Crypterion
Game
Game2024
Sigh of the Abyss
Developer Rascal Devworks
Embrace the monster within in this dark fantasy visual novel with inclusive romances. Befriend charming allies, defy bitter rivals, fall in love. Your choices will save or condemn mortals, shaping the fate of a city as beautiful as it is cruel. From the Steam store page
172 reactions from 2 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky) · newest Oct 29, 2026 · last updated Nov 4, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
97
LovedLoved
146 positive · 5 negative
95% range 92–99%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 146 | 5 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 9 | 0 | 12 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
153 of 158 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
97% recommend · 146 yes, 5 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 151 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (188 of 194 positive).
Players praise the game's beautiful art and engaging dark fantasy story. [1][2][3] Many highlight the meaningful choices and branching narratives. [4][5][6] Some reviewers criticize the dialogue pacing and uneven story. [7][8][9]
Liked
Representative posts
- [1]
Sigh of the Abyss is a beautifully illustrated, well-crafted dark fantasy story. A story that takes shape around the choices you make, for light or dark. The Story You wake up bloody and with no memories. Two strangers greet you and take you back to their dwelling in the exotic Renaissance port city of Carolise to get cleaned up and rested. Who you are or rather what you are, is a mystery. You are called an Envoy …
- [3]
Sigh of the Abyss is hands down the best visual novel I've ever played. The world is incredibly rich, the story is extremely interesting and well-paced. The characters are all very fleshed out and 3-dimensional. Marane's struggle with being a member of her culture's diaspora resonated with me in a way that I have never encountered in fiction before. I literally cried. Ascanio's romance route is my absolute favorite …
- [5]
Sigh of the Abyss: When The Dark Urge (from BG3) with personality choices (like DA2/DAI) has her own visual novel and Choices ACTUALLY Matter. Highly recommended for those who love romance/dark fantasy...oh, you can also choose not to romance anyone! Game You have the allocation of points as to whether you want to specialize in (1) Physical, (2) Shadow Magick, or (3) Mind Manipulation. Additionally, you can also …
- [2]
This well-illustrated and beautiful artwork, and well-crafted dark fantasy visual novel will take you to different roads. You choose a name for your protagonist and wake covered in blood in the middle of a ritual; the problem is you have no memories of who you are, so you will have the choice to craft who you become, but the most important thing, you are an Envoy for the Abyss. There are many choices and multiple …
- [4]
Sigh of the Abyss ⚠️⚠️⚠️Keep in the mind this is my honest review maybe different preference with you , I will share what I feel when I played this game.⚠️⚠️⚠️ My score : 9/10 Total hours : more than 8 hours more less (Depend how fast you read and how many playthrough you play it. And your desire to unlock all achievements) Positive side : ✔️✔️✔️✔️ 1. Story : The game has really good story with every path worth to …
Summarised from 34 of the 172 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 11, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Players who liked Sigh of the Abyss talk about stunning artwork and visual design; those who didn't talk about dialogue can be slow and repetitive. Which matters more to you?
Reactions
60 of 172 · most liked firstA Visual Masterpiece… Held Hostage by the Dialogue Alright, first things first—this game is gorgeous. The art? Stunning. The music? Chef’s kiss. Seriously, more visual novels should aim for this level of quality. The artist absolutely crushed it, nailing everything from character designs to world-building to scenic vibes. Even the costumes had drip. But then… the dialogue. Oh. My. God. It’s like someone put the script on slow-motion mode. Every conversation drags, every character sounds the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I really do love Sigh of the Abyss having a toggle for your romantic preferences. It's subtle but it's so nice to be able to just tell the game I am a lesbian, please don't throw romance with men at me.
positive · AI labelView post →I wanted to like this game. Initially, I did like this game. Then I played multiple endings. Imagine, if you will, a world in which nobles murder peasants for not working enough. Imagine also they commit acts of sexual violence against these same peasants - such things are interspersed throughout, to keep the dark fantasy vibe. Then imagine that the "good" ending - the one in which none of the love interests die or leave you - has these people supposedly 'repenting', while not losing wealth,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sigh of the Abyss has reached 100 reviews 🥹 If you're into: 📖 visual novels 🖤with a female protagonist 🫶who can romance men & women 🧿and be the change in a Renaissance-inspired world It might be the game for you! store.steampowered.com/app/2025310/...
