Pyrene

About

Pyrene is a single player strategy game. It was developed by maelikia and was released on September 13, 2024. It received very positive reviews from players.

Defeat a legendary Evil and rebuild your home in Pyrene, a deckbuilding roguelike with dungeon crawling mechanics. Collect powerful artifacts, relics and spells for your many heroes while uncovering the mysteries behind your village’s destruction. After Forward: Escape The Fold, here's Twotinydice's next game. Uncharted Mythology Set in the Pyrenees, the game is based on a never-used before p…

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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90%

Audience ScoreBased on 399 reviews

gameplay69 positive mentions

grinding5 negative mentions

The art direction and music are superb, creating a vibrant and immersive atmosphere.
The gameplay is strategic and engaging, with a variety of classes and an original quest system that enhances replayability.
The game offers a unique blend of deckbuilding and tactical movement, making each run feel fresh and rewarding.

The game can become unbalanced, with certain builds making it too easy to win, diminishing the challenge.
Some players may find the story predictable and lacking depth, which could detract from the overall experience.
There are occasional bugs and issues with pacing, particularly in the later stages of the game.

gameplay
171 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The gameplay in "Pyrene" is characterized by its strategic depth and variety, offering a unique blend of roguelike mechanics and deck-building elements that keep players engaged. With multiple characters, each featuring distinct mechanics, and a well-paced introduction to game systems, players can enjoy a rewarding experience that balances accessibility with complexity. However, some reviewers noted that runs can become repetitive over time, and the game may lack depth in certain areas, potentially diminishing long-term replayability.
- “The gameplay itself is strategic without ever feeling unbalanced or unfair.”
- “If you enjoy strategic gameplay with strong replay value, memorable characters, and a vibrant art style, don’t sleep on Pyrene.”
- “The gameplay is fun and planning ahead as well as building your deck during runs feels rewarding.”
- “Runs can begin to feel mechanically similar once you’ve seen most card types and enemy formations, and players who crave constant novelty may notice repetition setting in sooner than expected.”
- “It has a little less depth than I expected and the runs get a bit samey over time as item variety isn't that great, which I'm sure is something related to the overall simplicity of the systems and gameplay loop.”
- “However, my interest fell quite rapidly once I understood the mechanics, and I wasn't interested in trying hard on this one; something is lacking to make it a replayable enjoyment.”
story
132 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The game's story is a mix of charm and predictability, featuring a classic good vs. evil narrative that introduces players to unique characters and a rich mythology. While some players appreciate the depth and engaging progression, others find the plot to be minimal and cliché, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling experience. Overall, the story is enjoyable but may not satisfy those seeking a deep narrative, as it often feels like a vehicle for gameplay mechanics rather than a standalone feature.
- “While the overarching story of good vs. evil follows a classic structure, it’s handled with a surprising amount of depth and charm.”
- “The story allows you to discover a new type of mythology and to meet a bunch of characters with their own personality.”
- “What begins as a simple quest for survival quickly becomes a cyclical journey of exploration, combat, and rebuilding—each delve into the cursed underground caverns fueling the slow restoration of your shattered community.”
- “The worst part about this game is the barebones story and the art.”
- “The story is very minimal, with most of the focus on characters being snippy to each other in the village and a generic demon invasion plot.”
- “The story was painfully predictable and felt preachy.”
music
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
51%
40%
9%
The music in the game has received largely positive feedback, with many players praising its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack features a variety of tracks that complement different biomes, creating a calming and immersive environment. However, some users found the looping background music tedious and expressed a desire for more variety in the tracks. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its charm and emotional depth.
- “The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, enhancing the mood and giving the world even more emotional weight.”
- “The music reinforces this tone: atmospheric but not mournful, tense without slipping into melodrama, grounded in natural instruments rather than grand orchestral swells.”
- “The art, UI, and animations are perfect, the music is stellar, and the game is extremely well designed.”
- “To be honest, I found it really tedious and that background music was just zzz, zzz.”
- “The worst is the looping background music.”
- “The story, dressing, art, music, and 'deckbuilding' ordering mechanic lack the level of polish I need to get into a roguelike.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
36%
9%
The graphics of "Pyrene" are generally praised for their vibrant and charming art style, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. While some players find the visuals simple or reminiscent of old flash animations, many appreciate the cohesive and playful design that complements the game's strategic elements. The soundtrack further elevates the visuals, creating an immersive atmosphere that resonates with players.
- “The visual art and animations are cohesive and pleasing to the eye, but also simple, playful, and with no pretensions of photo-realism--a humble and confident art style that I like in a game.”
- “The overall presentation is very charming with a beautiful and cozy soundtrack and coherent, clean, and simple graphics.”
- “I just got Pyrene and I'm thoroughly impressed by its blend of deep strategy, stunning artwork, and seamless gameplay.”
- “The 2D art style reminds me of those old flash animations, where characters are kind of floaty.”
- “I really don't like the art style and the characters; also, the presentation of the theme felt boring to me.”
- “The art style of the characters is my only gripe, as I'm not the biggest fan.”
replayability
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
56%
19%
Overall, "pyrene" offers a solid level of replayability through its variety of characters, difficulty adjustments, and customization options, encouraging players to experiment and adapt. While it may not reach the depth of some top-tier roguelikes, many players find its strategic gameplay and vibrant art style rewarding enough to revisit. However, some reviewers noted a decline in interest after mastering the mechanics, suggesting that while replayability is present, it may not be as compelling for everyone.
