VN - Ren'Py - Pale Carnations [Ch.4 Up.5 Public] [Mutt & Jeff]

Normally I only review completed games but I am going to make an exception for this one as it is one of my two favourite games on this site - both of which are very different. I should probably come and edit this review when the game is completed.

It is a visual novel that scores very highly on a whole number of metrics. The art is very good with a couple of all-time fave character designs (the men look somewhat hit and miss). The writing is excellent, with multiple well-imagined characters, emotional nuance, mystery, drama.

And the game features constant meaningful choices with many different ways scenes can play out, different flavour to relationships, and consequences long after minor decisions were made. The game implicates a choice tag system for remembering what you have done and unlike many other games this extremely rarely results in errors or bugs which is a real testament to quality.

The sexual content is hot, the writing is good. There is some variety, the majority is maledom BDSM. This is good. I would love it if they added some potential for femdom as well but given the story context I can understand why it doesn't fit so well.

I have very few criticisms. Maybe spruce up the MC's face. Possibly neccessary to use a walkthrough (debatable). I just hope that the story is heading towards later chapters and endings as good as the game so far!

The Verdict

One of, if not the best AVN's you'll find. An absolute must-play. 5/5.

The Good

• Outstanding writing that actually feels like you're reading a true visual novel
• Ridiculously hot scenes, made even better with credible writing and great characters
  • That said, you're going to enjoy this the most if you like domination / sadism
  • You can't show me a game that gets more out of HoneySelect than this does. The girls here are amazing, and you WILL have a few you will be thinking about long after you finish playing
• I never thought I'd play a meta-AVN, but here we are. The themes of this game force the player to consider how they would act given total power and control, like one has when playing the game
• There is a rich web of choices, characters, and decisions here that make it feel like you're playing with agency rather than watching a movie. Not all of the loops are closed yet, but I have no doubt that the developers have a vision for this game that will make it that much better as the story unfolds.

The Bad

• It's possible to lock yourself out of some of the best routes here on accident. I'd recommend having the walkthrough up to avoid it, which is a sad but necessary disservice to the quality of writing here.

The Ugly

• There is a scene early on in this game that I found so disgusting I turned the game off and avoided it for months before coming back, and even after multiple playthroughs I really don't understand why it's there:
  Spoiler

  You don't have permission to view the spoiler content. Log in or register now.
  . Don't let it stop you from enjoying this masterpiece.

This game stands out as the pinnacle of my experience on the site. It excels in many aspects, capturing my attention in a way that few others have managed. For the first time, I find myself genuinely invested in the outcomes, despite having explored numerous games here. The decisions hold genuine weight, and the characters react in ways that feel authentic, adding a layer of realism to the fantastical setting of a porn game.

This balance between realism and fantasy grounds the experience, making it more immersive. While some themes may push boundaries beyond my personal comfort zone, they are largely optional. What sets this game apart is its encouragement of moral introspection—a feature I haven't encountered elsewhere on the site. Additionally, the artwork is exceptional, matched by the quality of the dialogue throughout.

Why the fuck is the writing so good

I was here for the fun and games and now I feel like this game could break my heart.
I mean I'm just repeating what everyone's already said but damn I had a need to praise the effort put into this. The renders are great, the UI and additional stuff works great, it's all so dang good but damn, the aesthetics only spice up how good the story is. I find myself laughing, feeling sorry for the characters, wanting things to get better for them, being wary of who to trust, getting real careful with my choices...
To the point I could put the story first and the erotic stuff second. Somehow. Because they actually link really well.
Amazing storytelling. But also please don't hurt me.

A lot has been said so I just want to preface this by saying its great and the most impressive porn VN (or whatever the correct term is) I have played. I just want to focus on some things that stood out to me.

The writing's getting praised for a reason—it's well put together, no mistakes, full of colorful and engaging language and genuinely really funny. It's great entertainment that keeps you hooked, even though it's a ton of text. I'll admit I skimmed in the beginning because of the slow start but my recommendation would be to just enjoy the ride because it will get really good once you join the club.

Next the characters. They're much deeper and more fleshed out than I expected. You really get a feel for them. Even seemingly bland or basic characters like Ian turn out to be interesting and surprisingly likable. Their characteristics are so well developed and thought out that it gets hard to even roleplay. Here's a spoiler-free example: your boss confides a big secret and warns you not to tell a Carnation. Despite being repeatedly reminded that the job comes first and the Carnatations will want to manipulate you, and even though I usually play it close to the boss, in this scenario, I found myself instinctively wanting to spill the beans to Carnation because it felt like the right thing to do. It's just hard to play an asshole even though the game offers lots of possibilities in that direction.

