Strange Antiquities

Strange Antiquities is a puzzle game about identifying artifacts for the customers that enter your shop. You have to select the right antiques from your cabinet by observing their various aspects and matching them to entries inside a codex. The game takes a unique spin on the point-and-click genre — by relying on a methodical layer of puzzle gameplay and tying it up to a mysterious, absorbing story.

A sequel to Strange Horticulture, Strange Antiquities is a similar deduction-based game where you are tasked to identify various cursed artifacts from a codex. The codex notes may tell you something about the weight of the object you search, the symbols it features, or even the arcane effects it will exert on its owner. These elements can clue you in to other methods for identifying yet unknown artifacts. Sometimes, you have the option to choose between two artifacts to give to a customer; this may affect the storyline going forward.

You can also inspect maps and pick out specific spots to explore the surrounding areas. There are no visuals when you explore places outside the shop; the events are narrated on the screen. If done properly, this exploration will yield more artifacts for your shop as well as additional lore. However, if you misunderstand the clues and pick a wrong place to explore, this will hurt your sanity meter. Breaching the meter triggers a short mini-game in which you roll and place dice to restore your sanity.

You will need plenty of logical reasoning, observation, and pattern recognition in order to find out which relic is which. Not only that, the shop hides some secrets of its own, and clever curiosity may net you various rewards. You may receive additional clues by mail, and you also have access to an archive inventory of sorts to store various letters and documents, as well as a magnifying glass to reveal obscured information.

At the end of each day, you’ll be presented with a snippet of story alongside a tarot card. To uncover the meaning behind these cryptic cards, you’ll have to understand where to apply their clues. In case you don’t find what to do with this information, Strange Antiquities features a hint system that gently nudges you in the right direction, but never outright spoonfeeds you the answer. After reaching the credits for the first time, you might want to revisit some of the choices you made, and see how the inhabitants of Undermere fare in consequence.

This description was written by Hira.