Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan

92%
Game Brain Score Based on 104 reviews
  • gameplay
  • music
  • story
Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan Game Cover
Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan is a near perfect game and a great introduction as someone's first RPG. It may be a little long winded at times, but overall Rainbow Billy is a must own.
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"Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan" is a single-player Comedy Role Playing game with an intriguing story and wonderful gameplay. Join the protagonist in a quest to save the world by befriending over 60 curious creatures, bringing back color, and accepting change in this family-friendly adventure with phenomenal visuals and a delightful soundtrack. Explore a vast world of 85+ islands and caves filled with treasure, minigames, and more!

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Reviews

92%
Audience ScoreBased on 104 reviews
gameplay13 positive mentions
character development3 negative mentions
  • Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan features a unique and engaging combat system that emphasizes empathy and understanding, allowing players to help characters confront their insecurities.
  • The game is visually stunning with a charming art style and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • It tackles important themes such as mental health and acceptance in a way that is accessible for all ages, making it a heartwarming experience.
  • The game suffers from various bugs and glitches, including issues with save files and occasional softlocks, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • Some players found the dialogue and story elements to be overly simplistic or on-the-nose, potentially detracting from the overall depth of the narrative.
  • The platforming mechanics and camera controls can be frustrating at times, leading to awkward navigation and gameplay experiences.
  • gameplay53 mentions

    The gameplay is a blend of engaging turn-based combat and exploration, reminiscent of Paper Mario, with a focus on colorful mechanics and emotional themes. While many players appreciate the depth and charm, some criticize the lack of clear explanations for mechanics, leading to confusion, especially in battles. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a variety of challenges, though it may feel repetitive over time and is better suited for a younger audience despite its complex mechanics.

    • “Gameplay is like a more complex Paper Mario, but the humor and heart are the real center of it.”
    • “Absolutely loved this game - the art style is very cute and the gameplay loop is satisfying and doesn't overstay its welcome.”
    • “The gameplay consists of a variety of platforming and puzzle solving, with team turn-based combat using your deck of collected team members.”
    • “I couldn't get through 2 hours; the gameplay lacked any coherent explanations for its mechanics. The battle system throws you in and expects you to already know how to play it, despite it being a radically different system from what the franchise seemingly inspired it.”
    • “Despite having very versatile accessibility settings so anyone can play, the gameplay itself prefers to toss something at you without providing an explanation.”
    • “The talking portions are nonsensical, the gameplay is repetitive from the second battle onward, and there's no driving factor to keep the interest of someone over the age of 8.”
  • music50 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its vibrant and engaging soundtrack, with many reviewers highlighting its ability to enhance the overall experience and emotional depth of the game. While some found certain tracks to be repetitive or unmemorable, others appreciated the variety and the inclusion of vocal performances that added to key moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, with many recommending it as a must-have alongside the game itself.

    • “A mix of older Paper Mario games' art style, combat, and humor, with Undertale/Deltarune's puzzle-solving, messages of friendship and acceptance, lore and backstory that the creators trust you to piece together yourself, and a great soundtrack that weaves together various leitmotifs and themes.”
    • “Rainbow Billy is a lovely adventure game with bright, colorful 2D-3D mixed visuals and, frankly, quite an astonishingly great soundtrack (one of my favorite parts of the game).”
    • “The music is amazing, the visuals are nice and cute, and the dialogues are thoughtful and feel truthful.”
    • “Sounds are a bit redundant and so is the music... but you kinda get used to it.”
    • “So many odd design decisions, from using music with vocals as background music to extremely awkward platforming.”
    • “I just don't think the game offers enough variety (or, let's be honest, challenge) to be worth its length, which is unfortunate.”
  • story50 mentions

    The story of "Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan" evolves from a seemingly simple narrative into a deeper exploration of friendship, acceptance, and emotional growth, resonating particularly with the LGBT community. Players appreciate the charming visuals and engaging character arcs, which are complemented by a captivating soundtrack, though some find the initial pacing slow and the overarching plot somewhat cliched. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth and relatability, making it a memorable experience despite its occasional campiness.

