Brutal Orchestra

About

"Brutal Orchestra" is a turn-based roguelike strategy game with resource management and deck-building elements, set in a brutal and twisted Purgatory. Players make a deal with the demon Hieronymus Bosch to seek revenge on their killer, controlling pigment – a strange substance that allows for powerful abilities – and recruiting eccentric party members to aid in their quest. Each decision made can impact the player's journey, as they navigate through a world of demented and degenerate characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 557 reviews

music116 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a unique and engaging turn-based combat system that emphasizes strategy and resource management through its pigment mechanic.
The art style and music are exceptional, creating a surreal and immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
The narrative is intriguing and filled with dark humor, with memorable characters and a compelling story that unfolds as you progress.

The game can be quite challenging, with some players feeling that the difficulty spikes can lead to frustrating experiences, especially in boss fights.
There are concerns about the balance of certain characters and items, with some feeling underwhelming or overly reliant on specific strategies.
The UI can be clunky at times, making it difficult to track certain mechanics and enemy actions, which can detract from the overall gameplay experience.

music
203 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
42%
1%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its creativity and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with dynamic tracks that change based on enemy encounters, adding layers to the gameplay experience. Composed by Publio Delgado, the soundtrack is described as catchy, engaging, and integral to the game's unique aesthetic, making it a standout feature that players find themselves actively enjoying throughout their playthroughs. Many reviewers express a desire for the soundtrack to be available for purchase, highlighting its quality and memorability.
- “The music composed by Publio Delgado not only sounds great but also helps immensely with the wonderful atmosphere set by the game in its weird, alien but goofy world. The way the music is used is incredibly creative; for example, in the second stage, an enemy can turn into five different instrument-based monsters, and once they do, the instrument they are based on is added to the battle theme. I cannot express how original and genius little touches like that are.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, with each enemy type and boss having its own encounter theme, creating a sizable soundscape that ranges from Spanish flamenco to energetic jazz and rock interspersed with chanting. The music keeps you engaged and fits very well with each enemy arrangement.”
- “The music is so great that I don't need an outside source to fill the gap. It's a mechanically fun game, but it is also aesthetically enjoyable with a recognizable pixel-art style and wonderful music tailored to the many combat encounters, making battles with different enemies unique experiences.”
- “I always end up turning a game's music off after a certain amount of time having heard it all, just so I can have other things playing on the side.”
- “In a lot of games, I can multitask by watching a video on the side or listen to music, but I can't while playing this one.”
- “Some will inevitably get filtered the first time their party gets shuffled to death by music men or a choir boy decides to pop off forever.”
gameplay
168 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The gameplay of this game is widely praised for its depth and complexity, featuring engaging tactical turn-based combat that emphasizes positioning and resource management. Players appreciate the unique mechanics, such as the mana/pigment system, which adds layers of strategy and creativity to encounters, making each battle feel like a puzzle. While some critiques mention issues with animation speed and occasional stall-y gameplay, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is addictive, rewarding, and offers a refreshing take on the roguelike genre.
- “Addicting gameplay loop with charming characters and funny moments.”
- “The gameplay is fun, and at times, it can be quite hard, but if you manage to get a strategy going, it makes it feel all the better when you succeed.”
- “The combat has so much depth with the unique party members and mechanics, and creative enemy design that even after completing the main story, I'll still be playing this game for a while to unlock more stuff.”
- “One criticism I have of the gameplay is that the later levels can get a little bit too stall-y, because optimal play occasionally requires it, and there's no way to speed up animations, so you'll sometimes be looking at both fools and enemies doing nothing.”
- “It's a roguelike that has basically no meta progression, relatively little RNG (in comparison to other titles), and so many mechanics that it's easy to get overwhelmed.”
- “While there is a horde of characters you can unlock, the whole mechanic of using colored orbs starts to bite you in the ass really hard, making some fights especially unwinnable when you lose a teammate.”
story
