The Arcana is a luxurious and interactive visual story and otome inspired dating sim. It also offers a variety of mystic Tarot readings from your choice of favorite characters. You can choose your own romance, story, and date your choice of characters. The mystery unfurls in 22 books (or episodes) that correspond to the 22 Major Arcana cards in Tarot.
Reviews View More
Nadia ❤️💞💕
Joguei um pouco mas nunca terminei!! Gostaria de terminar um dia!
i enjoyed my time in it. sadly it's actively dying rn. i only played muriel, lucio, ilya and portia's routes. muriel's was the best written imo. ilya came 2nd. portia's route is mid, she feels more like a best friend than a love interest. lucio could have been severely written better, as a lucio stan myself (shame)
I played this game a while ago. Alot of these reviews are talking about the transactions and I honestly forgot they existed until I was reminded. As this is a romance game and some options are walled behind payment, I dont think that this is fair to those who's only motivation to play this game is the romance.
However, for me, I really enjoyed the story of this game and I love the art style.
However, for me, I really enjoyed the story of this game and I love the art style.
Okay, keep in mind that this game is ridiculously expensive, and if I'd had to deal with that I'd never have gotten through it, but I... evaded that problem and would encourage you to do the same (the developers suck), so this is based on... not needing to acknowledge that.
I fucking love this game. The atmosphere and setting in this game is gorgeous, one of the most beautiful and engaging and - would it be weird to say delicious? - I've ever immersed myself in. I love the characters, both the major love interests and the surrounding background NPCs, protagonist and antagonist and somewhere in-between. Every route is magical and interesting and full of twists and turns, the world-building is fascinating, the tarot card implementation is incredibly interesting.
I created a character for each route and they're still some of my absolute favourite original characters I've ever come up with to this day. I go back through and replay this at least once every couple of years. Some route-specific thoughts:
Nadia: The first one I ever did, and I've played through both the Upright and Reversed endings. Her route was lovely, very romantic and well-paced, and I loved getting to know her sisters too (I really clicked with Nazali - I have their name as my username in some places!). The Upright ending left me with such a happy and light feeling, and the Reversed was deliciously twisted.
Asra: The second one I completed, and probably my least favourite. Asra never quite connected with me the way the other five did, and I have a lot of nitpicks about his character and the way he acts in certain routes, but a lot of people love this one so don't let me put you off it. Asra has the most history with the main character and it definitely shows through their deeper relationship from the beginning. His Upright ending was sweet and appropriately magical, and his Reversed ending was startlngly sinister (but oddly in-character; if I weren't so wimpy when it comes to less than happy endings, it might be my favourite version of his route).
Julian: My favourite of the original three routes. I cannot describe how much I love Julian's character, his backstory with the main character, the reveals that unfold in his route. His Upright is wonderful - I love some piratical found family - and God his Reversed is depressing. I could only bear to play through it once.
Lucio: My favourite after Julian, though I've only done his Reversed ending so far. I was absolutely delighted when he received a route, and it was my favourite thing while it was ongoing - it really clicked with my little autistic brain and I was incredibly excited every time a new update was released, I'd drop everything just to play through the chapter. His Reversed ending was everything I wanted - I'd written an entire fic that essentially hit every plot point beat-for-beat before it ever released and I was very proud of myself - and it's probably my favourite ending I've ever gotten in a visual novel.
I'll update this when I've played Lucio's Upright end and refreshed myself on Portia and Muriel's routes next replay.
Favourite Male Character: Lucio
Favourite Female Character: Nadia
First Character I LIked: Julian
Favourite Character Design: Julian or Nadia
Favourite Moment: Lucio's Reversed ending
Least Favourite Character: Valdemar, but I love them at the same time - they're an excellent character, they just scare the absolute bajeezus outta me
I fucking love this game. The atmosphere and setting in this game is gorgeous, one of the most beautiful and engaging and - would it be weird to say delicious? - I've ever immersed myself in. I love the characters, both the major love interests and the surrounding background NPCs, protagonist and antagonist and somewhere in-between. Every route is magical and interesting and full of twists and turns, the world-building is fascinating, the tarot card implementation is incredibly interesting.
I created a character for each route and they're still some of my absolute favourite original characters I've ever come up with to this day. I go back through and replay this at least once every couple of years. Some route-specific thoughts:
Nadia: The first one I ever did, and I've played through both the Upright and Reversed endings. Her route was lovely, very romantic and well-paced, and I loved getting to know her sisters too (I really clicked with Nazali - I have their name as my username in some places!). The Upright ending left me with such a happy and light feeling, and the Reversed was deliciously twisted.
Asra: The second one I completed, and probably my least favourite. Asra never quite connected with me the way the other five did, and I have a lot of nitpicks about his character and the way he acts in certain routes, but a lot of people love this one so don't let me put you off it. Asra has the most history with the main character and it definitely shows through their deeper relationship from the beginning. His Upright ending was sweet and appropriately magical, and his Reversed ending was startlngly sinister (but oddly in-character; if I weren't so wimpy when it comes to less than happy endings, it might be my favourite version of his route).
Julian: My favourite of the original three routes. I cannot describe how much I love Julian's character, his backstory with the main character, the reveals that unfold in his route. His Upright is wonderful - I love some piratical found family - and God his Reversed is depressing. I could only bear to play through it once.
Lucio: My favourite after Julian, though I've only done his Reversed ending so far. I was absolutely delighted when he received a route, and it was my favourite thing while it was ongoing - it really clicked with my little autistic brain and I was incredibly excited every time a new update was released, I'd drop everything just to play through the chapter. His Reversed ending was everything I wanted - I'd written an entire fic that essentially hit every plot point beat-for-beat before it ever released and I was very proud of myself - and it's probably my favourite ending I've ever gotten in a visual novel.
I'll update this when I've played Lucio's Upright end and refreshed myself on Portia and Muriel's routes next replay.
Favourite Male Character: Lucio
Favourite Female Character: Nadia
First Character I LIked: Julian
Favourite Character Design: Julian or Nadia
Favourite Moment: Lucio's Reversed ending
Least Favourite Character: Valdemar, but I love them at the same time - they're an excellent character, they just scare the absolute bajeezus outta me
this game would have been so much more enjoyable if it was just a one time purchase for all content instead of being a mobile game designed to suck you dry in the most unfun wallet draining meaning of the term. it's a good game! the characters and story and routes are FUN and cute and replayable the UI is well designed its good but ohhhh my GOD the prices render it joyless and frustrating. the only reason i got to play as much of it as i did and have all of asra's books unlocked is the same reason my account is currently ~11000 coins into the negatives. i wonder how that got there.