Strange Horticulture: Game Mechanics Explained

Strange Horticulture, developed by Bad Viking and released in 2022, is an occult puzzle game that drops you into the role of a plant shop owner in the eerie town of Undermere. It’s not your typical cozy gardening sim—it’s a detective story wrapped in a botanical bow, with a dash of Lovecraftian dread. You’re tasked with identifying plants, solving puzzles, and making choices that shape a branching narrative. With its unique premise and tactile gameplay, it’s no wonder this indie gem has garnered praise, including PC Gamer’s Best Puzzle Game of 2022. But is it worth your time? Let’s dig into the dirt

Gameplay Overview

At its core, Strange Horticulture is a puzzle game about observation and deduction. You spend most of your time behind the counter of your shop, interacting with customers who request specific plants based on vague descriptions or cryptic needs. Your tools? A dusty encyclopedia called The Strange Book of Plants, a magnifying glass, and your wits.

Core Mechanics

• Plant Identification: Customers might ask for a plant with “red flowers” or something to “cure insomnia.” You cross-reference their clues with your encyclopedia, which details traits like leaf shape, scent, or mystical properties. For example, early on, a customer named Reuben Ward asks for a remedy for his stomach issues. You flip through your book, match his symptoms to a plant like Farmer’s Worry (with its soft, fuzzy leaves), and hand it over. Get it right, and you unlock new encyclopedia pages or story beats. Get it wrong, and you rack up Dread—a stress meter that can lock you out of progress if it maxes out.
• Map Exploration: Letters, notes, or cryptic clues (like a dreamlike card at day’s end) point you to locations on a grid-based map of Undermere’s surrounding forests and mountains. Decoding these clues—say, finding a lake “east of a stone circle”—leads to new plants or story events. It’s satisfying but less challenging than plant identification.
• Alchemy: Midway through, you unlock a laboratory to mix plants into elixirs, adding another layer of puzzle-solving. For instance, combining Devil’s Nightcap and Swiftsnare might create an antidote—or something far more sinister.

Comparisons

The gameplay feels like a botanical twist on Papers, Please, with its focus on cross-referencing and decision-making under pressure, but without the time limits. It also shares DNA with Return of the Obra Dinn, another detective puzzler that rewards meticulous observation. Unlike those games, Strange Horticulture’s pacing is deliberately slow, encouraging you to savor each clue.

What Stands Out

The tactile UI is a highlight. Dragging your map out of a drawer, affixing labels to plants, or flipping through your book feels physical. It’s immersive, like rifling through a real desk. The game also avoids hand-holding—there’s no “quest log” telling you what to do next. This freedom can be daunting but makes every discovery rewarding. For example, I spent 20 minutes puzzling over a customer’s request for a plant that “screams when burned,” only to realize it was Harlequin Blue after re-reading its encyclopedia entry. That “aha!” moment is the game’s magic.

Art & Design

Strange Horticulture’s aesthetic is a love letter to gothic Victoriana. The art is hand-drawn, with muted greens, browns, and purples that evoke a rainy, fog-laden town. Plants are the stars—each one, from the spiky Swiftsnare to the fluffy Fox Button, is uniquely designed with eerie charm. The soundscape seals the deal: constant rain patters, your cat Hellebore purrs, and subtle creaks add ambiance.

Immersion Factor

The shop’s desk is a microcosm of the game’s world. You can interact with everything—move notes, open drawers, even pet Hellebore (yes, there’s a Steam achievement for it!). Hidden compartments reveal secrets, like a coded disc that unlocks later puzzles. This attention to detail makes the single-screen setting feel alive, unlike the static environments of some point-and-click games.

Drawbacks

On Nintendo Switch, the text can be tiny, especially in handheld mode, and the cursor feels clunky without a mouse. PC is the way to play for precision and readability. The art, while gorgeous, doesn’t evolve much over the game’s 4–7 hours, which might disappoint players craving visual variety.

Story & Pacing

Strange Horticulture’s narrative is a slow-burn occult mystery. You inherit the shop from your late uncle, and as customers visit, you’re drawn into Undermere’s dark secrets. Witches, cults, and a demonic entity called the Woken Dendrew weave a tale of murder, betrayal, and cosmic horror. Your choices—helping a coven or sabotaging a cult—shape the story’s eight endings, from saving the world to unleashing unspeakable horrors.

Narrative Strengths

The story shines through its characters and world-building. Regulars like Simone the librarian or the enigmatic Woman in the Jade Mask become familiar faces, their gossip revealing Undermere’s underbelly. For instance, choosing to give a rude customer a plant that worsens their rash (instead of curing it) has consequences that ripple later. The writing is subtle, leaning on implication rather than exposition, which suits the game’s moody vibe.

