Botany Manor released its soundtrack in time for the Wholesome Game Steam Celebration. Having missed the full release early this year I was excited to see this demo as part of the Wholesome Game Celebration, and it did not let me down. 

If you haven’t heard of Botany Manor yet, it’s a first-person puzzle game set in 1890 published by Whitethorn Games with developer Balloon Studios. It features a historically accurate Victorian English manor and a litany of rare plant specimens to grow from seed. I’ve been looking for a way to scratch that gardening itch since I played Strange Horticulture, and Botany Manor delivered just that. 

Puzzling Flora & How to Sprout Them

As someone that can barely keep a snake plant alive in real life, I’m always looking for ways to pretend I have a green thumb. What better way to live that plant mom dream than by filling the shoes of retired botanist Arabella Greene. Fresh into retirement after having spent years as a botanist, Arabella wants nothing more than to finish her research book ‘Forgotten Flora’.  

The only way to finish her book is by growing rare plant specimens from seed. You’ll look through books, posters, and letters for clues on how to grow each plant. Utilize fascinating Victorian contraptions to imitate the idle growing conditions for each plant. In the demo, this is perfectly demonstrated by using an old flash photography device to imitate lightning and stimulate plant growth. It’s a seamless combination of historical charm and fantasy plants that makes the puzzles in Botany Manor so appealing.  

As you solve puzzles you’ll unlock more rooms of the manor, granting access to more secrets to discover. But random scraps of paper with hints on how to grow plants aren’t the only secrets left for you to find. Our main character Arabella has lived a full life with an accomplished career, something that wasn’t always easy for woman in 19th-century England. While progressing through the game we learn more about her story and the challenges she faced as woman navigating her scientific career. 

Graphics with Old English Charm

The 3D, historically accurate Victorian Manor is every bit as stunning as it sounds. More than anything I was impressed by just how lived in everything looked. Windows lined with cacti, botany field guides left open on the side table, and the rolled ends of parchment scrolls with sketched diagrams of plants all bathed in a warm glow radiating from stained glass windows. It’s the kind of setting that would make Jane Austen proud, and one I would escape to long after the demo ended. 

The plants you grow bring a hint of fantasy to the old English charm of Botany Manor. From flowers that grow in the volcanic regions of Sicily to legends of those that only bloom in lightning from a storm, each one is fascinating, unique, and inspired by real phenomena that we see in nature. Initially I was a little concerned about the fantastical plants sticking out against the historically accurate Victorian manor backdrop, but the many machines and interactive set pieces really kept me rooted firmly in the time period. 

Blooming Strings & Keys

Ah yes, the soundtrack. There were many amazing demos for the Wholesome Game Celebration this time around, but having recently covered the official release of the soundtrack for Botany Manor, I was excited to see what all the fuss was about. From the demo alone, I can comfortably say I love this soundtrack. The blooming melodies of strings and keys gave me chills as times when coupled with the in-game visuals. 

The soundtrack is fixed to certain moments to add cinematic flair. I got chills when I saw Botany Manor for the first time. A lot of that had to do with the cascading strings that bloom over the manor as it creeps into view. If you’re a big fan of classical music that is romantically atmospheric, I would highly recommend picking up this soundtrack.  Especially since large portions of the game is punctuated with the soothing environmental sounds of the English countryside.  

Too Little of a Good Thing

It’s hard to attest to game length after only playing a demo. But it felt remiss to not mention the full game is reported to be short. During the demo the puzzles, while interesting, weren’t particularly challenging and didn’t take long to complete. With a reported maximum game time of 3 to 4 hours to 100% and a price tag of $24.99 this may be a title best played on Xbox Game Pass. 

Final Thoughts

The Botany Manor demo showcases the power of approachable puzzles and immersive environments while featuring an empowering story of scientific discovery in the 1800s. Our main character, Arabella, is someone I want to know more about. And her story adds to the gameplay experience without taking away from the puzzles. However, the short total playtime and lack of end game gives this demo a 4 out of 5 stars for me. Totally worth your time, especially if you already have an Xbox Game Pass subscription. 

Botany Manor is available today on Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Series X|S, as well as for PC through Steam and the Xbox Game Pass for $24.99. For fans of the soundtrack, you can pick up the Botany Manor Soundtrack bundle on Steam for $26.33 with a 15% discount or pickup just the soundtrack for $5.99.