Othercide

81%
Game Brain Score Based on 4,401 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • graphics
Othercide Game Cover
Othercide is a tactical roguelike with a flair for the dramatic, full of satisfying combat, careful planning, and sometimes heart-rending decisions.
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Othercide is a single-player Horror Turn Based Strategy game with a good story, exceptional graphics, and beautiful music. As a commander, lead your army of Daughters, the last hope of humanity, through challenging combats, making tough decisions, and sacrificing some for the greater good. With a deep and complex narrative, stunning visuals, and intricate dance-like battles, Othercide will pull you into its atmospheric world full of grinding and bugs.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

81%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,401 reviews
gameplay679 positive mentions
grinding350 negative mentions
  • Stunning art style and atmosphere that creates a unique and immersive experience.
  • Engaging and challenging turn-based combat with a dynamic initiative system that encourages strategic planning.
  • Great soundtrack that enhances the overall mood and intensity of the gameplay.
  • Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy and map variety, leading to a grindy experience.
  • Unforgiving mechanics where character healing requires sacrificing other characters, which can be frustrating.
  • Some bugs and UI issues that hinder the overall experience, such as inconsistent enemy behavior and unclear ability descriptions.
  • gameplay2,098 mentions

    The gameplay of "Othercide" is characterized by its unique timeline mechanic that introduces strategic depth to turn-based combat, allowing players to manipulate the order of actions. While many players appreciate the challenging and punishing nature of the game, which requires careful planning and sacrifice mechanics, some find the gameplay repetitive and grindy, particularly due to limited map variety and the necessity of restarting runs. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with engaging mechanics, but its difficulty and repetitiveness may deter some players.

    • “The action point/time line mechanic in combat allows for unique strategy and risk-taking.”
    • “The tactical turn-based battles are fun, making the most of the relatively simple but elegant mechanics, and each boss is essentially a puzzle, requiring a unique approach but never feeling insurmountable.”
    • “The gameplay is simple to learn, hard to master.”
    • “I guess it kind of fits the brutal stylings of the game visuals, but it makes for a lame gameplay experience.”
    • “There's no cover mechanic, no elevation changes, and no interaction with the environment, which means most turns are just checking everyone's movement ranges and making a decision about staying out of range or moving into it.”
    • “I really loved the visual style, the plot and the soundtrack, but the gameplay itself is very-very dull, boring, extremely punishing, repetitive and overcomplicated in many ways.”
  • story1,952 mentions

    The story of "Othercide" is described as dark, intriguing, and often cryptic, requiring players to piece together its narrative through codex entries and memories collected during missions. While some players appreciate the depth and emotional weight of the story, others find it vague and difficult to follow, leading to a sense of disconnection from the plot. The game's unique art style and atmospheric presentation enhance the storytelling experience, but the repetitive mission structure can detract from the overall engagement with the narrative.

    • “This game did a fantastic job of pulling me in and getting me involved with the story.”
    • “The story is also very interesting, and it is told in bits and pieces based on what memories or other in-game accomplishments you acquire.”
    • “The story is very strong and you discover the horror that you've found yourself in as you play through the game unlocking pieces at a time.”
    • “Basically unless you want to read all the codex, the story as presented while playing through the game is almost non-existent.”
    • “There is basically no story, just some background narrative.”
    • “I really didn't like how the story was presented.”
  • graphics1,457 mentions

    The graphics of "Othercide" are widely praised for their stunning and unique art style, characterized by a striking black, white, and red color palette that effectively conveys a dark and atmospheric tone. Many players appreciate the game's aesthetic as a significant draw, often comparing it to noir and gothic influences, while also noting that the visuals enhance the overall storytelling experience. However, some critiques mention that the graphics can be hard on the eyes over extended play sessions and that gameplay mechanics may not always match the high visual standards.

    • “A gorgeous art style that really aids in captivating you and bringing you into the story and world.”
    • “The art style and atmosphere are perfection, the game is brutally challenging.”
    • “The visuals are stunning, with very satisfying sound effects and an eerie and intense soundtrack that suits this game perfectly.”
    • “I guess it kind of fits the brutal stylings of the game visuals, but it makes for a lame gameplay experience.”
    • “Graphics - 2/5”
    • “I can not recommend this game at all... while its design is good and visuals very good, it's sadly very buggy and glitchy, with the AI locking the game up (forcing a reload) to menus just freezing (forcing a reload) to melee enemies being able to melee attack a character that is on the other side of the map!”
  • music1,239 mentions

    The music in "Othercide" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, effectively enhancing the game's dark themes and emotional weight, particularly during boss fights. Many players highlight the soundtrack's ability to build tension and excitement, with standout tracks that resonate long after gameplay. While some critiques mention a lack of variety in the music during regular gameplay, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a significant highlight, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre.

