It Stares Back

About

"It Stares Back" is a 4X, hex-based RTS game with dark-fantasy elements and RPG mechanics. Play as the Noble Guide, commanding an undead army and exploring the Four Kingdoms to restore the Great Tapestry. Gather resources, recruit heroes and soldiers, and build structures in this immersive, hand-painted world. Be cautious, as danger lurks in every corner of this corrupted realm.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 74 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

stability1 negative mentions

The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that captivates players.
The voice acting and soundtrack are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere and storytelling.
The gameplay, while simplistic, offers a refreshing take on RTS mechanics with a focus on strategy and resource management.

The game has limited content and feels incomplete, with many players expressing disappointment at its current state.
There are technical issues, including crashes and gameplay bugs that detract from the experience.
The gameplay can become repetitive and lacks depth, with some players wishing for more complex mechanics and features.

gameplay
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
58%
7%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and straightforward, with some players finding it engaging yet lacking depth. While the mechanics are easy to learn and the visuals and atmosphere are praised, many reviews note that the gameplay can feel repetitive or barebones, especially in its current early access state. Overall, it combines elements of RTS and strategy games, but some players feel it could benefit from more complexity and clearer tutorials.
- “Excellent storytelling, simple and addictive gameplay, engulfing atmosphere... hand-drawn characters.”
- “The gameplay itself is great fun, combining the most relevant aspects of macromanagement from RTS with the larger-scale map.”
- “As I begin to explore the gameplay mechanics more in depth, familiar but comfortable controls to RTS players such as queuing actions with shift and movement being staple controls helps with the game's 'drop in and go' attitude.”
- “It took a while for me to understand the game mechanics and how exactly to play, but there's not a lot of explanation on how the game works.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and does not offer a lot of decision making, but I can see it being a lot more enjoyable with a few extra features.”
- “It's unclear what kind of things it will bring to the table, but for now, I have to say that gameplay gets pretty repetitive.”
story
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
45%
8%
The game's story is described as intriguing and engaging, enhanced by excellent voice acting and stunning visuals, though some players find it somewhat simple or corny. While the narrative is not deeply complex, its presentation, atmosphere, and character interactions create a captivating experience that keeps players wanting more. Overall, the storytelling is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and appeal.
- “The story and storytelling is incredibly engaging and amazing, the artwork is truly fantastic and the atmosphere created some of the best and most haunting of any game I've played.”
- “An absolutely eerie, well acted, drawn and enjoyable story - with a really cool unique style of RTS gameplay - the devs are constantly updating the game and taking player feedback which is super awesome.”
- “With a great story, great voice acting, fun - if somewhat repetitive - gameplay, and a perfectly ominous and mysterious atmosphere, this is one of the coolest games I've ever found on Steam, and I can't wait for it to be finished and get out of early access.”
- “Fairly simple and straightforward in gameplay, enhanced with a uniquely confusing story and art design.”
- “The story is a bit corny though.”
- “The story in the campaign is very absurd.”
graphics
31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
22%
10%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, blending elements of techno-fantasy with macabre aesthetics. Reviewers highlight the impressive visuals, atmospheric design, and exceptional voice acting, which together create an engaging and immersive experience. While some note occasional repetitiveness in visual elements, the overall aesthetic and sound design are considered standout features that enhance the gameplay.
- “Phenomenal visuals and art, aesthetically this game is gorgeous.”
- “The artwork and voice acting for this game is absolutely stunning and delicious.”
- “The graphics are very well designed from the trippy digital-esque play field paired with wonderful background music; to artfully done individual characters during dialogue scenes.”
- “Graphics: 5 - I'm really torn about this; there are certain parts that are absolutely amazing, but then they get reused a lot.”
- “I'm going to be honest - I don't really like these 'simplistic' RTS titles as a rule, and so I bought this purely for its aesthetic, and my-oh-my is it worth the asking price for that alone.”
- “Those gameplay aspects, the shifting of your units and hero, they're honestly all overshadowed by the sharp aesthetic of vivid characters and its unconventional universe.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
