LABYRINTH OF TOUHOU - GENSOKYO AND THE HEAVEN-PIERCING TREE

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Labyrinth of Touhou - Gensokyo and the Heaven-Piercing Tree is a challenging dungeon crawler RPG set in the Touhou Project universe. Explore randomly generated levels, battle strange creatures, and use a variety of magic skills and items to survive. The game features a unique bullet hell-inspired combat system and includes over 120 stages with increasing difficulty. Your goal is to reach the top of the Heaven-Piercing Tree, but can you make it?

Play Modes

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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 124 reviews

gameplay15 positive mentions

grinding30 negative mentions

Incredibly deep and flexible combat system with a large roster of characters, allowing for diverse team compositions and strategies.
Challenging boss fights that require careful planning and character management, making victories feel rewarding.
No penalties for dying, allowing players to experiment with different strategies without the fear of losing progress.

The game can be excessively grindy, especially in the post-game content, which may deter some players.
Some mechanics and character abilities are not clearly explained in-game, requiring players to consult external resources like wikis.
The music, while good, does not always feel related to the Touhou series and has issues with looping properly.

gameplay
37 mentions
41 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is highly praised for its engaging and fast-paced combat, particularly during boss battles that require strategic planning and team optimization. While the game offers a rich and mechanically deep experience reminiscent of titles like Etrian Odyssey, some mechanics are not clearly explained in-game, which may challenge newcomers. Overall, players find the gameplay rewarding and addictive, with a significant amount of content that encourages experimentation and replayability.
- “The boss battles are the main gameplay attraction, and even in 'hard' mode, they never quite feel unfair.”
- “The gameplay loop comprises three main components: dungeon-crawling, combat, and building your team.”
- “One of the greatest and most mechanically deep/rewarding dungeon crawlers ever produced; bar none.”
- “Some move effects and other gameplay aspects are not clear in-game and are sometimes intentionally hidden from the player.”
- “One downside is that many of the in-depth mechanics, such as spell damage formulas, ailment chance/strength, and action delays are not directly stated in the game itself - but there is a wiki that others have kindly filled if you want to get into the numbers of the game.”
- “~ the sheer amount of systems and mechanics at play can potentially overwhelm newcomers to the genre.”
grinding
31 mentions
10 % positive mentions
-6 % neutral mentions
97 % negative mentions
The game is characterized by a significant amount of grinding, particularly in the endgame, where players may need to invest hours to level up and prepare for challenging bosses. While some players appreciate the grind and find it manageable due to quality-of-life features, others note that it can become tedious, especially in postgame content. Overall, the grinding aspect is a mixed bag, appealing to fans of grind-heavy RPGs but potentially off-putting for those seeking a more casual experience.
- “Deep, fun, and overall not grindy until the endgame!”
- “The grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged with the game's mechanics.”
- “I appreciate how the grind is balanced with meaningful progression and exciting rewards.”
- “I do not recommend you play this if you're expecting casual, turn your brain off type of Touhou content; this game is hard and grindy.”
- “Expect a ridiculous amount of grinding in order to have a decent chance against any of the bosses, and don't even think about attacking them at the 'recommended' level-- you'll lose in the blink of an eye.”
- “My only two critiques are some of the postgame content being horribly imbalanced and/or grindy if you're going for 100%.”
story
23 mentions
17 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally viewed as a mix of entertaining dialogue and character interactions, though it is often described as inconsequential or overly verbose. While the main plot becomes more engaging in the later acts, many players find it to be a minor aspect of the overall experience, with a focus on gameplay and character charm rather than a groundbreaking narrative. Despite its fan-made origins, the story ties in well with the Touhou universe, offering humor and a lovable cast, but it may not satisfy those seeking a deep or coherent storyline.
- “The story is what's probably what I really enjoyed, even if it was a pretty minor part of the game. Despite it being a fan-made game, it really ties in nicely to Touhou's usual story.”
- “The story is hilarious and in-character.”
- “+ very charming dialogue and a lovable cast of characters, making for an entertaining story.”
- “The story isn't exactly groundbreaking, but the character interaction is interesting enough to keep me playing.”
- “Story and narrative are practically non-existent; the conflict merely exists to push you up a 20-floor labyrinth which gets increasingly complex and challenging as you climb up.”
- “You don't need to understand the Touhou universe, as the story in this game is mostly non-existent and very self-aware.”
music
20 mentions
55 % positive mentions
30 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its catchy tunes and variety, while others criticize it for not being closely related to the Touhou series and for issues with looping. Despite these flaws, many find the soundtrack to be enjoyable and fitting for the game's aesthetic, contributing positively to the overall experience. Overall, while the music may not meet the expectations of die-hard Touhou fans, it is still considered a solid aspect of the game.
