Noctuary

About

Noctuary is a single player casual role playing game with drama, anime and post-apocalyptic themes. It was developed by Gratesca and was released on November 28, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

Two young illuminators, Fancia and Alina, start their adventure in the bright and fascinating Inlixaland... ...in pursuit of becoming trustworthy "Arborangers."

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93%Audience ScoreBased on 144 reviews

story62 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game offers a deep and engaging story with well-developed characters and a richly crafted unique world, providing emotional and immersive storytelling with multiple impactful plot twists.
Visual and audio presentation are exceptional with beautiful character art, backgrounds, detailed animations, and a superb, diverse soundtrack that greatly enhances the atmosphere.
The combat system, though a smaller part of the game, is enjoyable, challenging especially in late stages, with flexible character playstyles and a robust skill customization system that complements the narrative.

The pacing at the beginning is slow and may feel tedious or overwhelming due to heavy dialogue and exposition, potentially deterring players not inclined toward visual novels.
The English localization and translation quality is inconsistent with awkward phrasing, occasional typos, and some mistranslations, slightly impacting immersion.
Combat can sometimes feel clunky or repetitive, with minor issues like lack of impactful feedback in hits, and some frustrating timed puzzles or camera angles; also, the volume of narrative relative to gameplay may not appeal to all players.

