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.
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Reviews
- Engaging story arcs and fun characters that create a memorable experience.
- Multiple routes and endings provide good replay value and allow players to explore different character interactions.
- Charming artwork and character designs that enhance the overall experience.
- Some players feel the game lacks depth and may appear unfinished or incomplete.
- Occasional grammatical issues and visual inconsistencies can detract from the experience.
- Limited character interactions once a specific route is chosen, which may leave some players wanting more.
- story64 mentions
- 34 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is engaging and features well-developed characters, with a "choose your own adventure" style that allows players to explore multiple narrative paths and endings. While the overarching plot can sometimes feel secondary to character interactions, the humor and charm of the writing make the experience enjoyable. Players appreciate the depth of choices that impact relationships and story outcomes, although some plot points may lack integration with the main narrative.
“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.”
“The story is also amazing; too many people go in looking for 18+ content or eye-candy moments, but this visual novel actually makes you care about what the characters are up to, why they're different from one another, and fuels curiosity into how they fit into the story.”
“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 overarching story of how you are supposed to be this overlord from the first act.”
“At a first glance, some of the story progressions appear to assume that you've gotten a certain distance in some others that you might not have.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a unique and charming art style that stands out, with detailed avatars and scenes that convey character and setting effectively. While the visuals for the scene selection screen may initially feel inconsistent with the rest of the game, the overall quality and creativity of the artwork have received positive feedback, with players appreciating the lack of recycled avatars. Many users expressed a desire for the artwork to be available as desktop wallpapers due to 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 a few 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.”
“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 three avatars over and over like some I've seen.”
- humor10 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 keep players engaged and entertained. Reviewers highlight the clever writing and character designs that evoke laughter and emotional responses, noting the developers' exceptional sense of humor that consistently elicits chuckles throughout the experience.
“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.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews indicate a mixed experience, with some players feeling disappointed by the lack of promised features, such as character leveling and diverse gameplay options, leading to a perception of an incomplete product. However, others appreciate the branching paths and story depth that emerge after the initial gameplay, suggesting that there is potential for engaging content once players progress further. Overall, the gameplay experience seems to vary significantly based on individual expectations and the routes explored.
“I've completed only 1 route, which took me roughly 2 hours to complete (considering I mashed through 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, where 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 hope the company goes belly up for wasting everyone's time and not delivering a full product. It's really annoying to buy a game and not get the full experience.”
“I completed only one route, which took me roughly 2 hours to finish (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 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 game.”
- music4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally regarded as fitting and enhancing the story, though it may not be particularly memorable. Overall, it is considered 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 development2 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.
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's replayability due to the ability to balance interactions with multiple characters, allowing for varied endings and encouraging multiple playthroughs. This feature enhances the overall experience by providing different outcomes based on player choices.
“You can balance your time spent with different characters, which means you won't end up with a specific ending tied to just one girl, adding significant replay value to the game.”
“The ability to explore various character paths ensures that each playthrough feels fresh and engaging, enhancing the overall replayability.”
“With multiple endings and character interactions, the game encourages you to replay it to discover all the different outcomes.”
“The game lacks significant variations in storylines, making it feel repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“Once you've experienced the main story, there isn't much incentive to replay, as the choices don't lead to drastically different outcomes.”
“The limited character interactions and predictable endings diminish the overall replayability.”