neutral · AI labelView post →Sigh of the Abyss is a beautifully illustrated, well-crafted dark fantasy story. A story that takes shape around the choices you make, for light or dark. The Story You wake up bloody and with no memories. Two strangers greet you and take you back to their dwelling in the exotic Renaissance port city of Carolise to get cleaned up and rested. Who you are or rather what you are, is a mystery. You are called an Envoy but what that means is up to you to discover and what powers the Abyss grants ,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This well-illustrated and beautiful artwork, and well-crafted dark fantasy visual novel will take you to different roads. You choose a name for your protagonist and wake covered in blood in the middle of a ritual; the problem is you have no memories of who you are, so you will have the choice to craft who you become, but the most important thing, you are an Envoy for the Abyss. There are many choices and multiple consequences, along with many endings.…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Looking for a dark fantasy rpg without the CRPG gameplay? Then this is probably a good VN for you. Plenty of choices to make, skill points to assign, companions to befriend/romance, moral decisions, factions to align with/against, etc... but without the walking around, collecting items, or fighting parts. (Fixed female protagonist, and yes, you can have a girlfriend.)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I have very mixed feelings about this game. I probably expected something different based on the store description and all the positive reviews—even comparisons to Game of Thrones. First, the positives: the art is very nice, technically it’s well done, and I also liked the voice acting. The music was beautiful at times (e.g., in the temple), though it became annoying in some other scenes. But the story never really gripped me. It starts off strong, with the main character waking up…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sigh of the Abyss is hands down the best visual novel I've ever played. The world is incredibly rich, the story is extremely interesting and well-paced. The characters are all very fleshed out and 3-dimensional. Marane's struggle with being a member of her culture's diaspora resonated with me in a way that I have never encountered in fiction before. I literally cried. Ascanio's romance route is my absolute favorite of all time. I just can't gush about this game enough. UGH AND THE ART!!!! THE…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Immerse yourself in the world of sun-drenched Carolise with the Super Supporter bundle of Sigh of the Abyss! It includes the game plus four DLCs: guidebook, lorebook, short story collection and artbook 🖤 #visualnovel #indiegame #amare #otome store.steampowered.com/bundle/50563...
neutral · AI labelView post →Starting today, get your heart throbbing with discounts, streams and demos in the #FallinLoveFestival! Sigh of the Abyss joins with its highest discount yet, streams covering the game and a very special announcement ✨ Read more here: store.steampowered.com/news/app/202...
neutral · AI labelView post →Didn't like it :( Too many details that don't make the story rich, but long and boring. A very slow progress of the plot. I was forcing myself to finish the game, but gave up on 9 hours of gameplay
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today, after more than 4 years, I changed my Discord profile picture from the protagonist of Sigh of the Abyss to the protagonist of my new game 🥹 I had a lil farewell moment with it. It's such an insignificant thing, but I had grown attached to her. 4 years!!
