The Palace on the Hill

The Palace on the Hill

Slice-of-life rural adventure

147 ratings
38 reviews
Free
In-App PurchasesWith Ads

Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • September 12, 2025
  • April 29, 2026

Features

The Palace on the Hill screenshot #1 for iPhone
The Palace on the Hill screenshot #2 for iPhone
The Palace on the Hill screenshot #3 for iPhone
The Palace on the Hill screenshot #4 for iPhone
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About

Embark on a heartwarming rural adventure in 90s India. Explore ancient ruins, manage a tea shop, cook authentic dishes, and forge friendships while learning about history through art. Experience a story of overcoming challenges and finding your place.

Hand-painted watercolor graphics
Indian cooking and tea shop management
Relaxing open-world exploration
Interact with diverse characters
Explore 15th-century Indian palace ruins
Art-based history learning
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What's New in The Palace on the Hill

1.73

April 29, 2026

- Updated engine version - Fixed a bug with cloud save sometimes not working properly - Added Herbal Preparation as a dialogue option - Updated story ending condition to allow players to continue playing - Minor bug fixes

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In-App Purchases

$9.99

Full Game

Play offline without ads and get extras

User reviews

Stuck On Loading Screen

I’ve purchased the whole game but i can’t play the game, its stuck on the loading screen

Ugghhh

It’s fun has great graphics storylines are great but 5, and 7 gems like literally u don’t even get an hour of gameplay u go to bed n spend way too much on gems definitely not worth it id love to continue playing but at least energy not gems they don’t even roll over after you’ve ran out the u have to watch multiple ads. So developers I will be deleting this just not worth it
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I need help

The game is not opening for me and I spent a lot of time on it doing the quests and stuff so I was wondering what to do

Such a beautiful game

Really wholesome, and w the inclusion of ads for gems you can play easily- absolute gold that it’s free, I played non stop ❤️

Honest Review

As an artist myself, I found this game incredibly refreshing and enjoyable. The inclusion of herbs and spices, each with their own little descriptions upon discovery, was one of my favourite features. The sense of foraging, exploration, and uncovering new details felt truly magical and unlike anything I’ve experienced in similar games.

The story of a young man striving to become an artist while exploring his native town was beautifully told. The world felt alive, rich with small details that added depth and charm. I especially loved the story of the runaway princess, the abandoned weaving shop, and the many subtle touches that made the village feel authentic. The characters were memorable, and the side quests, while limited in number, were thoughtfully written and enjoyable.

There were a few areas where I felt the game could be expanded. The upper city area outside the fort felt somewhat underutilised, and several characters could have benefitted from additional quests or return appearances. The subplot involving the schoolmaster disapproving of his daughter spending time with the protagonist felt a little sudden near the end and might have been stronger if it had been developed earlier in the story. I would also have loved more interactions with the protagonist’s father to further explore their hardships and strengthen the emotional connection between them.

A few gameplay improvements could make the experience even better. The seating arrangement outside the tea stall could not be rearranged after being placed, which felt limiting. Adding one more cow to the village would help balance paneer availability. I also wished there was slightly more time to explore the village at night after tea time. Restricting foraging and long-distance travel for safety would make sense, but the current transition to the end of the day feels a little abrupt and cuts short opportunities for nighttime interactions.

Despite these minor criticisms, I absolutely loved the game. Its atmosphere, storytelling, exploration, and attention to detail made it a genuinely memorable experience. I’ve already started creating fan art for Tea Time and sharing it on Pinterest. Thank you for creating such a beautiful world, and please keep making more games. You have a lifelong fan right here.
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FAQ

What is The Palace on the Hill about?

The Palace on the Hill is a slice-of-life rural adventure game set in fictional 90s India. It tells a heartfelt story of ambition, struggle, and friendship from the perspective of a young boy. Players can explore ancient palace ruins, manage a garden, cook Indian food, and interact with a diverse cast of characters.

What are the main gameplay features?

Key features include vibrant hand-painted watercolor graphics, Indian cooking and tea shop management, and a relaxing play style with open-world exploration and questing. You can interact with over 25 regionally and culturally diverse characters and explore 15th-century Indian royal palace ruins.

Is The Palace on the Hill free to play?

The game is free to play with optional in-app purchases and advertisements. This allows players to experience the core story and gameplay without an upfront cost, with additional content or conveniences available for purchase.

What kind of story does the game offer?

The game offers a feel-good story focused on achievement despite social marginalization. It explores themes of ambition, struggle, and friendship, all told through the eyes of a young boy navigating life in rural India.

What platforms is The Palace on the Hill available on?

Based on the provided information, this app is designed for mobile devices. Specific operating system compatibility (e.g., iOS or Android) is not detailed, but it is intended for mobile play.