Iris and the Giant

About

"Iris and the Giant" is a turn-based single-player RPG with rogue-like elements and card game mechanics. Players help Iris overcome her inner demons as they battle monsters in procedurally generated levels. The game features hand-drawn art and intuitive deckbuilding that appeals to both card game veterans and newcomers.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 498 reviews

story87 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style and engaging sound design that enhances the overall experience.
The gameplay is easy to pick up, with unique mechanics that require strategic thinking and resource management.
The narrative tackles themes of depression and personal struggle in a heartfelt manner, resonating with many players.

The game suffers from bugs and technical issues that can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustrating experiences.
The approach to storytelling can feel heavy-handed and lacks subtlety, which may detract from the emotional impact for some players.
Replayability is limited, as the game can become repetitive after a few runs due to a lack of variety in cards and enemies.

story
267 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
64%
3%
The story of "Iris and the Giant" is a poignant exploration of themes such as depression, bullying, and inner struggles, told through the journey of a young girl named Iris as she confronts her inner demons in a dreamlike world. While some players appreciate its emotional depth and minimalist storytelling, others find it simplistic or ham-fisted, with mixed opinions on the voice acting and overall execution. The narrative is interwoven with gameplay, offering a unique experience that resonates with many, though it may not appeal to everyone due to its heavy themes.
- “The story is touching, and a very nice change from all the usual swords and robots.”
- “I love the concept of depression and a card-based RPG joining hands to create a masterful tale of sorrow that isn't captured in the story, but rather in the gameplay and ultimately how you defeat your inner demons.”
- “The story is brief, told in snippets, and is heartfelt and moving.”
- “I adore the visual style and while I get the meaningful story it's aiming to tell, it comes off as an over-simple and very predictable sad story of a depressed/bullied child.”
- “The story is cringey, the text feels like broken English at times, and the voice acting is poorly delivered in general.”
- “But the small snippets of story we get are usually so ham-fisted, so poorly voice acted, so poorly written, that all meaning it could have had is lost.”
gameplay
215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
58%
2%
The gameplay is characterized by its engaging card-based mechanics that blend strategy with a straightforward approach, making it accessible yet challenging. Players appreciate the unique narrative integration and artistic presentation, although some express frustration with game-breaking bugs and a steep difficulty curve, particularly in early runs. Overall, while the gameplay offers a satisfying experience with tactical depth, it may lack the replay value and polish found in more established roguelite titles.
- “The gameplay is engaging, and the challenge feels appropriate.”
- “The gameplay has a great level of challenge that doesn't overwhelm the player.”
- “The mechanics are tight, balanced, and extremely challenging.”
- “The first run is completely unfair, as it is close to impossible to win without knowing the full mechanics beforehand.”
- “There are some frustrating issues -- like not having a re-shuffle option, or game mechanics not being explained properly that just leads to frustration, and not wanting to continue.”
- “The gameplay itself is boring after a couple of rounds; it can show little new, though acquiring story shards is motivating, but that is the only thing for me.”
graphics
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
56%
2%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a charming, minimalist art style that many players find appealing, often described as hand-drawn or watercolor-like. While the visuals contribute to a unique atmosphere and thematic storytelling, some users note that the simplicity can occasionally hinder gameplay clarity, making it difficult to discern important information during combat. Overall, the aesthetic is well-received, with many praising its ability to enhance the emotional depth of the narrative.
- “The art style is gorgeous, the story themes (depression, bullying, confidence) are relatable, and the gameplay is super fun.”
- “Beautiful little deckbuilder, featuring a simple but nice story and cute minimalist art style.”
- “The graphics, animations, and design are unique and brilliant as you'd expect from Goblinz Studio.”
- “Another frustration comes from the visuals obstructing meaningful information, like enemy models or landscapes almost perfectly hiding a trap behind them.”
- “Tried to give the graphics a pass as a stylistic artistic choice, but the simplistic nature of the graphics actually makes it difficult to see what enemies are what and if they have certain armor or weapons in hand.”
- “Graphics look like a child coloring book; the story is thin but does the job of getting you into the atmosphere.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
36%
5%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric and beautiful qualities, enhancing the overall aesthetic and emotional experience. However, many reviewers noted a lack of variety, with only a few tracks that can become repetitive over time. While the soundtrack is often described as relaxing and fitting, it may not be memorable for all players, and the ability to adjust sound levels independently is limited.
- “The superb soundtrack and the wonderful art also play a huge part in delivering those emotions.”
- “The music is haunting and melodic, and I found myself stopping to listen to it on more than one occasion.”
- “The art and music are fantastic and really drew me into the game.”
- “The music is atmospheric and theme-appropriate; however, there's not an awful lot of variety to it, and after a while, you tend to forget it's there.”
- “The music is the same way, although it takes a very monotone approach and can be repetitive at times.”
- “Music and sound effects are nothing out of the ordinary.”
emotional
