The Arcana - A Mystic Romance

Beautiful game with interesting characters and storylines. I end up only playing it once a day because the keys take a long time to refresh, but I treat it like a TV show that only comes on once in a while. The pricing for coins is quite high compared to similar games, which limits the extra scenes I'm able to unlock. Still, 5/5 for the art and story.

The story lines are fun, and the characters are charming. However, I got through all of the "free" storylines within a few days and you have to spend around $10 to unlock a story book for unlimited viewing, and up to $10 multiple times to unlock the "special" scene choices for each character.... I've spun the daily wheel over 30 times and have yet to unlock the additional trinket scenes or land on the 1k coins. Unfortunately I just can't afford spending over $70 on a mobile story game just to see the rest of the locked stories.

Wonderful — I would expect nothing less from the Nix Hydra crew. I've been an avid fan of the content they produce for quite some time, so I was most merry when seeing they created a 'dating game' of sorts. I'm truly charmed with Nadia and Asra's routes, and I'm strongly looking forward to see what they will do with Portia's route, as well. The writing is absolutely splendid, the art is clean and appealing to the eye, and the music is placid to the ears. Now, despite the choices involving coins, these don't seem to affect much compared to other apps (such as Lovestruck and Choices). In addition, the waiting time for the keys to 'reappear' isn't long, and — overall — this has been an enjoyable experience so far.

This is such a wonderful game! I really, truly, enjoyed playing it. But I was wondering if there is any way to reset? Like, a way to reset and go through all the routes and choose different options? If there is please tell me! I would like to know! And I was also wondering if I could start a YouTube Series with this game? I would like to know if I could!

I really love it. The artwork is gorgeous and the plot is really sucking me in. What I personally was really happy about, is that you get to choose your pronouns. It's a shame though that it's not completed yet but I know that the waiting is going to pay off for sure! Also a suggestion for earning coins since so many people on this side have criticized the prices: some games offer coins ect. for watching ads. I am not in the game industry, so I don't know anything about it, but maybe - since a lot of games are doing this - that could be a possibility.

Decent story but the keys take way too long to replenish and the pricing is... violent at best. If anything... charge like a base price to unlock the game. Maybe $50~$60 ish if we're being generous and you want to call it a book. But having to pay like $30~$40 per chapter is... ridiculous. Artwork is great and the story is good but it's not SO amazing that I'd be willing to pay what they're asking for this.

I love everything about this game! It's graphics and story line are simply just stunning!! I would rate five stars but I just have one small problem that causes a huge impact on my game play. Getting coins is simply too hard. As someone who cannot pay for coins and has to rely on the wheel to get them it is getting quite boring to spin it again and again just to get the same trinket. I know that the extra scenes are vital to the story and that you guys have to make revenue somehow but maybe taking a trinket off the wheel after someone gets in and replacing it with another would be a good idea? Again, I love almost everything about this game!! And If you're reading this trying to decide whether to download it. Do It! You'll be blow away!

This game is absolutely amazing!! I love it so much!! I only have one complaint. 7 hours is way to long for just one key! I will say, I'm a naturally impatient person, but 7 hours is a bit over kill. I would understand of it was 7 hours to completely refill you keys, but it only supplies one key. Other then the extremely long wait, I think this game is absolutely perfect!!

I'm enjoying the story and gameplay a lot so far but I do agree the waiting time for one key being 8 hours is ridiculous. Earning coins is equally difficult - at least one of these things should be more accessible. As I understand this game got $10k over its funding on kickstarter so i cant fathom the need for the massive overcharging, either.

This is, hands-down, the best romance game I've played. The story and art in this game are phenomenal. The characters are all interesting and unique, and the story is always moving in a direction that keeps me hooked for more. I can't express enough just how much I love the writing. As with others, I think the microtransactions are on the steeper end pricewise. But I love the story so much that I don't really mind.

Never been in love with a game and the characters as bad as this. Everything about this game is so beautiful. We can feel how much the game developers have dedicated themselves in this project. I wish The Arcana would stay like this and there would be more new characters and surprises in the future. My only concern is in the matter of the price of the routes. I dont mind paying for good games, but if we count further, the paid options would be very pricey. I hope there would be a way out for this so both party can still enjoy doing what they love or work for. Kuddos for the devs and the fandom (which I am gladly a part of :)

The game itself is great. The story is engaging, the characters interesting and varied, and the art is beautiful. The extremely expensive microtransactions, however, are killing the game. I don't mind paying for a game I like, but having to shell out so much money for the best choices is ridiculous. You can technically play the game without them, but you'll be missing out on vital information and character development. It feels like you get severely punished when you don't/can't pick the paid option.

I absolutely adore this game, the art, the characters, everything! I love love love the fact you can customize your characters gender. My only issue is how much the game relies on the coin system and how damn difficult it is to get said coins. Either play a mini game (which I have for the past six days and have gotten roughly 40 coins) or pay real money to do things you want to do with the characters. I feel that the cost for actions should either be less or have an easier way of getting the in game currency. It's getting really frustrating and makes me not want to play the game.

