On Your Tail

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 79 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
On Your Tail Game Cover
On Your Tail tells an interesting story by engaging the player in a simple life sim with intriguing crime-solving elements.
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In "On Your Tail," players step into the shoes of Diana, an amateur writer seeking inspiration in the sunny Borgo Marina. As a phantom thief wreaks havoc, players will investigate crime scenes, gather clues using a chronolens, and recreate the crime through a card-based system, engaging with various character storylines along the way. This looks like a captivating blend of detective work and narrative exploration.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 79 reviews
story25 positive mentions
stability7 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming and immersive setting in an Italian coastal village, with beautiful art and a vibrant atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
  • The characters are well-developed and engaging, each with unique personalities that make it easy to connect with them and become invested in their stories.
  • The detective mechanics and various mini-games provide a fun and unique gameplay experience, encouraging exploration and interaction with the world.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including soft locks and translation problems, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, particularly the deduction puzzles, can feel tedious and frustrating due to trial-and-error elements and lack of clear logic.
  • The pacing can be slow, with excessive backtracking and a lack of fast travel options, making navigation feel cumbersome at times.
  • story70 mentions

    The game's story is generally well-received, featuring engaging mysteries, strong character development, and a charming setting that immerses players in a cozy detective adventure. While some players noted plot holes and pacing issues, the narrative's twists and character interactions kept many invested throughout the experience. Overall, it balances lighthearted slice-of-life elements with a captivating mystery, making it a memorable journey despite some gameplay frustrations.

    • “The story hooks you right from the beginning, and flows well right until the near end, which is where it unfortunately quickly unravels.”
    • “A cozy little detective/slice of life adventure that has adorable characters and a story that has many twists.”
    • “The story is solid, the mystery captivating, and pushes you to want to continue while still allowing you time to explore and spend time with your followers and doing lots of activities and mini-games.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story itself is kind of bland.”
    • “The story is just a pretend investigation to throw over minigames and puzzles.”
    • “The 'game' is extremely rough around the edges, the camera is all over the place and the story is so boring it is hard to believe the writers took this seriously.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay is a mix of engaging detective mechanics and a variety of mini-games that offer a unique experience, though some players find certain mechanics tedious and the overall execution inconsistent. While the mystery-solving elements are praised for their creativity and challenge, issues like bugs, ambiguous solutions, and a lack of depth in some gameplay aspects detract from the experience. Overall, the game balances its cozy atmosphere with intriguing puzzles, but it may not satisfy those seeking more complex mechanics.

    • “The detective mechanic is fun, and having the different cards adds a uniqueness to the gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is divided among many different mini-games while exploring the many corners of the town and its people.”
    • “The investigation and mystery-solving mechanics are genuinely fun (even a bit challenging), to the point that I feel engaged when doing them.”
    • “There's several minor and major bugs that severely impact gameplay.”
    • “The interrogation card game is completely bonkers and so confusing and not gratifying at all, and the clue system is both very necessary and very tedious to use, and the translation is all over the place, sometimes excellent and clever and other times confusing or just wrong, and the story is bonkers and there's so much superfluous side content that never matters and gives no gameplay incentive.”
    • “It was colorful, had a creative setting… but apart from the repetitive gameplay (how many times must I snap open and close my pocket watch before finding a difference in the scenery??), the camera is this game’s absolute worst feature.”
  • music16 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its exceptional quality and ability to enhance the atmosphere, with each area featuring unique tracks that transition seamlessly. The soundtrack, characterized by dreamlike retro synths and catchy ambient tunes, effectively sets a nostalgic mood reminiscent of the 80s, contributing to a relaxing and immersive experience. Players appreciate the thoughtful details in the music's presentation, such as its transitions when entering and leaving indoor spaces, making it a memorable aspect of the game.

    • “Each section of the town has its own musical piece, and going from one point to another has it seamlessly change!”
    • “The soundtrack complements this blissfully, and its leitmotif now resonates in my head over and over again.”
    • “The ambient sounds of the marina, relaxing background tracks, and snippets of catchy music do a great job at breathing life into the world.”
    • “The looping muzak tracks do the job of filling out the atmosphere, while the main theme is this nice dreamlike retro-feeling synth track that sets you in the mood for 'this is going to be like the 80s.' It's hard to really talk about the soundtrack without spoilers or just saying 'it sets the mood,' but I don't regret buying the OST.”
    • “Shame that they aren't listed anywhere on the OST; I would legit put them in my playlists. I don't think they are actual songs (I couldn't find anything by googling the lyrics), but if they were made by the team... god damn.”
    • “The 80s summer songs on the radio make me weep from homesickness - I must find them somehow.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The game's graphics are praised for their delightful and colorful art style, which enhances the immersive experience of exploring a charming Italian town. While some players noted minor graphical glitches and limited ultrawide support, the overall visuals, characterized by bright pastels and authentic details, received high marks for their charm and appeal. Despite a few technical shortcomings, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's heartwarming atmosphere.

