Gilded Shadows

I backed this up on Kickstarter. I played all routes except for Yuu, and I believe I have not completely finished that one route with the robot guy whose name completely slips my mind. (Btw, the game description should probably be fixed, as all of the additional 3 routes have been added to the main game, they are not "to be released" anymore) I enjoyed Gilded Shadows, because I like the fantasy of this world, the protagonist, and the romantic interests. I love the developer's style, creative settings, their writing is always on point, and they will always be on my radar as one of my top favourite indie otome devs. Gilded Shadows is 100% worth reading, as well as Steamberry Studio's other works. But I don't think I will re-play Gilded Shadows, and if I do, I will be heavily skipping chunks of text. I actually still want to finish the routes that I have not, but they were released waaaaaaay back, and I still can't bring myself to it due to one simple issue. The text is oversaturated with exposition through dialogue. A lot of the time - and in some routes, most of the time - all people talk about is worldbuilding: the politics, the social relations, the history, the esper powers - and at best it doesn't sound natural at all, at worst it kills momentum. It's almost like I'm being recited the codex through character dialogue. The robot guy's route - I remember, Quill! - became a complete brick wall for me because of this, and even my favourite route, Reuben's, was soured by overexposition. [i][b]25/05/2024 EDIT HERE:[/b] I actually finished both Yuu & Quill's route's passionate endings so I'm done with the game. I feel like that last paragraph sounds a lot harsher than I meant it to be. What I want to say - it's still very very good, but as a reader I found myself at times frustrated with how exposition affected the flow of the text, and that in turn made me feel negativity about it. And not every route had that problem to the same degree. As examples I'll mention the last 3 routes that were released, which were the last ones I played, so I remember them better. Yuu's route, in my opinion, did not have any problem with exposition at all. Quill's route, as I mentioned, suffered from it the most in my opinion - but I understand why! Quill's (and Reuben's really) route was basically like a completely different book altogether, it explored a completely different part of the setting, and also dealt with a lot of in-universe politics by virtue of characters being involved in said politics. That is a [i]lot[/i] of stuff to tell in just one route.[/i] Having played the demo for the next Steamberry VN [i]When Stars Collide[/i] on their itch.io and seeing it have the exact same problem, I wanted to mention this, because this seems to be something systematic, and I hope the author sees it and can maybe see what can be done about it. Just an example, when [b](spoilers for the demo I guess)[/b] [spoiler]a newly awakened alien from an ancient secretive race gets into polemics about how their race was historically misunderstood and why and what they did and their history with other races and ALL THAT during [i]the first[/i] meeting with the crew of the ship they awakened on centuries after they went to stasis[/spoiler], it really, really slams the brakes on the flow and takes you out of the story that [i]is intriguing[/i] and has so, so much potential. [quote] [b]Reading accessibility options:[/b] Default font size: ................ [i]Relatively large[/i] Ability to change text size: ..................... [i]No[/i] Ability to change font style: ................... [i]No[/i] [/quote]

I have to be honest, I have been playing for 17 hours and I haven't even completed a single romance. There is *so* much reading. Like.... so.... much.... reading. I have dyslexia, so it takes me a while to get through it. I feel like a lot of it is unnecessary and doesn't add context or information that actually matters. I don't know if that is a translation thing or what, because the wordings of things is very odd as well. Anyway, it is hard to say if any of the characters are captivating enough, because again... 17 hours, and there has been 1 flirty encounter so far. I will update this review if/when I finish.

