't care inclusivity; I don't care about "wokeness" or "DEI" or all that nonsense. But! I do notice overtness. If Tumblr-style inclusivity and repeated reminders of consent and neurodiverse representation aren’t your thing, the writing will nag you a bit. It’s thoughtful, but quite on-the-nose. [*] Sadly, no achievements. [/list] [hr] If you enjoyed this review, please check out my curator page to find more: [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/45814768-Verdict-Play-or-Pass/]Verdict: Play or Pass. [/url] Also, please leave a like and visit [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Indie_Gems]IndieGems[/url] and our YouTube channel for more reviews like this one. [/hr]

For interactive fiction my bar is generally quite low but damn this was awful, if you are into this because of the Greek theme you will be disappointed, if you are here for the romance you will be disappointed but if you are here for an interesting plot you will also be disappointed. Author is starting to write a sequel and I'm in awe of the double down on this.

I really liked it. The romance is a slow burn, but it definitely left me wanting more. I loved the underworld as an environment and the characters in it. I do wish there was a bit more between Persephone and their husband Hades. It only just starts and then ends. It left me wanting more. Also, I'd like a better way to to bring spring to the underworld so Persephone can enjoy the things they like there. Overall a good game. Will replay it again.