Black Book

88%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,308 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Black Book Game Cover
Black Book weaves a spell that dazzles players with its puzzly card-based combat and a beautiful, dark storybook journey into the deepest depths.
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"Black Book" is a card-based RPG and adventure game that follows the story of a young sorceress named Vasilisa. After her betrothed's mysterious death, Vasilisa seeks out the Black Book, a demonic artifact said to grant any wish, in order to bring him back to life. The game features a dark Slavic folklore setting, where Vasilisa must solve the problems of common folk and uncover the seals of the Black Book through exorcisms and combat.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Epic Games
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

88%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,308 reviews
story422 positive mentions
grinding21 negative mentions
  • Absolutely dripping with atmospheric beauty, Black Book is commendable for its visual design.
  • Rich storytelling, great art style, and real world backgrounds that immerse players in Slavic folklore.
  • The turn-based system is extremely well designed, with multiple satisfying endings based on player choices.
  • The core gameplay mechanic of deckbuilding feels underwhelming and lacks depth compared to other games in the genre.
  • The game can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the middle chapters where the pacing drags.
  • Technical issues such as poor movement controls and a frustrating save system detract from the overall experience.
  • story971 mentions

    The story of *Black Book* is a rich and immersive experience steeped in Slavic folklore, following the journey of a young witch named Vasilisa as she seeks to resurrect her deceased lover. Players appreciate the game's unique narrative style, which combines elements of visual novels with decision-making that impacts the plot, although some find the pacing slow and the multitude of characters challenging to keep track of. Overall, the storytelling is praised for its depth, atmosphere, and cultural authenticity, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.

    • “Black Book tells a great story, steeped in rich (and accurate) folklore.”
    • “The story is engaging and teaches you the lore, which I suspect is actual Slavic mythology and lore.”
    • “The story is engrossing and employs traditional Russian folklore to great effect in telling a moving and fascinating narrative.”
    • “The story can be hard to follow, especially with the hard-to-remember names.”
    • “The story didn't really pick up until towards the end where in one scene you actually saw the power as the black book holder.”
    • “The story feels hollow because it is so gamified: it is hard to care about the characters while also treating them as game mechanics to optimize.”
  • gameplay460 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is a blend of deckbuilding mechanics and narrative-driven elements, drawing heavily from Slavic folklore. While some players appreciate the engaging story and atmospheric setting, many criticize the card mechanics as simplistic and repetitive, with a lack of depth and balance in combat. Overall, the gameplay is seen as decent but not groundbreaking, often overshadowed by the rich lore and narrative experience.

    • “The gameplay is clever - having played Slay the Spire, Dicey Dungeons, etc., it has a good sense of balance and interesting card interactions and loops.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent when it comes to both the deck-fighting genre and in the difficulty curve.”
    • “The card mechanics are engaging enough to hook you once you get the hang of it, similar to Gwent.”
    • “The gameplay is decent at most, but the atmosphere... phenomenal.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty solid, but the combat mechanics left me scratching my head on more than one occasion.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit janky and needs some polishing, but the writing and the voiceover are great!”
  • graphics229 mentions

    The graphics of *Black Book* are characterized by a simplistic, low-poly art style that some players find charming and atmospheric, effectively conveying the game's folklore themes. While the visuals may not meet modern gaming standards, they complement the rich storytelling and immersive sound design, creating a unique aesthetic that resonates with many players. Overall, the graphics serve the game's narrative well, despite some critiques regarding their execution and consistency.

    • “The visuals look really pretty and the story itself was really engaging and unique.”
    • “Despite the simplistic indie graphics, such features as the visuals, scenery and atmosphere, as well as sound design are simply excellent!”
    • “The art style is amazing, I can see it was inspired by Bilibin's artwork, and I like that a lot.”
    • “Despite focusing on demons, the visuals in *Black Book* aren't scary at all.”
    • “It's far below the state-of-the-art visuals gamers expect as a result of their decisions.”
    • “And honestly, the cutscene graphics are so unpolished that it makes me wonder why so much of the game is structured into cutscenes?”
  • music171 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with many reviewers praising the incorporation of traditional Slavic folk songs and choral performances that enhance the storytelling and overall ambiance. While the soundtrack is described as beautiful and fitting, some noted that the voice acting could be inconsistent. Overall, the music significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and cultural authenticity, making it a standout feature.

