If It Please the Court

I fell head over heels for this gem of a game, not wanting to stop playing till I finished it. I think the writing is well crafted! And every choice I dashed into kept me on edge with intrigue. If you're a fan of Romance/LQBTQ+ representation/Victorian era! I think this is a game for you!

Very much a classic Choose Your Own Adventure novel, with absolutely exquisite writing and choices that are at once subtly worded and very clear in their intention. I would recommend this game to anyone who needs more 18th century French sapphics in their lives (which is everyone).

I've already played this multiple times over on my phone, so my playtime is only reflective of my current playthrough. no video game has ever been hotter than If It Please the Court. you cannot deny this. and not just because of the love scenes, though they are quite steamy. no, no, no. for starters, IIPtC is proof of just how sexy consent is. especially in games with romantic options, you can often end up having every character wanting to screw you if you pay them any attention. characters in IIPtC can, and will, rebuke your advances, if you say something that irks them--so you can suspend your disbelief and buy into the fantasy that you're hooking up with someone who isn't just a dead-eyed sex doll. for a game where seduction is so central to its gameplay and narrative, this is essential. there is nothing less sexy than the feeling of backing someone into sex. then there's the writing. omg. it is SO BEAUTIFUL. some of these passages... make this lass feel the urge to just slide into lesbianism. for instance, here: "The noblewoman's [Charlotte's] smile is a crescent in the dark, and the moon's beauty suffers for it." <3 aaaaaaaa MY HEART. then there's the fact that the characters will actually comment on your actions from their perspectives. for instance, if you for some reason choose to have your character be trans (couldn't be me*!), Charlotte will react naturalistically, depending on when you broach the subject. girl absolutely bulldozes any doubts that she'd have a problem with it, as a cis lesbian. suffice to say, I have never wanted a fictional character to plow me more than in this scene, showing how wonderful she is about it. maybe that's the pure gender euphoria talking, since I'm aromantic and not particularly interested in sex IRL. still a MAJOR turn-on, and one few other games outside of COG have delivered. furthermore, you can tell that the writer really understood not to have her be a chaser in this scene, and for her to actually respect your transness (if you are trans or otherwise opt for this path). it's like, ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, you just see me as the human woman I am and not a sack of meat? you see who I am on the inside, and have no doubts that you could love me when I still got that gangly flesh tube down there, just as you would a gal who never did? you may hold me down, ma'am. even if you're not into the sexy stuff, the MARVELOUS writing, unfathomable depth, and radical inclusivity are all more than enough reason to recommend this with ease. there are non-sexual options too if they make you uncomfortable or bore you or anything; which I have always loved about COG! these gamebooks are almost always very "come as you are," very respectful if you choose not to swing any which way. *in case this is not obviously facetious--definitely was me. even before I knew I was trans myself, my egg ass was definitely choosing that (though I wouldn't have admitted it at the time). for more thoughtful recommendations of the best games on Steam, check out my curator, [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/38563966-The-Absolute-Finest/]The Absolute Finest[/url].

It didn't take long for the game to keep me hooked. Even after I told myself I would do a chapter a day I ended up going through my first playthrough in about three sessions. Every choice made me think about what could possibly happen if I clicked it. What if I messed up? What if it had unintended consequences? With the amount of varying endings and choices that I saw, along with the many more I probably didn't see, I will be searching for more of them, even if I'm sure some of the choices may hurt. The game deserves more recognition than it currently has and I've been sharing it with every sapphic, queer person I could think of. If you love text based games and queer representation in multiple forms, this is a game I'd recommend trying out.

Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 189: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ (8/10) [i]If It Please the Court[/i] is a rich, text-only interactive fiction piece that immerses you in a world of sapphic intrigue, spycraft, and shifting loyalties at the court of Versailles. This Choice of Games title is notable for how it foregrounds LGBT identity, feminine power, and emotional intelligence over brute-force mechanics or typical drama tropes. It's more about surviving Versailles than dominating it, and more about your relationships than your rank. If you love sapphic drama, morally complicated storytelling, and grounded character work, this is a must-play in the IF genre. It’s not flashy, but it’s confident, heartfelt, and rare. 💌 [b]Pros:[/b] [list] [*] Deeply personal LGBT storytelling. This game doesn't just allow you to play a sapphic or trans character: it centers you. You can choose to play as a cis or trans woman or nonbinary person, and your identity choices inform the world’s reactions subtly but meaningfully. You're not forced to relive trauma, but the game acknowledges your place in a world full of rigid norms, finding both oppression and resistance in believable ways. It’s compassionate without being sanitized. [*] Complex, grounded choices. Instead of binary morality systems or clear "right answers," choices often ask you to balance emotion, loyalty, ambition, and vulnerability. Whether you're lying to your spymistress, falling for a political poet, or choosing to betray a close friend for your mission, you’ll often feel torn, and that's by design. The dilemmas are morally gray, but written with care. There are no perfect endings, only resonant ones. [*] Multifaceted romance options. There are three main romantic paths, each full of emotional texture: the Spymistress, the Poet, and the Traitor. Each romance feels tonally distinct, and each choice affects how much they open up, or pull away. If you like romances where trust and intimacy are earned over time, you'll find something here to latch onto. [*] Elegant, historical writing. The prose balances period-authentic language with clarity. It never feels stilted, yet it evokes Versailles and French aristocracy with grace. There’s just enough detail to make scenes feel lush, but not so much as to drown you in exposition. Dialogue feels true to character, and internal monologue reflects your chosen tone: cautious, brazen, diplomatic, or romantic. [*] Interconnected systems of identity and power. Beyond just being gay your background, mission, and moral compass shape your journey. The game tracks your loyalties (to the crown, the cause, power, or yourself), your reputation, and your emotional connections. Choices ripple across chapters, affecting how scenes unfold, which characters trust you, and which endings you unlock. [/list] 🔚 [b] Cons:[/b] [list] [*] Pacing can feel uneven. The game is slow to start. It takes time to set the stakes, establish characters, and give you meaningful choices. The early chapters are heavy on reading and light on interaction. If you prefer faster momentum or earlier consequences, you might feel like you’re just "waiting for the game to begin" for the first 30–45 minutes. [*] Some choices feel underdeveloped. Not all branches are equally fleshed out. While the big character moments and core romances are satisfying, a few minor threads feel like they’re dropped or rushed. You may not always feel like a master manipulator, even though your role is ostensibly that of a royal spy. [*] Endings can feel abrupt. I chalk this up to the book's relatively short length. Some endings wrap up neatly. Others, especially if you don’t follow a clear romance or loyalty path, can feel a bit sudden or emotionally unresolved. It's possible to finish the game and feel like you're missing a final emotional beat, particularly if you pursued a complex but subtle route. [/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 one of my first text choose your own adventure games I have played I do like it a lot. The Vocabulary used is varied and not repetitive, having a stat page is nice, and the story quickly ropes you in.

Очень интересная ролка, лучшая лгбтк+ текстовая игра,что я играл. Всем советую,сюжет топ

I saw a guy on the cover and read that this was a "spy" story and I was like "YES! I WANT TO READ THAT!!"... Only to realize that this was a sapphic romance.......... XD And... It turned out to be better than expected. (Even if it does have "certain things" that wouldn't be said/found in the 1700s and there were a few parts that felt *forced* into the story.) At first I wasn't sure how I was going to survive, loving romance in stories... But preferring males only. Then I kept reading and... I actually started to like it. It was certainly interesting and while I didn't date or romance or care about doing anything sexy with another woman, they all had their own charm. They each had their own persona and even as my allies... I still had fun. Even when a male came along that you could *kinda* be bold towards... I was so excited, that I for a moment forgot what I was reading lol. So if you are like me, want a spy novel and can bypass a few "inconveniences"? This one certainly has something to it. :) (Oh and choosing to write a dirty poem for a gay guy? That was a freaking hilarious event.)

Easily my favorite story that Heart's Choice has produced! The amount of detail in every sentence really makes it feel like you're living in a novel, where each choice is wonderfully executed and allows so many opportunities to fail as well as succeed, and I love that in a choice-based game! The story is also excellent and compelling, I showed it to some of my friends and it was great getting to make choices together and see how their path differed from my own. Overall, I've already finished a route once and I'll be replaying it again trying for a different ending soon! If you're on the fence of getting it, I say get it! It's got a lot of heart and a wonderful story to tell.

a fun text based game with a creative cast of characters! the world felt a little under-developed or perhaps convenient at times, but i sincerely enjoyed it!