Amarantus

Amarantus follows Arik, who has grown up hearing that a tyrant rules the country and someone must act. After a midnight attack forces him to flee his burning home, with his parents captured, he gathers a party and heads for the capital to bring down the Lord. His choices shape how he wins friends, makes enemies, plays matchmaker and breaks hearts as the group grows closer or further apart.

Arik and his party

Arik is an illustrated, defined character with his own personality, and he responds to the choices you make. Four distinct party members can become your friends, rivals, romantic interests or allies in relationships with one another. Relationships may be romantic, platonic, sexual, antagonistic or polyamorous, and romance is not guaranteed.

The group’s interactions include learning to pronounce a character’s name correctly, choosing nicknames, making friends laugh and dealing with the consequences of ill-judged hookups or declaring your love to three characters in one day. You can nearly hold hands with someone you love, make a bad decision and try to redeem yourself while the others make snide comments, or announce a plan as a party member silently rolls their eyes. These choices can bring awkwardness and conflict, but they do not end a playthrough prematurely.

Choices and replaying

Every choice affects your playthrough without ending it. A single run takes 3–4 hours, and multiple playthroughs are needed to uncover the truth.

Art and sound

The game includes unlockable graphic inserts by comic artist Hien Pham, along with dynamic sound design and an original post-rock soundtrack.