The Golden Rose: Book One Reviews

Needs ability to save at intervals

MIND. BLOWING. I bought this game on a whim to fill the void after playing Wayhaven, and boy, I’ve been left speechless. It made its way quickly to the top as my favorite CYOA. The world is incredibly richly described, making it easy to lose yourself in it - whether you're exploring the suffocating depths of dark caves or enduring the scorching heat of the bustling city market. The characters are unique and dynamic, responding significantly to the choices and stats of the MC. Furthermore, the romance is written in a way that perfectly suits my taste (Hadrian my beloved <3). Speaking of choices, this is literally THE CYOA that truly captures the concept of Choose Your Own Adventure. I've never seen so much customization for the MC, thanks to the vast number of selectable choices. I eagerly await Book Two and hope to replay Book One several times before then, in order to explore as many different outcomes as possible and discover events I haven't experienced yet. My first run lasted about 28 hours. Please give this IF a chance, or at least play the available demo to see if the detailed writing style appeals to you.

A complete waste of time. Never have I read so many words that say so little. Literally thousands of words and dozens of choices about the precise way you would like to smile at a cat and horse, and yet every time an impactful story moment arrives you are whisked along with little to no control over its outcome.