I really want to give this a better review, because I absolutely love it. The art is amazing, I love the music and characters, but the pricing is insane. I pay in ringgit (Malaysian) so I get that I have to pay more because our currency is a lot weaker than the dollar, but even trying to play one route for me would make anyone in Malaysia go broke. It's 41RM for one book and currently there's one book for 3 characters. To play all there is right now would cost me 123RM. I know in dollars it wouldn't be a lot, but for me a Malaysian it's insane (That's like 8 - 10 good meals). If prices dropped I would definitely buy the whole thing.

I wasn't expecting much but wow. Super great story and I could really feel the intensity and subtle character work. Very good all around. The only thing is that I wish I could just pay a set fee and just be able to play the whole thing instead of the unlocking system :/

Wonderful, though I'm not fussed on Muriel's face- it seems oddly 'pretty' for a dark mysterious character- and some of Nadia's lines feel a little off for a Countess/ someone-raised-with-privilege. That's besides the point. While I completely understand why you've imposed paywalls (I firmly believe in compensating artists for their work,) the currency system feels unbalanced. I respect your decisions, bottom-line, but I think rewarding the player with 50 coins per day rather than a free spin works better. The player can choose to spend the money on obtaining trinkets or saving it for the premium story routes. You'd probably need to go back and adjust your other paywalls (perhaps unlocking books with smaller real money fee than an in-game money sum) but I think this may be fairer ????

It's a great story so far, the characters are great and unique so is the story besides the art. I'm glad it's not a pay to read thing or point earning either to enjoy such a creative story. I just can't stand pay for chapters idea much anymore. You know how much I'll spend daily for every story.

I am a very UNLUCKY person or the wheel just don't work properly cause I haven't got the 1000 coin from the start I played it. It's very frustrating when I almost get it and it falls back to the trinket. Please, is there anything I can do? Other than that, I love every part of the game. The illustration, the story line and all.

...oh. Only three romance routes, and all of them were characters I wanted nothing to do with. Guess I'm done with this one. It's a good game if you like one of the limited options it gives you. Otherwise, you'll be forced in to a romance you don't want to continue the story. Take it as you will.

I feel like the wheel spin is scripted to never hit 1000. But the main issue is that the 5 currency is a little bit annoyed since it makes no difference or isn't particularly rewarding when using 20 coins. The duplicates are also annoying.

Guys, the spin game, how is it supposed to work? Once ever 12 hours, right? I have this issue, it has completed the timing and is in 00:00:00 but I have to pay to spin again. Edit: The spin timer is fixed now. ^^ Correction: The spin timer is till bugged. Waiting for the fifth update then. Edit: Got it this time. When my timer stops ticking, if I'm later but an amount of minutes, it reloads to 14 hours forward. My timer stopped ticking at 5.08am and I opened the app at 6.38am. The timer was back to the countdown 12 hours 30 minutes. Not great. Edit: Good news. This time, the spinner is fixed. Hopefully. ^^

Well the gameplay itself is amazing but there's too many bugs. For example every time I open the app I have to start from the beginning all over again. The Asra route doesn't work and don't even get me started on the outrageous amount of money you ask for every small item.

I love the game and the stories, though it's all too expensive perhaps if we could sell excess trinkets for gold or trade them in for a different one that would be more interesting? Other than that I'm super into the story though I'm eager for the next book!!

I had to uninstall this app. Not because I don't like it, but because I can't afford to spend $30+ every month (I know that I can play for free but I love the bonus content too much to not buy it) to fuel my obsession whith these characters when the next part of the story comes out. 10/10 would spend money again, but too broke to keep playing. Keep up the great work Nix Hydra!

I like this game but i dont love it. Nothing is wrong w/ the characters or plot but whyyy?!? Why can't i make my own avatar! Atleast a sneak peek! But so far good #Juliansquad

This is absolutely amazing! The story is captivating, the characters are well thought out and the text is definitely thorough! I audibly gasped when it asked me my pronouns, it made my entire day! I wish there were more games like this one!

This game is amazing, truly, I'm absolutely hooked - the only thing I dislike is that it is very expensive and the paid scenes are what really make the game wonderful but I hate that fact. I'm hoping this will be rectified soon by giving us poor folks ways to still enjoy the game without having to pay to do so. I'd even be willing to pay for the app itself rather than fork out money for coins and such.

I'm obsessed! The art style and writing is amazing; the characters all have an appealing design and are so well developed. The story reels you in, can't wait for it to continue in the next updates!!

