It combines magical girl and Shakespearean themes in a retro pixel art aesthetic.

[3] It released This Way Madness Lies for Windows on November 10, 2022; for Switch on July 24, 2023; and for PlayStation 5 on September 12, 2023.

[2] Though they criticized the replay value, RPGFan called it "an excellent snack-sized title for fans of Shakespeare, magical girls, or JRPGs in general" and designated it an editor's choice.

[6] Digitally Downloaded said the combination of Shakespeare with magical girls was "a resounding success" and said that although the game may seem short, it is the perfect length for its content.

[7] Nintendo World Report said they wanted more control over the party's composition in combat, but they said having all characters gain experience at the same time mitigated this.