Lastly, music. It might not seem like a big deal to some, but I'm genuinely impressed that even after countless hours, it remains enjoyable to listen to. Plus, new tracks keep getting added regularly. There's none of that typical generic porno background music or too often repeated tracks. This game doesnt have music controls, and doesnt need it. All tracks are well selected and fitting.

To wrap things up, and because no review should be solely positive: I found the occasional "sound effects," like slurping noises during scenes, to be rather odd. They only happen sporadically and loop immediately, and honestly, I could have done without them. Additionally, the game's abundance of variables and values makes it quite challenging to play blindly without occasionally checking scores or rewinding due to needing specific amounts of something for certain actions. While this does enhance replay value, and if most variables are utilized in the completed game, I won't have any complaints. However, if you're aiming for a particular outcome it will require lots of specific choices with a walkthrough at hand.

Lastly I would recommend it to anyone who isn't put off by the subject matter or the theme. While it gets dark at times it's never too serious and I can't wait for new content to come.

For me this is one of the best erotic games if not the best that I ever played and that includes Japanese ones

Renders :
uncontestably the best visuals with honey-select in any VN with awesome animations

characters :
the girls are drop dead gorgeous / each girl is unique that ranges from personality to life experiences with great depth to them.
Side characters too each have a story and most have a role to play in the grand scheme of things.

Story :
Very immersive and keeps you guessing each time then you go down the rabbit hole of speculating characters motivation and the consequences of your actions.

Gameplay :
Simple VN easy to play , multiple paths , high replayability

Like a lot of reviews before me this is 5/5 game with awesome engaging devs, I like to thank them and the supporters too for this great game, good luck

Good thing I found out this game last week. It easily rose to my top 3 vn right now and top 5 from all times.

What I love the most is it's not get too crazy in character expansion like many vn nowadays which tend to focus on create more additional characters with shallow to no memorable story at all. The game focus on several main characters only and each storyline is captivating.

It also covers a lot of fetishes, have perfect amount of story writing, especially one to spice up moments, nice amount of story branching, and transition between event/moment is smooth, unlike some games where I felt it's kinda forced, short, or sometimes doesn't make any sense.

Clearly one of the best games right now.

What a great game. Amazing experience. Incredibly well written. Choices in this keep make you carve your own experience, rather than being just a good choice and bad choice. There are a lot of scenes, high quality, models very pretty as well. Just amazing. 10/10

Pale Carnations is on a completely different plane of existence compared to everything else on this site. TD writes circles around all of them. It’s like a Ferrari next to a soapbox derby car made of cardboard. A symphony orchestra next to toddlers banging on pots and pans. Mike Tyson next to a catatonic old man who can’t see and has no arms. If you value writing quality at all, forget any hesitations you have, you need to experience this.

One thing that’s sorely lacking in games on this site is intimacy, and Pale Carnations absolutely nails it. You’d think feel-good harem romance VNs would have an edge in that department, but they somehow miss the mark so hard compared to what I’ve seen here. I just tried one where you have your first sex scene with a girl, and afterwards, you’re just sitting on opposite ends of the couch barely acknowledging each other. You’re telling me that in a VN full of innocent girls hesitant to have sex, no one wants to cuddle or embrace or be close at all? And don’t even get me started on—

What’s that? I shouldn’t be ranting about other VNs? This is a Pale Carnations review? Oh... *ahem*. Anyway, I feel so much more connected to the characters here. And it’s not just within sex scenes. There are some really tender moments outside of that, like getting comforted by Mina as you rest your head in her lap, or hugging Veronica after a harrowing experience at the club. The characters feel real. They’re deep and complex and easy to fall in love with. Sure, there’s a bit of porn logic influencing their decisions, but what else would you expect from an AVN? There’s not an obvious best girl, either—they’re all so good that it’s hard to pick between them.

I appreciate the choices and story branching that Pale Carnations has, too. It’s not an insane amount like a couple of other VNs I like, but it’s nice to have, and the decisions feel impactful. Should you try to angle for a specific girl to win the competition? Is winning the trust of Kathleen worth indulging your worst desires and finding yourself becoming something you don’t like? The branching could be taken further, but to be fair, there’s also a balance to be struck between that and getting updates out. That’s just about the only writing-related element that this isn’t the best at. The prose, the dialogue, the plot, the characters—all brilliantly done.

