Concubine

About

Concubine is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Upgrade Entertainment and was released on October 13, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Concubine is a single-player dark fantasy ARPG set in medieval Istanbul, featuring deep character and companion customization with detailed face and body sliders. Players live undercover as a concubine by day and battle ancient supernatural foes by night, engaging in intense hack & slash combat with spectacular mechanics, extensive grinding, and a vast collection of armor, weapons, and costumes.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 175 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

grinding8 negative mentions

The character customization is incredibly detailed, allowing players to create unique and visually appealing characters.
The game features a unique setting inspired by historical Istanbul, blending dark fantasy elements with engaging gameplay.
The developers are active in the community and responsive to feedback, showing promise for future updates and improvements.

The combat system feels clunky and unrefined, with issues such as poor enemy AI and awkward animations.
Navigation and quest direction are lacking, making it difficult for players to know where to go or what to do next.
The game currently lacks substantial content and polish, feeling more like a tech demo than a fully realized game.

gameplay
41 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
69%
7%
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fun mechanics, smooth execution, and engaging core loop of combat and customization, while others criticize it for being simplistic, unbalanced, and in need of significant improvement and polish. Players appreciate the atmospheric setting and character options, but many feel the combat system lacks depth and the overall experience is still reminiscent of a tech demo rather than a fully realized game. Despite its potential, the gameplay currently requires further development to meet player expectations.
- “Step into a living, breathing city inspired by ancient Istanbul, where history, myths, and legends collide with fast-paced action gameplay.”
- “The game blends classic action mechanics with light strategy elements, allowing you to build, train, and manage your crew as you fight through the streets, docks, and hidden corners of the city.”
- “The gameplay feels smooth and satisfying, and the desire to develop your character is beautifully conveyed.”
- “Mediocre game, needs a better combat system and better gameplay... still needs a lot of work done and polishing!”
- “At the moment, Concubine feels less like an unfinished game and more like a very confident tech demo that assumes gameplay will materialize if we all just believe hard enough.”
- “The gameplay/balance is a confused mess somewhere between soulslike and Dynasty Warriors.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The game's story is described as simplistic and somewhat lacking depth, primarily revolving around a sultan who assigns missions that often lead to repetitive side quests. While players appreciate that story choices can impact gameplay and find the overall concept intriguing, many feel that the narrative needs further development and variety to enhance engagement. Overall, the game offers a basic framework for storytelling, but it is still in early access, leaving room for improvement and expansion.
- “The story elements and choices actually matter, which makes you want to keep playing 'just a little longer' (and suddenly hours are gone).”
- “Already enjoying it a lot and curious to see how deep the build variety and story go as it grows.”
- “The sultan gives you a mission, the map opens up, and you go full-on assassin mode.”
- “Like the story, the game starts with the sultan saying to go talk to that NPC. You find that NPC, and he tells you to go talk to NPC A, B, C, D, E, and F. You do that, get items, and they tell you to go do your thing.”
- “There's quite a few main quests, and after completing each one of them, you unlock more side quests. Unfortunately, the side quests are in the same three areas, so it can get a bit repetitive.”
- “Honestly, this isn’t a game with a deep story or a well-developed cast — but it doesn’t need to be.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
45%
15%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the gorgeous art style, memorable character designs, and immersive atmosphere, while others criticize the optimization and overall quality, comparing it unfavorably to similar titles. Players with higher-end systems report satisfaction with the visuals, but there are concerns about performance issues and a lack of polish. Overall, the game's aesthetic appeal is noted, but it may not meet the expectations of all players, especially those seeking high-end graphics.
- “The artwork is gorgeous, the character designs are memorable, and the overall atmosphere pulls you in almost immediately.”
- “The aesthetics are fantastic and the game runs very well, but combat could use some rebalancing and the story is not finished yet.”
- “The visuals are great and the combat is incredibly fun.”
- “In its current state, I can't recommend this game, neither graphically nor optimization-wise.”
- “It's a poor man's 'She Will Punish Them' with worse graphics, combat, and erotica. Even though that game has been abandoned, it's still in a better and more playable state than 'Concubine'.”
- “I have played a ton of computer games with graphics on par or even better than this game, and by comparison, it's a shame I have to lower everything and still get rather low FPS.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
23%
23%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique and immersive qualities, blending gorgeous artwork and memorable character designs with a captivating medieval Istanbul setting infused with supernatural elements. Reviewers highlight the game's rich world-building, effective use of lighting, and a strong sense of personality that enhances the overall experience, making it a standout in the atmospheric action RPG genre. The music further complements the ambiance, creating a compelling environment that draws players in from the start.
- “The artwork is gorgeous, the character designs are memorable, and the overall atmosphere pulls you in almost immediately.”
- “Medieval Istanbul with a supernatural twist is not something you get often, and the atmosphere really pulls you in.”
- “The developers have absolutely nailed the atmosphere, and the core mechanics are already more polished than many full-release games.”
- “The lighting, the outfits, the atmosphere — everything fits that dark fantasy vibe perfectly.”
