This article originally ran in Back Alley Games Issue 11, January 2025

Do you want to be a goth, murder-solving nun? Of course you do.

If you have a penchant for moody atmosphere, medieval artwork in oppressive grayscale, and a cloister of potentially murderous nuns; you owe it to yourself to play Misericorde. Releasing its first entry in 2023 and its second at the beginning of this year, its black and white stone halls brim with an incredibly strong sense of the setting, coupling photos of medieval churches with hand drawn character sprites. 

The characters themselves are incredibly human as they struggle with faith, a changing political landscape, and their place in the world both large and small.

Visual novels as a genre are no strangers to tackling heavier themes, and Misericorde takes to that concept enthusiastically. Its abbey setting is used to full effect, with players being guided through the tale of a young anchoress who has an unexpected role thrust upon her amid a small cloister’s tragedy. 

Downtempo beats underscore the game’s prose, providing beautiful contrast without detracting from the mood. Misericorde does not shy away from discussions of theology, the characters’ beliefs lying at the heart of every discussion.

OELVNs (Original English Language Visual Novels) tend to occupy an odd space in the indie gaming and development sphere. Some devs consider visual novels in general to be merely a rite of passage into more “legitimate” games, many players consider them to be niche at best, and many others don’t consider them games at all. Misericorde is a perfect example of how many compelling experiences are pushed to the wayside through this mindset; its panels and prose paint a picture that feels at times more like fragmented memory than a depiction of moment-by-moment reality. 

While the game could ostensibly still exist in another form, it is only through the route of a visual novel that it is able to communicate its chosen visual language so effectively. Regardless of whether or not you’re familiar with the genre, I’d wholeheartedly recommend Misericorde if it sounds even remotely interesting to you. One way or another, you’ll walk away with a great deal of opinions, which is the marker of any truly effective piece of art.