Oh, and don’t think I forgot about you, GIL! I don’t know much about HS1, but whatever wizardry is going on here makes the visuals look significantly better than other VNs that also use it. The girls and the set pieces all look amazing, but you don’t really need me to tell you that—just see for yourself in the preview images. Beyond that, there’s a remarkable amount of attention to detail in the poses and expressions of the characters. You’ll see it a lot where most devs just phone it in and use the same few images back and forth in a conversation, but not in this VN. GIL does an incredible job bringing TD’s words to life—you really couldn’t ask for a better partner. The animations are very good too, but I think there’s some room for improvement there. I’d like to see more speed and force, and some well-timed slapping sounds would be nice.

Speaking of sound, the tracks are decent and they set the mood pretty well, but they’re probably the weakest part of Pale Carnations considering how good everything else is. That’s more a consequence of budget than anything else, though. I’m sure if these guys could afford licensed tracks, they’d do a great job picking them.

I don’t ever post anything on this site, but in this one case, I just had to. Thank you for this masterpiece, TD and GIL.

Pale Carnations is an absolute recommendation. The game is so good it will actively make you sad that your life isnt filled with the same amount of people in this game.

As others have said, the absolute strong suit is its writing. Its impeccable. While with other games, you had to question the logic or ignore the absolute shitshow that was the dialogue, this game is basically one of the better end of books. I am especially pleased with how much sex/pornography takes the centerpiece of the story, as most other games just facilitate an environment where you CAN have sex, but its always something happening on the sides. Like, you fuck, but the main thing is always this hotel youre gonna manage. The rest is more of a side piece.

That being said, another strong suit is in the characters. Like, you got your varied cast while also having a relatively small "main" cast that you can focus on. Each one feels like a (perverted) person you could meet in the street. I have to truly highlight Hana, who is a character who is actively opposed to the very concept of the game. Which is the most fascinating choice, and it works so well.

Favorites aside, the game is the real package. Lots of high-quality porn, good talks, good fetish, plenty of direction of how things go in the scenes themselves, which paths to take.

The only reason I wouldnt recommend playing is that its not finished. And OH BOY you wish you wouldnt have to wait for the next update after playing through it.

Probably the greatest game I've played on this site.
The visuals of the game are pretty great, the characters design are awesome and visually the sex scene look good.
But that's absolutely not the main quality of this game, like the writing is so good, each character feel so unique and human.
Moreover the game is very diverse and polished.
Overall this game is a masterpiece imo.

I'm not great at deciding such things with any sense of definitiveness but I can say that as of now Pale Carnations is one of, if not actually my favourite lewd game.

Honestly the only real complaint I have with it is the one same issue I have with any game using Honey Select for its renders - the male models are average at best and quite shit at worst. But I can't really hold that against the PC devs.

Big ups for the writing though. Whether Pale Carnations is in fact my #1 of these games is something I might be internally debating for a while but it is - in my opinion at least - the best written. No matter whether it's indulging in vulgarity, waxing poetic or philosophic, engaging in the romantic - whatever the case might be I found the writing engaging across the board.

I cannot recommend the game enough and am presently cursing the fact that I gotta wait to see what happens next.

I've been following and playing this game since the beginning, and as of Ch. 4 Update 4, this game has an actual story; it's straight-up drama, and I want more of it.

Pale Carnations is one of the very few games that shows genuine fucking—like, straight-up feral fucking—and if you're into it, maledom. Not some bitchboy vanilla sex that's over in a minute like you typically see.

When it comes to the characters, the more you read about them, the more you realize just how vibrant and lovely they are. In the first chapters, they're just fuckdolls, really, but after Ch4Up4, I felt like I'm reading a proper romance. I really like these girls; in fact, I like all the characters. There is no character that is annoying or out of place.

It's also turning into a proper role-playing game. Having played the latest update, I've gotta say, I really appreciate that there's no locked path in this game. The choices are clear as day, and so are the consequences. You're encouraged to explore different paths because they do lead to enjoyable places.


I think this is one of the best-written lewd games out there and a must-play if you're into maledom.

To summarize:

• Great characters overall, women and men alike.
• Choices make a difference if you want them to.
• Easy to navigate, and it's only a sandbox when you're in the club.
• Good animations and character models.
• It's got a story now, which is exciting.

The undisputed GOAT of adult games. Amazing, hot scenes. An interesting story with dark themes, well written dialogue, and characters that you will fall in love with. This is the peak of adult games.

