Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk

About

In "Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk" , become the living book, Tractatus de Monstrum, and command a brigade of puppet soldiers in the twisting Labyrinth of Refrain. Prepare for your journey by upgrading your brigade, solving puzzles, and battling terrifying monsters. Deeper exploration of the labyrinth reveals more dangerous creatures and valuable treasures, so strategize wisely to survive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Labyrinth of Refrain: Coven of Dusk screenshot

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 455 reviews

story157 positive mentions

grinding89 negative mentions

Engaging and dark story with unexpected twists that keeps players invested.
Unique gameplay mechanics, including the Coven system that allows for diverse party compositions and strategies.
Beautiful artwork and solid voice acting that enhance the overall experience.

Frequent crashes and bugs, particularly in later dungeons, leading to lost progress.
Repetitive combat that often lacks depth, with many encounters resolved through auto-attacks.
Complex mechanics that can be overwhelming for new players, with insufficient in-game explanations.

story
452 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
61%
5%
The story in "Labyrinth of Refrain" is a standout feature, praised for its depth, engaging characters, and unexpected dark themes that contrast with its whimsical art style. Players appreciate the intricate narrative structure, which intertwines main and labyrinth-specific stories, though some note pacing issues and a disconnect between gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the narrative is described as compelling and emotionally impactful, making it a significant draw for those who enjoy rich storytelling in their games.
- “The main story is fed to you as you progress through the labyrinth and pass some checkpoints that prompt you to resurface, creating a satisfying loop of exploration and story.”
- “The amazing story and characters kept me going and made it one of my favorite games of all time.”
- “The story is very touching and emotional and it takes a while until you understand some of the weirder aspects like why you are being forced into bad ends.”
- “The story is revealed very slowly at first, but it alone is a great reason to see this game to the end.”
- “The pacing of the story is also very inconsistent.”
- “More often than not, the story just... 'happens.' It's like the writer wrote the story without realizing that the game designer also made a game, so he hastily shoehorned the dungeon crawling into the story, without properly merging the two together.”
gameplay
221 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
62%
6%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a blend of interesting mechanics and frustrating design choices. While some players appreciate the depth and complexity of the systems, including unique party mechanics and dungeon exploration, many criticize the repetitive and simplistic combat, as well as the disconnection between gameplay and story. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate intricate mechanics, but it may feel tedious and unfulfilling for others, particularly due to pacing issues and a lack of engaging core gameplay loops.
- “The gameplay loop of exploring the dungeon and crafting a party is a lot of fun.”
- “The mechanics are complex but they're explained to you slowly throughout the gameplay, so it's very easy to follow along.”
- “The plot, characters, and gameplay are all top notch; for anyone who likes Disgaea and Etrian, this is the perfect game.”
- “The gameplay isn't one.”
- “Gameplay completely falls flat, which is a shame, because the story was interesting.”
- “Shallow repetitive gameplay that borders on the line of an idle game and has you repeat the same bland dungeon level way more than it should, just so it can tell players that the game has a 60-hour gameplay length.”
grinding
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game is widely recognized for its grind-heavy mechanics, with many players noting that significant grinding is necessary to progress, especially towards the end and for achieving true endings. While some find the grinding enjoyable and a natural part of the dungeon-crawling experience, others describe it as tedious and repetitive, often leading to frustration during boss fights. Overall, players recommend the game for those who appreciate grinding in RPGs, but caution that it may not appeal to everyone due to its extensive grind requirements.
- “It is all well and good for the first few hours, then it is just grinding for impossible boss fights.”
- “The combat is interesting, but very grindy.”
- “So, I've done extra grinding, but it's still nowhere near enough to beat the last boss.”
graphics
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
53%
5%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for their appealing art style, vibrant character designs, and atmospheric environments, reminiscent of classic Nippon Ichi titles. However, some players noted that the dungeon designs can feel bland and lack animation, with battles presented in a relatively static manner. Overall, while the visuals are enjoyable and well-executed, they may not meet the expectations of those seeking more dynamic graphical presentations.
- “The graphics and music are gorgeous, and immediately familiar to any fans of the Disgaea series or games with its main artists/composers, though I'd say the overall tone is darker than Disgaea.”
- “The artwork is beautiful, especially if you can play using the 4K textures at high resolution.”
- “It's all there, tried-and-true dungeon crawling mechanics, engaging turn-based combat, the classic Nippon Ichi art style to keep it looking polished.”
- “The presentation of the story could also be better, as some events feel like they should have better visuals to portray the situation, instead of just black screens or an unchanged character portrait.”
- “Graphics are very minimal and old-school.”
- “And the load times are atrocious for the little graphical content that is there.”
music
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The music in the game has received a mixed reception, with many praising its memorable tracks and fitting ambiance that aligns well with the game's aesthetic, reminiscent of previous NIS titles. However, some users noted issues with repetitiveness and a lack of distinctiveness in certain tracks, particularly during exploration. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally appreciated, it occasionally falls short of standing out in the gaming experience.
- “The music is memorable (as all of Tenpei Sato's works) and fits great.”
- “The art and OST are phenomenal and really add to the game.”
- “The soundtracks of the game are spot on for the most part when it comes to environments of different levels, especially the Amadeus 1st floor which has a peculiar soundtrack that meshes so well with the story being told on that level.”