- “The music is still wonderful, the art style seems more 'standard' anime rather than the more old school 80s-esque look they had for the first game.”
- “This game finally available on Steam and with it, it brings us a very lovely OST and quality gameplay.”
- “Aesthetically, the music is fine despite not being Touhou; some of the tunes are rather catchy.”
- “For one, they're not really Touhou related, just music used from a general-purpose music licensing source.”
- “But the much bigger flaw is that the music does not properly loop.”
- “The only things this game is missing are moddable music (the postgame/plus disc boss tracks get old fast) and a turn order list in the style of Final Fantasy X.”
graphics
15 mentions
33 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
20 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring beautiful character artwork and polished visuals that align with the indie aesthetic. While the art style is more standard anime compared to its predecessor, it effectively showcases a unique design influenced by the "Touhou Project." However, some users noted limitations in dynamic elements and menu navigation, as well as a lack of graphic settings beyond resolution options.
- “Visuals are solid for a dungeon RPG and feel incredibly polished.”
- “The artwork in this game is really pretty; the characters are rendered beautifully.”
- “+ Overhauled HD visuals, featuring some truly beautiful dungeon and UI layouts.”
- “As far as graphics go, it's on par with the DS Etrian Odyssey, but there are no dynamic 3D bosses like in the 3DS games.”
- “There are no graphic settings beyond picking your resolution, and that maxes out at 1080p.”
- “-very indie visuals and low production values”
humor
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by character-driven writing that is both genuinely funny and engaging, featuring enjoyable dialogue and inside jokes that enhance the experience. While some players found the story to be filled with inconsequential filler, many appreciated the humor and charm of the characters, which kept them invested even through challenging gameplay. Overall, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a memorable experience.
- “The cherry on top is the genuinely funny character-driven writing, which you get tons of on any given floor.”
- “It was a rather difficult RPG, but seeing many familiar characters and funny dialogue kept me hooked.”
- “The story is hilarious and in-character.”
replayability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various modes, including hard mode and the ability to start new saves with all party members unlocked, encouraging players to experiment with different team combinations. Additionally, the large cast of characters and high levels of customization contribute to its enduring appeal, making it suitable for those who enjoy extensive replay value.
- “It's pretty fun and has a lot of replayability, both in starting a new save or playing in hard mode, which makes the game considerably more difficult. Just make sure not to relapse into playing the same team combos!”
- “Once you've beaten the game, you can play through with all party members unlocked, which adds a lot of replay value.”
- “It's also pretty replayable to a point, as there is a very large cast of potentially playable characters.”
- “If you enjoy games with high levels of customization, big numbers (max level is 12,800 for instance), and infinite replay value, this will be something you like.”
optimization
3 mentions
67 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with players noting that character performance can fluctuate based on game progression, which adds a layer of strategy. While some grinding is expected, the focus on boss and enemy encounters enhances the overall experience, showcasing effective optimization in gameplay mechanics.
- “I'll keep it short, I've played this game before it was released on Steam (gone on 300 hours or so), and I will say it's an excellent game all things considered. The few bad things it has are that characters will vary in performance over time as the game's context changes, and that it can get a little grindy at times, but that's pretty much standard fare for this kind of game.”
- “Touhou Puppet Dance Performance executed this wonderfully.”
- “The main draw here are specifically the boss and foe fights which require increasing amounts of strategy and party optimization.”
- “I'll keep it short, I've played this game before it was released on Steam (gone on 300 hours or so), and I will say it's an excellent game all things considered. The few bad things it has are that characters will vary in performance over time as the game's context changes (that is, how far in the game you are) and that it can get a little grindy at times, but that's pretty much standard fare for this kind of game.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
While the reviews primarily focus on customization, they suggest that the emotional depth of the game is significant, enhancing the overall experience. Players feel that the ability to personalize their journey contributes to a more profound emotional connection with the game.
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its captivating music, whimsical character interactions, immersive dungeons, and exhilarating boss battles, all contributing to a rich and engaging experience.
- “The incredible music, the silly character interactions, the atmospheric dungeons, and the thrilling boss encounters - I could go on forever about this series.”