Ventreville: A Cure for Sorrow

Honestly, I wish I could get a refund for this, lol. I know the other reviews are currently praising the art and the "cozy" vibes, but we need to be real about what you're actually getting here. This game claims to be "Chapter 1," but calling it that is a huge stretch—it plays entirely like a prologue. It is incredibly short and severely lacks any meaningful substance to justify being sold as a standalone game. One of the weirdest parts is how the game makes you pick titles for photo cards for all 6 of the planned chapters, which makes zero sense given that you don't even touch the other ones. But the most egregious part is the developers' excuse for this structure: they claim they did it "in case they can't put out all the chapters." This is somewhat related to the other big issue, and that is, that the description of the actual game says "interrogate your previous PCs" but that aspect of the game, doesn't actually exist in chapter 1, which makes the store listing misleading. Well guys, if you can't put out the rest of the chapters, then there is a massive problem, because there simply isn't enough content here for Chapter 1 to be good on its own. Releasing something this bare…

LOVE LOVE LOVED Chapter 1 of Ventreville. It’s approachable, cozy, and atmospheric, but there’s so much intention behind the experience. The art, puzzles, cooking mini-game, and little details all made exploring Orven Zanry and his world genuinely enjoyable. Playing through it multiple times to reach the different endings has made me feel like I really know Orven, and I loved how much of Chapter 1 is devoted to understanding who he is. At the same time, the larger mystery has me completely hooked. The clues scattered throughout feel incredibly intentional, and I have a strong feeling they’re going to come back around as the larger story unfolds. Nothing feels like throwaway detail. To me, getting to know Orven and the world was just as magical as uncovering the mystery itself. The six-chapter structure actually makes me excited to see how everything connects. The developers clearly have a larger story arc and vision in place, and I’m very invested in seeing where it goes next. I’ve already replayed it several times, and I’m still finding things to think about. I can’t wait for the next chapter!

The story and the art behind this game are beautiful! Even in the first few minutes, you can tell how intentional every decision in game design was that makes for an absolutely delightful and visually-satisfying experience.

Just started out but wanted to leave a review on how great this game has been so far. The attention to detail, intentionality behind the choose-your-own-adventure storyline, and artistic style ranging from the music to the clearly hand-drawn art, have been impressive so wanted to leave a few comments. It's clear much time and care the team placed on creating this game and the quality, responsiveness of the team to discussions, and background of the game design only enhances the experience. Based on my current progress and my experience with the demo, as someone that enjoys choice-driven games, I would recommend this to anyone looking for a refreshingly creative and thoughtfully designed story. I'm excited to update my review after I finish the Chapter

I loved this game experience. I got really into the story, and I plan to play again to get to know some of the characters better. So happy I got the successful ending but wow what a cliff hanger! It was perfect for a cozy night game. The music was lovely, and I enjoyed the writing and pacing a lot. This is definitely an indie game company worth following. Looking forward to more chapters!

Really liked Ventreville and all of its characters! I don't usually play visual novels, but this one really caught my attention. Great dialogue, an intriguing murder-mystery story, and lots of alternative endings.