Ruler by Default
- May 3, 2018
- Pistachi Studio
Get on Steam"Ruler by Default" is a fantasy comedy drama visual novel where you play as a 21 year old male who is accidentally summoned to another dimension and becomes the successor to an evil overlord. With a year until you can return home, you must build relationships with characters from different dimensions and navigate 5 different character routes with 42 different endings. The game contains strong language, blood, and violence and features over 150,000 words, 50+ CGs, and estimated 6-20 hours of gameplay.
Reviews
- Engaging story arcs and fun characters that create a memorable experience.
- Multiple routes and varied endings provide significant replay value.
- Charming artwork and character expressions enhance the overall enjoyment of the game.
- Some grammatical issues and occasional typos detract from the experience.
- Certain story progressions may assume prior knowledge that the player might not have.
- Visual inconsistencies in scene selection screens can be jarring.
- story32 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and features fun, well-developed characters, with a "choose your own adventure" style that allows for varied paths and multiple endings. While the overarching plot can sometimes feel secondary to character interactions, the writing is charming and the choices made by players significantly impact the narrative, creating a personal and immersive experience. Overall, the story is praised for its depth, humor, and the emotional connections it fosters with the characters.
“The story is interesting, the writing charming in so many ways, and the characters will be some that will stick with me for a long time.”
“Throughout the game, the player is given choices to move the story along, but also to integrate themselves into the game’s universe and to build relationships with the characters.”
“This VN has a surprisingly good storyline with different endings which can be with certain girls where the story will actually make you care for them.”
“However, some of these plot points, and even the overarching plot of being an overlord in a land can be kind of forgotten.”
“If I could change anything, I would just try to integrate the character's route more into all the characters and the overarching story of how you are supposed to be this overlord from the first act.”
“At first, I wasn't sure what to expect, and if I was blatantly frank, I wasn't sure I'd like the art style or the storyline much because I had the bias of coming from super-high-budget games... but I'm happy to say that feeling went away pretty fast.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game feature a unique and charming art style that stands out, with detailed and carefully crafted avatars and scenes that avoid the common pitfall of recycled designs. While the visuals for the scene selection screen may initially feel inconsistent with the rest of the game, overall, the artwork is well-received and appreciated for its creativity and attention to detail. Players express a desire for the artwork to be available as desktop wallpapers, highlighting its appeal.
“Overall, well made visual novel with its own creative art style.”
“The artwork is surprisingly charming; you can tell each avatar and scene was made with detail and care to convey a character or setting, instead of just copy-pasting avatars like some I've seen, so it's very well done!”
“+ Unique artwork, not too many recycled avatars like some visual novels; characters all have unique appearances and charm.”
“The visuals for the scene selection screen every new week don't quite match the rest of the game in a way that was initially jarring.”
“At first, I wasn't sure what to expect, and if I was blatantly frank, I wasn't sure I'd like the art style or the storyline much because I had the bias of coming from super-high-budget games... but I'm happy to say that feeling went away pretty fast.”
“My only request is to get the artwork in the game as desktop wallpapers, considering how great they are.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its charming and humorous storytelling, featuring a variety of routes that elicit frequent laughter and emotional responses. The clever writing and engaging character designs contribute to a delightful experience, showcasing the developers' strong sense of humor throughout.
“There's just an unbelievable amount of charm, humor, and empathy.”
“The writing, combined with the changing character images had me laughing, smiling, and practically teary-eyed at parts.”
“The devs have an excellent sense of humor; it's not often a visual novel gets a laugh or chuckle from me as often as this one did.”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews highlight a significant divide in player experiences, with some feeling misled by promotional content that suggests more features than are present, leading to disappointment over perceived incomplete offerings. Conversely, others appreciate the branching paths and narrative depth that emerge after an initial setup, indicating that while the game may lack certain expected mechanics, it does provide engaging choices and story development.
“I've completed only one route, which took me roughly two hours to complete (considering I rushed through the dialogue because I'm a fast reader). I was honestly surprised by how the game offers a lot of different paths to explore once you get through the first half hour of gameplay, which sets up the world and story.”
“I felt like I wasted money on this game, even if it was only $10. I saw a YouTube video that got me to play the game, and the guy was able to actually level up and improve character stats, but there's no such function in this game. I feel like I paid for an unfinished or incomplete version of the game, and that's insulting. I hate buying a game and not getting the full experience.”
“I've completed only 1 route, which took me roughly 2 hours to complete. I was honestly surprised by how the game will give you a lot of different paths to go down once you get through the first half hour of gameplay, which sets up the world and story.”
- music2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally considered fitting and enhances the story, though it may not be particularly memorable. Overall, it is described as a good soundtrack that complements the gameplay experience.
“The soundtrack may not be memorable, but it fits with the story and enhances it appropriately.”
“+ good soundtrack”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is generally viewed as decent, though some players found the sudden shifts in character designs and backgrounds jarring, requiring an adjustment period to fully appreciate the changes.
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's replayability due to the ability to balance interactions with multiple characters, allowing for different endings and experiences with each playthrough. This feature encourages exploration of various storylines and outcomes, enhancing overall engagement.
“The ability to balance time spent with different characters means you won't get locked into a specific ending with just one girl, which adds significant replay value to the game.”
“The multiple story paths and character interactions encourage you to replay the game to explore all the different outcomes.”
“Each playthrough offers new choices and experiences, making it enjoyable to revisit the game and discover something fresh every time.”
“The game lacks meaningful choices, making it feel like there's no incentive to replay it.”
“Once you've seen all the endings, there's little reason to go back and play again.”
“The gameplay mechanics are repetitive, which diminishes the overall replayability.”
