Astra is a game made in the Lyndaria universe, and it’s clear that the developers listened closely to player feedback from the first game. They focused on their strongest aspects — story and art — and built the whole experience around them.

Compared to Lyndaria, Astra is more linear and noticeably shorter. Linderia felt about 1.5–2 times longer, but in this case, that’s not really a downside. Astra tells a more compact and focused story, and for a visual novel, that works very well. The story is engaging and easy to get into, and the game is best enjoyed at a calm, measured pace — reading, watching, and absorbing each moment rather than rushing through it. Played this way, Astra easily provides several enjoyable evenings.

The improvement in art quality since Lyndaria is very noticeable. The illustrations, animated scenes, and overall visual presentation are a clear step forward. It’s obvious that the team is evolving and actively improving their strongest sides instead of standing still.

Even though the game is fully linear and guides the player by the hand, this doesn’t hurt the experience. In fact, it solves one of the issues Lyndaria had: large locations where nothing important was happening for long periods of time. In Astra, you’re always at the center of meaningful events. There’s no feeling of “missing something” or wanting to wander elsewhere — everything important happens right where the story takes you.

It was also great to see familiar characters from Linderia again and experience a new story with them. Whether Astra gets DLC or not is unclear, but knowing that the developers have already started working on Lyndaria 2, Astra feels like a much more cohesive and complete experience than the DLCs. Instead of stretching content from the first game, this feels like a solid standalone title that leaves a good overall impression.

As a visual novel, Astra plays smoothly. The story isn’t overly heavy or exhausting to read. While Lyndaria had a more cheerful tone, Astra takes place during ongoing battles on the island, so the atmosphere is more tense — but the game still remains colorful, accessible, and enjoyable. The music, sound effects, and atmosphere are handled with care, and it’s clear the developers put real effort into choosing the right audio for each scene and dialogue moment.

The animated scenes are well made and fairly diverse, and it’s nice to see that the developers understand how important cutscenes are for immersion. The only thing I’d really like to see improved in the future is smoother transitions between frames, as some scenes currently feel a bit “stitched together” without transitions.

In the end, Astra is a very solid game for its price. For what it costs, the amount and quality of content feel completely fair. If the price were higher, the content might feel a bit limited — but at its current price point, it delivers exactly what it should.

Overall, Astra is a good, well-crafted visual novel with a strong story, improved art, and a focused experience. Now all that’s left is to wait for Lyndaria 2.

Thank you, Steam, for 18+ games (:

Astra: Ardent Show, developed by Lustration Team and published by Furlough Games in collaboration with Horny Capybara, is a narrative-driven visual novel that centers on freedom, identity, and desire within a vividly illustrated, anthropomorphic fantasy setting. The story follows Astra, a fox princess who abandons royal life in pursuit of autonomy and self-discovery. Her departure from the structured confines of privilege forms the emotional backbone of the experience, framing the narrative as both a personal rebellion and a journey toward understanding what it truly means to live on one’s own terms.

The game’s storytelling emphasizes player choice, presenting branching dialogue paths that shape Astra’s relationships and influence how events unfold. Rather than delivering a purely linear tale, the narrative adapts to decisions, creating divergent routes that can lead to dramatically different outcomes. Relationships with other island inhabitants—each possessing distinct personalities and motivations—are central to the experience. Some interactions foster companionship and growth, while others introduce tension or moral ambiguity. This dynamic structure encourages replayability, as exploring alternate choices reveals new facets of Astra’s world and the consequences of her independence.

Visually, Astra: Ardent Show stands out for its expressive, hand-drawn art style. Characters are rendered with vibrant detail, and environments are crafted to convey both warmth and sensuality. The presentation leans heavily into stylized, comic-inspired framing during key story moments, enhancing dramatic beats with animated sequences that break the static conventions of many traditional visual novels. These animated scenes, combined with carefully timed transitions and atmospheric lighting, help elevate pivotal moments and immerse players in Astra’s emotional highs and lows.

The game incorporates mature themes and explicit content as a central component of its identity. Romantic and intimate scenes are animated and integrated directly into the narrative, designed to deepen character connections rather than function as isolated episodes. Voice effects and expressive character sounds aim to heighten immersion, reinforcing the personal nature of Astra’s relationships. While these elements clearly target a mature audience, they are woven into the broader story arc, ensuring that emotional context accompanies physical intimacy.

Beyond dialogue and character interaction, Astra: Ardent Show includes light gameplay segments in the form of optional mini-games and interactive sequences. These moments provide pacing variety and allow players to engage with the world beyond reading text. Though not mechanically complex, these segments help break up narrative flow and offer brief shifts in tone, reinforcing the sense that Astra’s journey involves action as well as introspection.

The supporting cast plays a crucial role in shaping the atmosphere of the island setting. With over twenty unique characters, each illustrated by skilled artists and given distinct visual and personality traits, the world feels populated and dynamic. Whether encountering allies, rivals, or romantic interests, players are encouraged to invest emotionally in Astra’s evolving connections. The diversity of personalities supports multiple narrative directions, further strengthening the game’s replay value.

Ultimately, Astra: Ardent Show blends expressive artwork, branching storytelling, and mature thematic exploration into a cohesive visual novel experience. It is unapologetically designed for an adult audience, yet beneath its sensual exterior lies a story about autonomy, vulnerability, and the cost of personal freedom. For players who appreciate character-driven narratives, strong artistic presentation, and meaningful choices that shape outcomes, the game offers an immersive journey through desire and self-determination within a richly imagined anthropomorphic world.

Rating: 7/10