Okay so it would have had five stars but I agree with everyone else, the prices are outrageous, and also, when I saw this recent update I got so excited because I've been waiting for more story since completing all 3 characters a week ago... but there wasn't anything new, just a hidden scene that I'm still 4 trinkets away from, cool, but not progressing the story that I truly want. I was so bummed. You guys have a great, mysterious story going, don't ruin the story telling experience with hefty micro transactions and making us wait months at a time for new story. Yeah, authors do it between books, but at least they give us content the size of a book, you know? I know it takes a lot of work, but even one character, one book every two weeks should be doable. And... You guys realize that other apps cost at most like $2.99 right? For the whole game? You also realize that a 1200 page epic by Brandon Sanderson costs $16, and you are asking $10 for 3 small chapters just because you have music and pretty pictures? Guys, I like what you have produced, but I'd sooner uninstall this app and read Oathbringer all day every day. Or just play with my own tarot cards, or just do anything else but this.

Stunning artwork, great characters. When I downloaded this game I couldn't stop playing, I was so immersed and every minor dialogue choice felt like real life decision. But when I later saw, that in order to make a dialagoue choice I have to spend coins, which pretty much means real money, I went crazy. This is so stupid to do something like that. In the game, where you choose what to say and what to do you can't be forced to BUY a choice fitting your character. Until this is gone, 3 stars. Maybe I will play this again in the future, cause this is brilliant game. Just destroyed by stupidly implemented microtransactions.

You deserved to get those compliments in which I do agree. My only ranting is regarding the not-so-fortune wheel. I mean only a spin for each exactly 24hrs? Otherwise 20 coins? Not cool. Not so worthy to compared with the prizes on the wheel. I have played several weeks to see the results. Probably some mission-to-do which gives some coins for reward? I really hope I could unfold the mystery. I'll be right back when everything's in place and get updated...

Way too overpriced, charging for 10$ per 3 chapter that's limited to ONE CHARACTER only is overkill. I've paid for a lot of mobile and steam otome games but none has charged for over 30 (40 or max 50$ for the complete game that has at least up to 5 characters) for a SINGLE CHARACTER. It really takes the enjoyment and the moment. Feels like a scam as well when u first pay for it and then realise oh hey book 2 is here and it costs 10 buck as well, enjoy that, suckers....

Honestly this is the first game of this sort that you have to use coins and stuff from the game that I honestly love. But maybe a better way than having to spend real money and using the wheel of fortune to get coins? Because I really want to click the coin options sometimes but I spent all my coins on this one option and I can't do anything now because I only have 15 coins. But other than that, brilliant! Would love more games like this from this company!

Amazing game with detailed and interesting characters. Very entertaining to play and beautiful artwork. Love the story, however I do have an issue with the pricing. It's so hard to win coins within the game and buying them is very expensive, especially considering it's for each chapter. I wish there was another way to win coins or a set price that would unlock all chapters with paid options included for a character. Other than that, I'd say great game.

This game is wonderful. However, you have to spend 30 dollars per story update if you actually want to enjoy the content to it's fullest. Otherwise, you get 3 keys and you have to wait 4-8 hours for one key wje n you run out. And you cannot even play any of the "extra scenes" without dishing out extra money, too. The extra scenes are optional, they say, but when you don't play them, you really feel their absence in the story. I realize it's going to have microtransactions, and I am more than willing to pay. Just not 30 dollars a month.

Its amazing! I rate it 5/5 for everything. I love the story and I also love how you added they/them pronouns. I also like that you don't make the he/him choose a girl. I made my character he/him and was able to choose Asra. I fell in love with Asra instantly. All the characters are top notch and the art is beautiful. The only thing I don't like is some of the choices I really really want to do cost 150 coins and the wheel keeps giving me trinkets when I want the coins. Its a lovely story and I highly suggest the game though!

Out of any dating sim/visual novel Ive played I keep coming back to this one for the sheer creativity of it and beauty. Had a few misconceptions with it but its a project that pulls you back. Its crazy nice and a lovely change of pace from others. There are little hiccups here and there but theres hardly any phone games out there without them. Its inclusive and lovely, all in all its a great experience.

I would much rather just pay for the whole game then spend a ton of money to make choices. Seriously what a rip off. Visual novels on steam usually cost at most $20, with this game you could easily spend twice as much as that just to make the choices you actually want to make. This seems like a really cool game and it's very pretty, but I refuse to play it anymore.

The Arcana is incredible story telling that out classes all other romantic Sims that I have played on mobile. It is open and welcoming to the genderqueer/agender community, has vibrant settings and characters, and pulls you into a magical world with believable interactions and enticing choices. I LOVE this game. Never has a mobile game so tempted me to spend real money on it. That said, I wish there was a way you could tell if an arc in a chapter still had a locked option in it, because I find myself using keys recklessly when I don't remember where the one I've done already is and am looking to unlock a new one! I ADORE THIS GAME, PLAY IT

The art in this game is stunning and very polished. However, I think the microtransactions are really expensive and not worth the price. Every interesting choice is locked unless you unlock them with premium currency or purchase a "book" that takes about 10 minutes to read through. And none of the stories are actually finished yet. Enjoying this game to the fullest will be more expensive than purchasing a couple of AAA console games (and much shorter). I do buy in-apps, but I think they should provide value, and I fail to see good value here.