Image Credit: Steam Store
Playtime: ~14 hours
Completion: Finished
Platform: PC
Genre: Visual Novel / Strategy / Otome twist
Played/Reviewed: September 2025
Final Score: ★★★☆☆☆ 6.5/10
🧠 First Impressions
I expected The Great Villainess Strategy of Lily to be another lighthearted “villainess otome” romp where you romance your way out of doom. Instead, I got a blend of sharp comedy, branching intrigue, and tactical scheming. The opening throws you into Lily’s shoes, and she’s done playing the role of designated villainess. She’s here to rewrite her fate, outwit rivals, and maybe crown herself queen of the court.
The hook is strong: satire mixed with strategy. You’re not just reacting to story beats—you’re actively plotting them.
⚙️ Gameplay & Progression
The game wears two hats: visual novel and strategy-lite. While dialogue drives most of the narrative, the influence mechanics add weight to your decisions.
- Influence & Schemes: Win over allies, spread rumors, or sabotage rivals. Every choice shifts the delicate balance of court politics.
- Ally System: By carefully playing the social chessboard, you can recruit every potential ally for a united front—leading to the “happiest” ending, which took me about 14 hours.
- Dark Routes: On the other end, you can skip diplomacy entirely. One infamous path lets Scarlet and Lily cut loose, murdering their way through the nobility. It’s hilariously grim and shows how flexible the narrative really is.
- Replayability: Multiple endings—from romance-heavy, to political domination, to all-out bloodshed—encourage at least a second run.
This duality (peaceful schemer vs. gleeful destroyer) is what gives the game its charm.
🎵 Music, Art, and Atmosphere
The art direction is polished and pastel-rich, with opulent ballrooms, lush gardens, and expressive character sprites. Event CGs pop with detail, though standard poses repeat often.
The soundtrack leans into string ensembles and harpsichord pieces, setting the aristocratic mood. It fits the setting but tends to loop often—after a dozen hours, it fades into background noise.
✍️ Story & Dialogue
The satire is sharp, and Lily’s snarky monologues steal the show. The writing skewers standard “heroine vs. villainess” clichés, reframing them into a power struggle that’s more Game of Thrones-lite than fluffy otome.
- Best writing: Lily plotting circles around her “fated rival” while internally mocking her.
- Weak points: Certain romance routes feel rushed, especially compared to the intrigue-heavy mainline.
- Surprise standout: Scarlet’s storyline. She’s a perfect foil—wild, chaotic, and the only one who makes the “kill-everyone” route plausible (and entertaining).
The dialogue does drag at times, but the payoff in the big moments—alliances, betrayals, executions—makes it worthwhile.
📝 Category Breakdown
- Gameplay Mechanics: 6.5/10 – Unique strategy layer, but not very deep.
- Story & Characters: 7/10 – Clever satire with uneven pacing.
- Art & Music: 7/10 – Gorgeous CGs, repetitive soundtrack.
- Replayability: 7/10 – “All allies” vs. “bloody solo run” makes replays tempting.
✅ Final Verdict
The Great Villainess Strategy of Lily takes a familiar otome trope and cranks it into something more playful, devious, and sometimes shockingly dark. Whether you spend 14 hours charming every noble into your corner for the happiest ending, or torch the court in a Scarlet + Lily murder spree, the game gives you freedom to define your villainess fantasy.
It doesn’t have the deepest mechanics or the smoothest pacing, but the sheer personality makes it stand out.
🔥 Clay’s Take
I went all-in for the “perfect happy ending,” gathering every ally and watching Lily flip her doomed fate into triumph. It was worth the time—but honestly? My favorite run was the Scarlet + Lily “scorched-earth” route. Nothing screams villainess power fantasy quite like wiping the court clean with your partner-in-crime.
If you’re into witty villainess satire with a strategic twist, this one is worth the ride. Just don’t expect a flawless VN/strategy hybrid.
Final Score: ★★★☆☆☆ 6.5/10
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