Shan Gui (山桂) on Steam - User reviews, Price & Information
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It is the end of summer. Han Hui, a university student, meets a mysterious young girl named He Jia in the mountains. After this chance meeting, the two embark on a delightful journey.
Shan Gui (山桂) is a visual novel, female protagonist and anime game
developed by Magenta Factory
and published by Ju Cai.
Released on August 19th 2014 is available on Windows, MacOS and Linux
in 9 languages: English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Russian, Japanese, French, Polish and German.
It has received 2,263 reviews of which 1,632 were positive and 631 were negative resulting in a rating of 7 out of 10. 😊
The game is currently priced at 0.99€ on Steam.
The Steam community has classified Shan Gui (山桂) into these genres:
System requirements
These are the minimum specifications needed to play the game. For the best experience, we recommend that you verify them.
Windows
- OS *: Windows XP or better
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Pentium 4
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: Integrated Graphics
- Storage: 300 MB available space
MacOS
- OS: OS X 10.6 or better
- Processor: Any 64 bit processor
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: Integrated Graphics
- Storage: 300 MB available space
Linux
- Processor: 1.2 GHz Pentium 4
- Memory: 512 MB RAM
- Graphics: Integrated Graphics
- Storage: 300 MB available space
User reviews & Ratings
Explore reviews from Steam users sharing their experiences and what they love about the game.
Shan Gui, developed by Magenta Factory and published by Ju Cai, is a short but evocative visual novel that trades traditional plot-driven storytelling for a more meditative and atmospheric experience. Set against the backdrop of the serene Chinese countryside, the game focuses on themes of memory, emotional healing, and human connection. It’s not your typical visual novel filled with choices, plot twists, or romantic entanglements—instead, Shan Gui is more of an interactive poem, relying heavily on mood, visuals, and ambient storytelling to convey its message. It is a gentle, reflective title that prioritizes emotional resonance over dramatic tension, making it a unique, if niche, entry in the visual novel genre. The story follows a young woman named Han Hui, who returns to the mountainous region of Nanjing where she once vacationed as a child. Carrying with her the emotional weight of loss and disillusionment, she sets out to reconnect with the peace she once felt in nature. During her journey, she meets a mysterious and spirited young girl named He Jia, who offers to guide her through the landscape. As the two travel together, their dialogue becomes a platform for exploring deeper philosophical questions about loneliness, purpose, and the beauty of transient moments. Though the narrative is simple and largely linear, it’s imbued with a poetic softness that draws the player in, not through action or suspense, but through subtle emotional intimacy. Visually, Shan Gui is striking. The backgrounds are hand-painted in a style that beautifully captures the lush, natural beauty of southern China. Mountains, forests, streams, and ancient temples are rendered in gentle pastels and warm tones, creating a dreamlike atmosphere that perfectly complements the story’s introspective tone. The character sprites, though relatively simple, are expressive and fit well within the overall aesthetic. The attention to detail in the environmental design is a highlight, as it helps immerse the player in the sense of place and mood that the story relies so heavily upon. The music and sound design in Shan Gui also play a central role in shaping the experience. The soundtrack consists of soothing, ambient tracks featuring traditional Chinese instruments, which reinforce the game’s sense of calm and cultural authenticity. Birdsong, flowing water, and rustling trees are used effectively to create a natural soundscape, allowing players to feel like they’re truly walking through quiet trails and forgotten shrines. These elements work together to create a space that feels both intimate and expansive, encouraging the player to slow down and reflect alongside the protagonist. Gameplay-wise, Shan Gui is extremely minimalistic. It functions more like a kinetic novel—there are no branching paths, choices, or multiple endings. The story unfolds in a fixed manner, with the player's only interaction being to advance the text. While this might be a limitation for those looking for agency or replay value, it also aligns with the game's overall design philosophy. Shan Gui is not about decision-making or challenge; it’s about being present in a moment, allowing