Indies' Lies

About

Indies' Lies is a single player tactical role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by ErabitStudios and was released on January 15, 2023. It received positive reviews from players.

Indies' Lies is a single-player roguelike deck building game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+12

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,169 reviews

gameplay80 positive mentions

monetization212 negative mentions

An absolute gem of a mobile game with great fun and engaging gameplay.
The art style is nice, and the game mechanics are well-designed, providing a unique experience.
The game offers a good amount of content for free, and the DLC is reasonably priced for additional characters and features.

There are major bugs in story mode that make it impossible to finish certain character stories.
The game can feel repetitive after a while, especially with limited free content and characters.
Ads can be intrusive, and purchasing the DLC to remove ads also removes the benefits of watching them for rewards.

monetization
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
3%
94%
The monetization model of the game is generally viewed as fair, allowing players to enjoy it for free with minimal intrusive ads, which can be completely removed by purchasing DLC for a reasonable price (around $3-$6). However, many players express frustration that buying DLC to disable ads also eliminates the rewards typically gained from watching them, leading to a perception of a greedy design choice. Overall, while the game is playable without payment, the balance between ads and rewards has drawn mixed reactions from users.
- “Monetization done right: playable without paying; ads are not the most intrusive, and can be disabled after purchasing any DLC, though you lose the bonuses gotten from watching ads.”
- “Very fair monetization too, basic game free with 2 DLC at about 3€.”
- “There are some in-game monetization, but the free stuff can get you hooked enough that the additional DLC is just an addition if you want more.”
- “First game where buying content to disable ads actually negatively impacts gameplay.”
- “The only gripe I have is the way ads are handled; I'd already supported with DLC purchases, but the ads are either disabled completely without the bonuses, or enabled normally just like F2P.”
- “I paid for both DLC to get rid of the ads and can get bonus from runs without watching the ads.”
gameplay
131 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
36%
3%
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, strategic depth, and smooth execution, drawing comparisons to "Slay the Spire" while introducing unique elements like companion systems and rune enhancements. Players appreciate the variety of cards and character options, although some express concerns about balance and the overwhelming introduction of mechanics. Overall, the game offers a solid roguelike experience with beautiful graphics and minimal intrusive ads, though some players note that certain features are locked behind paywalls.
- “It's a good rogue-like battle card game, it's got your usual tactical gameplay where you need to plan out what card to play due to energy cost limitations.”
- “Fantastic gameplay thanks to an insane amount of useful and interesting cards, smart combos, tons of events and enemies, diverse heroes, and gorgeous art design.”
- “Great roguelike card game, interesting mechanics, nice art. Came back to the game after a while because it didn't work for me before, the devs replied on my previous review offering help.”
- “First game where buying content to disable ads actually negatively impacts gameplay.”
- “It gets boring quickly, the gameplay (chapters take too long) and the boss numbers are stupidly high.”
- “No more defending the game.. once you beat it fully the other time it's impossible, boss mechanics are unexplained.. stories give you an option of 'play minigame' and all it does is; plays an ad... the movement doesn't work correctly, it warns I cannot walk backwards when in fact I'm walking to the upper left or right tile... graphics option missing.”
story
128 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The game's story is generally well-received, with many players appreciating its intriguing narratives and character-specific arcs, which add depth to the gameplay. However, several reviews highlight issues with translation quality, leading to awkward phrasing and typos that detract from the overall experience. While the story mode is engaging and offers a unique experience compared to the roguelike elements, some players feel it could benefit from further development and polish.
- “The storyline is quite intriguing.”
- “Great game, great mechanics, great story.”
- “I really love an adventure-card game like this, and you guys did a great job balancing skill and characters. After finishing Albert's storyline, I realize that this game has a very interesting story, and as a fellow lore enthusiast, I got hooked pretty easily to the story it offers.”
- “Cards are generally fine, but story mode has a ton of typos and awkward sentences.”
- “A lot of effort has clearly been put into the story in the developer's native language, but the translation sadly leaves a lot to be desired and greatly dampens the experience.”
- “The story sometimes reads as if it were put into Google Translate.”
graphics
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
72%
24%
4%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their beautiful art style, smooth animations, and engaging visuals, often compared favorably to other titles like "Slay the Spire." Many users highlight the unique flair and depth of the artwork, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. However, a few critiques mention that some graphical elements could be improved or are overly simplistic.
- “The graphics are amazing and the gameplay is smooth.”
- “Amazing art style and beautiful characters with writing and story to boot!!!”
- “The game's artwork is phenomenal.”
- “Unflattering graphics; to think it needs too much space, 1.1 GB of storage.”
- “Meh, I don't like the new graphical changes.”
- “But with much better graphics and less simple.”
replayability
