The Abbess Garden

The Abbess Garden is a gardening and story game set at the abbey of Port-Royal-des-Champs. The player takes the role of Agnès, a young peasant who is given the keys to the Abbess’s personal garden, an area that even the Solitaires living near the abbey may not enter. The garden has been overtaken by weeds and neglect, and the player clears the growth, reveals old paths and decides how the space is shaped. New areas open as the story advances, and the story unfolds in a linear order at a pace the player chooses.

The garden features real plant species and is designed to behave like an ecosystem. The player plants seeds, waters them and learns what each species needs, with soil type, moisture and nearby plants all affecting growth. Gardening takes place in a free-form space rather than on a grid. As the seasons change, the player identifies plants at each stage of growth and gathers flowers, leaves and seeds for botany, building knowledge alongside the garden.

Hidden objects are placed throughout the overgrowth and ruins. Finding them fills out collections and can trigger new quests and conversations. Among the discoveries is a book written by a deceased spy, and the player works with the local community to learn its meaning before the British and French royals do. The game includes characters based on real historical figures and events, quests that involve helping neighbours, and an optional romance. It is described as a cozy game with a gentle pace, set against a background of court intrigue and espionage.