[h2]Looks Great, But We Didn't Quite Click[/h2] [b]Stuff I Liked:[/b] Okay, first off, the customization is pretty cool. You get to pick traits for your character, which actually felt like it made a difference in how things played out. It's a neat way to make the story feel a bit more [i]yours[/i]. And seriously, [b]the guys in this game? DROP. DEAD. GORGEOUS.[/b] There are tons of different love interests, and they're all drawn really well. If you're into otome games partly for the gorgeous characters, you won't be disappointed here. Lots of options to swoon over! [b]Where My Brain Tapped Out:[/b] Okay, deep breaths. This is where things got... complicated. The [b]writing style[/b] in this game felt like it was speaking a different language. It wasn't bad writing, not at all! It was just... [i]fancy[/i]. Like, [i]really fancy[/i]. It honestly felt like I'd accidentally stumbled into an episode of Dawson's Creek where everyone speaks in perfectly crafted, overly intellectual paragraphs. And yeah, I know, that's probably a me problem! My simple brain prefers dialogue that sounds like, you know, people actually talking over coffee, not debating existentialism in a library. This formal vibe, despite my best efforts and repeated attempts, kept me from truly sinking my teeth into the story. It felt a bit dry when I was craving something juicy and easy to digest. I tried, guys, I really tried to get hooked! [b]The TL;DR:[/b] Gilded Shadows is a visual feast with great customization and characters you'll want to frame. BUT, if you prefer your game dialogue to be more "hey, what's up?" and less "perchance, might I inquire upon your current state of being?", you might find the writing a bit of a hurdle, like I did. It's a good game, just maybe not the chill, conversational ride I was hoping for.

this game omg...... the grip it had on me when i just started playing it, every evening was filled with playing the routes. at this point i've finished all passionate endings, and i just want to say that this visual novel is so special to me and i 10000% recommend it. the worldbuilding is insane. all routes are unique in their own way. it really pays off to play them all because you learn something new about the universe the story takes place in every time. the writing is amazing. all the romances were just wonderful. sure, i have my favourites, but that's a personal preference, because all of them are well developed, convincing love interests. did i remember correctly that the creator wrote a million words for this game??? i absolutely believe that. and i'm so glad that all those words turned into this gem of a game. often people don't get it when they learn what type of games i play. but there's so much magic and charm in these indie visual novels. gilded shadows is a prime example of that.

I've waited too long to leave a review because I kept trying to figure out how to explain how wonderful this VN is. And I still can't, but I wanted to leave a good review anyway. Every single character has a completely different story line and many different endings. You can end one and start another and play an entirely new game. Or just go back to one you've done before and make different choices and explore different routes. The world is big. And it is intimidating. But you cannot tell me that's not literally how every fantasy genre book/film is? I don't remember getting a lorebook when I read LotR for the first time, at least this has one that's clear and concise. It's not for everyone, and that's okay. If you're looking for romance without plot, this isn't it. But the romances are very fulfilling, and the plot is incredible. I've cried a lil too much. This is amazing. Esh is amazing. Ari is baby. That is all.

I absolutely love this game! I've played Changeling about 3 times so I had to give this game a try. I still have two routes left and I am 63 hours in. The routes are so different and I love how the love scenes differ for every route. Also, the fact that you mentioned a character from Changeling (I'm trying not to spoil anything here) was amazing. I love the attention to detail. It is a definite must try and I am keeping my eyes pealed for any other games made from this developer.

I love this game, truly a work of art, absolutely get the lore-book as well! so worth it

To be honest, I never write reviews for games - this is actually my very first one. But I just couldn't stay quiet, because this game? It's a genuine MASTERPIECE! I've played my fair share of visual novels, and most of them tend to fall into the same traps: too short, rushed pacing, relationships that feel slapped together like mismatched puzzle pieces. But this? This was nothing like that. The story unfolded at a perfect rhythm: richly layered, immersive, and full of twists that made it impossible to shut down the game. There's this flow to the narrative, this elegance in how each scene draws you in deeper, and the relationships? They don't just happen - they grow, naturally and believably. Every route offers something completely unique, not just a different love interest, but a whole different perspective of the story, new secrets, new truths. It's like peeling back the world layer by layer, each path revealing something precious and unexpected. If you're someone who longs for a mature, beautifully crafted visual novel, something with emotional depth, strong storytelling, and a soul that lingers with you - this is it. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants a story that grabs hold of your heart and refuses to let go, day after day. This is a rare gem, a true work of art!

