Slay the Princess

About

"Slay the Princess" is a challenging 2D platformer that tasks you with defeating the titular princess across multiple stages. Use an array of weapons and abilities to navigate treacherous terrain and confront a variety of enemies. With tight controls and retro-inspired graphics, this game offers a satisfying and replayable experience for fans of the genre.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

98%

Audience ScoreBased on 22,364 reviews

story2.8k positive mentions

grinding56 negative mentions

story
6,378 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
55%
1%
The story of "Slay the Princess" is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and emotional resonance, often described as a unique blend of horror and love. Players appreciate the intricate branching narratives that allow for multiple outcomes, making each playthrough feel distinct and engaging. The game is noted for its beautiful art style, exceptional voice acting, and thought-provoking themes, with many reviewers emphasizing that it is, at its core, a profound love story that challenges traditional storytelling conventions.
- “There are a ton of branches to follow with the story, giving it incredible replay value, and the story itself is thought-provoking and very well written.”
- “The central narrative revolves around a mysterious and dangerous princess that you must confront, but the way the story unfolds is anything but predictable.”
- “The story is so captivating and the twists so incredible.”
- “The story is pretty simple.”
- “The story itself is very... confusing to be honest.”
- “The story doesn't really grab me and after a few runs through i just got really bored with this.”
music
1,566 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The music in "Slay the Princess" has been widely praised for its haunting beauty and emotional depth, effectively enhancing the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Reviewers noted that the soundtrack seamlessly complements the visuals and voice acting, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players long after gameplay. While some mentioned occasional audio balancing issues, the overall consensus is that the music is a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's emotional impact and narrative cohesion.
- “The music is just as impressive, setting the mood and adding to the overall experience in such an immersive way.”
- “The soundtrack is just perfect, it's the kind of beautiful quasi-ambience that fits so seamlessly you forget it's there, yet the moment it's gone you start missing it.”
- “The music fits in perfectly, not distracting you from the game, but adding to the experience and environment.”
- “Only complaint is that the voices are rather quiet, had to turn speakers/headphones volume up to hear them properly, and it resulted in the music being extremely loud sometimes.”
- “The music is quiet but once you hear it you won't be able to unhear it.”
- “The only real flaw that I can point out is the music sometimes drowns out the voice acting, but that can be easily solved by lowering the music volume a bit in the preferences menu.”
graphics
1,502 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
1%
The graphics of "Slay the Princess" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which effectively combines beauty and horror, enhancing the game's narrative depth. Reviewers highlight the unique monochrome aesthetic, often punctuated by splashes of red, as both captivating and evocative, contributing significantly to the overall atmosphere. The visuals, paired with excellent voice acting and a haunting soundtrack, create an immersive experience that resonates emotionally with players.
- “The visuals are simply breathtaking, the game not only looks pretty but the designs themselves are really genius.”
- “Absolutely gorgeous art-style, amazing story that gets you thinking in ways you didn’t know you could before.”
- “The artwork in the game is thoughtfully made and can lean from cutesy to a nightmarish fever dream, and the voice acting- especially the range of the two actors, is immense.”
- “I am mostly meh about the visuals, they have some style, but feel relatively cheap compared to everything else.”
- “The artwork barely holds up on larger screens.”
- “I was told there was some pretty graphic violence in this, but the amateurish artwork didn't really sell it at all.”
emotional
904 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Slay the Princess" is overwhelmingly impactful, with players frequently reporting intense feelings ranging from joy to heartbreak. Many describe the game as an emotional rollercoaster, often leading to tears due to its profound storytelling, relatable characters, and hauntingly beautiful art and music. The blend of humor, horror, and heartfelt moments creates a unique experience that resonates deeply, making it a standout title for those seeking a rich emotional journey in gaming.
- “The emotional depth of this story is beyond anything I've ever experienced before in gaming.”
- “The story is amazing and has made me cry more than once; the music is beautiful and the art style gives it such a storybook charm.”
- “This game made me feel things few other games have managed, and it should be played by every single person in the world.”
humor
747 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Slay the Princess" is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, blending dark themes with sharp, witty dialogue that elicits genuine laughter amidst the horror. Players appreciate the clever writing and voice acting, which enhance the comedic elements while maintaining emotional depth, creating a unique narrative experience that oscillates between hilarity and poignancy. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to balance humor with unsettling moments, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “The writing is both hilarious and horrifying, in such a way that the contrast amplifies both qualities rather than muddying them.”
- “It's a story that is sad, beautiful, horrifying, deranged, joyous, and funny all in one.”
- “The game doesn't take itself too seriously, and its witty dialogue and clever writing had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion.”
gameplay
506 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
74%
4%
The gameplay of "Slay the Princess" is primarily a visual novel format, focusing on narrative-driven choices that significantly impact the story. While it features minimalistic mechanics typical of the genre, such as dialogue selection and a time-loop system, players appreciate the depth and replayability offered through its branching paths and meaningful decisions. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging storytelling and artistic presentation, even if some players desire more traditional gameplay elements.
- “The gameplay keeps you engaged and your choices you made have real impact.”
- “Slay the princess is an absolute gem of a game that combines challenging gameplay, clever strategy, and a healthy dose of humor to create an unforgettable adventure that kept me hooked from start to finish.”
- “The marriage of the core gameplay loop with the narrative is rather expertly done, and takes full advantage of its medium to tell a story in a way that could only be done in this fashion.”
- “I feel like Slay the Princess lacks something integral other than just typical gameplay mechanics, which is, in my opinion, also true with most of these walking simulator/visual novel/narrative-driven games sadly.”
- “There isn't much for gameplay except for text choices and clicking through voiced dialogue.”
- “The actual gameplay loop is weak; choices only impact the story superficially.”
