Drafting Tales

69%
Game Brain Score Based on 77 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • grinding
Drafting Tales Game Cover
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In "Drafting Tales," become a successful author by writing articles, short-stories, non-fiction, and novels. Select genres, topics, and allocate effort points to literary elements to produce high-quality work. Gain experience to unlock new items, publish your work, and attract fans. Manage your inspiration and expenses to progress in the game. Key features include peer feedback, agent queries, and customization options.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

69%
Audience ScoreBased on 77 reviews
atmosphere3 positive mentions
grinding6 negative mentions
  • The game is addictive and can provide hours of entertainment, especially for fans of simulation and tycoon genres.
  • The developer is responsive to feedback and has made improvements over time, showing potential for future updates.
  • The concept of simulating a writer's career is engaging, allowing players to explore different genres and writing styles.
  • The game is overly grindy, requiring excessive time to gain fans and complete writing projects, which can lead to frustration.
  • Many mechanics feel unbalanced, such as the rapid increase in rent and the slow accumulation of experience points, making it difficult to progress.
  • The gameplay lacks variety and can become repetitive, with limited options for customization and interaction.
  • gameplay17 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by a linear progression and derivative mechanics reminiscent of other tycoon games, leading to a repetitive experience that can feel frustrating due to punishing game mechanics and a slow pace. While some players appreciate the polished and balanced nature of the simulation, others criticize the reliance on RNG and the lack of engaging content, suggesting that the game may improve with future updates. Overall, it offers a mix of simplicity and complexity, appealing to those who enjoy strategic gameplay but may deter others due to its design flaws.

    • “The style and pacing of gameplay stays relatively consistent throughout, which makes sense for this sort of simulation game. As someone who enjoys writing and wants to get further in that field, it was great to see it combined with video games — obviously, another passion of mine — into an experience that was honestly as simple or complex as I cared to make it.”
    • “We have here a very polished and balanced gameplay experience around fairly simple mechanics for a 'tycoon/sim' style game.”
    • “Creating a great experience if you're into min/max style gameplay and finding optimal strategies to achieve the best results.”
    • “Due to the objectives being absolutely linear, your gameplay will always track more or less the same.”
    • “However, several mechanics make the game very frustrating to play.”
    • “That is just a horrible mechanic for a simulation game.”
  • story10 mentions

    The story aspect of the game is criticized for its slow progression and repetitive quests, which detracts from the overall experience. While there are interesting concepts like enemies-to-lovers dynamics and random events that could enhance storytelling, the execution feels lacking, making it difficult for players to stay engaged. Additionally, the investment required for writing a book versus shorter pieces raises concerns about the narrative's payoff.

    • “A romance novel where the main characters are the protagonist and antagonist is not a good combination, unless of course the story is an enemies-to-lovers Harlequin novel, and therefore the antagonist is also the love interest.”
    • “I'm sure the game developer tycoon mechanics will be a fun twist later as the story progresses, but it's just too slow.”
    • “Naturally, some skills aren’t worth focusing on depending on what you’re writing — a short article about cooking isn’t going to need much focus on plot or characters, for instance.”
    • “The quests are always the same though.”
    • “I got stuck writing a short story for 8 months that I could never finish.”
    • “If it takes 8 times the time to write a book compared to an article or short story, and also a significant investment into a vacation because writing that book will drain your stamina, the book had better make several times more in revenue than a short story would.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and unbalanced, requiring a significant investment of time to achieve basic goals like publishing a novel. Despite some initial entertainment, many reviewers feel that the repetitive tasks lack engagement and that the game could benefit from more content and options to alleviate the grind. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a major drawback that detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “It takes forever grinding up to 10,000 fans just to be able to publish a novel, and I don't know why it sends you mail to write your first one when you are nowhere near that goal.”
    • “I gave it 11 in-game years and while it did entertain me for 2.5 hours, it was a little rough, a lot grindy, and not really balanced when you have to purchase so many points for skills but cannot even get half of the ones I'd need to improve...even after 10 in-game years.”
    • “There isn't a lot that happens and pretty much you're just grinding away without so much as the option to speed up time as you watch your little writer sit on their ass and maybe sometimes do a bit of work.”
  • stability2 mentions

    The game exhibits some bugs and imbalances, which some players feel are acceptable for an early access title but disappointing for a full retail release. However, many users believe that these issues do not significantly detract from the overall enjoyable experience.

    • “I would have given the game a pass for being buggy, imbalanced, and unfinished if it were still in early access, but this is the full retail release.”
    • “It is a bit buggy in some areas, but the bugs don't outweigh the amazing experience you have playing this game.”
  • atmosphere1 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for being pleasant, complemented by an enjoyable soundtrack, and players report a smooth experience without any bugs.

    • “The atmosphere and the soundtrack were quite pleasant, and I didn't encounter any bugs.”
    • “The game's atmosphere immerses you completely, making every moment feel alive and engaging.”
    • “From the haunting sound design to the beautifully crafted environments, the atmosphere truly captivates.”
  • music1 mentions

    The music and soundtrack of the game are generally praised for creating a pleasant atmosphere, contributing positively to the overall experience without any reported issues.

    • “The atmosphere and the soundtrack were quite pleasant, and I didn't encounter any bugs.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the gameplay, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “Each track is beautifully composed, making every moment in the game feel immersive.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users feel that the game lacks sufficient content, freedom, and realism, which limits its replayability. Enhancements in these areas could significantly improve the game's longevity and encourage players to return.

    • “But it definitely needs some more content, freedom, and realism to make it replayable.”
  • graphics1 mentions

    The graphics are minimalistic and lack dynamic animations, resulting in a repetitive experience with a static screen that offers little visual engagement.

    • “There are no fancy graphics or animations; when you complete a task, it's just click, click, click on a mostly unchanging screen.”
    • “The graphics feel outdated and lack the detail that modern games offer.”
    • “The visual design is bland and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is perceived as a low-effort cash grab, indicating that players feel it prioritizes profit over quality and player experience.

    • “This game feels like a low-effort cash grab.”
    • “The monetization strategy is overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “It's frustrating how much you have to spend to enjoy the game fully.”
  • character development1 mentions

    The effort point system enhances character development by introducing a strategic layer that influences project prioritization, allowing players to make more thoughtful decisions regarding their characters' growth.

    • “The effort point system adds a new layer of strategy to character development and project prioritization.”
    • “The depth of character progression keeps me engaged, as each choice feels impactful and meaningful.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve based on my decisions, making every playthrough feel unique and personal.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
6-6hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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