Iwakura Aria Review – A Beautiful Gothic Sapphic Romance

IWAKURA ARIA is a beautifully crafted atmospheric sapphic gothic romance from MAGES. and published in English by PQube. Set in the 1960s the story follows Ichiko, the newly hired live in maid of the Iwakura residence and her budding relationship with the mysterious and beautiful Aria Iwakura. But, as she grows closer to her new mistress, Ichiko soon discovers there are more sinister machinations at work beneath the opulence of the manor.

Game Details

• Genre: Mystery | Girls Love | Suspense
• Get the Game: Steam | Nintendo Switch
• Developer & Publisher: MAGES & PQube
• Similar Games: The House in Fata Morgana | Cage of Roses | CAFÉ 0 ~The Sleeping Beast~

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Story of IWAKURA ARIA

Set in the Summer of 1966, Iwakura Aria follows Ichiko, a 16 year old orphan who has just been fired from her latest job at a construction company after rebuffing the advances of her boss. With no other prospects she is forced to return to the orphanage where she spent much of her childhood. Her only comfort in life being her art, which soon becomes her salvation when one of her drawings catches the eye of the handsome and wealthy Amane Iwakura. Impressed with her work, Amane offers her a job at his estate as a live in maid.

Over joyed at finally receiving recognition for her artistic abilities, she feels emboldened enough to accept his generous offer and moves into the estate. After years of struggling, this opportunity gives her hope that her luck is finally taking a turn for the better. Once at the estate she is dazzled by the splendor of her new home, but what truly catches her attention is Amane’s beautiful daughter, Aria. From the moment she lays eyes on her, Ichiko’s thoughts are consumed by Aria’s ethereal beauty.

Despite a rocky start, the pair soon become fast friends, bonding over Ichiko’s artistic talent. But, the joy of their budding relationship is eclipsed by the dark secrets of the Iwakura family that threaten to tear them apart.

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IWAKURA ARIA Review

Iwakura Aria is a gorgeous game! The unique oil painting styled character designs and visuals put you in the mind of timeless classics and more genteel sensibilities. While the hand drawn panel styled sequences draw the eye to the more nuanced expressions and emotions of the story.

The quiet Iwakura estate with its verdant gardens and grand wood paneled halls feels more at home in the pages of a classic gothic romance novel instead of it’s more modern 1966 setting. The residence itself is untouched by the effects of time, insulated from the harsh realities that exist in the outside world. Which lends itself to the more intimate tone of the story, that is at times comforting and at others oppressive. This duality is what makes Iwakura Aria such a compelling story.

As it is with most character driven stories the beginning of the game can be a bit slow to build. It’s easy to lose yourself in the meandering, dreamlike pace of listless summer days that seamlessly bleed into one another. The excitement of the manor and its affluent residents, quickly wears off giving way to the monotonous repetition of Ichiko settling into her new role.

Through the exploration mode you can visit the various rooms of the manor, rifling through each space to learn more about the Iwakuras and their lives by uncovering photos, knickknacks, and other odds and ends. Also, since Ichiko is an artist, you will occasionally come across sparks of inspiration around the estate compelling her to document them in her sketchbook. These mechanics help break up the monotony of following Ichiko through her maid work, adding an interactive element to the traditional visual novel gameplay.

But, always at the forefront of the story is the relationship between Ichiko and Aria. Now, I will admit I’m not as well versed in yuri media (I’m more of a yaoi girlie). So, some of the nuance of girls love stories is sadly lost on me, but, the few I have consumed all seem to have a melancholic vibe to them and Iwakura Aria is no different.

The melodrama was at an all time high in this game! Lots of silent yearning, poetic musings about Aria’s ethereal looks, and constant intense longing looks from Ichiko. The girl is down bad for Aria from the moment she lays eyes on her. Likening her to a Renoir painting at their first meeting and continuing to wax poetic about her beauty every moment thereafter. If her thoughts about Aria didn’t consist entirely of purple prose, it would need to come with a content warning, because the girl is obsessed with her mistress. And I get it, Aria is beautiful, but the intense attraction is a bit overwhelming at times. Especially in the beginning of the story, when it feels like Ichiko’s reverent affections for Aria border on idolatry more so than genuine affection for Aria as a person.

And Aria, for her part is an enigma. We know nothing about her save what we get through the filter of Ichiko’s lustful musings, so it’s hard to see her as little more than an object to be admired. Which makes it hard to truly relate to her as a character early on in the story. She’s not a real person, rather an ideal and it isn’t until she opens herself up to Ichiko that we start to see beyond her looks.

The romance is a bit of a slow burn, taking its time to bloom from the casual interactions of a employer and employee, to a genuine friendship, and finally to something much more intimate. I’m used to the more physically intimate relationships of boys love, so the slow building emotional attachment between Aria and Ichiko was a welcome change of pace. I enjoyed the softer, romantic progression because it gives the sense that the girls really get to know each other before they “fall in love”.

While the romance between Aria and Ichiko is at the center of the story, Iwakura Aria is also very much a coming of age story. Aria, who his bound by the expectations of her status is drawn to Ichiko’s inner strength and passion. While Ichiko discovers her own compassion and courage through her bond with the Aria. Both girls have lost sight of their true selves, and it is only in each other that they discover the strength to face their futures head on. Which is doubly important when they find themselves entangled in the dark secrets of the Iwakura residence.

I won’t say much about the mystery, because it is worth watching unfold. But, let’s just say I had theories leading up to the ultimate reveal and I was way off. The overwhelming sense of unease and foreboding is ever present in Iwakura Aria to the point that it makes it hard to truly feel settled in the idyllic setting. The mystery is the driving force of the story. There are so many reveals in this story and each is more shocking than the last. Each new revelation adds a new layer to an already intriguing journey. And I cannot stress enough how important it is to go into this story blind. But, a small warning, this game does deal with some pretty heavy themes and there is a lot of blood… so don’t expect this to be all rainbows and fluff!

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Is IWAKURA ARIA Worth Playing?

Iwakura Aria is a story about growth. The journey, the destination, and beyond the journey’s end are all unique parts of the story. Though perhaps the most important aspect of the story is how the characters feel about where they end up when the credits roll. In fact, the game even gives us a peek at the futures of the characters after the events of the story. While not every outcome is what you’d expect, one thing is constant; the characters never truly forget the events of that Summer of 1966.

Whether they look back with resentment, remorse, fondness, or ambivalence, they move into the next phases of their lives forever changed. And that’s how I feel about Iwakura Aria, despite the highs and lows, this is an experience I won’t soon forget and even now I look back fondly on the experience.

Thank you to PQube for providing a copy of Iwakura Aria for this review!

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