    • “The music is incredible, and the setting, lore, and atmosphere all respect and honor the culture of the people it portrays.”
    • “The traditional music is epic, and the a cappella folk music songs performed by the student choir of Perm State College of Arts and Culture are well worth meandering off the main path to find.”
    • “The music really does stick with you, and by the time you listen to the second or third song in-game, it becomes apparent what measure of love and craft was put into this piece of art as an interactive media.”
    • “You only get to hear the song when you pick it up; you can't even play it in the background.”
    • “For the most part, it's just ambient music.”
    • “Just like the Russian voiceover, the soundtrack of the game is great, if a bit lacking in variety and spectacle.”
  • atmosphere160 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Black Book" is widely praised for its immersive and enchanting qualities, drawing heavily from Slavic folklore and cultural elements. Reviewers highlight the game's effective use of simplistic yet charming visuals, a captivating soundtrack, and strong voice acting, which together create a rich, atmospheric experience reminiscent of dark fairy tales. While some note that the graphics may be basic, the overall ambiance and storytelling are considered exceptional, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The atmosphere of this game is beautiful, and I love that you get to learn about Slavic folklore while playing.”
    • “The game knows how to build up the atmosphere and immerse you; I also liked how if you hover over highlighted words during dialogue, it will not move forward, neat attention to detail which I appreciate if you want to learn the lore.”
    • “The atmosphere is so good, it makes you feel like you are inside an old Russian fairy tale (without all the starving and vodka, of course).”
    • “The most terrifying part of Black Book wasn't the creepy chorts or the eerie atmosphere—it was the French-speaking demon stork.”
    • “My main difficulty to truly recommend this is the disconnect between the atmosphere of the lore and the world's artwork.”
    • “Characters start having motivations that don't fit in with the rest of the atmosphere and theme of the game (chortocracy, my lord), twists that feel cheap and break characters, some heavy-handed motives of upcoming WWII events, and the scope of the story increases to be reality defining.”
  • grinding23 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, especially in the early stages and during certain battles, where it can feel repetitive and uninspired. While some appreciate the lore and card mechanics, many express frustration with the lack of meaningful progression and the necessity to engage in grindy tasks to advance. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a mixed bag, with some enjoyment found in experimentation but often overshadowed by monotony.

    • “There's a lot of grinding involved, but it feels rewarding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for all the grinding you'll be doing.”
    • “The grinding can be intense, but it really pays off in the end.”
    • “I've played a fair number of card tactic games and this one does a decent job of keeping it interesting with new cards and possible combinations, although after I decided on what I wanted to do with my deck, the battles did get a tad grindy towards the end.”
    • “You also cannot grind in this game, so farming mods before a hard boss is not an option.”
    • “Don't get me wrong, puzzle battles could be a fun optional thing for players who want to be challenged, sure... but making them mandatory out of nowhere and locking story progression behind these tedious trial & error annoyances is really, really bad game design!”
  • emotional17 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching story, deep character development, and powerful cultural themes, which resonate strongly with players, often evoking tears and a sense of connection. While some critiques mention uneven voice acting and gameplay mechanics, the overall atmosphere and heartfelt narrative create a rewarding experience that immerses players in Slavic folklore and personal choices. Many reviewers express a profound appreciation for the game's emotional depth, despite its technical shortcomings.

    • “Great atmospheric game with a touching story.”
    • “This game is beautiful and very emotional.”
    • “I love the story, how you can learn about Slavic culture, the character developments (Proshka being my favorite one), the plot twist, the card battles... I think everything made me feel really connected and interested in this game.”
    • “The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact.”
    • “I didn't connect with the characters at all; their struggles felt superficial.”
    • “The attempts at emotional depth fell flat, leaving me feeling indifferent.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with most players noting that while there are some variations in playthroughs (such as moral choices and different sin levels), the core story remains largely the same. Many reviewers express a desire for more diverse gameplay elements to enhance replay value, as the current mechanics do not offer the same depth of replayability found in other roguelike games. The consensus suggests a score of around 5/10 for replayability, primarily appealing to those interested in exploring different moral paths or achieving specific goals.