positive · AI labelView post →Sigh of the Abyss ⚠️⚠️⚠️Keep in the mind this is my honest review maybe different preference with you , I will share what I feel when I played this game.⚠️⚠️⚠️ My score : 9/10 Total hours : more than 8 hours more less (Depend how fast you read and how many playthrough you play it. And your desire to unlock all achievements) Positive side : ✔️✔️✔️✔️ 1. Story : The game has really good story with every path worth to explorer and. with lore and good story telling all well packed I am really…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Incredibly thrilled to announce that Sigh of the Abyss (and so many other amazing games!!) are part of the @womenledgames.com event on Steam! #WLGxTGA Take a look at the event here ✨ bit.ly/WLG_TGA
neutral · AI labelView post →Been waiting for this one and it was damn worth the wait! Way more lore and world building than shown in the prologue, intriguing world and characters, plus, great voice acting especially from our MAIN CHARACTER. Haven't finished a single route yet and I am 10 hours in! That is already 100% more content than your average indie visual novel. I can definitely say it's one of the better ones out there, if not the best (ever dark fantasy romance visual novel). I want a sequel ASAP. This has…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The first thing that caught my eye were the original and artful graphics. Therefore I played the free prologue Shadow Bonds to decide to buy this or not. Obviously I liked it and bought this. I started getting weary when the prologue didn't fit what happened in the full game at all. You meet the same characters but you meet them for the first time. I thought maybe Shadow Bonds was set somewhat later into the game. However that wasn't the case either. I don't know what Shadow Bonds was, it…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sigh of the Abyss joins the #OtomeGamesCelebration✨ Complete your collection or let the game sweep you off your feet for the first time from May 19-26th on Steam or itchio (we always double-dip here 😆) Learn more on Steam 💙 s.team/a/2025310 Learn more on itchio ❤️ rascaldevworks.itch.io
neutral · AI labelView post →I played the demo in 2022, was captivated by the artworks. And sure it does, it goes into my wishlist without doubt after that. And now it's released, I'd say it's worth the wait. I'm not really a fan of VN, but i do adore rpgs with choices that actually mattered, I'm not sure how much branches each path have because I've only finished it once. But I can see that some require a bit combination of like do A and kill B or something. Also the endings are satisfying if you play your cards right (…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →TAKE YOUR TIME WITH THIS GAME, Truly! The world is rich with depth, moral dilemmas, and beautiful lore. Your patience is rewarded with a ending that leaves you speechless. I was hesitant in buying the game for its price, but I'm so happy that I did! You get HOURSSSSS of a visual novel, and even then you end up wanting to go back and replay it once more, not wanting to say goodbye just yet. It's a rare find in the world of quick cash-grab romances. I urge you to play it and enjoy the ride…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Autumn Sales are here!! I just released the artbook and the guidebook for Sigh of the Abyss. The game and DLCs are on discount, too~ Get them on Steam🖤 store.steampowered.com/app/2025310/... Or itchio 💜 rascaldevworks.itch.io/sigh-of-the-...
neutral · AI labelView post →Dark fantasy VN + enchanting art/story + ambience = Captivating story/choice rich with branching narratives. Choose who you are and how interactions develop with other characters. Quite immersive. [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/35180752-3-point-play/] Follow our curator for similar games
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is much longer (and quite well written) than I was expecting, I usually play a lot of mediocre VNs on Steam and Sigh of the Abyss is definitely not one of them. It's written less like a fanfiction (no offence to my fellow ficwriters) and more like a good fantasy book with romance, mystery and a little bit of gore. I loved discussing and guessing about various plot points with my bestie, and I was quite sure I knew who the Prodigal One is , but when it was revealed... I usually can…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I LOVE IT I LOEVE AIT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PLEASE LET ME ROMANCE BOTH SYLAS AND MARANE AT THE SAME TIME THEYRE BOTH 2 PEAK TO CHOOSE FROM...
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Sigh of the Abyss: When The Dark Urge (from BG3) with personality choices (like DA2/DAI) has her own visual novel and Choices ACTUALLY Matter. Highly recommended for those who love romance/dark fantasy...oh, you can also choose not to romance anyone! Game You have the allocation of points as to whether you want to specialize in (1) Physical, (2) Shadow Magick, or (3) Mind Manipulation. Additionally, you can also establish your romantic interests right off the bat: Three men, Two women, or…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's much better written than it has any right to be. I'm old enough to be picky about my stories and it delivers a well crafted fantasy tale with some real creepiness and mystery. The romances are slow burn but satisfying. I sat on it for a long time because I thought the price was a little high for a visual novel, but I'm very glad I pulled the trigger.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I liked how this story didn't shy away from violence, and I felt my choices truly mattered, especially in the second half of the game. The first half does take a while to give you agency, but it all comes together in a satisfying series of endings that thankfully allowed evil and good choices. I really enjoyed this one.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →As a frequent player of indie otome/amare games, this is one of the best I've played in a long time! The world building and characters are very well fleshed out, and the writing is clean - sometimes enigmatic but never too convoluted. I actually enjoyed the numerous choices - even if they sometimes have no consequences on the story, it helps with building the main character's personnality. I really liked her. For once, I liked playing someone who I felt has control over her actions and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Note: I have 100% achievements. I was not a Kickstarter backer and discovered this game after its release. Sigh of the Abyss is the kind of video game I've been looking for for a long time. It's not perfect, but it captivated me in a way that video games rarely do. It has a really cool story, the characters are great, and your choices feel meaningful. Of course there are plenty that only affect dialogue in the moment, but there are many that will influence the game's eventual ending and the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →After 3 years of development, Sigh of the Abyss is ready to leave my screen and appear on yours. The game is dark yet tender, cruel, hopeful—just like life, it has its moments of levity, of despair, of resilience. I hope you will enjoy playing it as much as I enjoyed making it.
