Black Book

Black Book weaves a spell that dazzles players with its puzzly card-based combat and a beautiful, dark storybook journey into the deepest depths.

85%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

90% User Score Based on 861 reviews

Critic Score 81%Based on 13 reviews

Platforms

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About

"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 861 reviews

story292 positive mentions

grinding13 negative mentions

Rich and immersive storytelling based on Slavic folklore, providing a unique cultural experience.
Engaging card-based combat system with a variety of strategies and deck-building options.
Beautiful art style and atmospheric music that enhance the overall experience.

Voice acting and translation issues can detract from the immersion and clarity of the story.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the movement and save system, can be clunky and frustrating.
Difficulty spikes in certain battles may feel unfair and disrupt the pacing of the game.

story
604 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The story of "Black Book" centers around Vasilisa, a young witch on a quest to resurrect her deceased boyfriend, drawing heavily from Slavic folklore. Players appreciate the rich narrative, engaging characters, and the impact of choices on the storyline, although some find the pacing slow and the gameplay mechanics less compelling. Overall, the game is praised for its atmospheric storytelling and well-researched mythology, making it a unique experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The story is rich with the Slavic mythology it draws upon, and it's clear that the creative team really adores the culture.”
- “Black Book is a fantastic game that really showcases some fantastic storytelling and a really rich background of Russian folklore.”
- “The story does a superb job of keeping us on the edge of our seats, breath held, hoping for a happy ending despite Vasilisa's dark pact.”
- “Janky gameplay, middling deckbuilding, boring story.”
- “The plot and folk events make no sense and I am ethnically Russian.”
- “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.”
gameplay
303 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a card-based deckbuilding system that some players find engaging and strategic, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking depth. The integration of lore into gameplay mechanics is praised, as it encourages players to engage with the story, but the overall execution can feel janky and unpolished at times. While the combat mechanics and exploration offer unique experiences, the game may not appeal to those who prefer fast-paced action or dislike turn-based gameplay.
- “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 card mechanics are engaging enough to hook you once you get the hang of it, similar to Gwent.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and challenging as it increases.”
- “Janky gameplay, middling deckbuilding, boring story.”
- “For a game that doesn't seem that it will introduce any new elements in its gameplay loop, that is way way overstaying its welcome.”
- “The gameplay itself starts pretty weak, but ramps up pretty quickly with how hilariously broken you can make your deck.”
graphics
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique and charming art style that effectively conveys the dark fantasy atmosphere and folklore themes. While some players appreciate the simplistic, low-poly visuals and find them fitting for the game's narrative, others criticize the unpolished cutscenes and inconsistent quality between different graphical elements. Overall, the visuals are seen as a blend of charming and basic, serving the game's storytelling well despite some technical shortcomings.
- “The art style in general is very beautiful, ranging from the impeccably rendered character portraits to the mood-setting lighting and particle effects.”
- “The atmosphere is really great, music is simplistic but fitting, and the art style is 100% on point.”
- “It's got a powerful aesthetic, a beautiful low-poly style, a moody soundtrack, and overall immaculate vibes.”
- “And honestly, the cutscene graphics are so unpolished that it makes me wonder why so much of the game is structured into cutscenes?”
- “Firstly, the graphics are just so-so and the whole fixed camera nonsense is hella aggravating when trying to explore an area.”
- “The 2D visuals are pretty in a gothic sort of way, but the 3D modeling is rather simplistic.”
music
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its beauty and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the enchanting folk songs performed by a local choir that enhance the cultural immersion. The soundtrack is described as both moving and fitting, contributing significantly to the game's dark ambiance and storytelling. Overall, players find the music to be a standout feature, elevating the experience and often prompting them to pause and appreciate the compositions.
- “I really enjoy the dark ambiance of the game when my lights are off and the game's soundtrack is enabled.”
- “The music is incredible, and the setting, lore, and atmosphere all respect and honor the culture of the people it portrays.”
- “The game has beautiful vocal music from a women's choir, singing traditional folk music which adds nicely to the gloomy, rough land life in 19th century Russia.”
- “It's a shame the authors did not utilize folklore songs more often.”
- “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.”
atmosphere
95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
32%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich integration of Slavic folklore, engaging storytelling, and immersive sound design, creating a captivating experience that resonates with players. While the visuals are often described as simplistic, they effectively complement the game's dark and enchanting ambiance, enhanced by authentic dialogue and cultural references. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, drawing players into a unique and atmospheric world that honors its cultural roots.
- “Extraordinary atmosphere and super anthropologically satisfying experience.”