Pacing Issues

The first hour can feel repetitive as you adjust to the plant identification loop. The story doesn’t pick up until day three or four, when map exploration and alchemy deepen the stakes. Some players might find the daily routine—open shop, serve customers, close shop—too methodical, especially if they’re not into slow-paced narratives. Compared to Stardew Valley, which balances farming with dynamic social interactions, Strange Horticulture’s story feels more linear despite its branching paths.

Performance & Bugs

On PC, Strange Horticulture runs flawlessly. I tested it on a mid-range rig (RTX 3060, Ryzen 5 5600X, 16GB RAM), and it was smooth as butter, with no crashes or frame drops. Load times are near-instant, and the game’s lightweight requirements mean it’ll run on almost any modern system.

On Switch, performance is solid but not perfect. Occasional input lag when navigating menus and the aforementioned tiny text can frustrate. I encountered no game-breaking bugs, but one Reddit user reported a glitch where duplicate plants blocked a puzzle solution, requiring a restart. Patches have addressed most launch issues, so these are rare

Who This Game Is For

Strange Horticulture isn’t for everyone, but it’s a must-play for specific gamers:

• Puzzle Enthusiasts: If you love deduction games like The Witness or Her Story, the plant identification and map puzzles will scratch that itch.
• Cozy Gamers with a Twist: Fans of Stardew Valley who want something darker but still relaxing will vibe with its ambiance.
• Narrative-Driven Players: If you enjoy branching stories with moral choices, like in Firewatch, the game’s endings offer replay value.
• Plant Nerds: Botany buffs or Animal Crossing players will geek out over the fictional herbarium, even if it’s not real-world flora.

Who Should Pass

• Action Fans: If you prefer fast-paced games like Doom or Hollow Knight, the slow, cerebral pace might bore you.
• Graphics Hounds: If you need AAA visuals, the minimalist art won’t cut it.
• Short Attention Spans: The lack of hand-holding and methodical gameplay can feel overwhelming if you’re not patient.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Immersive, tactile UI that makes every action feel meaningful
• Unique plant identification puzzles that reward observation
• Atmospheric art and sound design with a cozy yet creepy vibe
• Branching narrative with eight endings for replayability
• Petting the cat (Hellebore is the real MVP!)

Cons:

• Cons:
• Slow start can deter casual players
• Tiny text and clunky controls on Switch
• Repetitive gameplay loop for those not not into into slow-paced puzzlers
• Limited visual variety beyond the shop

Final Verdict

Strange Horticulture is a rare bloom in the gaming world—a puzzle game that’s equal parts relaxing and unsettling, with a narrative that lingers. Its tactile gameplay and gothic atmosphere make it a standout, despite a slow start and some Switch-specific niggles. At $14.99, it’s a steal for puzzle fans, cozy gamers, or anyone intrigued by a plant shop with Lovecraftian secrets. It’s not perfect, but like a well-tended garden, it grows on you. I give it an 8/10—a must-play if you’re craving something offbeat.

FAQ

Is Strange Horticulture Worth Playing?

Absolutely, if you enjoy puzzle games, atmospheric narratives, or cozy sims with a dark edge. It’s a refreshing departure from mainstream titles, offering 4–7 hours of immersive gameplay for $14.99. If you hate slow-paced or text-heavy games, you might want to pass.

How Long Is Strange Horticulture?

A single playthrough takes 4–6 hours, depending on how obsessively you solve puzzles and explore. Multiple endings add replay value, pushing total playtime to 10–15 hours for completionists.

Is Strange Horticulture Scary, Relaxing, or Challenging?

• Scary: Not scary in a jump-scare way, but it has creepy Lovecraftian vibes and moments of dread, like hearing about a cult summoning demons. It’s more unsettling than terrifying.
• Relaxing: The rain-soaked ambiance, purring cat, and methodical puzzles make it cozy for most players. It’s perfect for unwinding with a podcast or tea.
• Challenging: Puzzles are moderately tough, requiring careful reading and deduction. They’re satisfying but not frustrating, with hints if you’re stuck.

What Games Are Similar to Strange Horticulture?

• Papers, Please: Both involve cross-referencing documents and making moral choices, but Strange Horticulture is less stressful and more atmospheric.
• Return of the Obra Dinn: Shares the detective-like deduction and eerie tone, but Obra Dinn’s visuals are more stylized, and it’s less narrative-driven.
• Stardew Valley: For cozy gamers, Stardew’s farming and community vibes align, but it lacks the occult mystery and puzzle depth of Strange Horticulture.