1. Sex scenes are fucking top notch
   • +Good variety of fetishes, positions, and girls
   • +A lot of focus on rough sex and ahegao/mindbreak, without pushing too far into an uncomfortable level
   • +MC lasts more than a single round unlike many other games in the genre
2. Characters
   • +Main girls are unique, hot, flawed, and very well written.
   • +Plenty of scenes with each character, little to no blueballing/teasing/slowburn.
   • +I usually prefer having multi/poly/harem relationships in games like these. But the solo routes are so well written. Many of the solo route scenes are romantic, intimate, and really makes you feel so connected to the character for that route.
3. MC
   • +I might be a minority in this, but I really enjoy the MC. He doesn't come off as annoying, pathetic, weak, or too much of a cringey, creepy perv
   • +Really easy to project yourself onto him
   • -- Not really for power fantasy fans that want to be a muscle-bound chad that can kill anyone with a flex of his bicep before he fucks their wife or whatever
   • +-His dances were ridiculous, kinda funny though so I'll let it pass

V. Ch4 update 4

being as old as the dark side of the moon my tastes have had the time to percolate and distill into stabilised taste. i also can now tell within minutes if a game is worth my time. i download and try a lot here but most just get deleted in no time and some get a review if they leave an impression.
this is one i had not tried before despite it's time already here, but i choose as my mood takes to the tags on display. this time i was in the mood.

the art is nothing i have not seen before but is better polished than most using this type. i'm not big on the art side as the N serves my tastes more than the V and only a strong N can make the V even viable to me, even though this is not a VN. i lack an artists eye. needless to say it looked pretty good compared to most.

the writing is exceptional. each character HAS character, utilising different speech and differing expansions of dialogue. outside of an actual novel, very fucking rare here. a certain something writer should try this and see just how something they really are not.
as a novel this is a real pleasure to read, even though the base plot/premise is really not my cup of tea, my own proclivities somewhat vanilla for this, but i do have an expansive imagination
i did expect the sex to be relentless but instead the story plays out with exceptional pacing (yes i used exceptional again, why not? is it my word of the day or just that good?......) so that my the reader has time to blow a hole in a tissue, read through the warm after glow and keep reading in time for the chubby build up again ready for the next tissue. really well done that writer.
i have only read 1 route but the attentiveness to detail looks solid.

and now here is my two gripes. one is for game design and the other is purely the site staff lacking in sense and moderation.

firstly, this is NOT a VN. it is a point and click game made so by the point and click roaming sections. a novel is not free roaming and neither is a visual novel.

secondly, the very annoying unclickable-to-skip transitions. there are too many of them. the jingle started to grate on my nerves at times.

aside from that, all hunky dory. certainly one to revisit once the completed tag gets added and definitely a possible future purchase should it then go to steam (if not already but i never purchase incomplete or early access so no idea, i rarely pay attention to the posted links).
great stuff guys

Pale Carnations [Ch. 4 Update 4]

Pros:
+ Character designs are amazing (subjective)
+ Animations are great in all scenes
+ Very high production quality
+ Writing is remarkable, engaging and well paced
+ Choices feel like they matter
+ Character depth and progression is well done
+ Facial expressions are well done in all ways of interaction

Cons:
- Dark themes might not be for everyone


I was hesitant to pick this up at first, and even dropped it at one point without getting far in. Lately, I decided to pick it up again and I found myself pleasantly surprised. With every update the game adds layers of depth to the story and character emotions and background, as well as with character relationships.

There's a lot of action so you won't be left feeling blue, but it doesn't feel shallow. Rather, it feels kind of like a slow burn in how you build up relationships with characters, all of them. Every relationship takes time and a build of up interactions, not just a single candlelight dinner or a wine and dine romp session that will make your partner(s) ride or die with you. No, there's a lot more to it than that, a lot more depth.

This game became kind of like a guilty pleasure for me. I really like it even though it contains a lot of sadomasochism themes that normally don't interest me at all. However, the characters and the overarching plot, regardless of the path choices you make, are very engaging and the writing is very well done.

Worth checking out and giving a chance, even if you might not be interested in some underlying themes.

Overall Rating: 10/10

The game is good and even great at times but idk about #1.

