Welcome to Botany Manor, a stately home in 19th century England. You play as inhabitant Arabella Greene, a retired botanist. Explore your house and gardens, filled with research, to figure out the ideal habitat of forgotten flora. Grow each plant to discover the mysterious qualities they hold…
At the core of the experience, players take on the role of botanist Arabella Greene, who seeks to complete her research book "Forgotten Flora" by growing a variety of unique, fantastical plant specimens. To nurture each plant, players must scour the manor and gardens, collecting clues from books, letters, and environmental objects. These clues provide the essential details about a plant's ideal growing conditions - factors like soil pH, sunlight exposure, and watering needs. By piecing together the right combination of clues, players can then properly tend to their botanical specimens, experiencing the satisfaction of watching them bloom.
Beyond the core puzzles, the game world itself acts as a character, inviting players to freely explore the richly detailed Victorian manor and its picturesque gardens. Throughout this immersive environment, players uncover additional narrative details that organically reveal more about Arabella's life and struggles as a female scientist in the 19th century.
Underpinning this engaging loop of exploration and deduction is a pervasive sense of tranquility. The game's stylized, low-poly art style, accompanied by a soothing soundtrack, cultivates a calming, meditative experience that many reviewers find highly appealing. While some note the relatively brief runtime, most agree that the game provides a charming, clever puzzle adventure that botanical and narrative fans will thoroughly enjoy.