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The Sad Story of Emmeline Burns

PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Linux • 2016

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Quick resume

A short lesbian / yuri visual novel set in England. Our heroine, Toma Andrews, meets a ghost girl wearing an old-fashioned nightgown in a graveyard who calls herself Emmeline. Just who is she, and how did she die?

Global score

90/100

Genres

Adventure, Casual, Indie, Visual Novel

Similar games

    Pros

    • Beautiful and unique art style
    • Emotional and well-written story
    • Soothing piano soundtrack
    • Free to play
    • Easy achievements

    Cons

    • Very short length
    • No gameplay or interactivity
    • Linear with no choices
    • Some players find story predictable
    • Sound effects occasionally jarring

    Analysis

    A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Autonomy, Strategy, Experimenting, Competence. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Intimacy. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Exploration, Thrill.

    How to use the graph
    Similar games map

    Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Motivations” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

    • Larger dot with a light outline: the game you are viewing.
    • Colour: groups of games with comparable motivation patterns (statistical clusters).
    • Hover a dot to see the game name; click to open its page.
    • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

    Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers.

    Motivations

    • Autonomy
      -5

      "The game is a kinetic visual novel with no player choices or branching paths, so players follow a fixed narrative without control over actions."

    • Competence
      -5

      "There are no skill challenges or gameplay mechanics; the experience is purely reading a linear story."

    • Competition
      -5

      "The game is single-player with no competitive elements or social comparison."

    • Continuation
      1

      "Some players report emotional engagement and replays for achievements or extra scenes, but overall the game is short and linear."

    • Cooperation
      -5

      "The experience is solitary reading with no multiplayer or cooperative features."

    • Creativity
      1

      "While the story is fixed, the game features unique art style and narrative, but players do not create or modify content."

    • Domination
      -5

      "No social dominance or power dynamics are present; interactions are narrative only."

    • Escapism
      4

      "Players use the game to immerse in an emotional, fictional story that provides distraction and emotional experience."

    • Expectation
      -4

      "Players engage voluntarily for personal interest in story and themes, not out of obligation."

    • Experimenting
      -5

      "The game offers no mechanics for experimentation; the story is fixed and linear."

    • Exploration
      -5

      "No exploration of new areas or secrets; the narrative is straightforward and linear."

    • Expression
      -5

      "No character customization or personal expression options are available."

    • Fantasy
      3

      "The story includes supernatural elements (ghosts) and Victorian-era romantic fiction, providing imaginative experience."

    • Fellowship
      -5

      "The game is a solo experience without community or social interaction."

    • Growth
      3

      "Players experience emotional growth and reflection through the story's themes of identity and love."

    • Health
      -5

      "The game involves sedentary reading with no physical activity."

    • Idle
      3

      "The game can be played in short sessions and is suitable for casual reading."

    • Intimacy
      4

      "The story focuses on close emotional relationships and romantic intimacy between characters."

    • Leadership
      -5

      "No leadership or group management elements are present."

    • Progression
      2

      "Players unlock achievements and extra scenes as they progress through the story."

    • Relaxation
      4

      "The game provides a calming, melancholic atmosphere with soothing music and art."

    • Sensation
      3

      "Visuals and music provide emotional and sensory stimulation, though not intense or thrilling."

    • Status
      -5

      "No social recognition or status systems are involved."

    • Story
      5

      "The game is entirely focused on narrative immersion with a strong, emotional story."

    • Strategy
      -5

      "No strategic or problem-solving gameplay elements exist."

    • Thrill
      -3

      "The story is emotional but not suspenseful or thrilling; it is calm and reflective."

    • Value
      5

      "The game is free with high-quality art, music, and story, providing excellent value for time invested."

    • Violence
      -3

      "While the story includes tragic death, the gameplay does not focus on violence or combat."

    • Survival
      -5

      "No survival or threat avoidance mechanics are present."

    Where to buy

    Come talk about it on Discord!

    Last update: 29/04/2026