Strange Antiquities Review: The Perfect Spooky Season Companion
It’s so very special when you play a game at what feels like the perfect time. Here in the UK, autumn is upon us. It’s noticeably cooler; the sun is setting far earlier than it was several weeks ago. It’s with this in mind that I’m beginning to spend far more of my free time snuggled up under a blanket, a warm cup of tea nearby as the golden glow of my lamp adds a nice sense of ambience to my increasingly darkening room. This is all usually accompanied by the whistle of the wind outside, or the heavy patter of rain against my window, as well as the soundtrack to Strange Antiquities as it’s this game which has been my constant companion as the cosy season begins.
Strange Antiquities is quite frankly one of the most enjoyable puzzle games I’ve ever played. It so perfectly walks the line of leaving the player to their own devices whilst having a helping hand available, should you need it. It sees you embody the role of a thaumaturge’s apprentice, someone who studies the physics of magic, as you assume control of a shop specialising in occult antiquities. You’ll need to hunt down new artefacts as well as determine what each item is in a bid to assist the residents of Undermere with their array of troubling and macabre issues.
Developed by Bad Viking, Strange Antiquities is a follow-up to 2022’s Strange Horticulture, also set within the town of Undermere. You need not worry, however, if you haven’t played that former title. Outside of their shared setting and mechanics, both entries function as standalone instalments, although I will say that returning players will noticeably benefit from an array of new features that truly allow the formula that Bad Viking has cooked up to excel.
Strange Antiquities is largely played from a single locale. You’ll ring the bell in your occult shop, welcoming in customers who will more often than not come to you with an ailment or problem of some kind, requesting a specific occult item. In some instances, they’ll name the item. In others, they’ll describe its function. It’s up to you to figure out what it is that they’re after, and you’ll have a number of tools at your disposal.
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Reference books are perhaps your best friend. From the offset, you’ll have a book of thaumaturgy to make use of, allowing you to see descriptions of the occult objects you seek. These descriptions may offer clues about the object's design or function, for example. Additional books pertaining to the meaning behind certain gemstones, symbols, or ailments of the mind then offer additional clues. You may need to make use of the shop’s scales, plus you can simply interact with the object, observing how it feels, what it’s made of, and whether it elicits any peculiar feelings within you.
It’s a simple premise, really; you’re tasked with carrying out some good old fashioned detective work that’s a total joy for puzzling fiends like me. Very rarely is the answer obvious. It’s only after exhausting all of your investigative options that a possible correct item may come to light - and more often than not, you’ll perhaps narrow it down to two, prompting you with figuring out the final crucial clue you’re missing. I should stress that you’ll acquire more items as the game progresses, so deducing the correct item is perhaps slightly easier in early stages, although you won’t have a single one labelled at that point, so not by a great amount. I also want to make it clear that you won’t begin with every book available. First, it’s the general thaumaturgy tome, which’ll then be joined by the volume on symbology. Strange Antiquities is careful to build up the level of challenge, without having things begin in too simple of a manner either.
One of my very favourite aspects of the game is that you’re largely left to your own devices from the get go without being walked through anything at all. That may seem daunting but it really feeds into what the game is setting out to do in making you feel like an apprentice dropped in at the deep end. The scales, for example, are hidden inside a cupboard the game wouldn’t have instructed me to open had I not experimented with what I could interact with within my shop. It’s why Strange Antiquities excelled for me; it felt so thoroughly rewarding to reach a solution. There is a hint button in the top right-hand corner, however, if you are struggling.
You shouldn’t be too afraid to take a risk though. I wouldn’t suggest you guess items willy-nilly, but there are no damning consequences to making a mistake. After making several, a dark curse will overcome you, prompting a dice rolling mini-game. Essentially, you have to match the symbol on the dice to those on a board without rolling too many crossed bones as these act as lives, of sorts. For example, nine crossed bones results in game over but even then, you’ll simply begin the mini-game again. It’s pretty fun, actually, and I didn’t mind having to take it on from time-to-time.
Outside of assisting your customers, you’ll need to hunt down new artefacts from around Undermere. This is done via a single map of the town, initially, before you eventually acquire maps of other locations. Customers will often bring you cryptic letters or notes, while the end of each working day will see you acquire a tarot card-type item. All of these contain riddles or clues that pertain to a specific location on one of your maps. Select the right location and you’ll acquire new items for your shop; make the wrong choice too many times and it’s time for that dice-rolling mini-game again.
This all feeds into what I was saying before. You’re very much left to your own devices as the game doesn’t really tell you what the maps and letters are for. You’ve got to put your thinking cap on so I encourage you to experiment and be curious. Figuring out locations of the new artefacts offers a welcomed change as the nature of this is different to what you’ll experience when dealing with customers. When it comes to map-based puzzles, you may be looking for a building shaped a certain way, tasked with following a set of directions or deciphering a riddle. And you guessed it, it feels so good when you land on the correct answer.
A keen sense of curiosity will reward you well within your shop too, as it turns out the shop is hiding plenty of secrets including hidden cabinets and compartments. Some are hinted at via the letters you receive during the game, whilst others will only become clear to those who thoroughly investigate every inch of the screen before them. Given that you spend every day of the title within this beautiful shop, there’s no excuse for not experimenting with every nook and cranny. You don’t know what you’ll find.
All of this is accompanied by an intriguing story, as the characters’ various narrative threads begin to weave together as you progress through Strange Antiquities - and it’s a tale you most definitely have an impact on. On occasion, you have the option of deciding between two items to offer to customers, with your decisions being reflected in the narrative. In fact, there are multiple endings on offer. I’m loathe to delve too deeply into the story as it’s a key part of this short and sweet experience, but I will say that on one occasion, a lady stole my beloved cat, and I had to decide whether to give into her blackmail and deliver a dark item or rid the idea from her memory at the risk of her losing her mind entirely. Let me just say this, no one comes between me and my feline pal Jupiter, Destroyer of Souls.
Strange Antiquities is a game I’ll look back on as one of my firm unexpected highlights of 2025. Its intoxicating formula is incredibly moreish and as the cool, autumn nights draw in, there’s no place I’d rather be than assisting the residents of Undermere with their strange and unsettling conundrums.
Pros: Wonderfully eerie atmosphere, fun and creative puzzles, moreish gameplay formula
Cons: The repetitive formula might not suit all tastes
For fans of: Botany Manor, Strange Horticulture, Potion Craft
9/10: Exceptional
Strange Antiquities is set to release on 17 September on Nintendo Switch (version tested via Nintendo Switch 2) and PC. A review code was provided by the publisher. Read a guide to our review scores here.
Topics: Indie Games, Nintendo, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PC, Steam, Reviews