RWBY: Arrowfell

63%
Game Brain Score Based on 155 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • music
RWBY: Arrowfell Game Cover
Developed by WayForward, RWBY: Arrowfell is the latest videogame based on the hit franchise.
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"RWBY: Arrowfell" is an action-packed rhythm game set in the world of RWBY. Play as Team RWBY and use your skills to fight against Grimm creatures and solve the mystery of the strange behavior of huntsmen and huntresses. Engage in rhythm-based combat and explore the world of Remnant through exciting platforming sequences. Experience the RWBY universe like never before with an original story and stunning visuals.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

63%
Audience ScoreBased on 155 reviews
story20 positive mentions
replayability3 negative mentions
  • Great for RWBY fans, featuring familiar characters and a story that feels like an extension of the show.
  • Charming visuals and animations, with cutscenes that capture the essence of the RWBY series.
  • Fun gameplay mechanics that allow players to switch between characters and utilize their unique abilities.
  • Combat feels repetitive and lacks depth, often leading to button-mashing rather than strategic play.
  • The game is short, with many players completing it in under 6 hours, making it feel less worth the price.
  • Level design is uninspired, with a lack of a map making navigation frustrating and leading to tedious backtracking.
  • story84 mentions

    The story of "Arrowfell" is set during Volume 7 of the RWBY series, featuring a canon side narrative that follows Team RWBY on their missions as licensed huntresses. While some players appreciate the engaging character interactions and cutscenes, many criticize the plot as simplistic and predictable, with repetitive fetch quests that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the story is seen as decent for RWBY fans but lacks depth and innovation, making it feel somewhat inconsequential within the broader RWBY universe.

    • “I absolutely adore Arrowfell as both a hardcore RWBY fan and a fan of puzzle platformers. Its mechanics are unique but familiar to anyone who's played one before, and the story itself is very fitting (and canon!) in the RWBY universe.”
    • “I really enjoyed my time playing through the story, which, whilst not groundbreaking, was a fun tale of corruption, duplicity, and youthful heroism.”
    • “The environment and the way characters act really show where we are in the series. It's later throughout the game you figure out Arrowfell was actually Team RWBY's first mission as licensed huntresses, meaning this game took place during the montage in Volume 7.”
    • “The story is godawful even by today's standards for RWBY.”
    • “Overall, if someone comes to this game looking for an enriching exploration of the RWBY series, its story, and its world, they may not leave satisfied.”
    • “This game's story is not adding layers to the events of V7 or V8; it's providing a completely superfluous story that doesn't even strengthen that narrative or give us interesting world-building.”
  • gameplay56 mentions

    The gameplay in "Arrowfell" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it enjoyable yet repetitive, particularly in combat and quest design. While the game features unique mechanics like semblances and character switching, some players feel these elements are underutilized, leading to a lack of depth and engagement. Overall, the visuals and story are praised, but the gameplay is often criticized for its simplicity and lack of polish, making it less appealing for those seeking a more challenging experience.

    • “I absolutely adore Arrowfell as both a hardcore RWBY fan and a fan of puzzle platformers. Its mechanics are unique but familiar to anyone who's played one before, and the story itself is very fitting (and canon!) in the RWBY universe.”
    • “One of my favorite mechanics are the semblances, not only the abilities themselves (which are great) but the way they get upgraded in the story, allowing you to revisit old locations and access new areas, keeping every part of the map interesting throughout the whole game.”
    • “If you like RWBY or classic metroidvania gameplay, you'll like it; if not, probably not.”
    • “Not recommended because of iffy mechanics and there are far better games of this genre (unless you're here for Team RWBY like me).”
    • “The gameplay loop is very repetitive, forcing you to do pointless fetch quests and revisit previous areas.”
    • “The visuals are great, but the gameplay feels lacking and there doesn't seem to be much mechanical depth.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising the standout tracks, particularly in the intro and final levels, while others criticize the repetitive and generic nature of the background music throughout most of the game. Fans of the RWBY series appreciate the inclusion of original compositions by Jeff Williams and Casey Lee Williams, but many feel that the overall soundtrack does not live up to the high standards set by the show. While the music is enjoyable and fits the game's atmosphere, there is a consensus that it could have been more varied and impactful.

    • “The soundtrack is great (though that is the case for all RWBY media).”
    • “What would a RWBY title be without a great soundtrack?”
    • “While the main theme by Jeff and Casey is of their usual standard, I found myself very pleasantly surprised with the soundtrack as a whole, with it treading a great line between the upbeat exploratory themes you’d expect in a platformer like this, and the series' usual rock style.”
    • “The gripes were in small cases the music; I feel as if the intro stage and final level had some banger tracks, but the rest of the game had some plain old tracks that I feel you could slap on any game and wouldn't know the difference. A series like RWBY has some amazing music, and I was fairly disappointed by the lack of RWBY-like tracks.”
    • “The music that was pure hype just never comes back until the end credits; the gameplay never changes, and the upgrades you get make little to no difference at all.”
    • “Not to mention there is only a handful of songs in the game to begin with.”
  • graphics18 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the charming art style and aesthetics that align with the RWBY series, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking in detail. Although the character models and animations are appealing, the overall graphical quality is often compared to early 3DS titles, leading to a perception that the visuals do not fully compensate for the game's sluggish gameplay and mechanical shortcomings.