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its touching narrative that explores themes of depression, bullying, and personal struggle, resonating deeply with players. Many reviews note the heartfelt storytelling, minimalist art style, and the ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears by the end. While the gameplay is engaging, it is the emotional journey and the relatable experiences of the protagonist that leave a lasting impact on players.
- “This game genuinely made me cry in the end, which was not what I had expected from a card-based dungeon crawler.”
- “Behind the game's unique minimalist art style, players will explore a touching story of a young woman facing her inner demons and soothing the raging giant inside.”
- “The story is brief, told in snippets, and is heartfelt and moving.”
replayability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
64%
9%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it highly replayable due to numerous achievements and varied strategies, others feel it lacks depth and complexity compared to other titles in the genre, limiting long-term engagement. Many agree that it offers enough content for several playthroughs, but it may not sustain interest for those seeking extensive replay value. Overall, it provides a decent replay experience, particularly for those who enjoy exploring different tactics.
- “Picked this game up via a random 66% Steam discount voucher, wouldn't have known about it otherwise. Great thought-out game with a rather short story but lots of achievements to aim for, making this very replayable.”
- “Monster Train lets you see which bosses are coming up, and it really makes the game replayable and gives you more confidence in preparing your deck.”
- “It has a ton of replay value, with quite a few unlockables that I haven't gotten to yet.”
- “It's a bit unpolished, but an enjoyable experience; however, I am not sure that the replayability factor kicks in at any point.”
- “It doesn't feel replayable enough to keep playing now that I've beaten it a few times.”
- “The game, however, lacks replayability; once you beat the giant, there is not much more to keep you engaged, which is expected from a game of this nature (roguelike deckbuilder).”
atmosphere
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
31%
19%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by its charming and minimalistic aesthetic, complemented by atmospheric music that, while not highly varied, enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the relaxing vibe and the ability to immerse themselves in the beautifully designed environments, which shift in tone from room to room. Despite a sparse narrative, the art and underlying lore contribute to a captivating and artsy atmosphere that invites exploration and enjoyment.
- “The minimal aesthetic sets this apart from other games in a strangely atmospheric way, especially with how stripped down the music is.”
- “The art and music are very well done, and create an atmosphere that can change from room to room with great effect.”
- “From the melancholy atmosphere to the delightful art style, this is a more artsy casual experience one can get lost in.”
- “Graphics look like a child coloring book, the story is thin but does the job of getting you into the atmosphere.”
- “The play itself is challenging but very satisfying and rewarding, the progression feels natural, and the atmosphere (if you just ignore the words) is lovely.”
- “The art and music is very well done, and creates an atmosphere that can change from room to room with great effect.”
stability
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is plagued by numerous stability issues, including memory leaks, glitches from rapid clicking, and softlocks due to UI problems. Players frequently encounter game freezes and bugs that disrupt gameplay, such as unintended enemy actions and progress loss. While the game is enjoyable, its current state is described as very buggy, which significantly detracts from the overall experience.
- “These range from memory leaks, general glitches if you click too fast, enemies taking a turn after moving if you got a level up at the end of your turn, sprites breaking for no discernible reason, and softlocks from UI elements not closing properly.”
- “Say what you will about other deck builders, but this game is such a buggy mess... I genuinely cannot believe that it is only 5 bucks lower than Slay the Spire when that game is just so much... vastly... immensely... greater than this one.”
- “Good lord, so many freezes you'll wear out your Alt+F4 keys.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The humor in the game is described as both blunt and peculiar, often eliciting laughter through its unconventional and darkly ironic approach to serious themes like depression. Players find moments of absurdity, such as a character mocking the protagonist, to be strangely amusing, contributing to a unique comedic tone that blends humor with discomfort.
- “The game attempts to tackle the theme of depression, but its approach is more akin to a sledgehammer than subtlety, which ironically made me laugh out loud.”
- “Iris and the Giant is a funny game.”
- “For example, one snippet shows a girl pointing and laughing at our protagonist and literally saying, 'She is so stupid, she can't even defend herself.'”
- “Not funny, haha, but funny-strange.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is well-optimized for touch controls, providing a satisfying tactile experience, while performance on high-end hardware, such as the RTX 3080, appears to be smooth with no noticeable issues.
- “In terms of tactility, it seems optimized for touch control, but the artwork and mechanics are very satisfactory.”
- “I didn't notice any performance issues on my RTX 3080.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it requires 4-5 hours of effort to achieve permanent unlocks, which feels excessive compared to more efficient grinding systems in modern games.
- “One of the things I find very frustrating about this game is that you need to spend maybe 4-5 hours of grinding for permanent unlocks before you can have a realistic chance at winning.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The monetization strategy primarily revolves around in-game purchases, allowing players to buy various items or enhancements to enhance their gaming experience.
- “The in-game purchases feel excessive and often disrupt the overall experience.”
- “Monetization is heavily focused on microtransactions, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “The game seems designed to push players towards spending more, which can be frustrating for those who want to play without additional costs.”