Saint Maker - Horror Visual Novel Reviews

First and foremost, this isn't really a horror game. I was expecting it to be pretty intense based on the trailer. But besides a few startling parts and morbid imagery, this game is more about drama than scares. The first two-thirds of the game mostly plod along, everything happening pretty much as one would expect in the scenario presented. The last third is where things get interesting, though. This game succeeds where The Letter failed, in terms of providing intriguing plot twists and actually uncovering a mystery, fully understanding the paranormal forces at work. Overall, I think what the story provides in the last third makes the game worth playing, as things that happened in the earlier parts do significantly come in to play later on. The voice acting is impressive, particularly for Adira's character. For a visual novel, it's excellent. This story wouldn't be able to hold up without the actors sounding genuinely terrified, furious, or distraught. Holly, Liana, and Gabby all have their voices pitched distractingly high or low, but the acting itself does hold up. The music and artwork are fine, though nothing that really stands out. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's happening without narration or animation - like the screen will shake and a character cries out, but it's unclear whether they're getting grabbed, pushed, hit, etc. It takes the wind out of tense scenes when they're not depicted clearly. Unfortunately, while there are many dialogue options in game, they have almost zero impact and the story is completely linear. To some extent it works in this case, as being deprived of choice leans heavily into the game's themes. But if you're looking for a VN with branching paths, this one won't have that. It's a flawed visual novel, but the story's eventual strength outweighs the problems for me. I played this fresh off of finishing The Letter, and this game is much more satisfying in that it ties everything up and provides a solid final act and ending. If you can get through the slower, monotonous parts, you'll be in for a treat.

A very solid, short visual novel. I really enjoyed the story - it was captivating and genuinely engaging. The visuals, music, and voice acting were all high quality and added a lot to the experience. I especially appreciated the theme, I wish more games explored the topic of religious trauma. Holly and Adira were interesting, well-developed characters, and I definitely got invested in their stories. Unfortunately, I can't say the same for Gabby - she felt more like a narrative tool to avoid having Holly just talk to herself, rather than a meaningful part of the story. I knew the novel was short, but I still wish it had been longer and offered more than one ending. Because of how linear it was, I had a feeling that outside of achievements, my choices didn't matter - on several occasions, Holly outright ignored the option I picked, which made the decisions feel pointless. I also would have loved to see the convent's history explored more deeply, as that part held a lot of potential but remained too vague for my taste. Despite these flaws, I really enjoyed [i]Saint Maker[/i]. It has its weaknesses, but the strong storytelling and pretty visuals kept me engaged. With more content and branching paths, it could have been an amazing visual novel.

Breathtaking game with such well crafted story with themes of religious trauma, mental health, and questioning what is right and wrong. I did think that the story had more potential, explaining some of the more scary supernatural elements. However this doesn't take away from the beauty of the story