Misericorde review: a gripping murder mystery in a medieval nunnery

After several hours Misericorde Volume 1a murder mystery visual novel set in a 1482 English monastery, the nuns get into an altercation over the process of slaughtering ducks for the night’s supper.

This is not a logical argument at all. At least not for Flora, who is just having sex with her fellow nun Eustace. Eustace assures everyone that it won’t be difficult to kill ducks: “To be honest, ducks aren’t very good for me,” counters Flora. do you think i’ll lose ” and, Misericorde There is no voice acting, relying solely on black-and-white drawings and art. listen Eustace’s reply had a stubborn tone that this was not an argument. “I can beat all the ducks. It’s not a problem for me at all.”

But it wasn’t the duck that was killed. It was found where Sister Catherine, the Abbey’s most active freethinker, died.And for at least one of these characters, Catherine was no match they.

This haunting, and sometimes very humorous (as the duck-killing argument shows) visual novel unfolds largely through the eyes of the pious and naive Hedwig. Misericorde Abbey anchor. This is because, by her choice, she spent her formative years confined to her cell, devoting herself to reading only scriptures and religious texts, presumably “neutral” knowledge to all who sought spiritual advice. It means that it is playing a role as a source. . She knows only the voices of those who have visited her. And she’s been counseling them when she’s been hurt badly, but she knows very little about them, or about people or society in general.

Image: XEECEE via Polygon

Image: XEECEE via Polygon

Image: XEECEE via Polygon

Unfortunately for Hedwig, her position at the monastery means she’s definitely the only one did not do it Kill Sister Catherine. That is why the abbot drags her out of the simple but calm familiar surroundings of her cell and forces Hedwig to covertly assess a few members of the convent in order to find out who killed her Catherine. I forced it.

Misericorde This is a visual novel in the strictest sense. There is no player selection or dialog branching. Just click to read the story unfold. Only Volume 1 has been released on Steam so far, and the mystery is still unsolved. But thanks to the depth of its characters and the twisty, sometimes supernatural unfolding of the murder mystery, it’s already skyrocketed to the top of my personal list of favorite games of the year.

Image: XEECEE via Polygon

It’s rare to see an ensemble cast so well developed and characterized, especially in the murder mystery genre, which often relies on tropes and shorthand. At first I was worried how I could track down all the suspects when I saw the black and white art showing all the nuns dressed (obviously) the same. But I didn’t worry for long. Each nun has her own unique voice and her own secrets that are closely guarded by the Abbot and Hedwig.

The moment I played this unforgettable opening chorus, Misericorde Volume 1I went there immediately. Individual Developer Patreon I became a paid member because I wanted to play Volume 2 As soon as it becomes available. Misericorde is available on Steam and itch.Iah.