Everything I like in a game is there in Botany Manor. It is rather unique, well-coordinated, and obviously the result of a single, team-wide vision. It also involves a lot of problem solving and mild investigative work. All of it wrapped up in the lovely, bucolic setting of a cozy game (I love how that's now its own genre, by the way). I loved every minute I spent touring the estate and cultivating plants that looked like they belonged in a fairy tale. It was the ideal setting for me. With one very important exception—at the conclusion, I found myself wanting more, and not in a good way—I heartily recommend it.

Dream a Little Dream: Presentation

Botany Manor excels in presentation as well as riddles. Everything about the house is visually and auditorily pleasing, from the grounds and orchards to the inside, which includes a lovely creek nearby. The graphics of the game don't strive for realism. It chooses a simpler, more fantasy appearance instead, which gives it a nice, dreamy vibe. Nevertheless, I was drawn further and further into the realm. I could almost smell the library's warm air, books, dust, and flowers and trees.

Both the sound design and the music are equally exquisite and sumptuous. Often, the music will leave you alone for a moment so you can take in the noises of your surroundings. The sound of birds singing, wind flowing softly through the leaves, your own footsteps, etc. However, it resurfaces when you begin to solve a challenge, leading to a subdued but impactful crescendo upon accomplishment. Everything about this experience is fantastic. But if just from our main character, I would have really like to hear some voice acting.

The story will also be included here. Finding out about Arabella Greene's history is essential to the story of Botany Manor. In particular, how she continued to be rejected by the late nineteenth-century male-dominated academic societies despite her contributions to botany. This includes, but is not limited to, her coworker claiming credit for what she found. I give Botany Manor a lot of credit for this. To begin with, this is not a topic that is often covered in video games. If anything, I would have preferred more specificity. Furthermore, how often do you get to portray an English woman in her middle age? If only there had been more in the game to put us in Arabella's position. Botany Manor does, however, do what it does well.

Arabella Greene, Plant Detective: Gameplay

Botany Manor is mostly a puzzle game with elements of a detective game. By that, what do I mean? Well, you have to provide every plant the ideal circumstances in order for it to flourish. And in order to do it, you must look around the manor or for hints that will clarify what you must do. The problem is that you often have at least two plants to identify, so you won't always know which hint corresponds to which one. Here's when the role of the detective is involved.

You can create the required circumstances when you have located every clue for a plant—or at least enough of them to know what you're doing. This is accomplished by figuring out an environmental puzzle, most of which are not that tough. The primary "challenge" is from the inability to fully study the information in your diary, also known as the Herbarium. Rather, you must go back and review a document if you would want to. Granted, it may be a little annoying at times, but the truth is that I was the one who should have read more attentively. Botany Manor makes every effort to convey its desire for you to go slowly and carefully. I did not succeed in doing it. I should not have rushed through some of the sections.

I can't say enough good things about the puzzle design, both in terms of the actual solving component and the clue-gathering. When you read attentively, they are never too hard. Their flawless integration with the rest of the game is what I like most about them. They show you about the house and assist you in learning more about Arabella's background, to start. Second, as you go, the plants get more fanciful, which heightens the feeling of a delightful dream.

I must give particular recognition to the sit-down mechanic. You may go up to any chair, recliner, bench, or other object you see and take a seat. And just kind of observe and take it all in. And the music will become reflective to satisfy you. I'm not aware of anything additional that it does. Nevertheless, it's the ideal mechanism that captures Botany Manor in a single movement.

Would you please give me some more, sir?

Unfortunately, this is also Botany Manor's biggest weakness: it's simply much too short. I finished the game in approximately three hours, even though I took my time to appreciate and take in the surroundings and had to go back a few times to answer some of the trickier problems. In a puzzle game, brevity does not always translate into instantaneous disadvantage. Not to be forgotten, Portal can be finished in around 2.5 hours. After all, it's crucial to respect others' space and not overstay it.

Why, then, do I still feel as if I've only read two thirds of a book and am missing the last third? It comes down to timing, in my opinion. Portal moves rather quickly, bringing you through a crazy sci-fi plot and building to a big boss battle. Botany Manor, on the other hand, requires that you go slowly. The narrative lacks a conclusion, even if there is one possible, such as obtaining the rare hooded orchid. There's no dramatic climax, but there is a decent reward. Additionally, there is considerable replayability since there are several methods to solve the riddles in Portal. Botany Manor has puzzles with just one solution, thus there's hardly much need to play it again.

I'm not sure; am I overlooking something? Is there a secret feature in the game that I somehow missed? I made every effort to search every inch of the mansion and its surroundings. If the game developers have hidden any content whatsoever, please let me know as it will undoubtedly influence my decision.

Concluding Remarks

There are several advantages to Botany Manor. It's different, as I've said. It's a wonderful decision to have the protagonist a middle-aged lady from the end of the nineteenth century who is battling to get into academia. The presentation's graphics, music, and other elements are all exquisite. While entertaining and captivating, the riddles are never tiresome. And all you need to do is learn how to cultivate lovely flowers. Not feeling obligated to rescue the world or anything. All you have to do is unwind, carefully examine each hint, and choose your next course of action. Everyone should play it at some time since it's a delightful game that offers an unusual storyline in video games, if for no other reason.

Regretfully, I can just savor the lovely trees and imagine myself sitting on a virtual bench for as long as possible in an attempt to prolong the moment. I'll understand very quickly that I could simply do the same thing in a park, and that would be a more pleasant experience. Botany Manor costs twenty-five dollars on Xbox. Compare that to the finest detective game I've ever played, Return of the Obra Dinn, for example. It's quite enjoyable, has a fantastic visual style, an amazing tale, and takes approximately eight hours to complete. It also costs $20. Thus, yes. Botany Manor is not quite exceptional, just somewhat so, because of its very short duration.

On April 9th, Botany Manor will launch on the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Steam. Review the publisher-provided copy.