Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,323 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark Game Cover
Those looking for a new tactical RPG that harkens back to the classics of the genre will find that Fell Seal: Arbiter’s Mark manages to do that and more by creating a unique story that sets itself apart from the rest.
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Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark is a tactical RPG set in a fantasy world with a touch of steampunk. As the Arbiter Kyrie, lead your troops through challenging turn-based battles across rugged terrain and varied environments. Customize your characters with a deep class system, offering over 30 classes and 300 abilities to choose from. Experience an epic story of order and stability, and test your skills in end-game content.

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,323 reviews
story1,244 positive mentions
grinding510 negative mentions
  • Great homage to Final Fantasy Tactics with a robust class and skill system.
  • Engaging combat that allows for deep customization and strategy.
  • Challenging gameplay with a variety of difficulty settings to suit different playstyles.
  • Story and character development are weak and predictable.
  • Graphics and animations feel dated and inconsistent.
  • Injury system can be frustrating, forcing characters to sit out battles after being downed.
  • story3,981 mentions

    The story of "Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet predictable and somewhat generic. While some appreciate the character development and intriguing plot twists, others criticize the dialogue as shallow and the overall narrative as lacking depth compared to classics like "Final Fantasy Tactics." Overall, the gameplay is often highlighted as the main draw, with the story serving primarily as a backdrop for the tactical battles.

    • “Great game, good story, scratches that Final Fantasy Tactics itch.”
    • “The story is sufficiently intriguing and there's a ton of classes and viable builds to unlock and explore.”
    • “The story is interesting enough so far and the graphics are easy on the eyes.”
    • “The story beats are all completely obvious and hollow.”
    • “The major and minor villains either have caricature-like personalities which are antithetical to a proper villain and feel incongruous in a game with such a serious story, inane and unidimensional motivations, and poorly-written dialogue.”
    • “The story is just the weakest point of the game and will bore you to death.”
  • gameplay1,643 mentions

    The gameplay of "Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark" is widely praised for its tactical depth and customization options, drawing strong comparisons to "Final Fantasy Tactics" with its turn-based mechanics and class systems. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and strategic elements, some express concerns about balance issues, repetitive gameplay, and a lack of innovation in certain mechanics. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of tactical RPGs, particularly those who enjoy character customization and a familiar gameplay style.

    • “The gameplay is spot on, the pixel art is beautiful, the story is well written and surprisingly not cheesy, characters are interesting, the music is good, difficulty is challenging at times but fair.”
    • “The gameplay is excellent, particularly with the DLC and the story is also decent.”
    • “The gameplay is fun just as in the original.”
    • “Infuriatingly, there are some hidden mechanics altering the numbers in the enemy's favor.”
    • “The gameplay experience just comes across as boring and grindy and the story fails to engage.”
    • “Overall, I do not recommend it because its standard gameplay and sheer number of classes and builds don't make up for the rest of the game which is exceptionally lacking.”
  • graphics1,104 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming, hand-drawn art style and colorful visuals, while others criticize the inconsistent art styles and dated, cartoonish graphics that can detract from the overall experience. Many reviewers noted that while the graphics may not be cutting-edge, they are serviceable and grow on players over time, especially when considering the engaging gameplay and story. Overall, the visuals are seen as a nostalgic homage to classic tactical RPGs, though they may not appeal to everyone.

    • “The graphics itself is great though and I'm not asking you to remake the whole thing.”
    • “The graphics, music, and wider presentation are all good. They are consistent and they feel professional.”
    • “The game features a stunning art style that blends classic RPG elements with modern design sensibilities.”
    • “The graphics in Fell Seal are so absolutely terrible that Final Fantasy Tactics' graphics from the late 90s look like a recent AAA game in comparison.”
    • “I normally don't care much about graphics, but Fell Seal looks so unbelievably bad that it detracts from the experience in a big way.”
    • “The worst of it is the cartoonish style that looks like a 2001 browser flash game art style.”
  • music556 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as solid and fitting for the fantasy genre, while others find it repetitive and forgettable. Many players express a desire for more variety in the soundtrack, noting that it lacks the memorable quality of classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics. Overall, while the music enhances the experience for some, it fails to leave a lasting impression for many others.