positive · AI labelView post →20 hours later I have finished my first playthrough. Good storytelling, lovely artwork with attention to detail (like things changing in the background depending on what is happening) and I felt like decisions did matter/lead to consequences. Although I have been amused by the amount of (sometimes ill-timed) thirst the MC expresses, the romance scenes were tasteful and felt realistic.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →And there are romance focused games like Sigh of the Abyss or Lost Records that give you this wider scope that lets the romance be a release and creator of tension in a wider plot. But I think in a game like a Mass Effect it feels nice to have these "non date" activities with your loved ones. Even
neutral · AI labelView post →Intriguing world building. Good story with lots of outcomes. My friends give me weird looks when I tell them I'm bringing forth the darkest hour.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was extremely enjoyable and liked the fact I can get different outcomes and reactions by doing different routes. Too bad I can't have both Ascanio and Malec in a poly relationship lol! Makes sense but digress I'm greedy. If there is ever a sequel or spin offs or more games like these, I'll definitely buy them!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is a solid game and visual novel overall, however it isn't without its faults. The story is excellent to start with, but weakens considerably in the final third, it feels uneven and rushed. Some of the romance writing is downright sophomoric, kind of too far into cringe rather than actually romantic for my tastes. I'd definitely recommend this on sale for any VN fans, I picked it up for £4 for example, and that was well worth the entry price. The guidebook DLC - probably not worth it tbh,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I’ve barely started but I’m loving it! Beautiful painterly art style, engaging characters, and very light and relaxing RPG choices to make for your character. I’m already hooked on the story and looking forward to bed-gaming it before I fall asleep for the next several nights. It works pretty well on Steam Deck too. Some considerations, if you’re a little bit picky. You’ll need to use your Steam Deck touchscreen to navigate the Settings menu, or to back out of other menu screens. Not a big…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've played through Alpheon's and Ascanio's routes completely. I'm almost done with Sylas's. I absolutely adore this game. I think the lore and art are amazing. I enjoy most of the characters. I really only have one complaint. I wish the two female companions didn't hate each other, or at least had more of an arc of being understanding to each other. While their fights never felt catty per se, it gave off that vibe for me. I don't mind when characters disagree, but their relationship was the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My initial play through was a blast! Compelling narrative, great world building and a lovable cast of characters! As a visual novel, this story ticks all of the right boxes! As a choices matter game - the verdict is still out. I will have to play through again at some point to determine just how much of an impact your choices actually make on the story. 5/5 do recommend, however!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Deep story and characters, nice music, voice acting and art. Highly recommended if you are interested in the genre.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've played through the game twice now, and I can confidently say it's probably the best visual novel I've ever played. The story is fascinating, the characters are intriguing, and I absolutely love the artstyle. I also love that the developer is super receptive to bug reports, I put in one not thinking it would even be seen (and frankly the bug required a pretty niche case) but lo and behold within a day the patch notes dropped to fix that bug. Amazing developer.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game is a great deal of fun, lots of meaningful choices. Devs are absolutely the best. I had a bug issue and they took the time to resolve it immediately and it didn't break my saves. I'd support them for that alone!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →While this game is long, it is one of the reasons I love it. There is so much lore and story telling that it really makes you feel like YOU are actually in the story. I also love how many options there were so it did not make you feel like you had to go down a certain path and once again, it make you feel like you are actually playing a real person. And don't even get me started on the art and the voice acting. <3
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the the best visual novels ive ever played with unmatched visuals an incredible Atmosphere. What im most impressed by the Protagonist and how they are written with so much depth yet the Humor system allows you to roleplay them in many different ways. And thats exactly what this game excels at, its excellent Dark Fantasy story and your ability to truly roleplay as the MC; something you rarely see in VN or even modern RPGS is amazing. The Dev should be proud of this accomplishment and im…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Today's stream is extra special because @rdevworks.bsky.social has given me two special steam keys of their game Sigh of the Abyss to giveaway during today's stream! I cannot wait to see you there!