    • “The game is very pretty, and the art style and characters look wonderful.”
    • “Opting for a difference from their usual 2D art style, the game instead makes use of 3D models similar to the original show, albeit with a more 'chibi' style similar to the Shantae games.”
    • “The visuals are great, and the story is decent, but the combat and traversal feel so sluggish and clunky that the moment-to-moment just felt bad.”
    • “The alpha shown off in 2021 looked quite a bit more ambitious with there being different combo options, enemies reacting to damage, there being an in-stage map function, apparent unlockable costumes, and co-operative play, despite having worse visuals, yet the final version feels scaled back all too much.”
    • “The graphics themselves are fairly outdated, but the art style shines through and I find the game pretty appealing to look at.”
    • “Environments, character models, enemies, lighting effects, and literally everything graphically in this game look as though they are from the early 3DS era.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    Overall, reviews indicate a mixed perception of replayability, with some players noting a complete lack of replay value due to limited content and a focus on linear progression, while others mention potential for enjoyment if additional content or updates are introduced. Many feel that without significant changes, the game lacks the incentive to revisit, making it less appealing for repeated playthroughs.

    • “+ good replay value.”
    • “Or just more content in general for more fun replayability.”
    • “Something else that was free for the picking... and a new game plus, as action-focused as this game starts to become by the end, it's a huge shame it's one of those games that have absolutely zero replay value and just starts you off outside the final boss arena should you decide to return.”
    • “Replayability: 0.”
    • “All the small things I don't like combined with the only good things being voice actors and cute chibis make it hard to say I recommend it or not. The reason I sided with not is because unless they change some of those things, the game has no replay value. It wasn't fun; if I want to see the story, I'll watch it on YouTube for the first time. Yes, it's better to play it than watch it, but unless they add DLC or update some of the problems most of us have with it, we'll never touch it again.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with repetitive combat and a lack of variety in enemy encounters. The absence of a minimap and the high health of late-game enemies contribute to a frustrating experience, leading to a sense of wasted time rather than enjoyment. While the story and cutscenes are appreciated, the overall gameplay suffers from monotony, making grinding feel like a necessary chore rather than an enjoyable part of the experience.

    • “There's zero engagement from the player, at which point it's just a waste of time, contributing again to the awful tedious feeling plaguing the game.”
    • “Lategame regular map enemies have a relatively large amount of health, so it becomes tedious to even try to engage with the combat.”
    • “Each individual area you visit is very short, though the lack of a minimap throughout is a strange oversight, and combat is fairly one-note, with only the odd boss battle there to break up rooms of the same handful of enemies and tedious ambushes against more of the same.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its animated cutscenes and witty dialogue, reminiscent of the lighthearted style found in RWBY Chibi. While there are minor glitches, they often add to the comedic experience rather than detract from it.

    • “I loved the animated cutscenes, and some of the dialogue was very funny.”
    • “Definitely more in the RWBY Chibi mode of humor.”
    • “There were some minor glitches here and there, but nothing game-breaking and some were more funny than harmful.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with most players experiencing few bugs. However, some users reported specific issues, such as a black screen during the final boss fight and controller compatibility problems, indicating that while minor glitches exist, they are not widespread or game-breaking.

    • “My playthrough was surprisingly bug-free, which made for a smooth gaming experience overall.”
    • “The game maintained a stable performance throughout, allowing me to fully immerse myself without interruptions.”
    • “I encountered very few issues, and the overall stability contributed to an enjoyable experience.”
    • “I can't get any controller to work, so I can't play the game. Let me know when this gets fixed because it is buggy.”
    • “There were some minor glitches here and there, but nothing game-breaking and some were more funny than harmful.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Reviews indicate a strong emotional response to the game's mechanics, with players expressing frustration and disappointment. The sentiment suggests that the game's design leads to a disheartening experience, overshadowing any potential emotional engagement.

  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by enjoyable music and voice acting, which enhance the overall experience. The game features appealing character designs and animations, along with the potential for engaging gameplay reminiscent of classic titles like Castlevania III.

    • “The character designs, animations, and portraits are impressive, adding depth to the overall experience.”
    • “The voice acting from the cast enhances the character development, making each character feel unique and engaging.”
    • “There is a lot of potential for exciting character interactions and development, reminiscent of classic Castlevania III-style antics.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as being overly focused on profit, leading players to feel that it prioritizes financial gain over quality and engagement.

    • “This game could have been much more than a simple cash grab.”
    • “The monetization system feels exploitative and detracts from the overall experience.”
    • “I feel pressured to spend money just to enjoy the game fully.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

56% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
2-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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