Castle Morihisa

About

Castle Morihisa is a single player role playing game with a historical theme. It was developed by Smokingbear Studio and was released on February 10, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Castle Morihisa" is a permadeath, action strategy game set in feudal Japan. As a ronin, you must navigate through the procedurally generated castle, battling enemies and making decisions that affect the game's outcome. With multiple character classes, a day-night cycle, and various events, each playthrough offers a unique challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

68%

Audience ScoreBased on 56 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

story3 negative mentions

The game features a beautiful Japanese aesthetic with great art and music, enhancing the overall experience.
It offers a variety of characters and unique mechanics, providing depth and different strategies for players to explore.
The gameplay is addictive and fun, appealing to fans of the deck-building genre, especially those who enjoyed Slay the Spire.

The game suffers from significant balance issues, making some encounters frustratingly difficult and others too easy.
There is a lack of meta progression and variety in cards and enemies, leading to repetitive gameplay after a few runs.
Many mechanics, such as the talent system, feel random and chaotic, detracting from strategic planning and overall enjoyment.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
78%
11%
The gameplay of Castle Morihisa is engaging and reminiscent of Slay the Spire, featuring card-based mechanics with unique character abilities and a variety of tactical options. While it introduces some new mechanics like retaliate and finale, players may find the overall experience somewhat familiar, with a focus on strategic deck-building and challenging encounters. Despite some mechanical issues and translation concerns, the game runs smoothly and offers a rewarding challenge for fans of the genre.
- “Each character has at least 2 unique mechanics and a separate pool of cards.”
- “Furthermore, if you like challenging card-based gameplay, you'll also likely enjoy this game.”
- “If you like 'Slay the Spire', this game has even better mechanics and other improvements for your journey!”
- “It's like a buffet for what skins you want because the gameplay is all the exact same.”
- “But Castle Morihisa's mechanics are actually pushing the player towards more grindy fights where you need to stack the odds towards yourself and win each fight bit by bit.”
- “However, there's a lot of issues with the game's mechanics and translation issues.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their creative artwork and cohesive Japanese fantasy aesthetic, enhancing the overall experience. Players appreciate the varied character designs and the thematic consistency, which contribute to a visually appealing deckbuilder. While the art style and music receive positive remarks, some reviewers note a lack of innovation and depth in gameplay mechanics.
- “Plenty of varied characters, a cohesive theme, and unlike the king of the genre, not barf-inducing graphics makes for a pretty good deckbuilder.”
- “What I love about this game is the art style and the whole Asian theme.”
- “If you like medieval Japan as a setting, then you'll like the aesthetics and vibe of Castle Morihisa.”
- “The artwork is creative, but the graphics feel outdated.”
- “The graphics lack detail and polish, making the game feel less immersive.”
- “While the art style has potential, the overall execution falls flat.”
music
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
37%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with players appreciating its fitting choices and retro style that complements the Japanese fantasy aesthetic. The use of traditional instruments, such as woodwinds, enhances the overall experience, contributing to a pleasant atmosphere during gameplay. Overall, while the music is considered a strong point, some players feel it could be elevated further with additional progression elements.
- “The musical choices and sound effects feel appropriate.”
- “The game's art and music are quite retro, and I quite like the style.”
- “Pleasant fighting experience with wonderful musical accompaniment utilizing Japanese woodwinds (shakuhachi?).”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The story aspect of the game is criticized for lacking a satisfying conclusion, as players only receive a scoreboard after defeating the final boss without any narrative closure. While side quests offer engaging challenges and rewards, the absence of meaningful storytelling elements, such as character fates or investigation outcomes, leaves players wanting more depth and resolution.
- “There is no story conclusion; after defeating the final boss, you just get a scoreboard. A little flavor text about the outcome of the investigation or the fate of your character would be nice.”
- “The side quests feel disconnected from the main narrative, offering rewards like healing or card upgrades without any meaningful context or story integration.”
- “The overall story lacks depth and engagement, making it hard to feel invested in the characters or their journeys.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that Castle Morihisa encourages a grind-heavy approach, requiring them to engage in repetitive battles to gradually improve their chances of success.
- “Castle Morihisa's mechanics are actually pushing the player towards more grindy fights where you need to stack the odds in your favor and win each fight bit by bit.”
- “The constant need to grind for resources makes the game feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “Grinding in this game feels repetitive and tedious, taking away from the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.”