Tabula Rasa

Editorial Has potential

Tabula Rasa is a college-set visual novel with strong character writing and atmospheric direction—particularly in how it handles Artemis, whose trauma and complexity emerge through subtle visual and narrative beats. The renders are solid and the music (when present) meaningfully elevates emotional moments. However, the game suffers from a critical weakness: facial expressions. Characters frequently appear blank or emotionless, which undermines the emotional investment the writing tries to build, especially in slower, dialogue-heavy scenes. The tone also feels uncertain—mixing ethereal, melancholic music with a grounded college setting full of antagonistic men and relationship drama creates tonal whiplash. Community consensus is cautiously optimistic but divided: some find the premise compelling and are eager for major story reveals; others worry the lack of sexual content, sparse positivity, and limited screen time for some characters will narrow its appeal. The game is unfinished, with the developer actively working through Chapter 2, and updates have been steady but the roadmap remains unclear.