- “This level of variety not only adds replayability but pushes you to experiment and adapt in ways that feel rewarding rather than overwhelming.”
- “Considering the amount of content, replayability, and polish on display, Pyrene delivers tremendous value.”
- “Lots of different characters and keywords means a lot of replayability, while the combination of being able to plan your cards ahead of time with random push-your-luck elements makes for a really fun experience!”
- “The mechanics of the game are cool, but I wish the game was geared more towards replayability rather than just a story experience, which I didn't even bother to care about.”
- “However, my interest fell quite rapidly once I understood the mechanics, and I wasn't interested in trying hard on this one; something is lacking to make it a replayable enjoyment.”
- “Not as replayable as other roguelike dungeon-crawlers.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
The atmosphere in "Pyrene" is characterized by a serene and light-hearted tone, enhanced by calming music and artistic visuals that create a sense of exploration across its biomes. The game effectively balances atmospheric elements with gameplay, allowing for a deep immersion without overwhelming the player. In contrast, "Fetf" offers a darker atmosphere that enriches its narrative, providing a well-crafted blend of lore and gameplay focus.
- “The music reinforces this tone: atmospheric but not mournful, tense without slipping into melodrama, grounded in natural instruments rather than grand orchestral swells.”
- “Excellent music, atmospheric background art, and diegetic environmental hazards lend a real sense of depth to the various biomes, and, combined with the ability to move freely through several rooms, there is a real sense of exploration in the game.”
- “It probably carries the most weight in setting the atmosphere.”
- “Tried the demo, I love seeing the narrative being more developed without being too invasive, a really well-dosed mix that keeps you focused on the game while growing the lore and atmosphere.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game excels in its emotional depth, with a soundtrack that enhances the visuals and a narrative focused on themes of renewal and reclamation. Players appreciate how various gameplay systems contribute to a cohesive emotional arc, making the experience both strategic and heartfelt. Overall, it strikes a balance between challenge and approachability, leaving a lasting emotional impact.
- “The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, enhancing the mood and giving the world even more emotional weight.”
- “That emotional throughline gives Pyrene a purpose beyond chasing upgrades or victories, grounding every run in a broader struggle for renewal rather than conquest.”
- “Every system—deck construction, movement, resource gathering, rebuilding—feeds into the same emotional arc: reclaiming what was lost.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
Character development in the game is noted for its visually appealing and intentional design, with some praise for representation and narrative elements inspired by Gaulish-Celtic culture. However, many reviewers feel that outside of combat, character development is lacking, and the overall story fails to engage players deeply. While the art and music are highlighted as strong points, the depth of character growth remains a significant area for improvement.
- “Every environment and character design feels handcrafted with intention.”
- “The package is just very slick and very pretty, music & art are gorgeous, character designs are on-point, there's some sweet representation (non-binary character <3), the writing seems good so far and I really like the narrative flavoring around Gaulish-Celtic culture and myths from the Pyrenees region, even if it's a mix from various influences and time periods.”
- “The art and character design is so charming and it has great meta progression and a clear-cut set of goals with a compelling enough story so you're not just trying to get as far as you can or kill the final boss each time.”
- “However, outside of battle, there's not much character development.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game tedious and repetitive, with some noting that while the chest reward system initially adds excitement, it quickly becomes a chore as they feel compelled to farm for legendary gear. The gameplay, although varied across different characters, tends to lose its appeal due to the grind-heavy nature, leading to a sense of boredom over time.
- “The chest reward system after each stage is a unique approach for rewards which works at first, but once you realize that you can farm them with specific builds and get legendary gear, you feel obliged to do so at every stage, which is truly tedious.”
- “To be honest, I found it really tedious and that background music is just monotonous.”
- “Looked okay from the demo, but the whole concept gets boring and grindy very quickly.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game's stability is criticized for being inconsistent, with players experiencing glitches, particularly during boss fights, that necessitate restarting the game. While some gameplay runs can be enjoyable, the randomness and balance issues contribute to a frustrating experience overall.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or major bugs, making for a stable experience.”
- “I've played for hours without encountering any issues, which really enhances the enjoyment.”
- “The stability of the game allows me to focus on strategy rather than worrying about technical problems.”
- “Other than that, I just have issues with balance and some weird glitches I encountered during boss fights that required me to restart the game to fix.”
- “In a few words, it's a buggy mess; avoid it.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
The game performs well on the Steam Deck, but players note that the controls could be improved. While the dual-character mechanic enhances gameplay, there are suggestions for further optimization and user interface adjustments to enhance the overall experience.
- “He has an assistant character that helps him, and you can switch between those two characters to clear the board and collect items in two spots, improving your clearing performance.”
- “It could use some optimization and UI changes, but overall, it's a great game.”
- “The game runs great on the Steam Deck performance-wise, but the controls are not great.”
- “It could use some optimization and UI changes, but overall it's a great game.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is highlighted by its cute art style and the amusing challenge of mispronouncing character names, which adds a fun element to gameplay. However, players note that the humor is somewhat overshadowed by the game's unbalanced mechanics. Overall, the comedic aspects contribute positively to the experience, making it entertaining despite its flaws.
- “Super cute art style and addictive gameplay; I have no idea how to pronounce any of the names in the game, but it's funny to mumble them poorly for my chat.”
- “Big number funny!”
- “There's some great potential here, but the game is hilariously unbalanced.”