The Ethereal Dream (2025)

Developer: 鸭子与葱制作组
Publisher: NVLMaker
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Adventure, Indie, Simulation
Rating: 3.8 of 5, 289 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 6.5 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A slow-paced, text-heavy visual novel with a gothic medieval atmosphere, blending mystery and romance as you explore a haunted estate through choice-driven dialogue and investigation.

atmosphericmysteriousgothicromanticstory-richinteractivecontemplativeanime-inspired

What players say

Players split on this otome. Many call the story poorly written and say the male leads appear as floating orbs during most of the day, with bedroom scenes that either black out or repeat one CG. Fans of forced romance and dark themes find it appealing after installing the patch, but others say the text reads like a machine translation and the pacing is tedious.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.