Intro
I’m going to be honest; I’m not usually drawn to puzzle games. I don’t have a personal vendetta against them or anything and there are people that I know who play puzzle style video games and deeply enjoy them. Despite this I tend to be drawn to more RPG style games or quick one-and-done titles such as Fortnite.
That was until I played Strange Horticulture.
Strange Horticulture is a puzzle style story driven game that emphasizes furthering the plot through solving problems and getting over obstacles. The game stars you in the town of Undermere where you have just inherited your uncle’s horticulture shop. You are now tasked with solving problems for customers, learning your craft, and trying not to poison anyone in the process.
However, there are dark things taking place in this small town and some big problems develop that may require your expertise to resolve. This game is jam packed with fun puzzles, good storytelling, interesting NPCs, and a mystery that will keep you hanging on for hours. Ready to see how green your thumb is? Then keep reading to see if you should play Strange Horticulture.
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Story
In this game you play as you (“despite everything, it’s still you”) where you inherit your uncle’s business known as Strange Horticulture. Your role is to aid the townsfolk by giving them plants to heal ailments, enhance skills, complete dark rituals, solve murders, and much more (seriously). Let’s be honest this town is filled with weird problems, and nothing solves weird problems like weird plants.
There’s a plant for every problem and it’s your job to match each issue with its designated foliage. This skill comes more and more into play as you venture into the game. When the high Arda of the witches’ circle has been murdered there are those who will call on your help to discover what has caused this. Not to mention the whispers of a gruesome monster lurking in the woods, a cult knocking at your door, and the many other supernatural happenings that will make you wonder why you decided to move here in the first place.
This game’s story is jam packed with a lot of content as well as character. There are many different corners to explore, NPCs to meet, and many pets to give to your cat. With eight possible endings this game has a lot to give in terms of story and will entice you to keep playing as your decisions do affect the outcome.
This game has a spooky atmosphere that feels very melancholic. Though it’s not scary by any means the game is very gloomy in its atmosphere. Despite this the game creates a fun and exciting vibe that draws you into the game. Those looking for something more upbeat with a lot of color will not find it in this game. Those looking for a muted gothic Victorian style story with murders, horticulture, the occult, as well as A CULT (you get both), will enjoy this game.
Gameplay
Much of this game is about solving puzzles but not in the titular way of putting a bunch of pieces together to make a picture. A lot of what you will be doing is cataloguing plants by selling them to customers. You are given your greenhouse full of plants without any labels so it can be quite a task trying to discover which plant is used for what.
You will also solve riddles and other styles of puzzles to make new discoveries. This Victorian style game utilizes resources such as invisible ink, secret codes, and even a bit of magic to add to the mystery aspect. You receive letters from friends pointing you in the direction of rare plants on the map that encourage you to explore the surrounding landscape. You are also able to pull a card from a deck each night that gives you a clue or riddle that leads to new plants as well, so you are never without something to do in this game.
A lot of the gameplay is interesting and adds to the overall story. The puzzles are also very well thought out and can make the game challenging, though, personally I don’t play these types of games often, so they could’ve just been difficult to due to lack of experience.
These are by no means easy tasks to get through and I found myself having to look up a lot of the answers to be able to get through some of these obstacles. If this does not sound up your alley, then you may want to look elsewhere as this is a major part of the gameplay. But if you’re ready to unleash your witchy Nancy Drew on this gloomy town then you may want to look into adding this game to your backlog.
Pros
- Fun and exciting puzzles.
- Interesting story.
- Melancholic atmosphere.
- You can finally fulfill your dream of being a witchy botanist.
- You can pet the cat as much as you want.
Cons
- If you are not into puzzles, then you will not like this game.
- It’s technically only nine hours.
- There’s only one cat.
Conclusion
Strange Horticulture is a fun puzzle style indie game that packs a punch. Despite the game being beatable in, technically, only a few hours the amount of content provided within that time is astounding. Players who want a game with more pastels and less puzzles may want to reconsider playing this game (no shame in that style of game either). However, if you’re interested in a spooky style plant shop puzzle game then maybe you should play Strange Horticulture.
Ready to start your adventure in Undermere? Snag Strange Horticulture here for the Nintendo Switch.
