If It Please the Court

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 w…

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.)

I have finished my first play through, and I have to say... What a great game. The characters are intriguing, the moral quandaries make you anxious, and the writing, oh, the writing! This game is so worth it. If you, like I, enjoy queer literature this is definitely the game for you!

good story, good characters, good variety of paths to take. recommended if you used to play "choice of" games and want something with a bit more variety and polish

lovely writing and interesting choices <3

A charming romance story in a historical, well researched setting that tells regardless of the choosen romance a beautiful, romantic story. Extremly well written, Paris and Versailles come truly alive with a well researched description of the palace under Ludwig the XV. The mainplot centers around the schemes about Madame Pompadours ascension to royal mistress, with the protagonist in the middle of it. The romances are tied to the mainstory in a way that never feels forced. There are only three romances (all lesbian), but that helps to have them well written and quite a bit longer than usually. Still, the Charlotte Romance has a bit more contend that the other two, as the protagonist lives under her roof. The statmanagment is very easy, its very hard to fail a choice and you can max out four of five stats by the end. A well written, glamourous, historical lesbian romance novel.