Once Upon a Rogue's Tale

About

Once Upon a Rogue's Tale is a single player casual strategy game. It was developed by Lizard Child and was released on August 20, 2024. It received positive reviews from players.

Once Upon a Rogue's Tale is a strategic roguelike deckbuilder where you roll dice to play cards and activate unique abilities in battles. Navigate a tangled fairytale world as classic characters, making choices that shape your personal storybook. Team up with allies, collect magical items, and use positioning to gain an edge in challenging encounters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

replayability2 negative mentions

Charming art style and engaging storytelling that brings classic fairy tales to life.
Unique gameplay mechanics with diverse characters and abilities, allowing for varied playthroughs.
Fun and strategic roguelite experience that combines card and dice mechanics effectively.

Some gameplay mechanics are convoluted and lack clear explanations, leading to confusion.
Limited replay value due to repetitive events and predetermined character paths.
Technical issues on certain platforms, such as unplayability on Steam Deck, hinder the overall experience.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
The gameplay is a mix of innovative mechanics, such as a dice-based system that some players find enjoyable, while others feel it complicates the experience. Players appreciate the engaging story, strong characters, and strategic elements, though some have noted a lack of clarity in mechanics and pacing options. Overall, the game is praised for its fun and lively atmosphere, despite some technical issues on certain platforms.
- “Storytelling, strong enemies, strong and interesting characters, amazing gameplay mechanics and strategy - what else can you need?”
- “This is a lovely game with cute characters and the gameplay is super fun!”
- “Absolutely loving the game already, its dice-inspired mechanic is making the combat so much more enjoyable and due to the frequency of jokers, it's really not too tilting when you get screwed by the dice.”
- “I didn't like the dice mechanic instead of an energy system and the long fairy tale stories instead of short descriptions in events.”
- “The dice mechanic instead of energy - not sure if it was even needed.”
- “For example, the strength mechanic works where every attack you lose a strength stack, but it doesn't tell you this.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The game's story is highly praised for its engaging and whimsical narrative, reminiscent of classic fairy tales, where players' choices significantly impact the unfolding events. Users appreciate the strong character development, predetermined boss orders that enhance the storytelling, and the charming art style that complements the narrative. Overall, the interactive storytelling and the ability to create a personalized fairy tale experience are highlighted as standout features.
- “The storytelling is very interesting and very cute; I like the way the story changes as you go and how your choices actually matter for the creation of your own fairy tale.”
- “Playing the game, we write our own storybook, composed from the random events we can trigger on the way, including our own decisions and their consequences.”
- “I love the art style and storytelling of classic fairy tales.”
- “Each character looks to have a predetermined boss order due to it trying to fit a story.”
- “Playing the game we write our own storybook, composed from the random events we can trigger on the way, including our own decisions and their consequences.”
- “It changes in different regions/stories and even the epilogue boasts a new tune!”
graphics
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
11%
33%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their adorable and charming art style, which effectively adapts classic fairy tales with a dedicated approach. Many reviewers highlight the love and effort put into the designs, contributing to a visually appealing experience, although some users have reported issues with playability on the Steam Deck. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing its storytelling and replayability.
- “And of course, the art style is just perfect.”
- “I love the art style and storytelling of classic fairy tales.”
- “You can see how much love went into the designs and artworks.”
- “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
- “The character models are poorly designed and lack detail.”
- “The environments are bland and uninspired, making the game visually unappealing.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and easy to revisit, others feel it lacks sufficient content and updates to warrant repeated play. The disparity in experiences suggests that while it may appeal to some, it does not meet the expectations set by its promotional materials.
- “A feel-good game that is highly replayable and doesn't take up much space on the PC.”
- “Initially, I was very excited for this title, but after 6 months of no updates (last update in November 2024), I can't in good faith recommend the game as it has no replay value at all.”
- “Not really as replayable as advertised either.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have reported a significant stability issue where the game freezes during combat if a character with the wonder tendrils ability has their target killed by external means, preventing further gameplay progression.
- “When playing as Jack, if someone has the Wonder Tendrils and their target dies from any other means, the game freezes and does not continue combat.”
- “The game crashes frequently during multiplayer sessions, making it nearly impossible to enjoy with friends.”
- “I've experienced multiple instances where the game simply won't load, forcing me to restart my console.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised for its fun and lively nature, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Additionally, the integration of character portraits and storytelling between fights adds depth to the musical experience.
- “Love the music and character portraits, as well as the storytelling between fights.”
- “The music is fun and lively, making the gameplay even more enjoyable.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its emotional depth, characterized by a sweet and wholesome atmosphere that allows players to engage with beloved fairy tale characters in charming and unexpected ways.
- “Such a sweet and wholesome game!”
- “A wholesome and cute game where we can meet our favorite fairy tale characters in unexpected encounters and fights.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly engaging, with players finding it immersive enough to keep them hooked and eager to continue playing.
- “Just played one chapter, but the atmosphere and gameplay loop made it hard to stop playing!”