Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches delivers a classic first-person point-and-click adventure experience that places a heavy emphasis on exploration and inventory-based puzzles. From the moment you set foot in the foreboding farmhouse of Ty Pryderi, you’ll find yourself meticulously combing through every nook and cranny for useful items. Unlike many modern adventures, this game does away with dialogue trees and character interactions—instead, it challenges you to solve the haunting mystery purely through observation, item combination, and logic.

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The absence of conversation-based puzzles means almost every challenge relies on collecting, examining, and combining objects in your inventory. Early on, you might find a rusty key or an antique charm that seems useless—until you uncover the precise moment to employ it. This design choice keeps the player focused on the environment and the sense of mounting dread, though it can lead to occasional head-scratching if an item’s purpose isn’t immediately obvious.

Progression is thoughtfully paced, with each puzzle offering a satisfying “aha” moment when the solution snaps into place. Hints are organically built into the environment—clues appear in faded journal entries or whispered thoughts from Rhiannon herself—so there’s rarely a sense of arbitrary trial and error. If you enjoy methodical puzzle-solving and don’t mind a slower, more introspective pace, the gameplay will grip you until the final revelation.

Graphics

Visually, Rhiannon adopts a blend of hand-painted backgrounds and subtle 3D elements that evoke an unsettling Welsh countryside. The muted color palette—dominated by grays, mossy greens, and twilight blues—perfectly underscores the game’s horror and fantasy elements. While character animations are minimal, the stillness of Rhiannon’s surroundings only deepens the sense of isolation and vulnerability.

Lighting plays a pivotal role in the game’s atmosphere: shifting shadows cast by gnarled trees, flickering lanterns in dusty hallways, and the intermittent glow of moonlight through boarded windows all contribute to a palpable sense of unease. Environmental details—peeling wallpaper, rust-ed farm tools, and creeping ivy—are rendered with care, making exploration feel immersive even on modest hardware.

Though it may not match the polygon counts or dynamic shaders of contemporary titles, Rhiannon’s visual style is deliberate and cohesive. Each background scene feels like a living painting that invites scrutiny, and close-up examinations of objects often reveal intricate designs tied to Welsh folklore. This visual fidelity to theme and tone is where the game’s graphical strengths truly shine.

Story

At its heart, Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches weaves a haunting narrative about a teenage girl whose grip on reality is increasingly called into question. You play as Rhiannon herself, returning to her family’s remote Welsh farm, only to discover that eerie phenomena are escalating. Is the farm genuinely haunted by ancient spirits, or does Rhiannon’s troubled psyche paint every creak and shadow as supernatural? The game never tips its hand too soon, leaving you to parse reality from delusion.

The plot unfolds through environmental storytelling—tattered letters, cryptic carvings, and fragmented diary entries—crafting a layered mythos that draws from Celtic legend. As you piece together the backstory of Ty Pryderi, you’ll encounter references to the Four Branches of the Mabinogi, an ancient Welsh saga of gods, heroes, and curses. These mythological threads enrich the narrative, transforming what could have been a simple haunted-house tale into a deeper exploration of heritage and destiny.

Rhiannon’s internal monologue, delivered via select on-screen captions, lends emotional weight to the unfolding mystery. Her fear, confusion, and fleeting moments of hope feel authentic, forging a strong connection between player and protagonist. By the time you approach the finale, the line between myth and madness blurs, and the story’s final twist leaves a lasting impression on both your nerves and your imagination.

Overall Experience

Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches is a niche gem for fans of classic point-and-click adventures and horror aficionados seeking a slower, more cerebral scare. Its deliberate pacing and reliance on inventory puzzles may not appeal to those accustomed to fast-paced action or heavy dialogue, but for players who relish unraveling atmospheric mysteries, it delivers a uniquely immersive journey.

The game’s strengths lie in its cohesive blend of mythological lore, haunting visuals, and puzzle design that feels rewarding rather than arbitrary. While some puzzles can be obtuse—especially when combining seemingly unrelated items—perseverance brings a strong sense of accomplishment. Additionally, the lack of other characters to converse with can feel isolating, but this very solitude amplifies the tension and focus on Rhiannon’s fragile mental state.

Ultimately, Rhiannon: Curse of the Four Branches stands out as a thoughtfully crafted adventure that pays homage to the golden age of point-and-click gaming while carving its own niche with Welsh folklore and psychological horror. If you’re in the market for an eerie, introspective dive into the uncanny, this game is well worth the trip to Ty Pryderi farm—just be prepared to question every creak in the floorboards.

Retro Replay Score

7/10