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
51%
3%
The game's story is widely praised for its depth, intriguing themes, and engaging character interactions, often described as both bizarre and touching. Players appreciate how the narrative unfolds through gameplay, maintaining a mysterious and immersive atmosphere that encourages exploration and interpretation. While some critiques mention similarities to other titles, the overall consensus is that the storytelling, combined with the game's unique art style and mechanics, creates a compelling experience that keeps players invested.
- “The story is told beautifully with very little hand-holding - so much of it remains mysterious and intriguing at all points, even once reaching the true ending.”
- “The depth of the story is awesome, and I look forward to playing more of it to discover what else there is, even if I've already completed the main story.”
- “The writing and story are well done, and everything about this is just endlessly fascinating, no matter what way you cut it.”
- “I have very little idea what the story is about or if I'm even done with it, as while I have all the narrative achievements the game seems to keep going and going.”
- “The story is also just the exact same story as The Binding of Isaac, but done worse.”
- “But this game is unfortunately lacking in content, especially in the story department, with a majority of the character lore being located in dev streams.”
graphics
87 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
45%
3%
The game's graphics are widely praised for their unique and striking art style, heavily influenced by the works of Hieronymus Bosch, which creates a visually captivating and sometimes grotesque atmosphere. Players appreciate the combination of beautiful pixel art, engaging character designs, and a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience, making the game both visually and audibly delightful. The aesthetic is described as whimsical yet eerie, contributing significantly to the game's charm and immersive storytelling.
- “The art style is amazing.”
- “The visuals, music, and gameplay are all spectacular.”
- “The art style is absolutely fantastic, the sounds feel wet and squishy like visceral combat.”
- “My only real complaint is that the art style is a little generic and inconsistent, especially compared to the dev's previous games.”
- “Remove the oddball graphics and theme and you got perhaps the most unoriginal barebones boring gameplay mechanics.”
- “The game's visuals consist of odd, drab scenery contrasted by the colorful characters that will be both fighting with and against you, many of which are hideously grotesque to the point it makes the Binding of Isaac's menagerie seem tame by comparison.”
humor
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending charming characters and witty dialogue with a mix of absurdity and existential themes. Players appreciate the balance between genuinely funny moments and deeper emotional introspection, often finding the interactions with NPCs both entertaining and thought-provoking. The game's unique art style and quirky storytelling enhance its comedic elements, making it a memorable experience that resonates with a variety of emotions.
- “The dancing fish woman in particular had me laughing, and most enemies have enough sound effects and animations to make them feel alive and entertaining to fight against.”
- “Interactions between characters can go from genuinely funny conversations to emotional introspection about existential dread before wrapping it back up with a healthy dose of deeply disturbing tangents about death and meat.”
- “The humor's the same as any non-native speaker where an emotionless guy says either 'cruel' things or just total nonsense pretending to be pretentious.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
16%
17%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of stunning art, creative music, and a bizarre yet engaging world. Reviewers highlight the exceptional soundtrack and character designs that contribute to a surreal and immersive experience, enhancing both the gameplay and narrative. Overall, the game's atmosphere is described as a standout feature, combining dark humor and strategic depth to create a memorable experience.
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the character designs range from comical to horrifying, and the atmosphere is really top-notch.”
- “The aesthetic is incredible and unique, the atmosphere of the game is unmatched (in no small part thanks to the great soundtrack), and the game has a ton of strategic depth and granular customization options.”
- “The atmosphere/music/art are all very surreal and creepy and well done, with a generous serving of dark humour.”
- “The atmosphere/music/art are all very surreal and creepy and well done, with a generous serving of dark humor.”
- “However, the art style, general atmosphere, and story of this game is what sells it for certain.”
- “It's a turn-based roguelike, the difficulty is on-point, the atmosphere is bizarre, and the progression is unexpectedly superb and has a lot of great surprises in store.”
replayability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
39%
23%
