Once Upon an Earl
A downloadable game for Windows, macOS, and Linux
IN A WORLD that wants women to whisper, Noelle Culpepper shouts from the top of her lungs in dissent.
The 19th century has arrived and with it the headstrong countess of the Culpepper name. Looked down upon by her peers for pursuing an education and wanting the same rights as a male. She tosses aside the identity of a woman for the one that will carry her to fortune and fame: Earl Culpepper.
Alongside her butler Everly, her history as a woman is lost to the era of the Culpepper name. With both their histories gone and their fortune assigning them as secret underground investigators to the Queen, what villain couldn't they apprehend while keeping a secret?
The Phantom Menace strikes. Those are the bold words plastered across newspapers flung into the restless hands of rich and poor alike. With the Queen's men unable to apprehend him, it was time for them to take to the pedestal.
That is until Noelle is faced with having to reawaken the feminine side of her lost for a decade to incarcerate him.
Play as Noelle Culpepper, currently known as the Earl, who grudgingly casts aside her fake identity as the Earl to attend the ball where the Phantom is striking next. Will she and her butler be able to apprehend the Phantom Menace? Or will she be led astray? 
ONCE UPON AN EARL is a Historical Fiction Visual novel featuring romance in the form of three gentlemen and action. This game is a collective effort put together by a team of historical nerds and enthusiasts with me starting it all. Not only does this game feature gorgeous backgrounds and loving personalities, but a classical soundtrack coming to apps near you!
Our story follows Noelle Culpepper, who in a world where women are considered lower than men stakes her claim and conceals herself behind a male identity. After striking fame and fortune with her butler Everly, she is soon thrown into the whirlwind of drama involving the cocky Earl of Darlington and a strange blue-haired gentleman.
- Three different routes, three different lovers, and three different soundtracks tailored to their personalities!
- Beautifully illustrated backgrounds from a cozy office to a vast ballroom.
- A classical soundtrack to accompany you, which can change at any moment to evoke feeling!
- Two CGI's, with more to come out after release.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR / LEAD WRITER
- Oishii
CHARACTER ARTIST
- AceyDude
- Optaku
- Rosariy
CG ARTIST
- Fluux
BG ARTIST
- Dmr
GUI DESIGNER
- Ingthing
PROGRAMMERS
- Mochi
- Emiko
LOGO DESIGNER
- Vera Tan
COMPOSER
- Mark Alan Knapp Jr.
VOICE ACTING DIRECTOR AND CAST
- Eliana (Voice Director)
- Katgactress (Noelle Culpepper)
- Maxthatacts (Phantom Menace)
- Richard (Earl Darlington)
- RikuVAnueva (Butler Everly)
CO - WRITERS
- Lavinnia
- Rae/Paradox
- Yanagi
- Florisam
SPECIAL THANKS TO
- Devtalk
- RunningwithToast
- Jennyphan
- Emiko
Download
Development log
- ONCE UPON AN EARL | Postmortem: The SoundtrackJul 21, 2022
Comments
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I need to have a very specific type of mood to get into historical drama/romance, so it took me a while to finish all the routes but I loved it! I enjoyed the MC and her dynamics with the LIs
Might check...
Is there any walkthrough for this game?
https://youtu.be/iHo42nR25xE Lila does playthroughs of all the routes!
Loved the story) Especially Earl Darlington - he was my favorite)
Is there a walkthrough?
walkthrough?
Hello, may I stream this game on YouTube and suggest it to my fellow VTuber friends?
Sorry for the late answer, yes you may!
no puedo perderme este juego de hombres de 35 años o mas mucho mas
got no idea what you just said, but I agree.
Show post...
aww no config text speed? (´。＿。｀)
I just finished playing all the routes and the endings!
Firstly I just want to compliment the crazy amount of polish in this gamejam entry, everything from the stunning UI to the GORGEOUS logo to the music / sound effects, down to the different colour credits slide (I didn't imagine that right?) made the experience so pleasant.
I enjoyed Noelle's differing dynamic with each love interest, but there was just something uniquely intriguing about her relationship with Everly that made me curious about their history together and what kind of shenanigans they've been up to.
Design-wise I really love Darlington's butterfly collar piece!! And the detailing on Marsden's tie with the metallic features and the boutonniere were really pretty. The CGs and the backgrounds were pretty as well.
The voice acting was perfect, it's usually such a hit or miss for me in games but man did I especially love Everly's voice, props for the direction + the VA.
- SPOILERS -
On Marsden's route, I really liked the nuance in his motives and how Noelle kind of didn't fully believe him to be selfless, I thought that added some grounded realism to that confrontation.
Overall, very enjoyable and I had a great time playing it.
Wow, everything about this game is so professional - gorgeous art especially the sprites (Lord Marsden's outfit - ooh la la), slick user interface, the background music matches the historical romance theme to perfection. Well done!
Thank you so much for playing! I'm really glad you liked it, (Lord Marsdens outfit was top notch. But my favorite is Darlington ♡)
SPOILER ALERT - skip comments and video if you wish to experience the game for yourself.
Hi Oishii and team,
Here's my speed run with my aim to nab myself one of the love interests.
I'm keen to play as many games in Otome Jam 2022 as possible.
What I liked:
* Computer graphics art - meeting the main character.
* Character design - main char as earl, countess, butler - servant yet stylish, love interest red theme - his braid, butterfly design, another (?) love interest blue theme with buttonhole.
* Background art - main char study, ballroom.
* Voice acting - butler's deep voice. I know, I know, my aim was another, but butler's voice drew me in more.
* Background music - good variety, matches historical romance to perfection.
What I would have loved to see:
* Good end computer graphic - final kiss scene with intended love interest.
Overall, a wonderful game. Well done team!
SPOILER ALERT - skip comments and video if you wish to experience the game for yourself.
Here's my speed run for another love interest.
What I liked (additions to above mentioned):
* Background music - good variety, matches historical romance to perfection. Spotlight on Mark Alan Knapp Jnr. I'm told by Flor that the main menu track has cello, violin, viola and piano. The music spirits me away Bridgerton style and I can totally imagine myself in a high society ballroom, donning my gown and gloves.
* Voice acting - Props to all voice actors, including the main character. Everly's deep voice is my favourite, but that's just personal preference.
What I would have liked to see:
* Good end computer graphic - final kiss scene with Marsden. Mind you, he does come to visit my own home and bouquet of pink carnations ("I'll never forget you"), so the writing already feels complete here, story narrative wise. Graphic would be icing on the cake.
Thanks for another awesome route!
SPOILER ALERT - skip comments and video if you wish to experience the game for yourself.
Here's my speed run for another love interest.Thanks for yet another love interest route!
SPOILER ALERT - skip comments and video if you wish to experience the game for yourself.
Here's a spotlight on Mark Alan Knapp Jr, music composer for Once Upon An Earl. I adore the main menu theme for this game. Now that I've discovered the "Extras" menu and "Music room" sub menu, I basically live there, ha ha.All speed run video's here: Once Upon An Earl - playlist