This game rocks, and I highly recommend it if you like sci-fi or just enjoy a dating sim with a good story. I bought it on sale, but it's absolutely worth full price for the amount of content. Story: 10/10. Solid writing with few grammar issues, though the UK English threw me off at times (in a fun way--who knew they spell curb like kerb?). SO MUCH LORE. There's literally an in-game glossary because the world building is that deep. If you're into sci-fi at all, I think you'll be into this game. You get a variety of psychic powers with a ranking system, space travel, psychic cops, a god-like planetary AI, androids (who don't like being called androids), a dash of mind control, and the mob! Most impressive, in my opinion, is that every route has a unique story--you're not just playing through the same events with different guys and a couple unique scenes. The actual main conflict changes depending on who you decide to romance, and what you learn in one route often adds context to what you experience in another. There aren't a ton of pivotal choices (maybe 2-3 per chapter), but the ones you do get are notably impactful--either to the plot or your relationship with the love interest. My one warning: you need to love to read if you want to have fun with this game. It is very much a visual NOVEL, not a fast-paced dating sim. Getting through every route took me 60+ hours, and almost all of that was reading with minimal input from me. Character customization: 8/10. Great compared to otome games with no customization, but not as in-depth as something like Our Life. Points off because you can't pick gender/pronouns (you will be a girl), body type, facial features, or hairstyle. But you CAN customize your name and the character's color palette (hair, skin, and eyes). Even though you can't pick hairstyle or clothes, each route gives the character a slightly different style, which I found really fun. You also choose three personality traits at the beginning of the game that influence some of the narration & scripted dialogue as well as available dialogue choices and your first impressions with the love interests. With all that said, your character's base personality also seems to be influenced by which route you're playing, which can downplay or emphasize the traits you choose. Romance options: 10/10. Nine love interests to choose from! The guys are all lovable in different ways without falling into overly predictable tropes. And because the plot is different in every route, they're all worth playing--even if you don't find the love interest attractive. In my first playthrough, for example, I went self-insert and made the choices I felt I would actually make in MC's situation. I ended up on the route of the love interest I find least attractive (sorry Reuben), but MC takes on such a fun role in that route that I still had a blast. Beyond that, the relationships each progress at different rates. You might have your first kiss with one love interest in chapter 6 and have to wait until chapter 10 for another. The only thing they all have in common is that, if you're passing affection checks, you will get a first kiss moment, a first spice/love scene, and a final-chapter spice/love scene. There's a built-in option to have the steamy parts fade to black, but they don't show full nudity either way. It's just a matter of whether you want a description of what's going on, and even that doesn't get very specific once they escalate past making out. Angst: Minimal, which I prefer. There are definitely some dark themes, but most of that comes from past trauma the guys are working through--torture, experimentation, forced memory loss, deaths in the family, etc. Within the actual routes, things usually don't get too heavy. The game features a flowchart you can monitor to see if you're hitting affection checks or if you run the risk of falling into a bad ending. For the most part, the bad endings are easy to avoid. You can easily save and load anytime (even on choice screens), and while I couldn't find a Log screen, you can scroll back through if you miss something or want to try a different choice. Lastly, you'll still get a good ending, relationship-wise, even if you don't min-max the affection meter. The bad endings end the game prematurely and are typically the result of a specific choice. The canon endings are either "Passionate" (spicy) or "Sweet" (no spice). MC ends up in a happy relationship either way. Comments should be on, so lmk if there's anything you'd want to know about that I left out here. But in summary? If you're thinking about buying the game, just buy it. So good.

I Highly recommend this game. It is super intriguing story with a rich and well thought out world and amazing characters. Each route is completely different and I've put so many hours into it and I still haven't finished all routes and ends. PROS: * It has really deep, well thought out and intriguing world building * Beautiful art - Sprites, BGs and CGs * Amazing writing - Sci-fi, mystery, romance * 9 Routes with very different story routes touching on many different themes * Sprite creation and Morgan (MC) is really well written