neutral · AI labelView post →A hidden gem that will engulf you in its story and emotions I used to play a lot... not anymore. As years went by, work got in the way, my family, my house... I do not have time for games, I told myself. It carried a sting of saddness, but it seemed inevitable. Life will do that to you, I told myself. Can't escape. Right? But then I glimpsed the Abyss. Granted, I'm a fan of story-rich games, and hand-painted too, so I could had seen it coming. But still, in the last few years I had not found…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been wanting to play more choice based games since finishing Veilguard and Homicipher and this not only scratched that itch, it might be the best one I have ever play. The only negative about this game is that after finishing it's many endings I don't have another game on the same level to play after.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I absolutely loved this. The art is gorgeous, I love the soundtrack, and the voice acting is wonderful. The story is fantastic. It's full of complex, well-written characters including interesting romance choices and a lot of great side characters as well. And the choices you have to make can be really difficult, especially toward the end. You'll have to make some really tough moral decisions. I loved that I spent the whole time wondering how different choices would have shifted the narrative,…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best of the genre. Great story and art, worth the money.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game, its story and characters, are nothing short of extraordinary. The art is delicious. And at every turn I felt the stakes of the choices I made. Sigh of the Abyss is a masterwork. Please for the love of the Abyss play the game!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Review updated: The game is amazing, it has what I been looking for in a visual novel game. Every choice matters and shape the story, the characters are really well written and there's development between them. ART STYLE: The art is made by bare hands, by a real artist, I guess that it is a pro. I love the art style, looks like a master paint. The gameplay: The replay value is very high here, since it has lots of choices and routes. One thing I would have liked, is more characters to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very good writing and characterisation, a great sense of place and an intriguing story. I'm very happy with what the game has to offer so far!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →What first cought my eye before buying this game was the artstyle and it definitely didn't disappoint. I love the unique look this game has and it really stands out with art alone but when buying it to play before bedtime on my steam deck I was not prepared for this to become my absolute favourite visual novel. All the characters were so well written, it really felt like they were people with their own problems and lives. The story was very compelling and never felt like I was railroaded into…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Fantastic visual novel one of the best I have played. Quite a bit of replayability as well.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Actually feels like a CYOA, character customization game. Very cool
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I think it's a good game. Decided to play preview of it and ended up enjoying it enough to buy it! The variety of choice is nice, but if there's one thing that I can complain is the lack of Ascanio CG compared to others😭 Doesn't even have a kiss CG while others have it... Sad day for Ascanio stan but nevertheless it's a good game.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →OMG SUCH A GOOD GAME IN EVERYTHING, i ended crying after my first route with malec and my good ending saving everyone! you guys are missing a lot while not getting this game, story is super 10/10 and the Love Interest all of them are so precious, im really glad you guys give them a nice background to all of them, hope you continue doing more VN like this one!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Love this VN - well written with frequent choices that can (often) drastically change the outcome of the story. Definitely a lot of replayability.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →OMG OMGOI MGOMG )KG OMG OMG OMG OMG EEHHH OMGO GMGIOFJGOMG OMG IM SO ATTATCHED TO THESE CHARACTERS SYLAS PLEASE NEVER CHSNGE OKAY BYE
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Day 10 - Underrated Game So like a ton of games are unrated but how do we define that. I decided to take it literally, Sigh of the Abyss has zero meta critic reviews it's not even rated. Sigh of the Abyss needs more love for it's gender toggle feature allowing me to remove male romance.
positive · AI labelView post →One of my favorite games of all time. A truly captivating art style and story with great romances. I can only hope that there is another game that is able to capture the feeling of awe and engagement that this title left me feeling.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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