    • “Othercide has some of the most stellar music I have ever had the pleasure of listening to in any video game ever.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack and atmospheric sound effects further enhance the immersive experience, making Othercide a must-play for fans of tactical RPGs and those seeking a uniquely captivating gaming experience.”
    • “The soundtrack combines haunting violins and cellos with a kick of rock whenever the battles get tense.”
    • “Dull, boring music.”
    • “The soundtrack is practically non-existent, I honestly can't believe they're selling it.”
    • “Overall, the music is a 'meh' from me; I wish they escalated earlier.”
  • atmosphere370 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Othercide" is widely praised for its stunning art style, haunting soundtrack, and immersive world-building, creating a unique blend of beauty and horror. Reviewers highlight the game's dark, oppressive mood, enhanced by a striking black, white, and red color palette, which effectively draws players into its emotionally charged narrative. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, making it a compelling choice for fans of atmospheric and tactical RPGs.

    • “Absolutely stunning atmosphere and a world that really draws you in and gets you to care about mother and your daughters (and then breaks your heart when they fall or have to be sacrificed).”
    • “Visually, Othercide is a masterpiece, utilizing a striking black, white, and red color palette to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere reminiscent of a nightmarish graphic novel.”
    • “The haunting soundtrack and atmospheric sound effects further enhance the immersive experience, making Othercide a must-play for fans of tactical RPGs and those seeking a uniquely captivating gaming experience.”
    • “This game is trying very hard to have a certain atmosphere, but I feel it is going too high concept and it is ruining the user interface.”
    • “For a guy who emotionally invests in games like this, the atmosphere becomes oppressive very quickly.”
    • “The atmosphere, while pretty, made it difficult to see the battlefield at times.”
  • grinding356 mentions

    The game's grinding mechanics have received mixed feedback, with many players finding the experience tedious and repetitive, particularly in the later stages. While some appreciate the strategic depth and aesthetic appeal, others criticize the forced grinding and lack of variety in missions, leading to a monotonous gameplay loop. Overall, the grind is seen as a significant drawback that can detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “I'm not sure if that was designed to be a boon in a sense that they thought you'd lose less HP getting up to that point, but to me it felt like it brought back some difficulty (not farming XP through the easier levels with my high-level daughters), while not making the game a chore by starting from era 1 for each attempt.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, though, the game gets super tedious.”
    • “This is just not a very fun concept; while it might sound interesting on paper, the end result is that you'll have to keep on grinding the same battles over and over and over.”
    • “The mechanics are somewhat unique, yet make the game overly grindy in an absolutely tedious manner.”
  • replayability114 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its roguelite elements and strategic depth that encourage experimentation and challenge runs, while others criticize the repetitive gameplay, lack of content, and limited diversity in enemies and maps. Many agree that while it offers some replay value through self-imposed challenges and different builds, it may not sustain interest for long after completing the main story. Overall, the replayability is seen as decent but could benefit from additional content and variety.

    • “The game's roguelite elements and intricate progression system provide ample replayability, encouraging players to adapt and refine their strategies with each run.”
    • “Even after beating the game you can continue to reset and try new things, giving the game a high level of replayability.”
    • “There definitely is some replayability to the game with not only its roguelite aspects, but also being able to select whichever remembrances you want active during a run.”
    • “Content is lacking, most enemies are just copy-pasted versions of 3 main types, very few maps, negligible replayability.”
    • “The only con is the replay value is not extremely high once you have finished the story except for the completionists out there.”
    • “The gameplay is tedious (reused maps and enemy spawn patterns mar the roguelike replayability).”
  • stability84 mentions

    The game is plagued by numerous stability issues, including frequent bugs, glitches, and freezes that can disrupt gameplay and require reloading. Players report problems such as enemies attacking from impossible distances, UI malfunctions, and a generally clunky experience, making it difficult to recommend despite some enjoyable aspects. Overall, the game's stability is a significant concern, detracting from its potential enjoyment.

