The Council

This game is life-altering if you enjoy history, theology, or things that are AGGRESSIVELY FRENCH. I have never had a game ask me to think and draw on all sorts of experiences in my life. I kid you not, at one point I was unironically doing modular arithmetic and reading the bible.
This game has an enormous amount of replayability. I play it at least once a year since I picked it up.
This game truly accomplishes the "Choices Matter" meme that other studios promise but fail to provide. They also have ironed out a great RPG system that lends itself to tabletop roleplaying games as well.
The game has some rough spots;
The animations are rough in Episode 1 and get exponentially better as time goes on. Don't let the episodes bother you too much, the entire game all-together is quite good and well paced. But waiting months between games definitely didn't help at release.
The voice acting is stuff sometimes
Some things are still in french
BUT I think these are part of the charm of the game and are worth looking past to enjoy an incredible experience.

Game is too ambitious for its own good and should have been allowed to cook for at least another year of dev time. Choices matter throughout and are really well done in terms of being nuanced and action based (without explicitly laying out consequences). Much better than any telltale game regarding choices. Ep 4-5 are definitely on rails outside of its couple of decisions you get to make. Historical intrigue is rather well done and leaves a bunch of things to research after playing the game. Story/lore does not make much sense and feels like it was made up on the fly, which makes it funny at the very least. Acting is piss poor and game is buggier than an Ant farm. Ambition with some errors is always better than playing it too safe in my books. Worth playing forsure. 7.8/10

The Council is an adventure story game where you are on an island with important historical figures like George Washington and Napoleon amongst others, where you will get to interact and find out about the secrets that everyone is hiding. The whole atmosphere is haunting and you can feel the suspense in the mansion. There are many puzzles which are rather difficult but I thoroughly enjoyed them after solving it. The content is rather long for an episodic game, but there are many save points. There are many collectibles and skill trees to follow, which made every run feel different. I definitely recommend this game, especially if you love story games or politics.

An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
Do you not know, my son, with how very little wisdom the world is governed?
ㅡ Axel Oxenstierna
세상은 우리가 상상하는 것보다 훨씬 적은 지혜로 다스려진다.

This was so good and I really hope the developers make more like it. I did not see where the plot was going to end up and it's just so gripping. I can often feel exasperated with some games that make you read everything and pick up everything to understand what's going on but I didn't feel like that with this game. I was genuinely invested in trying to find out what was going on and it didn't feel in any way tedious.
Also a couple of the characters were actually terrifying without it being a horror and I think it added a lot to the suspense and urgency with which I played.

Had the game on my wishlist for years and am regretting not playing it sooner: possibly the most narratively engaging title in my library. The RPG element is fun also for adventure type gamers and makes it so that choices do in fact matter. 5 episodes of approximately 3 or 4 hours each. Very highly recommended.

The Council is an exceptional narrative-driven adventure game that excels in creating an atmosphere of constant tension and intricate mystery. From the moment you step into the shoes of Louis de Richet, the game hooks you with its compelling story and refuses to let go.
One of the standout features of The Council is its ability to keep players on edge. Every decision you make feels weighted with consequences, and the game masterfully weaves a web of political intrigue and personal dilemmas. The constant pressure to make the right choices adds a layer of excitement and anxiety that few games manage to achieve so effectively.
The complexity of the storyline is another highlight. The narrative is filled with twists and turns, keeping you guessing at every corner. The developers have done an incredible job of crafting a plot that is both deep and engaging, with enough red herrings and unexpected developments to ensure that players remain thoroughly invested.
The characters are well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations, contributing to the game's overall sense of confusion and suspense. Interactions with these characters are fraught with tension, as you try to discern their true intentions and navigate the complex social landscape of the game.
In summary, The Council is a brilliantly crafted game that excels in maintaining a high level of tension and delivering a captivating, convoluted story. It's a must-play for anyone who enjoys narrative-driven games that challenge the mind and keep you on the edge of your seat.