It's well written and the English is nice, but I feel like MC hasnt fully stepped up and in my view at least, he's still a bit of a pushover at times.
Maybe this will change even more given enough time? who knows..
There are times in which MC reacts differently already, sure, and TD wants to be 100% sure the players realise that by writing (Ive read more or less the same phrase 3-4 times I think? may be misremembering though) each time "I wouldnt have acted/reacted this way a few weeks ago"

Despite all the degeneracy and the sadistic shite MC can do, he still worries about acting like an asshole, or like a prick, or eg he questions why he would make such a promise. I mean, of course it's nice that his morals are more or less staying intact, but I feel like that clashes a bit with, again, the extremely sadistic stuff he can do.

It's a big branching to manage but keeping the increasingly evil MC on the same "common route" as a more chill MC (affection points aside) just feels.. a bit wrong at times. like, a super degenerate route with Elizabeth, unlocked with the more evil choices, wouldve been pretty cool and a testament to MC getting "properly" involved in that crazy world

Characters are interesting and pretty multidimensional, there are very few cliches and thats just a whole tank of fresh air.
Renders are, despite HS limitations (eg the skin texture for example is just... less than stellar, imo) outright amazing, if you dig the style! Nice job.

"Indulge in the ultimate adult gaming experience with this titillating masterpiece. From steamy visuals to provocative narratives, every moment is designed to ignite passion and excitement. Explore fantasies, unleash desires, and immerse yourself in a world where boundaries fade away. With seductive gameplay mechanics and enticing challenges, this game promises to captivate and thrill. Whether you're seeking adventure or intimacy, this adult game delivers an unforgettable journey filled with excitement and satisfaction. Dare to explore the forbidden, embrace your desires, and elevate your gaming experience to new heights. It's time to unleash your inner fantasies and embark on an exhilarating adventure like never before. Get ready to lose yourself in a world of pleasure and intrigue. This game is a must-have for discerning adults looking to spice up their gaming library. Prepare to be seduced, enthralled, and thoroughly entertained. Welcome to a realm where fantasies come to life and every moment is an invitation to indulge."

(ch 4, update 4)

This is one of those VNs that makes you think. It fulfills your dark urges while simultaneously forcing you to confront the reality of what your character is doing and contend with the humanity of both yourself and the women you are involved with. I'm not even usually into BDSM, coercion, or any of the darker side of the sex work landscape, but the story and characters are compelling enough to get me past that discomfort and even bring out a little of those hidden urges in me, without making me feel like a complete waste of human life.

The visuals, audio, and writing are all excellent.

I've never wrote a review on this site before, but for this game I decided that I needed to share just how good it is. Pale Carnations is probably my favourite AVN out there, it has fantastic writing, art and animation.

Like a lot of people who have seen this game on here at first I was hesitant to give it a go, the BDSM aspect and exhibitions in the club didn't really interest me at all, I've never really been into stuff like that, but Pale Carnations does a fantastic job of keeping you enamored with the game despite this, it sets up the premise really well that you can understand why everyone who is involved in the club is involved in the club, including your character who you can understand his motivations completely, this is refreshing as a lot of games throw you into scenarios which don't make a lot of sense for the MC to be in.

This is where Pale Carnations shines at its best, it's incredibly well written and having characters with multiple layers and motivations which come out over time with good pacing is one of this games greatest strengths, you might initially start out disliking a character to find out that as you get to know them you can actually understand them and grow to like them a lot, for me this character was Veronica, I had no interest in her at first but as you get to know her, her character really shines, she's a great subversion of expectations and whilst her character might not be wholly original its one of the best executions I've seen.

Also it has to be said but Hana is probably my favourite girl in any AVN, she's incredible and again shows off the multiple layers which characters can have in this game, I realized just how much I had developed an emotional connection to the characters in Pale Carnations once things got more serious with her and I actually felt genuine guilt about messing around with other characters afterwards, that's probably the first and only time I've felt like that playing an AVN, another testament to the incredible writing ability on display here.

Onto the sex scenes, Pale Carnations is definitely up there with some of the best, all renders look fantastic and I have very little complaints, the game also has some fantastic animation done from scratch which really sets it apart from other games where you'll frequently see reused animations, if I had any criticism of these scenes its that the audio design could be better, the game features some fantastic soundtracks for each scene but only in recent updates can I say that I felt like the audio such as girls moaning and sex sounds were beginning to get better, this is a fairly minor complaint but definitely one part which could be improved on (again it has improved in recent updates so hopefully that continues to happen)

Anyways I'll stop here as I know my writing ability isn't fantastic but I really wanted to share just how good this game is, I highly recommend giving it a go even if you don't initially like the look of it, this is easily my favourite game on this site, and the devs deserve all the love they get.