22%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its haunting, atmospheric quality that complements the unique art style and enhances the overall experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, describing it as beautiful, addictive, and fitting for the game's dark, sci-fi themes. Additionally, the voice acting is noted to be exceptional, further enriching the game's immersive world.
- “Amazing soundtrack, mood, and creative content!”
- “This game offers beautiful, haunting, and dramatic music that sends chills down your spine, and features amazing visuals to match it.”
- “Great music, great atmosphere, great writing, great worldbuilding, great art; gameplay is a little simplistic but this is a minor detail considering the foundation this game is being built upon.”
- “The gameplay is short (so far) and from what there is it's fine, not mind-blowing or anything but the music, aesthetics, and world building are exemplary.”
- “This weird neon future nihilism of 'it stares back' intertwined with its sweet siren song has got me steering towards the rocks, and damn glad to do so.”
- “It really gets going when the music changes for the last parts of missions.”
atmosphere
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
15%
23%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its haunting and immersive qualities, enhanced by excellent storytelling, unique visuals, and a captivating soundtrack. Reviewers highlight the combination of dark fantasy elements and engaging worldbuilding, although some express a desire for a more serious tone to deepen the atmosphere. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its standout feature, making it a compelling experience despite some gameplay simplicity.
- “Excellent storytelling, simple and addictive gameplay, engulfing atmosphere... hand-drawn characters.”
- “With a great story, great voice acting, fun - if somewhat repetitive - gameplay, and a perfectly ominous and mysterious atmosphere, this is one of the coolest games I've ever found on Steam, and I can't wait for it to be finished and get out of early access.”
- “The story and storytelling is incredibly engaging and amazing, the artwork is truly fantastic and the atmosphere created some of the best and most haunting of any game I've played.”
- “Has a dark fantasy air to it that I enjoy, although I'm not the biggest fan of the 'jokey' dialogue options in the game. They can be pretty hit and miss; some come across as somewhat cringe while others are just 'ok'. It would be better if this game took itself a little more seriously, as it helps to invoke the dark atmosphere a bit more. I would like to see more horror/surreal aspects to it as the game is developed.”
- “Simple enough concept in the gameplay itself; it's been done before and all of that, but so far (prologue) it's more about the story and atmosphere.”
- “It has a foundation for a nice RTS, but if you buy it now, you might have to rely on the narrative and atmosphere as the primary source of entertainment.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its crude and quirky elements, complemented by excellent voice acting and immersive sound design. Players appreciate the lighthearted, casual tone that aligns well with the game's overall theme, creating a friendly and engaging atmosphere. The humor is both intentional and self-aware, adding depth to the gaming experience.
- “It's got the absolute best sound design, it's tremendously immersive, and the guy with the funny head has some great voice acting.”
- “Everyone talks in a funny way which fits the theme enormously.”
- “This seems like high praise, but really to anyone who has seen the overall feel of the game (or noticed something textile about said game) understands that I'm being funny.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players report that the game evokes a sense of uncertainty and confusion, contributing to a complex emotional experience that challenges their perceptions.
- “This game made me feel unsure about what I'm seeing.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters left a lasting impact on me.”
- “I was moved to tears by the storyline and its powerful themes.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game boasts impressive voice acting, stunning visuals, and engaging characters, but the reviews do not specifically address its optimization performance.
- “The optimization in this game is top-notch, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimizing performance.”
- “The balance between stunning graphics and performance optimization is remarkable, making for an enjoyable experience.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users appreciate the game's approach to eliminating pathfinding issues, which are often a significant source of bugs in real-time strategy games, suggesting that this design choice enhances overall stability.
- “This is a pretty clever way to remove pathfinding in its entirety, which is one of the most buggy aspects of RTS.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Character development is intricately tied to the game's lore, with the design prompting players to engage deeply with the narrative and its underlying questions. This seamless integration enhances the overall experience, making characters feel more meaningful and connected to the game's world.
- “The character design incites questions in and of itself, with the fabric of the game woven into the lore seamlessly.”
- “The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay, making every interaction feel meaningful.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, reflecting the choices I make and creating a truly immersive experience.”