    • “All the different art styles are so pretty and positively contribute to the overall experience.”
    • “The visuals are absolutely amazing, and I just love the bright pastels of the world.”
    • “I especially enjoy the cute Italian town; it makes for the perfect holiday setting, and the bright and colorful art style matches really well.”
    • “Our adventures in this corner of Italy aren't exactly the best looking ones: it suffers from a few graphical glitches here and there like textures not loading in properly, shadows flickering as they cannot decide which resolution to use... but this, I can forgive.”
    • “Nonetheless, I would have liked to have more graphical options than choosing between a few anti-aliasing solutions and three different kinds of camera noise.”
    • “Another minor nitpick I have encountered is the very basic ultrawide monitor support (I played it on a 21:9 monitor) where each cutscene and unlockable artwork are stretched to the edges of the monitor.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game suffers from numerous glitches and bugs, including graphical issues like texture loading problems and flickering shadows, which detract from the overall experience. While some players find these issues forgivable in light of the game's enjoyable mechanics and atmosphere, the instability remains a notable drawback. Overall, the game's stability is described as rough and janky, impacting its potential enjoyment.

    • “A lot of glitches are present during the writing of this review.”
    • “Unfortunately, this game is a bit buggy.”
    • “Overall, an 8 or 9 out of 10 that unfortunately is brought down by jankiness with glitches and poor instructions in places.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The game delivers a deeply emotional and immersive experience, leaving players with a sense of loss akin to mourning a loved one. Its heartfelt storytelling, vibrant characters, and meaningful life lessons contribute to a wholesome atmosphere that resonates long after playing, showcasing the developers' passion and dedication.

    • “In the end, this game offers a heartfelt and immersive experience that’s hard to forget, even with its flaws.”
    • “It is one of the rare games that put me through so much emotional shock by the end that it feels as though I am mourning the loss of a relative or dear friend.”
    • “The way this game made me feel is the true mark of a labor of love, and the hallmark of a brilliant game.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its cozy, dreamlike quality, enhanced by a nostalgic 80s-inspired soundtrack and vibrant visuals of the town of Borgo Marina. Players appreciate the blend of occult mysteries with a captivating narrative and lovable characters, creating an immersive experience that draws them into the game's world. Overall, the attention to detail in both sound and visual presentation significantly contributes to the game's enchanting ambiance.

    • “The cosy atmosphere with occult mysteries sprinkled on top were the cherries on top of a great story packed with lovable and interesting characters, sublimed by a captivating narrative.”
    • “The atmosphere coming from the game's visual presentation is all too powerful for me not to forgive those issues.”
    • “The town of Borgo Marina is stunning, and the vibrant, stylized houses and streets ooze atmosphere.”
    • “I've been playing the game for a short while now and love the cosy atmosphere and the love and passion that's gone into this game!”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly as they progress, with minigames and the clue system often feeling cumbersome. Achievements, such as collecting cards, can also require significant effort, and there are concerns about the potential grind associated with the game's economy and job mechanics. Overall, while the game offers a unique life simulation experience, the grinding elements may detract from enjoyment.

    • “One of the main mechanics is quite tedious, especially when you get further into the game.”
    • “The minigames, though varied, are sometimes tedious or just downright annoying.”
    • “Grinding achievements: finding all the cards can be a bit grindy, because it is hard to find them all and a lot of items cost money, which can also be a bit of a grind.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    The game's optimization has been criticized for technical issues, particularly noticeable stuttering when transitioning between areas, though outdoor exploration remains smooth. While these performance flaws are acknowledged, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience, suggesting that with some improvements, the game could excel.

    • “The optimization in this game is impressive, making for a smooth and enjoyable experience.”
    • “I love how the developers have focused on optimization; it really enhances gameplay.”
    • “There are, unfortunately, a few technical hitches; while exploring outdoors is fairly seamless, there are notable hitches and stuttering every time you move into a new area and it has to load assets.”
    • “Granted, some of the very late game mysteries are much harder to wrap your head around, and the game's optimization isn't the best, but none of these flaws were enough to dampen my experience.”
    • “Just iron out a few performance issues and it'll be a winner!”
  • character development2 mentions

    The game is praised for its engaging character design and the overall sense of place, contributing to a strong recommendation despite some gameplay inconsistencies. Players find the characters interesting and well-crafted, enhancing the overall experience.

    • “I think I will recommend this game on the strength of its character design, sense of place, and the rare high points of gameplay.”
    • “I loved all the character designs; they were interesting.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character growth throughout the game.”
    • “The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs are predictable and uninspired.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in "On Your Tail" is characterized by its clever wit and engaging narrative, complemented by memorable characters and a beautifully crafted world, making for a delightful gaming experience.

    • “On Your Tail is a delightful narrative-driven game filled with clever humor, memorable characters, and a beautifully crafted world.”
    • “The witty dialogue and hilarious situations had me laughing out loud throughout the entire game.”
    • “The humor is perfectly timed, making even the most serious moments feel light-hearted and enjoyable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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