the story and setting to wash over you like a quiet afternoon in the countryside. This format won’t appeal to everyone, but for those who appreciate a more passive and contemplative experience, it delivers something rare and sincere. That said, the game’s brevity and lack of interactivity may leave some players underwhelmed. With a runtime of just over an hour, Shan Gui feels more like a short story than a full novel. Its emotional beats are quiet and understated, which can come across as uneventful or slow-paced to players unfamiliar with this style of storytelling. Additionally, while the relationship between Han Hui and He Jia is touching, it remains ambiguous in nature—some may interpret it as a budding friendship, others as something more romantic or even supernatural. The game intentionally leaves much unsaid, which adds to its mystique, but also risks alienating players who seek more narrative clarity or development. In conclusion, Shan Gui is a beautifully crafted, emotionally gentle visual novel that prioritizes mood, atmosphere, and introspection over traditional narrative structure or gameplay complexity. Its gorgeous art, soothing music, and quiet storytelling create an experience that is more meditative than interactive—a kind of digital haiku set in the natural world. It won’t be for everyone, particularly those who expect branching narratives or plot-heavy drama, but for players willing to slow down and embrace its subtle charm, Shan Gui offers a heartfelt and memorable journey through the landscapes of memory and human connection. Rating: 7/10
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Short, beautiful visual novel with touching friendship story, gorgeous art and soundtrack
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A sweet VN that is unfortunately really short but I enjoyed it a lot! The music and backgrounds are insanely beautiful, meanwhile the character CGs look silly and I love them for it lol. The voice acting is great too, just like the production as a whole. Regarding the content: I'm obsessed with the dream-like setting and find the story lovely as well, though I believe the writing would've been a lot more impactful if the story wasn't that rushed, especially the important parts of the plot. A nice experience overall that makes me wish for more of it :)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Shan Gui (山桂) is currently priced at 0.99€ on Steam.
Shan Gui (山桂) is currently not on sale. You can purchase it for 0.99€ on Steam.
Shan Gui (山桂) received 1,632 positive votes out of a total of 2,263 achieving a rating of 7.00.
😊
Shan Gui (山桂) was developed by Magenta Factory and published by Ju Cai.
Shan Gui (山桂) is playable and fully supported on Windows.
Shan Gui (山桂) is playable and fully supported on MacOS.
Shan Gui (山桂) is playable and fully supported on Linux.
Shan Gui (山桂) is a single-player game.
There is a DLC available for Shan Gui (山桂). Explore additional content available for Shan Gui (山桂) on Steam.
Shan Gui (山桂) does not support mods via Steam Workshop.
Shan Gui (山桂) does not support Steam Remote Play.
Shan Gui (山桂) is enabled for Steam Family Sharing. This means you can share the game with authorized users from your Steam Library, allowing them to play it on their own accounts. For more details on how the feature works, you can read the original Steam Family Sharing announcement or visit the Steam Family Sharing user guide and FAQ page.
You can find solutions or submit a support ticket by visiting the Steam Support page for Shan Gui (山桂).
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Additionally, we incorporate data from the SteamSpy API, which offers insights into game sales and player statistics. This helps us present a comprehensive view of each game's popularity and performance within the gaming community.
Last Updates| Steam data | 13 September 2025 22:32 |
|---|---|
| SteamSpy data | 08 September 2025 09:27 |
| Steam price | 15 September 2025 12:44 |
| Steam reviews | 14 September 2025 19:50 |
If you'd like to dive deeper into the details about Shan Gui (山桂), we invite you to check out a few dedicated websites that offer extensive information and insights. These platforms provide valuable data, analysis, and user-generated reports to enhance your understanding of the game and its performance.
- SteamDB - A comprehensive database of everything on Steam about Shan Gui (山桂)
- SteamCharts - Analysis of Shan Gui (山桂) concurrent players on Steam
- ProtonDB - Crowdsourced reports on Linux and Steam Deck Shan Gui (山桂) compatibility
Game modes
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Online players
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Developer
Magenta Factory
Publisher
Ju Cai
Release
19 Aug 2014
Platforms