Saint Maker | PC Review

I’m a visual novel fiend. Some may even say a connoisseur. I adore how I get swept up by the narratives this genre provides, but most don’t linger with me or cause me to ponder their themes after wrapping them up. Yangyang Mobile’s Saint Maker is an exception to this statement. It’s still haunting my mind days after finishing it. It’s an exceptional psychological horror experience that is also incredibly accessible for those new to the visual novel realm.

This Place Is Definitely Haunted

Saint Maker places you in the shoes of Holly, a teenager who has been sent to Saint Idelora’s convent after a horrible tragedy has occurred. Her parents hope that she can be “healed” by sending her to the recollection that is taking place here. Holly and her rebellious roommate Gabriella have to endure a week at the convent, which is easier said than done. Of course, this is an old temple and creepy stuff happens right off the bat. Ghostly singing echoes through the halls at night, statues move of their own volition, and objects are destroyed. 

Not only do the girls have to deal with supernatural activity, but also with the strict nuns that reside at the convent. You encounter Sister Adira the most, and she’s a complex woman. She’ll be downright joyful and friendly at points, only to then suddenly snap and become cruel. You are given control of Sister Adira at certain points, which allows you to see events through her viewpoint, and you can try to control her thought process. This was an excellent gameplay addition, and adds an extra layer of complexity to this already chilling story.

Humans Are Scarier Than Ghosts

Since this is a visual novel, gameplay consists entirely of making dialogue choices at certain points. Sometimes what you say or think matters; other times the game purposely ignores your decision to further drive home a point it’s making. I thoroughly enjoyed this approach, and it felt natural. After all, humans contradict themselves all the time in real life. 

Saint Maker isn’t particularly scary, but it is haunting. Scares are mostly relegated to those of the jump variety. The game is far more reliant on the exceptional sound design and the narrative itself to chill the player to the bone. It explores religious trauma, suicide, the effects of addiction, and the cruelty humans can unleash on others. More than once, I developed a lump in my throat and felt an incredible amount of empathy and anger for these fictional characters. They feel like living, breathing humans, which is an incredible feat.

Beauty Can Be Found Everywhere

As previously mentioned, the sound design is fantastic. I nearly dropped my Steam Deck a few times due to how creepy the hushed whispers and melancholy songs were, and noises such as shattering glass and creaking doors constantly had me on edge. An extra touch that makes this an accessible foray into the visual novel genre is the fact that the majority of lines are fully voice-acted. Only internal thoughts aren’t, and these are always brief sentences. The acting is solid and felt perfectly suited for each of the characters’ personalities and ages.

The visuals are also pleasing to look at…well, when they’re supposed to be. The attention to detail is outstanding. Backgrounds are dynamic, and this small touch allows Saint Maker to feel more immersive. You’ll notice birds flying past windows, dust motes dancing in rays of sunshine, and leaves gently blowing in the wind. I always had my eyes glued behind the characters to watch these small animations taking place.

The Final Verdict

Saint Maker is an incredible visual novel that explores several deep themes. The story and characters are still haunting my thoughts, and its relatively short length of six hours makes this a perfect choice to play on a rainy day. The visuals and sound design are incredible, and the inclusion of voice-acting for most lines makes this a more accessible option for those looking to try out visual novels but who may be put off by the sheer amount of words most contain. It’s not going to scare hardcore horror fans in the traditional sense, but it will chill you to the bone with its messages. Don’t miss out on this gem of a game.

To hear me talk more about Saint Maker, be sure to listen to the March 1st episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 01:04:07 time stamp.

This review is based on a PC copy of Saint Maker provided by Yangyang Mobile for coverage purposes. It will also be available on Nintendo Switch at a later date.