- “The music is a mix of typical NIS cartoony Halloween-esque music you can find back in the first Disgaea games and other tracks that for the most part lack much identity, and I think occasionally take themselves too seriously while not doing anything to stand out on the soundtrack.”
- “The only exception I can think of is the battle results music if you allow it to play for a while, which was both a nice tune and entirely wasted in its position to be skipped over countless times.”
- “When I play a game, I often mute the game and put on Spotify or go on YouTube to play my own music.”
humor
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
92%
8%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark, twisted comedy and lighthearted moments, often featuring absurd scenarios and quirky characters. While many players appreciate the clever and entertaining dialogue, some find the humor's darker elements, particularly regarding sensitive topics, to be problematic. Overall, the game successfully combines strategic gameplay with a rich narrative that offers both laughs and deeper reflections on human nature.
- “Very cute and funny game.”
- “It's so funny it's great, love it!”
- “The real shining aspect of the game is the cast, which, honestly, is absolutely hilarious.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
92%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with many users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches, particularly in specific areas like the "umbra" dungeon. While some players have experienced smooth performance on lower-end PCs, others have encountered significant issues that hinder gameplay, suggesting that stability may vary widely among users. Overall, the game is described as buggy, with a notable risk of unplayability at times.
- “Game is good, but it crashes, freezes, textures don't load sometimes and has Steam overlay problems.”
- “Constant crashes, screen obscuring glitches, and unfortunately moments of absolute unplayability.”
- “I get graphical glitches all the time and I experience 1-2 crashes per hour which really stinks!”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, with players appreciating the solid story and the ability to see characters evolve in various scenarios. However, there are mixed feelings about character design, with some finding it low-effort and unappealing, particularly in comparison to the more variable enemy designs. Overall, while the character designs may not resonate with everyone, the narrative and character progression are highlighted as strong points of the game.
- “Progression is very slow, however I really enjoy the story and character development so far.”
- “One of the best character development systems I know; if you have played games like 'Etrian Odyssey', you know what we're looking at right now.”
- “The character designs are low-effort, and the chibi sprites for resonance attacks can't even be bothered to show the 'facets' or classes, with a default weapon or a generic image of whatever weapon type the character is holding overlaid with the sprite, despite those resonance attack sprites clearly motioning like they are holding a weapon despite being shown unarmed.”
- “It is an old school dungeon crawler doubled with a really dark visual novel; don't let the character design fool you about the true nature of this game's story.”
- “Even if you're not told much about the world, character development is taken a bit differently with a capability to see how different characters can evolve in different scenarios.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to transition from a seemingly lighthearted beginning to a darker, more serious narrative that explores profound themes of humanity and morality. Players report experiencing deep emotional connections to the story and characters, often leading to moments of genuine sadness and reflection, despite the initial abrasive humor. The game's emotional depth is further emphasized by impactful moments that challenge players' moral choices, evoking feelings of guilt and empathy.
- “The full English dub was also a treat; I think they really pulled off some emotional beats well, and having Luca's singing both be voiced and done well was nice to hear.”
- “It starts off seeming very generic and silly, but as you get farther into the game and mysteries are revealed, it gradually morphs into something far more dark, serious, and emotional.”
- “The story is very touching and emotional, and it takes a while until you understand some of the weirder aspects, like why you are being forced into bad ends.”
optimization
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
29%
43%
Overall, "Coven of Dusk" is well-optimized, particularly for PC and Steam Deck users, with minimal performance issues reported. While party optimization can be complex, the in-game tutorials effectively guide players through normal difficulty runs. Players noted rare framerate drops during critical hits, but these do not significantly impact gameplay.
- “Coven of Dusk is all about party optimization, and a good deal of the game is figuring out how to mix and match the different members of your squad to create a giant mob of murderhobos.”
- “- Well optimized PC port (offers 4K textures).”
- “It gets a bit more complicated if you want a really optimized party, but for a normal difficulty run, the in-game tutorials are good enough.”
- “As far as performance, I played the game exclusively on the Steam Deck and had minimal issues.”
- “Edit: Just for the sake of clarity, I did not have any bugs or crashing issues, or any gameplay-affecting performance drops, just the extremely rare framerate drop when someone crits (maybe once or twice an hour).”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game has low replayability, with many players noting that it can be fully completed in a single playthrough. While some mention a new game+ option and decent challenge, the lack of substantial post-game content and limited mechanics contribute to a generally weak replay value.
- “The mechanics, the dungeon crawling, the story, the art, the replay value.”
- “It's decently challenging, and has replayability.”
- “There's barely any replay value despite the New Game+ option because you can 100% the game in a single playthrough.”
- “And for an NIS game, the post-game material is surprisingly weak, and replayability is pretty low.”
- “The one thing this game is lacking is replayability - there's no real 'New Game+'.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
50%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its fairy tale aesthetic, characterized by unique designs and vibrant colors that effectively create an immersive mood. While some mechanics could be better explained and made available earlier, the overall visual experience is considered the standout feature.
- “The greatest visual aspect of the game is the atmosphere; it nails the fairy tale aesthetic with bizarre designs and powerful use of color.”
- “Great drawing styles and artwork; I love the mood and atmosphere they really nailed that down.”
- “But the greatest visual aspect of the game is the atmosphere; it nails the fairy tale aesthetic with bizarre designs and powerful use of color.”