- “Concubine is a game that brings to life that dreamy, exotic eastern atmosphere we’ve all imagined (even if it doesn’t really exist).”
optimization
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews. While some players report significant performance issues, particularly on the Steam Deck and in crowded scenarios, others note improvements following updates and commend the visuals and solid optimization for an early access title. However, many still feel that further work is needed to enhance performance and gameplay balance.
- “Pro: this game has surprisingly good visuals and the optimization is pretty solid, which is rare for this type of game.”
- “Edit: replayed a new save after new updates, optimization is much better and combat at early levels is more forgiving for new players.”
- “Performance seems to be decent generally, apart from when you go onto levels where there's more than 10 enemies; it starts to tank the FPS.”
- “Very poor performance on Steam Deck OLED, about 15-20 FPS.”
- “In its current state, I can't recommend this game, neither graphically nor in terms of optimization.”
- “I give them the benefit of the doubt for being an early access game, but the performance metrics are not good.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be enjoyable for those who appreciate the process, as it offers opportunities for exploration and loot collection. However, some players express frustration with the time investment required, feeling that it detracts from overall gameplay enjoyment and limits variety in combat options. While there is enough content to support grinding for equipment and customization, the experience can feel repetitive and tedious for some.
- “I hate to spend hours and hours of my life grinding in games, just to get a piece of armor, a cool weapon, an amazing bazooka.”
- “Not because there is no reward in grinding for x, but because the time I could spend grinding for x I could actually spend playing the game and having fun.”
- “It's a bit barebones at the moment, but enough content to keep you grinding for equipment or costume pieces.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some users find the background music terrible, others praise the character creator and visual design, highlighting the carefully crafted level tracks and iconic themes as standout features that enhance the overall atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is also done quite well, and the music is fantastic.”
- “Each level’s music has been crafted with care, and the iconic tracks are great.”
- “Character creator, visual design, and music rock.”
- “The background music is terrible.”
- “The music is lackluster and fails to enhance the gameplay experience.”
- “The soundtrack does not match the game's atmosphere and feels out of place.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its deep customization options and memorable character designs, which contribute to an engaging atmosphere. Players appreciate the focus on building relationships with companions and the ability to personalize their base, although some critiques mention inconsistencies in character design details. Overall, the combination of stunning artwork and extensive customization enhances the character development experience.
- “The game focuses heavily on character development, deep customization, and frequent looting, as well as gaining likeminded companions and the option to decorate and fully develop your base.”
- “The artwork is gorgeous, the character designs are memorable, and the overall atmosphere pulls you in almost immediately.”
- “It’s got killer combat, gorgeous character design, and customization that’ll keep you tinkering for hours.”
- “Awful character design; nipple parameters exist despite the absence of nipples.”
- “The game focuses heavily on character development, deep customization, and frequent looting, but it falls short in delivering meaningful growth for the characters.”
- “The character designs are definitely one of the highlights here, but they lack depth and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is notably problematic, with frequent glitches, visual stutters, and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as enemies getting stuck and dropped inputs. Players have reported severe issues, including save data loss from menu interactions and frustrating combat mechanics that hinder the overall experience. While some glitches are tolerable, the overall impression is that the game suffers from significant stability issues.
- “It's buggy in places, such as enemies getting stuck in certain areas.”
- “Very buggy, lots of dropped inputs; pressing spacebar on the main menu wipes your save. Combat is clunky, animations are mediocre, and sounds are grating.”
- “Super buggy; you draw your bow and get hit, then when you redraw your bow, it shoots an arrow that does nothing but locks you in the redraw animation, making you take twice the time to actually draw your bow.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its clever reinterpretation of Istanbul's iconic landmarks and local legends through a mythological lens, resulting in unexpected and often funny narratives. This approach not only adds a unique personality to the city but also creates a surreal yet familiar experience, blending action and humor in a modern indie game style.
- “Istanbul is carefully designed with iconic, well-known locations, twisted through a mythological and humorous lens.”
- “Famous landmarks, local legends, and old myths are reinterpreted in unexpected and often funny ways, giving the city a unique personality that feels both familiar and surreal.”
- “It’s a love letter to Istanbul’s past—told with action, humor, and a modern indie game spirit.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's replayability is criticized, with users noting that it lacks engaging graphics, combat, and erotic elements compared to similar titles. Despite its shortcomings, some players feel it remains more playable than other abandoned games in the genre.
- “The game lacks any meaningful replayability, making it feel like a one-and-done experience.”
- “Once you've completed the game, there's little incentive to return, as the content feels repetitive and uninspired.”
- “The limited choices and predictable outcomes significantly diminish the replay value.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of the game is viewed positively by some as it allows for growth and is not seen as a mere cash grab, while others criticize it for feeling unfinished and reminiscent of low-effort reskins, suggesting a lack of depth in gameplay elements like combat and character creation.
- “Combat, character creator, looting, all seem to scream the same: 'unfinished alpha incoming', 'quick cash grab', 'L2 Studios reskin'.”