story
262 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
74%
2%
The story of the game is a slow-burning visual novel that starts with a gradual world and character build-up before delivering engaging, emotionally rich plot twists and deep character development around the midway point. While some players find the pacing slow and the English translation rough, the narrative is praised for its complexity, immersive world-building, and meaningful side quests that enrich the main plot. Overall, it offers a compelling, layered experience that fans of story-driven games and visual novels will likely appreciate.
- “Managed to complete it in 30 hours while doing all side missions (without alternative endings and without DLC stories), so it has length that allows for multiple plots to unfold while not being too tiring.”
- “Events inside the story are well thought out and events don't feel out of place nor forced which made story engaging and believable.”
- “From the outset, Noctuary’s greatest strength lies in its commitment to storytelling. While it takes its time to build momentum, the story’s deliberate pacing allows players to fully absorb the depth of its characters and the lore of its world, creating a rich sense of immersion that few indie titles manage to achieve.”
- “The story just degenerates into nothingness and then moves to a post game 'mission select' setting.”
- “There is no ending to the story.”
- “Story doesn't make much sense, the beginning battles hound you with tons of enemies with absolutely no way of knowing how many you have left to fight, all of which deal a high amount of damage for being beginning battles and there's absolutely no way to get stronger for these beginning battles.”
music
68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
59%
The game's music is widely praised for its high quality, variety, and strong emotional impact, seamlessly complementing both narrative and combat scenes. The extensive soundtrack, featuring serene melodies and dynamic orchestral pieces, is lauded as a standout element, often available for free and enhancing immersion. While some find it a matter of personal taste, overall the music is regarded as a major highlight that enriches the game's atmosphere and presentation.
- “The soundtrack is huge, with a different song or a variant for just about everything. They're all very well orchestrated, perfectly setting joyful and serious scenes, making the tone of the game very well done.”
- “Accompanying the game is an evocative soundtrack that shifts seamlessly between haunting piano melodies and sweeping orchestral pieces, perfectly complementing both quieter narrative interludes and adrenaline-fueled combat encounters.”
- “The artwork and musical scores were both incredibly fantastic, an absolute joy to listen to and look at.”
gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay is a well-executed blend of light action RPG combat and visual novel storytelling, with around 30% combat and 70% narrative. While combat is enjoyable, fluid, and occasionally challenging, it remains relatively simple and sometimes repetitive, serving mainly to break up the extensive story segments. Players who appreciate emotional storytelling with tasteful gameplay integration will find the experience rewarding, though those seeking deep or prolonged combat may find it underutilized.
- “Noctuary is a striking fusion of narrative-driven storytelling and light action gameplay that demonstrates how artistry and emotion can coexist within a single cohesive experience.”
- “The gameplay is split between two distinct modes: the story-focused visual novel segments and real-time combat sequences. The system emphasizes fluid movement, dodging, and skillful timing over complex mechanics, creating a rhythm that feels both graceful and satisfying.”
- “The gameplay segments are enjoyable, and do a great job of breaking up the narrative, keeping the pacing fresh so you’re not reading for hours on end.”
- “The gameplay is mostly a visual novel with some gameplay sections, but the gameplay becomes repetitive fairly quickly.”
- “Timed puzzles are obnoxious and/or annoying due to mechanics like infinite enemy spawning combined with timed traps, all under a time limit, plus a poor camera angle in bullet hell sections.”
- “A lot of the basic fights overstay their welcome because they don’t impact the story much (just fight enemies on your way), and the only reward is progression in the story.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
43%
9%
The game's graphics receive widespread praise for their gorgeous, detailed artwork, aesthetically pleasing character designs, and stunning backgrounds that enhance the immersive atmosphere. The UI design is notably elegant and complements the visuals, making the overall presentation top-notch. While visuals are often highlighted as a primary strength, some users note that the game's text and story elements could use the same level of polish.
- “The visuals are out of this world; the CGs and everything Noctuary offers are simply the best I've seen, and it is truly heartbreaking that a game like this doesn't receive enough attention.”
- “The graphics, atmosphere, and world-building are honestly amazing, and the setting constantly keeps you guessing in a really good way.”
- “Purchased because of the graphics in these pics and the overwhelmingly good reception from the community.”
- “Overall, it's obvious they put more effort in the graphics than the story or battle mechanics of the game.”
- “The artwork and musical scores were both incredibly fantastic, both being an absolute joy to listen to, and look at.”
- “I was pretty sold up front on the gorgeous radial skill system and the character designs/aesthetic in general, but the characters and canto/trad cn voice over are really high-quality and dynamic too.”
emotional
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Noctuary offers a deeply emotional experience, blending heartfelt storytelling with stunning visuals and a captivating soundtrack that linger long after playing. Its exploration of friendship, sacrifice, and hope through layered characters and branching narratives creates a moving journey, though some plot moments could have been more emotionally impactful. The game's emotional weight is enhanced by intense pacing and artful design, making it a memorable and resonant experience.
- “What begins as a simple coming-of-age tale soon evolves into an emotionally charged odyssey exploring friendship, sacrifice, and the fragile balance between despair and hope.”
- “The story’s branching structure and multiple endings encourage players to consider their choices carefully, giving the sense that every decision carries emotional weight.”
- “I cried tears of sorrow, tears of joy, maybe even some tears of anger, and every drop streaking down my cheeks is proof of my love for this game.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
70%
30%
Character development in the game is well-executed, featuring memorable and beautifully crafted character designs with attention to detail and artistic direction. The story offers strong plot twists and relationships, complemented by high-quality voice acting and polished visuals, making the characters dynamic and engaging. Overall, the game's character development and design are praised as among the best and most aesthetically impressive.
- “This game has one of the best character designs I have ever seen in any game.”
- “Character development and relationship is pretty good.”
- “My first time playing a Chinese VN but it has far exceeded my expectations from the story (development & plot twists), music, character development, Cantonese voice acting to the art illustrations.”
- “The character design of Fancia and Alina are somewhat busy, but I can't say that I dislike them at all, either.”
- “It's not perfect but incredibly polished, from the main menu, the interfaces, character design, combat, art direction, and especially the soundtrack is outstanding.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere is widely praised for its stunning graphics, immersive world-building, and emotive sound design, creating a memorable and cohesive experience. Its blend of visual artistry and narrative integration fosters a unique, empathetic ambiance that resonates deeply with players, even without intense action or combat.
- “The graphics, atmosphere, and world-building are honestly amazing, and the setting constantly keeps you guessing in a really good way.”
- “The combination of sound and visual artistry gives Noctuary an atmosphere that lingers long after the screen fades to black—a testament to its careful design and emotional cohesion.”
- “I really need to commend the artist on their sense of aesthetics and atmosphere for several reasons.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally light and enjoyable, with some funny elements like amusing tracks and humorous guides that add charm without becoming overbearing. However, the comedic impact may diminish over time as players get used to it.
- “There are emotionally charged tracks, funny tracks that seamlessly transition into flowing melodies, action-packed battle themes, and so many more in between, with alternate renditions, instrumental versions, and edits of existing tracks.”
- “Mp3 was funny at first, but then I got used to it, so nothing too egregious.”
- “Additionally, thanks for the funny guides Yuya.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is generally minimal but can become tedious in the late-game, especially for players aiming for 100% completion.
- “However, the late-game felt tedious.”
- “A little grindy but only if you care about 100% completion.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has seen consistent optimization updates from the developers, resulting in smoother performance and improved battery efficiency, particularly on the Steam Deck.
- “The developers keep updating the game with performance improvements and quality-of-life changes.”
- “It runs much smoother now, and even has better battery performance on Steam Deck.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users feel that the game's replayability would be improved by adding more playable characters, suggesting current options are limited.
- “Wish for more playable characters.”
- “More playable characters?”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game experiences occasional freezing or pausing when switching tabs, which also mutes the background music until returning to the game. While not a full crash, these interruptions can disrupt the overall experience.