Quartet

About

Quartet is a single player tactical role playing game with fantasy and anime themes. It was developed by Something Classic Games LLC and was released on August 26, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

A series of unlikely train robberies. A mysterious deck of cards. A fleet of deadly airships. An accidental mage. Choose from four stories, in any order, and see how they eventually intertwine in this turn-based RPG.

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97%

Audience ScoreBased on 309 reviews

story106 positive mentions

grinding19 negative mentions

Beautiful pixel art evoking classic SNES JRPGs with modern polish
Engaging turn-based combat featuring tactical character swapping and unique party member roles
Strong, well-written narrative with multiple intertwining character stories and mature themes
Excellent soundtrack blending jazzy and orchestral tones, highly praised by players
Quality of life features like no random encounters, save-anywhere, and a balanced difficulty curve
Characters are distinct, relatable, and interact meaningfully, providing emotional investment

Game length is relatively short, leaving some plot threads and character arcs feeling rushed or underexplored
Late game open world and side quests lack clear map labeling and guidance, causing some navigation frustration
Combat can become easy or unbalanced especially on normal difficulty; hard mode added post-release to address this
Some side quests and character stories have uneven depth and resolution
Graphics, while charming, lack facial portraits/emotes during dialogue for emotional expression
Puzzles and exploration elements are minimal and sometimes tedious for players seeking more depth

