izigame.me

5-star

Playtime: 6-7 hours

I wasn’t expecting it, but I cried twice during the chapter cut-scenes. The emotions hit hard, and I’m still processing it all. "The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood" is a poignant journey that taps into the "lesbian occult" subgenre—a realm of games that I surprisingly got sucked into long ago. These games remind me of someone I once knew before we even met. They eventually recruited me—a white male—into their world, and though they've moved on, I miss them terribly. This game brought back that ache of longing in the most profound way.

But this review isn’t just a therapy session, though therapy is exactly what this game feels like. Insightful, thoughtful, and deeply affecting, it’s an experience that demands to be felt rather than gamed. I played through it by instinct, without trying to min-max or optimize my choices. The result was an amazing, raw experience. The game is short, dialogue-heavy, and, like many visual novels, it has a solid mechanic that influences the fate-weaving elements (and is influenced by it). If you enjoyed that aspect of "Roadwarden," you’ll find it even more tightly executed here.

There’s a variety of characters to meet and choices to explore, though the clever writing might make the game feel more open-ended than it really is. There were a few minor hiccups—like missing/slightly incorrect dialogue from some sisters in the final scene—but they were rare and didn't break the immersion. The game’s structure is divided into three parts: a setup, a time/management visual novel section, and a wrap-up. Each part has its own pacing and feel, but the narrative threads them together beautifully.

The pixel art is quaint, the writing exceptional, and the card-making mechanic feels surprisingly significant. Despite having no artistic skill or interest, I found myself investing more time than I expected in crafting the look for those cards.

I bought this game on sale, and even though it was more than I’d usually spend, it was worth every penny. The solid writing, coupled with the nostalgia and the bittersweet memories it evoked, made me feel something real. I don’t usually pay full price for games, but this one earned it (still glad I got it on sale, though).

It’s sort of a Visual Novel, but not really. If you enjoy VNs but want something a little different—with a bit of spice and an arcane flair—you’ll be more than satisfied with this one. And if you happen to be part of the likely small occult-lesbian fan club, you’ll fall head over heels for this game.

5 stars. Would randomly burst into tears at the strangest moments again.

P.S. The interactive fiction elements? At first, I was like, "What is this?" But I kept going, and I hope you do too.