    • “The game now runs great and smooth.”
    • “The game now runs great and smooth.”
    • “Too buggy to get through a single play-through without a catastrophic error.”
    • “I can not recommend this game at all... while its design is good and visuals very good, it's sadly very buggy and glitchy, with the AI locking the game up (forcing a reload) to menus just freezing (forcing a reload) to melee enemies being able to melee attack a character that is on the other side of the map!”
    • “Ultimately this turns a difficult but rewarding combat system into what feels like an unfair slog of repetition, especially when the game freezes.”
  • emotional66 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a blend of beauty and trauma, with players experiencing deep attachments to characters, particularly the daughters they raise and sacrifice. While the narrative is praised for its haunting and engaging storytelling, some players feel that the tactical RPG elements detract from emotional connections, leading to a jarring experience. Overall, the game effectively evokes strong feelings of attachment, loss, and moral complexity, resonating deeply with those who appreciate emotionally charged gameplay.

    • “This game does a good job of telling a lovely and emotional story interwoven with interesting gameplay.”
    • “I love this game so much, the implied history, the dark climate, the themes of depression and abuse, the emotional attachment to the characters, it's all so good.”
    • “However, the story in the game is very well done, the themes and tone are relayed extremely well, and there are a lot of satisfying emotional beats as you discover the story of the mother and the child.”
  • character development42 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily driven by the player's choices, allowing for a blend of personal customization and narrative evolution through earned traits. The character designs are highly praised for their unique and polished aesthetics, contributing to a dark, moody atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some reviewers noted a lack of deep story or character progression compared to other titles, the art style and character evolution through gameplay remain standout features.

    • “The art style is noir-style black and white and uses red accents for scarves and attacks. The character designs are fantastic, whether it be the monsters or daughters, and the lore is very intriguing.”
    • “The art style and aesthetic are perfect for the bleakness of the world, and the character designs are amazing and quite polished.”
    • “This is no XCOM; there's no real story or character development (you auto die at level 4-5).”
    • “That said, I overall like Chimera Squad's systems better (no pod/board exploration, just organized fights with strong character design), but it lacks content compared to XCOM 2.”
    • “Character design and evolution are largely within your control and yet also partly emerge as the story of the experiences of your units (in the form of earned traits).”
  • humor20 mentions

    The humor in the game is derived from its absurd imbalances and frustrating mechanics, which players find both hilarious and entertaining. Many reviewers appreciate the game's serious tone juxtaposed with unintentionally funny glitches and enemy behaviors, leading to a comedic experience despite the game's challenges. Overall, the humor is characterized by a blend of frustration and amusement, making it difficult for players to take the game seriously.

    • “Anyway, it's just so funny for me; I can't take this game seriously.”
    • “Less frequent but equally frustrating glitches include getting melee attacked randomly from across the map, enemies attacking on the same turn that they spawn (not supposed to happen - or so I think...) and visual glitches of enemies suddenly turning 10x their normal size (mostly funny).”
    • “The 'creepy' things being said between fights were so not creepy they made me laugh.”
    • “Thank you for overwhelming us in the cheapest and most unfunny way possible.”
  • optimization20 mentions

    The game's optimization has seen significant improvements, particularly after a recent update that addressed previous performance and audio issues. While the interface is well-optimized for controller use, it feels clunky with mouse and keyboard, leading to mixed experiences depending on the input method. Overall, players have praised the graphical design and performance, noting that any remaining issues are minor and do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.

    • “I also want to applaud the developers for the finished game's optimization.”
    • “The models, the animations, the graphical design, the UI, the performance; it's all fantastic.”
    • “I had no issues with the performance of the game, some empty key inputs, but nothing game breaking.”
    • “There are substantial game-breaking performance issues with the game.”
    • “Don’t let its frequent struggles in the performance department or its intimidating challenge dissuade you; Othercide deserves a spot in your Switch library.”
    • “[Performance issues, difficulty can be off-putting]”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with users expressing disappointment that it feels more like a tech demo than a fully developed game.

    • “If they ever actually made a real game for this wonderful tech demo, it would be truly amazing. However, this is a garbage cash grab excuse for a game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

18hMedian play time
26hAverage play time
9-32hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 62 analyzed playthroughs

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