    • “The story is surprisingly touching and the music is absolutely amazing.”
    • “A very sentimental monster taming game where each creature has their own personality and story.”
    • “The way the story keeps building up with characters, bosses, and everything feels so natural.”
    • “For now, the childish visuals and bland story will turn people away.”
    • “It's hampered by its story and visuals.”
    • “The story starts out a bit cliched with 'big bad evil dude doing bad things and our hero and their new friends have to travel the world and collect mcguffins to stop them' but the more I played, the more mature and complex this story became.”
  • graphics26 mentions

    The graphics of "Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan" are widely praised for their vibrant, cartoonish aesthetic reminiscent of classic titles like Paper Mario and Cuphead, blending 2D and 3D elements with a nostalgic, Saturday morning cartoon vibe. While the art style is described as cute and appealing, some reviewers note that it may appear overly simplistic or juvenile, potentially alienating older players despite the game's deeper themes and engaging mechanics. Overall, the visuals are considered a highlight, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The visuals are beautiful, the story is very fun.”
    • “Rainbow Billy is a lovely adventure game with bright, colorful 2D-3D mixed visuals and, frankly, quite an astonishingly great soundtrack (one of my favorite parts of the game).”
    • “What a little gem to play with the kids... great fun, colorful and crisp graphics and great mechanics!”
    • “The game's art style looks very childish, to the point that it evokes a preschool.”
    • “For now, the childish visuals and bland story will turn people away.”
    • “It's hampered by its story and visuals.”
  • emotional23 mentions

    "Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan" is widely praised for its emotional depth, heartwarming narrative, and charming characters, making it a standout in the genre. Players appreciate its exploration of complex themes related to emotional and mental health, often finding personal connections to the characters' struggles. The game's vibrant art, engaging gameplay, and uplifting soundtrack contribute to a wholesome experience that leaves many feeling inspired and emotionally fulfilled.

    • “A extremely fun and emotional game, did not expect the story but it made me cry several times.”
    • “Rainbow Billy really went into that depth of emotional intelligence that I've never seen a game do before.”
    • “This part of the game touches on a broad range of topics involving various emotional struggles, social insecurities, and mental health issues; and I'm sure many players--myself included--can find someone in this cast of characters whose struggles and road to recovery they can relate to.”
  • character development6 mentions

    Character development in the game is primarily showcased in the third act, with upgrades leading to additional dialogue that enriches the story. While the character designs are praised for their charm, the overall depth of character arcs may not fully engage all players, particularly given the game's mixed appeal across different age demographics. Despite the emotional drama and vibrant aesthetics, some players feel that the character development does not compensate for the lack of challenge and variety in gameplay.

    • “Your character still gets their own major character development arc in the 3rd act.”
    • “The character designs were delightful, and while the puzzles weren't too complex, they still felt satisfying to complete.”
    • “Your character still gets their major character development arc in the 3rd act.”
    • “Upgrading creatures will yield more dialogue, furthering their character development and story.”
    • “I do recommend it, but the $30 asking price is a bit steep. Even if I recognize the effort that went into making this, I just don't think the game offers enough variety (or, let's be honest, challenge) to be worth its length, which is unfortunate.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, blending the charm of classic Paper Mario with the wit of Undertale and Deltarune. Players appreciate the vibrant characters, deep and funny dialogue, and the overall heartwarming tone that enhances the gameplay experience. The combination of humor and engaging storytelling creates a memorable and enjoyable atmosphere.

    • “Gameplay is like a more complex Paper Mario, but the humor and heart are the real center of it.”
    • “A mix of older Paper Mario games' art style, combat, and humor, with Undertale/Deltarune's puzzle-solving, messages of friendship and acceptance, lore and backstory that the creators trust you to piece together yourself, and a great soundtrack that weaves together various leitmotifs and themes.”
    • “Look, this game has bright colors and funny characters, 100%, that's all I need to carry me through.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is characterized by minor glitches and occasional bugs, particularly in the platforming sections, though these issues are not severe enough to ruin the gameplay experience. Players anticipate that future patches may address these stability concerns.

    • “The most obvious issue is that, in its current state, it's pretty buggy.”
    • “The platforming sections are also pretty basic and occasionally slightly buggy, though never game-ruining.”
    • “There are very minor glitches, but I'm sure they could be cleaned up in future patches.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    The game is praised for its lack of traditional grinding, allowing players to power up creatures using random gifts and fish. However, some users find the process of raising friendship and the increasingly lengthy battle system to be tedious over time.

    • “The battle system and interacting with the critters once you recruit them gets kind of tedious: for the latter, you need specific presents and gummi fish to raise friendship, but what presents and fish you get are random, so it takes a while, and the battle system takes so long as the game goes on!”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    Reviewers highlight that the game's atmosphere is cohesive, effectively integrating elements like growth and challenging situations, complemented by the music. There is a suggestion for the music to begin during the loading screen to enhance immersion from the outset.

    • “The atmosphere, growth, approaching difficult situations, and music were all cohesive.”
    • “The music should start in the loading screen; that way, you're immediately drawn into the atmosphere.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game's audio, particularly in the late game, enhances the overall experience, with users noting that the more exciting music and improved vocal performances contribute positively to gameplay.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

85% average critic score

Buy Rainbow Billy: The Curse of the Leviathan

Play time

24hMedian play time
21hAverage play time
15-27hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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