replayability
360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
54%
1%
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with numerous branching paths and choices that significantly alter the storyline, encouraging players to explore different routes and endings. Many reviewers highlight the engaging narrative and well-crafted dialogue, which enhance the desire to replay the game multiple times. Overall, it is praised for its depth and variety, making it a standout in the visual novel genre for those seeking a rich, replayable experience.
- “There are a ton of branches to follow with the story, giving it incredible replay value, and the story itself is thought-provoking and very well written.”
- “Every choice matters, and it is nearly infinitely replayable.”
- “This game has incredible replayable value as you can explore all the possible routes and outcomes.”
- “Only gotten one ending so far, but with multiple of them and loads of branching paths there is loads of replay value even if the core loop never really changes.”
- “After like 2-3 runs it's hard to not spend like 75% of your playtime doing things you've already done, so the only real replayability value it has after the first ~5 hours is, if you're dedicated, digging out all the little scraps of content after that.”
- “And of course, as is inevitable for games like this with a lot of replayability and branching paths, each replay is going to involve sitting through quite a lot of things you've already seen to get to the things you haven't.”
atmosphere
270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
31%
1%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, haunting music, and exceptional voice acting, which together create a deeply immersive and emotionally resonant experience. Reviewers highlight the balance of unsettling horror and dark humor, noting that the atmosphere enhances the narrative and keeps players engaged without relying on jump scares. Overall, the game's unique art style and atmospheric sound design contribute significantly to its storytelling, making it a standout in the genre.
- “It's stunning and atmospheric and creates a perfect backdrop for the story.”
- “The atmosphere is thick with suspense, keeping you on edge as you try to unravel the truth.”
- “Amazing illustration and haunting music build a dense and wonderful atmosphere that gives life to a fantastic script.”
- “The atmosphere is very unsettling and it also gives off a feeling of sadness.”
- “Any sense of tension or dread atmosphere gets destroyed by a typically British approach to funny banter and dialogue options.”
- “Of course, one has to remember that this game has horror elements, that it creates a certain atmosphere, and it has the corresponding pacing; so it would not be interesting if you are seeking exciting gameplay, or a quick uneventful way to spend your evening.”
optimization
116 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
3%
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users noting the need for UI improvements, particularly for Steam Deck compatibility. However, the overall experience is enhanced by the exceptional voice performances and artistic elements, which contribute significantly to immersion and emotional engagement. While the game excels in storytelling and character portrayal, minor technical adjustments could elevate it further.
- “Mind-blowing writing quality, incredible voice performances, so many cool ways it responds to your choices!”
- “The music, the art, and the amazing voice performances really sold the consequence and weight of my choices.”
- “In this case not only is there genuine passion and effort behind their performances, but immense talent as well, such that I was often immersed to the point of forgetting I was listening to fictional characters, and not real people.”
- “All it needs is some UI optimizations for Steam Deck and it'd be a game I would frequently hand to people and say you must try this!”
- “I'm sorry to be harsh on her performance, because I do think she was trying, but in the end, it just sounds like she was chosen because she was available.”
- “The performances are okay, the writing is okay.”
grinding
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
9%
88%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, especially when pursuing all endings and achievements. While some appreciate the ability to experiment and explore various paths without it feeling overly burdensome, others feel that the repetitive dialogue and choices detract from the overall experience, making it a slog after multiple playthroughs. Overall, the game offers enjoyable moments, but the grind can become exhausting for those aiming for completion.
- “They made the repetitiveness not tedious to go through.”
- “Broadly the game is great except for one major flaw that ruins the entire experience and makes this game more of a tedious slog than anything thought-provoking or fun.”
- “The wry humor of the trailer evaporates quickly and the player is left grinding through an interminable series of choices that simply aren't fun, leading to an overwrought, confusing, and bloated finale.”
- “And even if you're interested in seeing all the weird paths you can take, the dialogue will say extremely similar things over and over, so the game becomes really tedious.”
character development
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
Character development in the game is highlighted by its stunning and imaginative character designs that reflect the personalities and narratives of the characters, particularly the princess, whose various forms are memorable and distinct. While many reviews praise the art style and voice acting, some critiques point to a lack of depth in character development that affects the emotional weight of the story's endings. Overall, the game is recommended for those who appreciate rich storytelling and visually striking character design, despite some inconsistencies in character growth.
- “A true masterclass in character development, narrative, and making an actual game where your choices very much have a concrete effect on the rest of the game.”
- “I highly recommend this game to anyone who appreciates rich story and character development.”
- “The character designs are really great as well, the many different versions of the princess are all very memorable and distinct.”
- “Likewise, there is no character development that would make the positive ending feel 'deserved', while the sad ending had no character development, so it was just pointlessly sad.”
- “You get no context, no world building, no character development. I've 'finished' it three times and still don't know what is going on.”
- “If you're going to write a visual novel, there has to be some level of character development.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with many users reporting smooth performance and no significant glitches. However, some players have experienced minor graphical issues, such as delayed dialogue and occasional system strain during certain sections. Despite these criticisms, the game is considered more stable than many other recent AAA releases.
- “The game has some graphical glitches where dialogue doesn't show up, or it shows up late.”
- “My only criticism is that my system struggled to run some parts of the game and a few glitches.”
- “The game runs very well, and I have encountered exactly 0 glitches so far.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is positively received, with users noting that the advertising accurately reflects the gameplay experience, emphasizing that player choices significantly impact the story's outcome. Overall, players feel that the game delivers on its promises, enhancing their satisfaction with the purchase.