Video Game Review: Volcano Princess

Developer: Egg Hatcher

Publisher: Gamera

Genre: Simulator

Reviewed For: Steam

We have reviewed a few daughter-raising simulators on Sequential Planet. From Ciel Fledge to Long Live The Queen, it’s an interesting genre with tons of potential, especially if the gimmick is interesting enough. Volcano Princess is the latest big simulator on Steam with heavy RPG elements that are full of raising the stats of your kingdom’s next monarch.

In the medieval era, the player lives in a prosperous land but unfortunately loses their wife. Now the player is left alone to raise their daughter in a variety of ways. While teaching their daughter various skills, players will interact with an eclectic cast of characters, take in the game’s lore, and participate in a variety of activities. Like most games in the genre, Volcano Princess plays a lot like a visual novel, with many routes, approaches, and endings for players to explore. Unsurprisingly, there is a high amount of replayability.

Unlike most daughter-raising simulators, players get plenty of time to develop the parent. It’s not all from the daughter’s perspective, adding more depth to the experience. The player can explore career options, and even find a new significant other. Players can participate in social activities or hobbies, and even fight monsters. There are RPG mechanics here for combat, which aren’t stellar but they work.

Players will get to see the fruits of their labor as their daughter grows from 6 years old to a fully capable human. Every decision shapes the future, and it’s a fun time whether players are min-maxing or just building their characters in a way that appeals to them personally.

If Volcano Princess falls short anywhere, it’s the translation, which is shoddy at best. There are a few phrases that just don’t feel natural, and they might take the player away from the experience momentarily. Fortunately, it doesn’t lead to any confusion or miscommunication, so the game is fully playable still.

The translation is made up for with solid presentation. The art looks nice and the characters have some great designs. The UI is clean and stands out from its peers in the genre. Everything has a comfy aesthetic that is a joy to look at. This isn’t as tense as Ciel Fledge or Long Live The Queen, so it’s nice that the vibes match.

By the end of the experience, players might have just found their new favorite daughter-raising simulator. Outside of translation issues, this is one of the best in the genre, and it’s a joy to play and explore.