- “The music is incredible, and the setting, lore, and atmosphere all respect and honor the culture of the people it portrays.”
- “Black Book really nails the atmosphere and I have to give special praise for the fantastically written dialogue that captures several dialects, as well as old Russian speech and the difference between peasant speech and that of educated people at the end of the 19th century.”
- “My main difficulty to truly recommend this is the disconnect between the atmosphere of the lore and the world's artwork.”
- “It does suck you out of the immersion/atmosphere for some specific assets, but exploring an area is such a minor part of the game that it's not a big deal.”
- “The blocky/cartoonish style takes away from the gloomy atmosphere of the surroundings.”
emotional
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
23%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its deeply impactful storytelling and rich cultural references, which resonate strongly with players, evoking feelings of nostalgia and connection to heritage. While the gameplay and voice acting may be inconsistent, the heartfelt narrative and well-developed characters create a rewarding experience that leaves a lasting impression. Overall, players appreciate the game's ability to convey powerful emotions despite some technical shortcomings.
- “It made me feel something inside and get in touch with my ancient roots as a Slav.”
- “Game is really wholesome and made with much care and love for the characters.”
- “Slay the Spire-esque card mechanics, Russian folklore, and a heartfelt story of what you would do for those you love.”
- “The emotional moments felt forced and lacked genuine impact.”
- “I couldn't connect with the characters, making the emotional scenes fall flat.”
- “The attempts at emotional depth were overshadowed by poor writing and pacing.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience, with some describing it as tedious due to repetitive tasks and combat mechanics that can become overly simplistic or easily exploitable. While the lore and card mechanics offer some depth, the necessity to engage in grinding for progression can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading to a sense of monotony in gameplay.
- “You also cannot grind in this game, so farming mods before a hard boss is not an option.”
- “Gameplay is uninspired and tedious.”
- “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!”
stability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 noted that these bugs are not game-breaking, they still impact gameplay and suggest a need for further refinement. Overall, the game feels somewhat unstable and could benefit from additional polish.
- “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.”
- “There are some glitches and such, but they're not game-breaking.”
- “At the end, some mechanics are visually buggy.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited, primarily offering "good" and "evil" playthroughs along with some variations in gameplay mechanics and moral choices. While players appreciate the storytelling and character interactions, many feel that the lack of significant replay value, akin to deck-building roguelites, detracts from the experience. Some users express a desire for options to streamline repeated playthroughs, indicating that while the narrative is engaging, it may not warrant multiple completions.
- “In terms of replayability, you basically have an 'evil' and 'good' playthrough.”
- “I think that’s the perfect thing this game could use to give it more replayability, and it just makes so much sense since the gameplay of this game closely resembles deck-building roguelites.”
- “The game has some replayability factors, like your approach to situations (battle, puzzle, skip), moral choices (spare, punish, etc.), and a 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.”
- “Replayability: 5/10 unless you want to relive the story or mechanics; there's little to no reason to play again.”
- “I wish there was a way to just skip the damn map traveling animation or character dialogs for replayability.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is well-received, with players noting its clever integration into gameplay and narrative, enhancing the overall experience. The comedic elements are present in both English and Russian translations, ensuring a diverse appeal. Additionally, the juxtaposition of humorous graphics with horror themes adds to the game's unique charm.
- “The gameplay itself starts pretty weak, but ramps up quickly with how hilariously broken you can make your deck.”
- “A lot of humor both in English and Russian translation; you will not be bored.”
- “Also, the graphic style didn't fit my taste, but that whole polygon, no texture style is funny, especially when it tries to be scary.”
optimization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while it features unique artwork and runs smoothly for some players, others report significant battery drain on devices like the Steam Deck. Additionally, while there is potential for deep optimization within gameplay mechanics, the challenges presented are often seen as uninteresting.
- “The card pool gets deep fast, and there's a ton of space for optimization.”
- “Wow, very unique, great artwork, runs smoothly, interesting storyline, well done.”
- “Genuinely interesting mythology to explore, well written, with strong performances, delightful grab-bag of different gameplay ideas.”
- “The performance of the game wasn't great; this ended up consuming my Steam Deck's battery far more than expected.”
- “These are all damage optimization problems, and while some are challenging, none are interesting.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Character development in the game is noted for its strong plot, but some players feel it is hindered by linear gameplay and fixed deck mechanics in puzzle battles, which limit character growth. While there are opportunities for side quests, the overall experience may feel somewhat blended and constrained.
- “Amazing strong plot with character development.”
- “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.”
- “Character development is bland and the game is very linear, even though there are a lot of side quests.”