    • “The music is a solid 10/10 though.”
    • “The music is wonderful.”
    • “The music is incredible too.”
    • “The soundtrack is composed of completely unremarkable and soulless medieval fantasy songs which do not stir any emotions.”
    • “The music is forgettable; I usually just jam to my own.”
    • “I closed Fell Seal about 30 minutes ago and wouldn't be able to hum either the battle or roster management music.”
  • grinding522 mentions

    The game's grinding mechanics receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while grinding is present, it can be both tedious and necessary for character development and class mastery. Some appreciate the optional nature of grinding, finding it enjoyable and rewarding, especially with features like patrols and auto-battle to ease the process. However, others criticize the repetitive nature of battles and the scaling system, which can make grinding feel pointless and overly time-consuming, particularly in the late game.

    • “Story feels a bit short, but it does offer side missions which could easily reach 60 hours worth of content even if you're not the grinding type.”
    • “Not too grindy and most classes are viable.”
    • “Good class system, fun mechanics, not too grindy, and lots of fun!”
    • “The combat is slow, tedious and sometimes outright unfair for both you and the enemy.”
    • “Every 'battle' is just a tedious hours-long trial-and-error fest as you hunt for the one exact party setup and loadout that'll let you win, and no amount of improvisation, level grinding or tactics will let you edge out a victory otherwise.”
    • “This drags the combat so long, that it becomes tedious and boring.”
  • character development90 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the tactical choices and customization options, while others criticize the lack of depth and flatness in character personalities. Although the artistic direction and character designs are noted as decent, many feel that the overall narrative fails to provide a compelling backdrop for character growth, leading to a somewhat predictable and shallow experience. Optional story moments offer some additional development, but the general consensus is that the game could benefit from more profound character arcs and unique backstories.

    • “Recommended for fans of the tactics RPG genre, fans of RPGs with very in-depth character development and/or like a sense of achievement (e.g., unlocking all the classes on a character, finding all the hidden classes, taming all monsters, finding all chests, unlocking hidden playable characters, etc.).”
    • “The character development is extremely cool and lets you create your own unique band of warriors.”
    • “Mechanically, character development is the best I've ever seen from these games, though the job tree does demand that you leave your comfort zone every once in a while.”
    • “Most of the characters are pretty flat, and there's next to no character development along the length of the story.”
    • “Character development is boring as I have to keep replaying the levels in order to gain experience and money.”
    • “Characters are completely interchangeable, proving that no character has any true storyline other than one in which any individual could easily replace that 'slot.' In other words, yes, there are names mentioned but you never really feel like you have any clue about their backstory or character development.”
  • replayability84 mentions

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the extensive class customization and varied difficulty settings that enhance replay value, others find the story tedious and the overall replayability lacking. Many reviews highlight the potential for new game+ modes and different team setups as significant factors for replayability, but some players feel that a single playthrough is sufficient to experience the game's content. Overall, opinions range from high replay value due to customization options to low replayability due to a linear narrative.

    • “This also adds a lot of replayability to the game, whether playing with a fresh start with different difficulty options, or on New Game+ with as much or as little of your previous progress.”
    • “The game has an absurd amount of customization with your characters, offering massive amounts of replayability and strategy.”
    • “Good replayability because you can start an entirely new team with at least a somewhat different approach, and enough variety along the way to not be bored even if you develop your team mostly the same every time.”
    • “Overall 4/10, no replayability and class level limit for class changes suck.”
    • “The only redeeming quality is the sheer amount of classes and builds that you have access to, but despite this, the game lacks replay value because the story and journey are a slog.”
    • “Only downside is the rather short lifetime and low replayability.”
  • humor58 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as a balanced mix, with some players appreciating its subtlety and others finding it lacking compared to more comedic titles like Disgaea. While the dialogue maintains a serious tone, it includes well-placed humorous moments that enhance the story without overwhelming it with cringeworthy jokes or pop culture references. Overall, the humor is seen as fitting and well-executed, contributing positively to the game's narrative experience.

    • “The plot is fun and, to my surprise, not filled to the brim with prepubescent attempts at humor.”
    • “You could also build really stupid things like a thief ninja who throws weapons they steal back at opponents, because it's funny.”
    • “Furthermore, the dialogue is really well written, and - god bless them - the humor is just the right amount, and no character comes out as the insufferable comical sidekick in a game where things happening are really serious.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    The game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly with solid performance and no bugs, the menu systems are poorly designed and cumbersome to navigate. Players appreciate the depth of character customization but find the optimization process can feel forced and derivative, leading to a recommendation to focus on enjoying the game rather than getting lost in optimization mechanics. Additionally, the AI behavior is seen as overly uniform, which may detract from the overall experience.

