Our Wonderland

Honestly, I gave it a good go- but I didn't like this game. I've played a lot of story-based VNs, but this one didn't really hit for me. I got all the way to Act 5 before realizing i didn't like it. I understand that the main point of the game was friendships breaking down, but in my opinion Iggy goes through *way* too much pain to make any sort of reconciliation with some of his friends possible. How could he reconcile with Gidget when all he can remember of her is that she [spoiler] tried to rape him several times and kill him twice? [/spoiler] How could he reconcile with Orlam and *especially* Bucks when [spoiler] the former cooked his best friend and fed him to him as well as tortured him, and the latter murdered her only child to cause the gate to Wonderland to open? [/spoiler] It just doesn't make sense to me. The pacing feels simultaneously too fast and too slow, and while I did like the writing style of the game itself with its flowery depictions of pain and torture, I had a hard time getting invested in the main relationships because as soon as something started looking up for Iggy, I knew that it was about to get ruined in one way or another. If you like this game, great! I'm happy you do. I just personally don't, and that's sad to say knowing that I spent a lot of time on it.

For the life of me, I cannot believe such a wonderfully crafted game could be free. Incredible atmosphere, characters and writing. Loving it to bits.

I'm not nearly done, but I'll leave my first impression as reviews help with visibility! I've not played the original, so I can't tell how the remaster compares. But I can tell that this is an incredibly polished and likewise competently constructed game. It's chock-full of art to the point of having a near-equal amount of screen time consisting of CGs as there is of sprites. And it's clearly not the result of an overbloated art budget. The solo creator felt that each one was important enough to spend time and effort on (often twice over; this is a remaster after all!), and that pays off when they have such a strong sense of scene direction and visual language. The choices of music and sound is effective too considering they're royalty free, and much like visuals utilize programming functions to make them more dynamic. While I'd assume the creator is a visual artist first, they're certainly no slouch when it comes to writing. Having only played My Vampire Boyfriend Smokes Lucky Strikes before this, it's interesting to see how it fares with a bigger cast. The same sense of humour is present here as well (perhaps to a lesser extent), but the character voices being unique and consistent shines through with the bigger sample size. We get some characterisation of the characters as kids, and I see a direct line of progression to their development into how they are as adults already. Strong character voices is difficult as is, so balancing that with different ages and pulling it off is even more impressive. The only things which are, albeit small, downsides are UI things. The game foregoes nametags in favour of coloured text for dialogue to have prose more akin to novels than what's typically found in visual novels. While I'm not colourblind and can't say if this impacts the experience for such players, it can get a bit confusing when there's too many characters in a scene and I have to remember what they're colour-coded as. Additionally, the history screen seems to have been removed, which unless caused issues due to coding of more important features feels like a pointless omission. (Personally, I'd rather pull that up than spam the back button to re-read something, and less crucially use it to screenshot a pencilfire part to send to friends.) Small gnat bites aside, there's so much to like here and I can't believe there's not even a price tag attached. Play it, it's literally free! (Genzou is so 👉👈, I can't NOT mention that)

I originally played Our Wonderland when it was out on Itch.io and oh my gosh this remastered version is NOTHING like the old one, the story is more captivating due to the upgrading cutscenes and icons and the character bios are an amazing way to learn about each character a little before stepping into this twisted fun! I def recommend playing this game !! (especially at 3am and the lights are off.....I totally don't come from experience..)

orlam they could never make me hate you

10/10 the exact kind of game I'll never stop talking about to friends

Developed by Carrot and published by Project Ensō, Our Wonderland is a free-to-play visual novel that blends psychological horror, dark fantasy, romance, and mystery into a deeply character-driven experience. Rather than emphasizing traditional gameplay mechanics, it focuses on interactive storytelling where dialogue choices and branching paths shape the journey. The story follows a group of estranged childhood friends who are unexpectedly reunited after being pulled back into the mysterious Wonderland they once visited as children. What was once remembered as a place of dreams has become a haunting realm filled with danger, forcing each character to confront buried memories, fractured relationships, and painful truths that refuse to stay hidden. One of the game's strongest qualities is its dedication to character development. Every member of the cast carries emotional baggage that influences both the narrative and the choices players must make. As the group navigates Wonderland's increasingly disturbing environments, friendships are tested, trust becomes fragile, and long-forgotten secrets gradually surface. The supernatural setting serves as more than just an eerie backdrop, acting as a reflection of each character's inner fears and regrets. This gives the story a strong psychological dimension, making every revelation feel meaningful rather than existing solely to surprise the player. The blend of horror and emotional drama creates an engaging narrative where the greatest threats are often the characters' own unresolved emotions. The visual presentation complements the story remarkably well. The anime-inspired artwork captures both the whimsical beauty and terrifying nature of Wonderland, creating an atmosphere that constantly shifts between comforting fantasy and unsettling horror. Bright, colorful environments can quickly transform into grotesque nightmares, reinforcing the unpredictable tone of the adventure. Character illustrations effectively communicate a wide range of emotions, allowing dramatic conversations and horrifying moments to carry significant impact. Combined with an atmospheric soundtrack that heightens feelings of tension, loneliness, and suspense, the audiovisual design helps immerse players in a world where danger feels ever-present despite its fairy tale appearance. Player choice plays a significant role throughout the experience, encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover different outcomes and story branches. Conversations, relationships, and major narrative events can change depending on the decisions made, rewarding players who enjoy exploring alternate possibilities. While the gameplay itself remains relatively simple in keeping with the visual novel format, the branching narrative provides meaningful engagement by allowing players to influence the fate of the characters. The inclusion of romantic elements alongside horror and mystery also gives the story greater emotional variety, ensuring that moments of warmth and vulnerability balance the darker aspects of the plot without diminishing their impact. The mature themes are handled with a clear purpose, featuring violence, disturbing imagery, gore, emotional trauma, and sexual content that reinforce the narrative's darker atmosphere. These elements are not presented merely for shock value but instead support the psychological and emotional struggles experienced by the cast. Players who appreciate narrative-heavy experiences with complex interpersonal relationships, LGBTQ+ representation, and thought-provoking themes will likely find plenty to enjoy. However, those looking for action-oriented gameplay or puzzle-heavy progression should understand that the experience revolves almost entirely around reading, exploration of dialogue, and narrative choices. Overall, Our Wonderland stands out as an ambitious visual novel that successfully combines psychological horror with heartfelt character drama. Its compelling premise, emotionally layered cast, memorable fantasy setting, and meaningful branching paths create an experience that prioritizes storytelling above all else. By weaving romance, mystery, horror, and personal growth into a cohesive narrative, it offers a journey that remains engaging from beginning to end. For fans of story-focused visual novels that explore both the beauty and darkness of human relationships, this is an easy recommendation. Rating: 8/10