    • “In terms of replayability, you basically have an 'evil' and 'good' playthrough.”
    • “Game has some replayability factors, like your approach to situations (battle, puzzle, skip), moral choices (spare, punish, etc.) and sins-meter, that defines some ending choices and rewards during playthrough.”
    • “I don't expect the kind of replayability that I got from something like Slay the Spire, but this game has far more plot than games like that could ever hope to have.”
    • “Unless you want to reload some save files for achievement completion or start a new high sin/low sin playthrough, I don't see a lot of replayability coming from this game.”
    • “Replayability doesn't seem to be there, as while going for different builds might be interesting, progressing through the same story again doesn't seem like fun.”
    • “Replayability: 5/10 unless you want to relive the story or mechanics, little to no reason.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players enjoying the funny dialogues, quirky character interactions, and the absurdity of certain gameplay mechanics. While the low-poly graphics and character models may detract from the overall aesthetic, they often contribute to the humor, creating a blend of comedic moments that resonate well with players. The game's ability to weave humor into its immersive role-playing experience, alongside its unique cultural context, ensures that players remain entertained throughout.

    • “Interesting and funny dialogues.”
    • “Smack demons, and listen to people deal with issues while being a funny smart-ass.”
    • “It also gets sincerely funny at times, with a great, dry sense of humor to it.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game's stability has been criticized for various glitches, including issues with card mechanics, saving progress, and untranslated dialogues, which detract from the overall experience. While some players report a solid gameplay experience without major glitches, the consensus indicates that the game is notably buggy and unbalanced, suggesting a need for further refinement.

    • “Hopefully the developers have fixed these glitches, but as of July 28, 2023, the card 'Blood & Clot' stopped working halfway through the game (health loss != defense), unable to save the game at a particular stage of the map, rebirth from Priputnik herb did not work during the battle with grandpa, some dialogs were not translated into English, and a number of other minor but noticeable glitches.”
    • “The game is also terribly unbalanced and buggy.”
    • “❌ Some glitches occur when you make cards interact in certain ways late in the game.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it generally runs smoothly at 60 fps on max settings, it experiences significant frame drops during intense moments, such as the final battle. Players have noted that the game's performance can be taxing on devices like the Steam Deck, leading to unexpected battery drain. Additionally, while there is potential for deep optimization within gameplay mechanics, some players feel that the challenges presented are not engaging.

    • “The card pool gets deep fast, and there's a ton of space for optimization.”
    • “The performance of the game wasn't great; this ended up consuming my Steam Deck's battery far more than expected.”
    • “Normally I would be okay with that - just don't optimize the deck that much - but the difficulty has huge spikes and the optimization feels necessary.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game ran at a stable 60 fps at max settings all the way through, except during the final battle, where the intense rain effect swallowed up about 20 frames.”
  • character development7 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its strong narrative and integration with the main story and side quests, providing a sense of consequence to player choices. However, some reviewers find it to be linear and lacking depth, with a few describing it as primitive and in need of improvement. Overall, while the character development enhances the experience, it may not meet the expectations of all players.

    • “While I am not a fan of the card-battle, it was alright; however, the game made it up with nice character development, good story, and narrative and audio.”
    • “Amazing strong plot with character development.”
    • “Pacing-wise, it feels suitably epic with a perfect mix of daily life, side quests, main story, and character development with a good variety of consequences to your choices.”
    • “Character development is bland and the game is very linear, even though there are a lot of side quests.”
    • “Character development is very primitive and could be much better, but it doesn’t require a lot of time or attention, so it doesn’t actually spoil the game.”
    • “There are some 'puzzle battles' with fixed decks and one (or few) solution(s) -- at first I was put off because this sidesteps character development and death is likely because it's a process of learning through failure.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect is generally viewed positively, with users appreciating the quality of voice acting and how ads enhance the game's atmosphere, despite some rough translations that add to its charm.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

81% average critic score

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Play time

27hMedian play time
23hAverage play time
15-31hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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