    • “The twist here is that each character uses two classes, creating a lot of optimization and customization choices.”
    • “Just the right amount of complexity and tactical decision making, satisfying execution of plans, challenging AI that actually makes use of the tools at their disposal, and won't hesitate to beat up on one of your characters... there's enough variety of enemy types and abilities that even a single well-optimized character can struggle a bit with certain enemies, so making use of your full team together is important.”
    • “The game is not buggy and runs smoothly.”
    • “The menus, right from the start screen, but also in the shop, guild, abilities, and deployment screens, are poorly optimized, with too much info and shortcut keys, which in addition to being visually atrocious, are a pain to navigate to get anything done quickly.”
    • “I found the optimization to be rather inaccurate.”
    • “There is no option to automatically snap the cursor of your gamepad in all circumstances, so that I could, for example, use my PS1 controller to play easily; it is optimized around having at least one analog stick present.”
  • emotional28 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized for its lackluster story and character development, making it difficult for players to form meaningful attachments. While some players enjoyed the nostalgia it evoked and appreciated its pacing, many felt that the narrative was basic and uninspired, failing to deliver the emotional depth found in classic titles like Final Fantasy Tactics. Overall, the game leaves players wanting more, particularly in terms of a compelling conclusion and character engagement.

    • “I put over 150 hours into the game and enjoyed every second, but the end really made me feel like it has to have a second part because you're playing trying to finish the whole plot, then it's over... just... like... that mouse in hand saying 'is that it?' Hopefully, they did that on purpose to create what feels like a must-have second/follow-up game to this one.”
    • “Length is no excuse, either, as I still remember Knight of Lodis' pivotal twist where you're forced to choose between your allegiance with your homeland and your ideals... to bloody and emotional consequence.”
    • “It is very well paced for how short it is, though, hitting the correct emotional and story beats exactly when it's supposed to.”
    • “The boring story and ugly art were distracting, and all it made me want to do was replay Final Fantasy Tactics.”
    • “I want to like it so bad because it's probably the only decent Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together successor out there after Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions, but I get turned off by the boring story and how after getting my characters to max level in many different classes they're still not awesome.”
    • “- Boring story with no voice acting.”
  • stability18 mentions

    Overall, the game is reported to be stable and largely bug-free, running smoothly on various platforms, including the Steam Deck and Ubuntu. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and issues with terrain implementation, these were not considered game-breaking. The game is generally recommended for its low resource demands and solid performance.

    • “The game is not buggy and runs smoothly.”
    • “It seems to be bug free, easy to learn, and average to master.”
    • “Runs great on the Steam Deck, other than all the text details being a bit too small to read.”
    • “And we haven't even gotten into the abjectly wretched implementation of terrain, from balance to glitches.”
    • “Cons: I rarely encountered some graphical glitches, but nothing game-breaking.”
    • “And we haven't even gotten into the abjectly wretched implementation of terrain, from balance to glitches.”
  • atmosphere14 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is initially captivating, enhanced by its music, writing, and simple yet effective cutscenes, though some players feel it lacks vibrancy due to static backgrounds. While the art style and story may take time to resonate, the overall atmosphere eventually draws players in, particularly appealing to fans of similar titles. However, comparisons to larger studios highlight limitations in scale and depth.

    • “That world drew me in immediately with atmosphere, music, and writing before the first bit of gameplay.”
    • “Manages to build a lot of atmosphere with text, pictures, and tiny animations.”
    • “The music, atmosphere, gameplay -- all will appeal to FFT fans.”
    • “The art style, story, or atmosphere didn't grab me at first but did eventually, but the gameplay and great UI makes up for it big time.”
    • “Of course you can't expect the same atmosphere and scale from Squaresoft and a small studio.”
    • “Simple cutscenes are elevated through their use to make a kind of reflective atmosphere.”
  • monetization10 mentions

    The game has received positive feedback for its lack of microtransactions, with users appreciating the absence of any monetization tactics that could detract from the experience. Many reviewers express gratitude for a game that prioritizes gameplay over profit, viewing it as a refreshing change in the industry.

    • “Thank you for making a great game with no microtransactions.”
    • “I appreciate that there are zero microtransactions in this game.”
    • “It's refreshing to see a game that has no microtransactions at all.”
    • “I love the genre, but this reads more like a cash grab rather than a love letter.”
    • “I don't mean only cosmetic microtransactions or with odds posted... I mean zero microtransactions.”
    • “I don't mean only cosmetic microtransactions or with odds posted... I mean zero microtransactions.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

84% average critic score

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Play time

40hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
15-60hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 72 analyzed playthroughs

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