The game offers high replayability due to its diverse characters, items, and unlockable content, encouraging players to experiment with different strategies and team compositions. While some players find the unpredictability of runs lacking, many appreciate the engaging mechanics and the challenge of completing quests and achievements, making each playthrough feel fresh. Overall, it is considered a short yet highly replayable experience, with ample opportunities for exploration and mastery.
- “On top of that, there are a good number of characters and items to help, which adds to the variety and replayability of the game.”
- “It won't disappoint you; it's one of the most engaging games on the market with its mountains of replayability!”
- “The replay value, like many roguelikes, is very high thanks to the plethora of unlockable items and characters.”
- “A roguelike is most replayable when every run is wild and unpredictable, and on that front, I'm not sure this game delivers.”
- “Within the 5 hours I've played this game, I have completely finished the main storyline and killed most of the bosses, and I can say that this is a beautifully crafted project; the humor, heavy but subtle themes evident in the items and the lore, and the general game mechanics are creative and refreshing enough for the replay value to feel fresh with every run as you unlock new characters, quests, and items.”
- “Hunting down enemies and bosses missed in previous runs just to hear their unique music is its own, separate layer of replayability.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to blend humor with profound themes, such as existential dread and introspection, creating a unique narrative experience. Players find the story both intriguing and touching, with moments that evoke a range of feelings from laughter to deep reflection. Overall, the game's aesthetics and emotional depth significantly enhance its appeal, making it a memorable experience.
- “The story is intriguing and at times touching.”
- “In conclusion, if you are looking for a snack of a game with wonderful visuals, gameplay, music, and a surprisingly touching story, then buy this.”
- “While the mechanics are solid and fun, the game's aesthetics, theme, story, and emotional set pieces really make it shine for me personally.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
29%
14%
The character development in the game is highlighted by its unique and diverse designs, ranging from comical to grotesque, which contribute to the overall chaotic atmosphere. Players appreciate the artistic direction and the engaging lore, while the satisfying gameplay mechanics enhance the experience of interacting with these characters. Overall, the combination of striking visuals and compelling storytelling creates a memorable character-driven experience.
- “Extremely fun gameplay, fantastic story, and some of my favorite character designs and landscapes ever.”
- “The soundtrack is fantastic, the character designs range from comical to horrifying, and the atmosphere is really top-notch.”
- “Love the humor, the character design is insane and grotesque, the music is amazing.”
- “The game is so chaotic, from the character designs to the mechanics and the boss encounters.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and repetitive, particularly in the early areas where challenges demand extensive effort. While mastering boss mechanics can alleviate some tedium, the overall grinding experience can become monotonous.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Because some challenges require lots of grinding in the first two areas, and that can get old quick!”
- “However, once you've mastered an understanding of the bosses, some can get pretty tedious.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Players find the game's optimization to be fair and rewarding, with outcomes feeling earned based on individual performance. The mechanics are engaging and complex, allowing for continued discovery of misplays and optimization opportunities even after extensive playtime.
- “The mechanics are engaging and deep enough that I'm still catching misplays I'm making and optimizations I'm missing after 8+ hours of gameplay.”
- “That said, it generally feels fair, and every single outcome, win or loss, has felt earned based on my performance.”
- “The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frustrating performance drops during critical moments.”
- “I often find myself waiting for long loading times, which disrupts the flow of gameplay and makes the experience less enjoyable.”
- “Despite the interesting mechanics, the lack of optimization makes it hard to fully enjoy the game, as it frequently lags and stutters.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Initial glitches caused frustration for some players, though many acknowledged that these issues were often due to user error. Overall, stability appears to improve after the initial learning curve.
- “There were some bad glitches at the beginning (that ended up being my fault, whoops) and the frustration from dealing with that soured me on the game for a while.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I experienced constant lag and stuttering, which ruined the overall experience.”

Buy Brutal Orchestra

Brutal Orchestra
$20
See offer on Itch.io

10h Median play time

8h Average play time

5-11h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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