Newly arrived at a boarding school in Victorian England, Sara Crewe uses her love of books and storytelling to build new relationships. But what happens to a fairy-tale princess when she loses everything?
The player takes on the role of Sara Crewe, a young girl sent to a Victorian-era boarding school in London. The core gameplay revolves around managing Sara's various stats, such as Sympathy, Grace, Knowledge, and Imagination. Players make choices during the game's weekly activities, like "Take a Walk", "Tea Party", or "Dance Practice", to increase these stats.
Depending on the chosen activities, Sara gains points in different stat categories. Maintaining a balanced spread of these stats is crucial, as certain stat levels are required to unlock specific events and progress down the different character routes. Reviewers have praised this stat system as a simple yet effective way to guide the narrative without feeling overly restrictive or intrusive.
The game allows players to deepen their relationships with six main female characters: Lavinia, Jessie, Ermengarde, Becky, Mariette, and Lottie. Each character has a unique narrative route that can be unlocked by meeting the appropriate stat thresholds. Reviewers have noted that these routes feel distinct and well-developed, with each girl's personality and story arc feeling authentic and meaningful.
The ability to easily skip through previously viewed scenes makes it much more manageable for players to experience all the different narrative paths. Additionally, the relatively short length of each individual route (around 1-2 hours) allows players to comfortably work through the entire cast of characters without feeling overburdened by repetition or excessive time commitment. Reviewers have consistently highlighted how the stat management and route structure complement the visual novel format, enhancing the player's ability to fully immerse themselves in the captivating story and characters.