The Dark Queen of Mortholme v1.0

The Dark Queen of Mortholme is a short, macabre second-person indie in which you play the titular Queen - the last barrier between a tireless Hero and the end credits. Presented on a fixed screen with lovingly handcrafted pixel art, the game lets you unleash the Queen’s evolving arsenal to slay (and re-slay) a persistent foe. It’s compact by design: meant to be experienced and finished in a single, emotional sitting, yet it hides replay value through branching dialogue and multiple endings.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Gameplay and replayability
Gameplay focuses on using the Queen’s attacks and timing to put an end to the annoying Hero. Although the core loop is simple, the Queen’s moves evolve and the Hero keeps returning, which creates a satisfying challenge loop. Dialogue choices change how the story unfolds - you can either sympathize with the Hero’s point of view or remain the Everlasting Queen - so multiple playthroughs can reveal different outcomes.

Presentation and audio
The pixel art is carefully crafted to give the game a strong tactile feel on a single screen, and the haunting score reinforces the dark, atmospheric tone. The combination of tight visuals and sound makes each encounter feel charged and memorable despite the game’s short length.

Verdict
If you enjoy compact, character-driven experiences with a dark sense of humor and strong presentation, The Dark Queen of Mortholme delivers a succinct but resonant experience. Its short runtime makes it easy to play through multiple times to explore alternate endings, and the evolving attacks and relentless Hero keep the challenge engaging.

Key features
- Unleash Queenly Chaos: wield an ever-evolving set of devastating attacks.
- A Relentless Foe: face a persistent Hero in a final (and repeatable) showdown.
- Handcrafted Pixel Art: fixed-screen visuals designed for impeccable game feel.
- A Haunting Score: atmospheric music that suits the Queen’s domain.
- Multiple Endings: dialogue choices influence the story and outcomes.
- Conquer and Collect: unlock Steam achievements as you slay the Hero.
- A Challenge Worth Finishing: designed to be completed in one emotional sitting.

The Dark Queen of Mortholme can be downloaded from Steam.