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A Tithe in Blood

A Tithe in Blood Game Cover
93%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, emotional
Most mentioned negative aspects:gameplay
93% User Score Based on 95 reviews

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A Tithe in Blood Game Cover

About

A Tithe in Blood is a single player action game with fantasy, romance, anime and dark fantasy themes. It was developed by Studio Elan and was released on June 16, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

A dark yuri visual novel with themes around depression, a hidden magical art, and unexpected love from the depths of grief. As a reserved and unassuming university student in snow-bitten Hokkaido, the personal tragedy which visited Honoka Asakawa would lead to her experimentation in a magical art thought long-lost — blood magic. Unexpectedly able to visit the sealed world of Meiji-era Sapporo, Ho…

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A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
A Tithe in Blood screenshot
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93%Audience ScoreBased on 95 reviews
story29 positive mentions
  • Beautiful artwork and impressive presentation with detailed character sprites, animations, and atmospheric sound design including Japanese voice acting.
  • Engaging and emotionally resonant story that sensitively portrays heavy themes such as depression, self-harm, and trauma through well-developed main characters, especially Honoka.
  • Compelling emotional atmosphere with effective pacing in the first act, strong character interactions, and unexpected plot twists that keep players invested.
  • The story feels rushed and underdeveloped after the first act, with many plot points, characters, and romances lacking sufficient depth and emotional buildup.
  • Some narrative choices, especially in later acts, are perceived as disjointed, confusing, or morally questionable, which can undermine the overall impact and tone.
  • No player choices or interactivity beyond reading, combined with a relatively short length, might disappoint those seeking a more complex or immersive visual novel experience.

  • story

    117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is praised for its emotionally engaging portrayal of depression, complex characters, and surprising plot twists, delivering a dark yet captivating narrative. However, many feel it is rushed, especially in the latter half, leading to underdeveloped characters, uneven pacing, and an ending that feels more like a prologue to a larger story. Despite these flaws, the story's strong writing, atmosphere, and thematic depth make it worth experiencing for fans of emotionally rich, dark fantasy tales.

    • “What a good ass game ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥, there's so much here that I find really engaging, the way the protagonist's depression is portrayed, all the great character interactions sprinkled throughout, the way the story shifts in a way I didn't expect coming in, there's just a lot to love about it.”
    • “With incredible writing that manages to capture sensations and feelings immaculately, and absolutely stunning artwork that perfectly joins hands with everything else to aid in this game's storytelling, I cannot recommend this game enough.”
    • “I say this with no amount of exaggeration, the story left me on the edge of my seat and holding back tears nearly the entire time.”
    • “The VN fails to provide a reason for why you should continue to like most of these people as it continues to treat the main character like garbage (and not in a way that feels appropriate to the story, it just feels weirdly cruel and misguided) and acted like there was more of a moral greyness to this story than there actually is.”
    • “About as well produced as studio elan games normally are, with a really solid selection of music, background art, and character sprites but the story here just kind of collapses in on itself too quickly and too substantially for me to come out of this game feeling positive.”
    • “Some parts of the plot and especially lore felt too brief and a bit rushed to me, which is due to the fact that the writing is (in my opinion) not extensive enough.”

  • emotional

    25 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a deeply emotional experience, skillfully exploring themes like grief, depression, and trauma with genuine care and impactful storytelling. While pacing and character development may occasionally falter, the narrative evokes a wide range of intense feelings—sorrow, anger, relief, and hope—resonating especially with players sensitive to emotional depth. Fans of heartfelt, dark romantic stories will find it a touching, memorable journey.

    • “It made me cry in places, wail, feel sick, and even at times, feel triggered by many of the scenes in this game.”
    • “If you’re someone deeply sensitive to feelings and emotional shifts, be prepared for the waves of anger, hatred, sorrow, relief, slow-growing happiness, and much more you will experience in this journey.”
    • “It's an exploration of themes like grief, depression, and trauma, and while some emotional punchiness gets lost amid bursts of fantastical elements, it kept me invested and wanting to see the character emerge safe and sound.”

  • music

    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is consistently praised for its high production quality, beautifully composed tracks, and atmospheric variety, ranging from soothing melodies to haunting and tense tones. It effectively enhances the storytelling and mood, complementing the art and voice acting to create an immersive and memorable experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a strong, integral element that enriches the game’s emotional and thematic depth.

    • “Music is also very well composed, with plenty of soft, soothing melodies mixed in with haunting, tense droning.”
    • “The music really added to the experience, with the track choices and the placements of them during the game.”
    • “The presentation, the voicework, the soundtrack, all fantastic.”
    • “It's not perfect by any means, I thought the music department is lacking and not everything that happens also makes sense.”

  • graphics

    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics are widely praised for their beautiful, detailed, and immersive artwork that effectively conveys emotions and atmosphere. Character sprites feature expressive animations that enhance storytelling, complemented by high production quality and a hauntingly fitting soundtrack. Overall, the visuals significantly contribute to the game's emotional impact and narrative depth.

    • “The visuals are clean and appealing, with sprites displaying many different expressions. Multiple animations add more life, such as when blood magic is used. Hesitation and walking are conveyed through character sprites. Every character, including off-screen ones, is voice-acted in Japanese, and the music captures both the Reiwa and Meiji eras.”
    • “With incredible writing that captures sensations and feelings immaculately, and absolutely stunning artwork that perfectly complements the storytelling, I cannot recommend this game enough.”
    • “The production quality, artwork, music, and voice acting are all top notch, keeping me hooked from start to finish.”

  • atmosphere

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game excels in creating a dark, oppressive, and haunting atmosphere that is both immersive and emotionally engaging, enhanced by beautiful art and a somber soundtrack. Its atmospheric storytelling and effective use of visual and musical elements set it apart from other visual novels.

    • “The dark and often oppressive atmosphere the events of the game exude is a welcome breath of fresh air that I feel other visual novels don't touch enough or execute poorly.”
    • “Solid visual novel from Studio Elan, the music and atmosphere, the usage of sprites to convey motion and what’s happening in the current scene was amazing; I enjoyed the characters and the darker themes.”
    • “Their cross-century bond blossoms into a bittersweet romance, wrapped in atmospheric storytelling, haunting artwork, and a beautifully somber soundtrack.”

  • humor

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is highlighted through charming and energetic characters like Kaoru, whose antics bring genuine laughs, and amusing surprises such as Tatiana’s unexpected voice line that caught players off guard. Overall, the playful personalities and lighthearted moments contribute positively to the enjoyment of the story.

    • “Kaoru is a fun mad lass whose antics are hilarious.”
    • “Wtf is that Tatiana sample voice line Didn't even know this cuss phrase existed in the language; it was so funny randomly hearing that when checking out the voice samples.”
    • “Yasue (who is extremely similar to Lily from KS) works well as a love interest and is adorable with Honoka.”

  • character development

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development features well-designed personalities that are generally compelling, though one character's motivations remain somewhat unclear, providing a partial but not fully complete understanding by the conclusion.

  • gameplay

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is linear, offering a straightforward experience without any player choices or branching paths.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A Tithe in Blood is a action game with fantasy, romance, anime and dark fantasy themes.

A Tithe in Blood is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows and Linux.

A Tithe in Blood was released on June 16, 2025.

A Tithe in Blood was developed by Studio Elan.

A Tithe in Blood has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked A Tithe in Blood for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

A Tithe in Blood is a single player game.

Similar games include Heart of the Woods, Please Be Happy, The House in Fata Morgana, Fault Milestone Two Side: Above, Perfect Gold - Yuri Visual Novel and others.