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Warning! This visual novel contains instances of:

Foul language

Body horror

Screen shaking

Death and decay

Violence

Flashing images


Rosetta Halloway

Story

Meet Rosetta Halloway, a kind and hardworking young adult with a curious streak and a love of gardening.  

In her backyard is a stone waterwell filled to the brim with black water. 

The fact that this well didn't previously exist there is one thing, but then strange noises start coming from within it, which prompts Rosetta to investigate.

Galatea of the Well

Out comes a mysterious mermaid, Galatea of the Well, who appears to be particularly interested in getting acquainted with her. 

So, what exactly is this piscine stranger's deal? Do you have the strength to find out?

Features

  • A chat with a nice mermaid who has zero ulterior motives whatsoever  (...right?)
  • 8k+ word count
  • Four possible endings (2 Bad, 1 Neutral, 1 True)
  • Themes of love, and the myriad of forms it can take

(NOTE: If you're going into this game expecting a full-fledged horror experience, then you're probably not gonna be satisfied. I'd classify this game as being more akin to "pseudo-horror" than any "true" horror game. Again, the theme of the game is "Greek Love", and the elements here are all in service of that.)


StatusReleased
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, HTML5
Rating
Rated 4.6 out of 5 stars
(30 total ratings)
AuthorAtelier in Wonderland
GenreVisual Novel
Made withRen'Py
TagsCute, Fantasy, Female Protagonist, Gothic, Horror, josei, mermaid, Multiple Endings, pseudo-horror, Short
Average sessionAbout a half-hour
LanguagesEnglish
InputsKeyboard, Mouse

Download

Download
Rosetta and the Well (PC) 96 MB
Version 1.07 May 18, 2023
Download
Rosetta and the Well (Mac OS) 91 MB
Version 1.07 May 18, 2023

Install instructions

  1. Download the file that corresponds to your operating system
  2. Unzip the zip file and extract the folder to a convenient place
  3. Click the game icon and enjoy!

Development log

Comments

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I got the Neutral ending first :c

I'd imagine it'd be pretty easy to get, yeah.

Amazingly, most people that played end up getting the True End first (haha)

(+1)

Well look at me being late to the party on this one. But what better time than Halloween to dive headfirst into a spooky fairy tale?

I really loved this. I am admittedly not usually the biggest Visual Novel fan, but I was instantly taken in by the base premise and the beyond adorable artwork (which, combined with the folklore presented, gives me some major Cartoon Saloon vibes, by the way. And that's a heck of a compliment)
.

I do think occasionally a few endings drag themselves out just a tiny bit too much with a little too much narration, but that's a tiny nitpick at the very worst. This whole thing was delightful, and I'd love to see more like it.
(+1)

Really liked the game and the story! Very fairy and nostalgic type of story. Adorable interesting characaters and gorgeous music!

(+1)

Love it! How much time did it take to make the whole thing? Want to try one too :)

A few months, if I recall. Coming up with the concept took even longer, though.

I'm not the most creative of minds (lol)

(+1)

I played this a while back and I really enjoyed the game.

Yeah, I saw.

Thanks for checking it out!

(+1)

Aaaaaa, I love this sm, and if you don't , mind me asking, how many endings are there? (great game btw it's actually so good)

Hey, thanks!

And yeah, as the page states, there's four endings in total (2 Bad, 1 Neutral, 1 True)

(+1)

This was really interesting and fun to play :)

(1 edit)

Wow! What a great story. I wonder if we'll see more of this world in the future?


Also random quesiton, but what app did you use to make it.

  1. Thanks! 
  2. I had planned on making more games set in Winterport (such as one titled "Hotel Eden", which would focus on a new character named "Rosemary Magdalene"), but I need to get various factors (like assistance in writing and art) taken care of first, so it may be a long while before it'll even see a demo release...
  3. Whole game's made in Ren'Py.
(+1)

1.Your'e welcome

2.Whose to say it has to be a video game? Maybe it could be a comic instead? If you do need assistance I've got experience in art.

(2 edits)

I've made a couple of comics before, and I've found that having to draw the same thing at multiple angles and figure out backgrounds for each and every panel is harder than it seems. Meanwhile, VNs (ADV ones in particular) have a similar setback, except the panels are now larger and wider.

I've always wanted to make games, but because I lack funds and coding experience, I feel like VNs are the only type of game I can ever hope to make...

Is there a possibility that you got inspired by Madoka Magica for a certain bad-end CG? Because if so it's a very fitting reference! Either way, your art is lovely.

If you're referring to La Rosa Blu, then no, it's a coincidence.

(+1)

This game has a lovely visual style. I liked how quickly you come to understand Rosetta's character and almost wish it explored her insecurities a bit more, but it was overall still very charming!

(I want to give Camellia all the pats)

Thanks so much.

I will admit writing Rosetta herself was one of the trickier parts, especially when it came to certain endings, so if some parts move slower or quicker than others, blame that on my lack of prowess in the area...

(+1)

I wasn't able to post this before, but I really like the story. Good job.

(+2)

This was a very fun little VN! The art style was really cute, and the use of animations in some of the CGs really helped bring it to life. I can tell a lot of care was put into the sound effects too, and the music was all well-fitting.

This is very polished for a first release; I think you did a great job with it!

Since the VN is p short, it was also fun going through it multiple times to discover all of the different endings!

(+1)

Oh, this was some good stuff! Didn't take quite the turns I was expecting!

(+1)

Thanks, I'm happy you liked it! I'll admit that I've made some weird(?) choices in the story, but it's good you enjoyed Rosetta's little romp all the same.

(1 edit) (+2)

I really liked this game, and the path to achieve every ending felt like it made sense, i just wish we could have had more of a back story on Galatea. Having to attack her and her subsequent death seemed fairly tough on Rosetta, so it would have been interesting to know exactly why. Other than a few questions about the host of the well, there was really nothing to frown about. I loved the game's style, the scenes in the true ending felt like they came straight from a movie, and it was overall very fun to play. 9.5/10

Thank you!

As for Galatea, I did have some plans on developing her more in a future story, but I feel like that's waaay off into the future.

Other than that, glad you enjoyed!

(+2)

I really enjoyed how this captured the tone of a fairytale.

(+1)

If I could properly art I would SO try to draw Rosetta and Christopher tbh
And probs also how I imagine a few CG-less scenes to go hehe

I'm flattered by the gesture nonetheless! Fanart's always good (as long as it's within the realm of reason, of course)

(+2)

ah loved it! the character designs are so cute and i rly enjoyed the horror elements and worldbuilding throughout it. great work <33

(+2)

Aww, I'm very very glad! 

Horror to this extent is quite a bit out of my comfort zone, I'll admit, but I'm glad it was worth going all the way!

(+1)

Really enjoyed playing through Rosetta and the Well, loved the interactions between Rosetta and Galatea, along with the horror displayed being really graphical & gory.




Galatea while being the mermaid is also the victim herself of succumbing to the demon/devil that is the well itself, so Rosetta has the option of knowing the truth and breaking the cycle, or not knowing the well to its fullest extent and replaces Galatea as the vessel for the demon itself to continuously feed without needing to unleash its many hands.

Aww yeah, glad you enjoyed it!

cool

Thanks!

And thank you for the playthrough!