Unbeleafably Irresistible: Botany Manor | The Gameheads Podcast

Platform reviewed: Steam

Also on: PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Price: $24.99

Have you ever wanted to become a master gardener and uncover unique growing conditions for mysterious seeds? Botany Manor is set back in 1890 in the beautiful British countryside and is an exploration puzzle adventure. I got to play as a botanist named Arabella Greene who is trying to finish her research book while also navigating the complexities of being a woman in the scientific field during this time period. I discovered some of these complexities when searching for clues and research theories due to the rejection letters that are strewn about the rooms.  

Throughout the story, I discovered mysterious seeds that I then had to use context clues in the manor to piece together the puzzle and grow a magical looking plant. While the plants I grew aren’t real, the developers state on their website that the plants in Botany Manor are inspired by the unique growing conditions of plants in our world. Which I think is pretty neat because with my small time attempting to grow plants I know how finicky and temperamental plants can be. 

The seeds and clues started out pretty easy by being in the same room and having clear instructions on how to both plant and grow the seed. I quickly moved onto other parts of the manor where I had to really dig to find the best growing conditions. I remember getting stuck on one specific seed where I had to combine the right amount of chemicals in a flask and take it back to an old-timey camera to simulate lightning. Turns out I wasn’t using the right chemicals as I discovered a note or letter written in a different room. I added the chemicals and in one short flash my new seed was growing into a beautiful flower. Uncovering new plants after all the investigation was truly satisfying and I felt like a true botanist. 

Not only was the manor absolutely beautiful, the story set the stage for a riveting mystery surrounding the manor and Arabella’s research. I truly felt like I was in 1890 with the attention to the small details like wood ovens, chestnut recipes, and the plate camera. While I loved the gameplay and art style, one thing that I noticed was I would get motion sickness after about 30 minutes. Usually my motion sickness is more affected by games with moving water so I was a little surprised that this cute botany game was the cause. My only guess was due to walking quickly with swift camera motions. I did notice after I completed the game that the settings actually did have motion sickness options. I wish I had explored that a little earlier in my gameplay, but I’m happy to see that they have the accessibility options. 

Final Grade: A

I never truly felt lost while playing, even if some of the puzzles didn’t make complete sense right away, it just meant that I had some more exploring to do! The constant rotation of discovering a new seed, determining the correct clues that fit the growing conditions, and producing a magical dream-like plant never felt monotonous. Despite my small issue with motion sickness, Botany Manor was still a delightful experience and left me wanting more seeds to discover and cultivate. I encourage you to try the game whether you are a puzzle game lover or not, as the cozy aesthetic outweighs the challenge of the hardest puzzle- which truly isn't that stressful!

Review code provide by Whitethorn Games