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its diverse character synergies, unique card interactions, and evolving strategies that keep each run feeling fresh. While many players appreciate the variety and challenge it offers, some express concerns about replay value diminishing after completing certain levels or relying on specific characters. Nonetheless, the consensus highlights that the game provides hours of engaging gameplay, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.
- “The synergies and different characters add a lot of variety and replayability.”
- “Great replayability, interesting interactions between different cards and abilities; every run feels unique and naturally you develop a different strategy based on the talents and cards you happen to gain each run, which is exactly what roguelikes are about for me.”
- “It has hours of replayability, challenging and evolving game design, and great visuals.”
- “This is the best free mobile game I have ever played, however it feels like it lacks replay value if you're like me and only want to play Albert, the man that can stack massive amounts of burn.”
- “Like random or challenge mode better yet community-made stages because replay value goes way downhill after you finish both once or complete level 10 or 20.”
- “However, it is not very challenging so it will not be as replayable.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
Character development in the game is generally praised for its engaging stories and unique interactions, complemented by appealing character designs and art. While some users suggest a need for reworking overly sexualized designs, the overall consensus highlights the characters as interesting and integral to the gameplay experience, particularly in the context of its roguelike mechanics. The game is also noted for being free-to-play friendly, enhancing its accessibility and enjoyment.
- “Characters have interesting stories, and the mechanics are simple yet complex enough to always be engaging. The character design is also great, and there are no ads!”
- “Very fun game with some unique interactions. I'm loving the character design, and it is very free-to-play friendly from what I can see.”
- “Good roguelike deckbuilder with fun cards, great character design, and art.”
- “Difficulty is a little easy, and the character design needs a rework to move away from the needlessly 'sexy' portrayal of characters.”
- “The character design lacks depth and fails to contribute meaningfully to the overall experience.”
- “While the game has some unique interactions, the character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
music
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising it as beautiful and fitting for a mobile game, while others criticize the lack of volume control and the inability to turn off sound effects. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the experience, but technical issues and limited options detract from its enjoyment for some users.
- “Some of the best music I've heard in a mobile game.”
- “Beautiful artwork and an equally beautiful soundtrack round out the experience.”
- “I hope you put some good soundtracks for different stage battles or credit songs; it seems this game one day will be on the Steam version.”
- “The reason I'm giving 4 stars is because you guys are not putting volume control for music and sound effects.”
- “Wouldn't let me turn off the music or sound effects.”
- “Absolutely love the game mechanics, stories, traits, and characters. Bought all the DLCs and finished them all, but lately the game becomes stuck at startup. The background music still plays but won't go to the main menu. The only way I can fix it is by restarting the phone, but after several times playing, the problem occurs again.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be less monotonous than typical farming, as it allows for progression through various builds and paths. While obtaining special items for story mode can be challenging, the overall experience is enjoyable and not pay-to-win, leading some to purchase the game on multiple platforms.
- “Grinding special items to unlock story modes can be a bit hard sometimes, but overall I found the game good enough that I purchased it on PC as well.”
- “Grindy RPG but not pay-to-win.”
- “Not as monotonous as farming or grinding, you can progress by choosing your build or path.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report no bugs or glitches, others have encountered significant issues, such as game freezes during enemy turns. This inconsistency suggests that while the game can be enjoyable, it may also suffer from critical stability problems for some players.
- “Fun but buggy.”
- “Automation has a bug that freezes the game on the enemy's turn; restarting the battle doesn't change it.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
100%
Overall, while the game's optimization is not a major issue, players feel there are areas for improvement, particularly in quality of life features such as the ability to access the achievements menu during gameplay.
- “Some quality of life optimization that I like is that you could open the achievements menu at any time, including during a run.”
- “Not a deal breaker, but just something that could be optimized a little better.”
- “Not a deal breaker, but it's something that could be optimized a little better.”
- “The game's performance is inconsistent, making it frustrating to play at times.”
- “There are noticeable frame drops and lag during intense moments, which disrupts the experience.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its wholesome story, which resonates positively with players, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
- “The story is incredibly wholesome and deeply moving.”
- “I felt a strong emotional connection to the characters throughout the game.”
- “The narrative left me with a lasting sense of hope and warmth.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the free-to-play deckbuilder is well-received, with players finding it genuinely funny and expressing enthusiasm for additional characters and humorous effects in future updates.
- “It's a free-to-play deckbuilder that's really funny.”
- “I'm excited for more characters and even more funny effects.”