story
339 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
68%
1%
The game's story is highly praised for its engaging, well-written characters and intertwining narratives that offer depth and emotional weight, often drawing favorable comparisons to classic JRPGs like Final Fantasy VI. While the pacing is dynamic and the themes mature, some critique the story's conclusion and side quests as feeling rushed or incomplete, with certain plot threads left unresolved. Overall, it is considered a strong highlight that balances character development and a compelling overarching plot, particularly appealing to fans who prioritize story-driven RPG experiences.
- “The story is the clear highlight of the game, it's incredibly well written!”
- “It's rare to find a game that gets it right: something that combines solid plot and pacing, genuinely sharp character writing - these people feel real and distinct, and individually clever enough for me to believe they're capable of saving the world, in sharp contrast to the usual jrpg party - and mechanics that are deep enough to engage with and rewardingly build around but focused on making combat quick rather than dense.”
- “The character writing and overall story in this game are incredible; this is top-notch stuff that will hold your interest.”
- “Unfortunately, the game has a lot of plot threads that aren't resolved in a satisfying way.”
- “The result is that the game not only has a lot of unresolved plot threads, the dialogue also tends to feel minimalistic to the point where some character emotions aren't communicated to the player sufficiently.”
- “Because of this, it's really easy to lose interest towards the end when the world opens up, as the influx of side quests and weaker main plot make it hard to want to finish out this game.”
music
146 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
39%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fantastic, varied, and jazz-influenced soundtrack that perfectly complements the nostalgic 16-bit style and diverse in-game settings. Many reviewers highlight memorable and emotionally resonant tracks, noting the high-quality composition and performance by a talented group of musicians. Some criticisms include occasional poor looping and a few tracks feeling out of place or derivative, but overall the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, often recommended alongside the game itself.
- “The soundtrack, with its mix of jazzy and orchestral tones, perfectly complements the diverse world, from the steampunk streets of Leornia to the war-torn skies of the Auslen Empire.”
- “I really can't express enough how much I love the music of this game. Alex's shop theme is my absolute favorite song. I have the soundtrack on my phone so I can listen to it whenever I want. It's just so good; I've listened to the song many times and I'll listen to much more.”
- “Quartet's soundtrack is just lovely and the varied tracks always fit their locations just right; a lot of care was put into them.”
- “Music 2/10: To be honest, this is my biggest criticism of the game.”
- “Several pieces of the soundtrack were almost note-for-note ripoffs of older RPG music. The most egregious of these was one battle tune that clearly and blatantly stole the melody of the boss battle theme of Lufia 2 (Turning Point from the official soundtrack is almost a note-for-note ripoff of 'Battle Theme 2' from Lufia 2), and that is the most memorable thing about any of the music in this game.”
- “Also, the times that the game chose silence over music did nothing to enhance tension and often seemed completely random.”
gameplay
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The gameplay is a well-executed blend of classic JRPG turn-based combat with a unique and engaging party-swap mechanic that keeps battles dynamic and strategic. It balances depth and accessibility, offering straightforward yet rewarding combat without excessive complexity or micromanagement, complemented by solid pacing and thoughtful integration of character abilities. While not groundbreaking, it delivers a satisfying experience that appeals to both fans of retro JRPGs and newcomers seeking a polished, enjoyable gameplay loop.
- “It's rare to find a game that gets it right: something that combines solid plot and pacing, genuinely sharp character writing - these people feel real and distinct, and individually clever enough for me to believe they're capable of saving the world, in sharp contrast to the usual jrpg party - and mechanics that are deep enough to engage with and rewardingly build around but focused on making combat quick rather than dense.”
- “An excellent jrpg with a very interesting new battle mechanic where you have four total members in a battle at once, but can switch in the other members whenever it is your turn.”
- “Once all 8 characters come together, you'll be constantly juggling who's in front and in reserve (with innate AP regen!) to tackle foes as they come, without the onerous switching mechanics of most games.”
- “I'm a little sour on nostalgia-bait Kickstarter JRPGs: they either get too bogged down in mechanics to the point that micromanagement overshadows storytelling, distracting you so much that you only appreciate the story retrospectively after completing the game (Chained Echoes, and to some degree Expedition 33), or the game is so absorbed by the classics it tries to emulate that any actual personality is suffocated (Sea of Stars or Eiyuden Chronicle).”
- “The story pace speeds up a lot once all permanent party members meet; also some game mechanics are not well explained—for instance, one party member has a special ability to do critical damage with spells that is only slightly implied in the story but not mentioned anywhere in the game, as well as unclear effects of stats like speed and luck.”
- “The gameplay is somewhat disappointing; having recently finished Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, and CrossCode—all great games—I thought this was going to be my next hook but it turned out it wasn’t.”
graphics
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
50%
7%
The game features charming, nostalgic pixel art graphics reminiscent of classic SNES-era JRPGs, with cohesive visuals and well-designed environments that effectively support gameplay. While some critique the minimalistic approach—such as lack of character portraits or expressive emotes—overall the graphics are praised for their personality, clarity, and fitting aesthetic that complements the story and music. Fans of retro-style visuals will appreciate its blend of classic 16-bit charm and modern sensibilities.
- “The graphics and world itself is very easy on the eyes bringing back all of the best nostalgic memories of the 16-bit sprite days, and the music encapsulates every emotion phenomenally well in every moment throughout the game like every giant in the JRPG scene knows how to do.”
- “They've absolutely nailed the graphical style, and the music is super on-point as well.”
- “Beautiful pixel graphics, great music, fun characters, and an interesting alternative history.”
- “Graphics: this is the area that's easiest to criticize.”
- “The game does not have portraits next to any of the dialogue, nor does it have emotes above their sprites a la Golden Sun, so the graphics actually hold the game back a lot when it comes to showing emotion to accompany emotional text.”
- “Graphics may be on the sparse side but they are going for the classic 16-bit look and that's essentially the whole point.”
grinding
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
4%
83%
Grinding is generally minimal or unnecessary in this game, with most players able to progress and reach max level through normal play and side quests alone. The combat is well-paced and encourages experimentation without demanding excessive repetitive battles, though a few bosses may require some light grinding. Some players found resource management, like frequent AP recovery, a bit tedious, but overall grinding is not a significant issue.
- “There are no random battles, no fetch quests, no grinding... just a solid story, beautiful pixel art, and a superb soundtrack.”
- “The grind was quick, and normally I wouldn't care about this much in an RPG, but when the game advertises little to no grinding this is a problem.”
- “No grinding required and no random encounters.”
- “In particular, there's a boss early in chapter 5 that I could barely beat after grinding an extra 4 levels (from 10 to 14).”
- “There is nothing like grinding in an RPG with your party before realizing some of your playable party members are severely underleveled due to non-use.”
- “I think my biggest gripe is how tedious it got over 15 hours because of how fast AP drains. Most of the moves worth using cost 30 AP and above, so you will have to go to the menu and select AP recovery items after every battle, which kills the pacing of the game for me personally.”
humor
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is consistently praised for its sharp, well-written dialogue and genuine laugh-out-loud moments, especially highlighted by the character Ben's comedic role and memorable introduction. It balances quirky, timeless jokes with a blend of heart and wit, avoiding typical trope pitfalls, and delivering humor that enhances both combat and story without breaking immersion. Although some jokes, like fat jokes aimed at Ben, received minor criticism, overall the humor is a standout, well-integrated element that adds charm and levity to the experience.
- “I laughed out loud more than a few times from its sense of humor.”
- “Ben, our friendly, humorous cook, has some of the best lines and by far one of the best introductions I've seen in a game like this.”
- “The dialogue is sharp, with just enough humor and heart to keep things engaging without drowning in exposition.”
emotional
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's emotional impact is a mix of highs and lows, delivering heartfelt and sometimes heart-wrenching moments that capture the spirit of classic JRPGs, evoking nostalgia and personal connection. While its understated presentation without expressive character portraits or emotes can weaken emotional engagement, the storytelling and thematic depth, especially through intertwined character arcs, offer a resonant and memorable experience for fans of nostalgic RPGs.
- “I had fun playing it; the characters brought my laughs and some honestly heart-wrenching moments at times.”
- “The way the four stories (and eight characters total) eventually weave together is nothing short of brilliant, building a rich, emotionally resonant tale about magic, war, and personal growth.”
- “The game asks “how would you shape the world with ultimate power?” I had some real emotional moments with the story and the action.”
character development
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
15%
14%
The game offers well-developed characters with engaging backstories that provide diverse perspectives, enhancing the story without overwhelming depth. While there is no formal character development system, the strong character design and storytelling contribute to a compelling RPG experience.
- “Every character has sufficient back story and character development to stay interesting without having to dive too deep.”
- “Each of these have good character development (Agata's story got cut off a bit sadly), and provide different viewpoints of the way the world is.”
- “So if you like RPGs with a stronger focus on story and character development, this is for you.”
- “There is no character development system.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers high replayability through its eight unique main characters with intertwined storylines and flexible party-building strategies, allowing for varied playstyles. Its interchangeable party system enhances adaptability in battles, while nostalgic graphics and emotionally resonant music add to the overall immersive experience.
- “You have 8 main characters all with their own unique storylines and fun personality quirks that eventually all come together in an epic way. The gameplay allows for great depths of strategy building where there is no wrong answer as to how you want to build your party, which also makes for great replayability. Additionally, party members are interchangeable at any point, so you can adapt to any battle on the fly.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users perceive the monetization approach as subtle and unobtrusive, noting that it neither involves bragging nor overt advertising.
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is richly crafted through stunning sprite work and detailed battle animations, complemented by immersive environments that enhance world-building.
- “The sprite work is gorgeous, with beautifully designed battle animations and environments that drip with atmosphere and world-building.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Optimization is generally good, though minor stuttering occurs briefly when walking in city environments, particularly on devices like the Steam Deck.