Small Saga

95%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,309 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Small Saga Game Cover
Starting at €19.50Buy now
Get on Steam

"Small Saga" is a turn-based combat adventure game set in a medieval kingdom of rodents beneath the streets of London. You play as Verm, a mouse on a quest to retrieve his stolen tail from the Yellow God of Death. Along the way, you'll recruit a team of misfit rodents, battle awe-inspiring titans, and overthrow the hideous vermin in power. The game features no grinding and is focused on boss-oriented combat.

Play Modes

Reviews

95%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,309 reviews
story382 positive mentions
grinding44 negative mentions
  • Charming visuals and engaging story that captivates players from the start.
  • Well-developed characters with unique personalities and growth throughout the game.
  • Excellent soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and complements the narrative.
  • Combat is overly simplistic and lacks challenge, making battles feel trivial.
  • The game is relatively short, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Some dialogue can feel forced or overly political, detracting from immersion.
  • story948 mentions

    The story of "Small Saga" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, rich character development, and charming world-building, often drawing comparisons to beloved classics like "Redwall" and "The Secret of NIMH." While some reviewers noted that the plot can become heavy-handed with political themes and lacks subtlety, many found the overall experience to be heartfelt and immersive, with a balance of humor and serious undertones. The game is characterized as more of a story-driven experience than a traditional RPG, with leveling tied to story progression rather than grinding, making it accessible and enjoyable for those seeking a narrative-focused adventure.

    • “It is extremely well written, the characters, the world, the lore and backstory, it's all so compelling, and strikes a superb balance between being serious and fun.”
    • “The story is fantastic, filled with engaging twists and turns that kept me interested from start to finish.”
    • “The story, sound design, and character design are all really top notch, and the pixel art is a delight to look at.”
    • “Like, I'm sorry, but they really had a fascist dictator just sitting around talking about how much he loves fascism for the sake of fascism because he likes to dominate people... idk, maybe try giving your villains some kind of motive and backstory beyond 'teehee I'm so evil!!!1' none of the villains are fleshed out or have really much of a motivation at all, except Aquila.”
    • “The story rushes you from place to place so you don't really have much time to grasp the world building, other than they are rodents and have short lives.”
    • “The story's shift towards overt and ham-fisted political messaging feels disjointed and undermines the game's original charm with some of its comedy going down with it as well to become cringe-inducing such as with the obvious 4chan insert squirrel that screams lololol (which doesn't make sense in the setting of why even say that), saying 'cringe' at everything or 'they want to kill all us queer folk!'”
  • music417 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional composition and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional depth of the story. Tracks range from catchy tavern songs to epic boss themes, creating a memorable auditory experience that players often find themselves humming long after playing. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's charm and engagement significantly.

    • “The music is simple, yet composed in a way where the mood and intent of each track is instantly noticeable.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely phenomenal.”
    • “The music is beautiful, the characters are charming, and the story will have you crying, laughing, and just wishing for more.”
    • “The music is varied, timed well, contextual and enjoyable.”
    • “Some boss fights can be won in as much as 3 turns which, with how most of them are given significant build-up, is very anticlimactic, this also puts a damper on the soundtrack because some boss tracks you might get to hear for 30 seconds and that's it.”
    • “I personally found that the game took like 5-10 minutes to start up and music tending to go glitchy to silent on a regular basis forcing me to restart the game if I wanted to hear music again.”
  • gameplay216 mentions

    The gameplay of the game is generally described as simple and easy, often prioritizing story and character development over challenging mechanics. While some players appreciate the straightforward turn-based combat and find it enjoyable, many note a lack of depth and challenge, making it feel more like a casual experience rather than a traditional RPG. Overall, the gameplay serves as a vehicle for the narrative, with players encouraged to engage with the story rather than focus solely on combat mechanics.

    • “The gameplay is fun, the characters are memorable, and the art style is pleasing.”
    • “The gameplay is bound to be extremely simple for most seasoned players of turn-based RPGs, but the game more than makes up for it with how well-integrated the story is with its RPG elements.”
    • “With charming characters, an amazing soundtrack, a wonderful story, a delightful art style, and fun and entertaining gameplay, this game is a must-own if you haven't got it yet.”
    • “As bad as the writing is, the gameplay is the weakest aspect of the game.”
    • “The gameplay is extremely easy, too easy to be a challenge without intentionally handicapping yourself.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, you're an unstoppable killing machine that mows every single enemy down without breaking a sweat and beats monsters and legends alike into submission.”
  • graphics171 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style, reminiscent of classic 16-bit games, and the vibrant, detailed environments that bring the whimsical world to life. Reviewers highlight the charming visuals, intricate character designs, and the overall aesthetic that evokes nostalgia while effectively supporting the engaging story and gameplay. Despite some minor graphical glitches, the art direction is described as a labor of love, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “If there's anything nice I can say about it, it does look absolutely incredible, and it's very clear the amount of effort and care that was put into the visuals.”
    • “The visuals are really well done, and with the limitations they picked for their fairly old-looking 2D sprite-based game, they did so many cool things with it; it's honestly fair to play it just to see these moments for the first time.”
    • “The art style is gorgeous, the worldbuilding is wonderful, and the characters all had interesting stories of their own.”
    • “The graphics, music, and storytelling are delightful.”
    • “Graphics and overall presentation are every bit as beautiful as the screenshots suggest, but the story, characters, and gameplay make me want to fall asleep.”
    • “Even if its graphics aren't anything crazy and nor is the gameplay, Small Saga's story, its humor, and the overall experience are so great you'll fall in love.”
  • humor138 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, blending playful banter, clever puns, and meta references that resonate well with players. While some dialogue may feel cringeworthy or overly reliant on modern internet slang, the overall comedic timing and engaging character interactions create a delightful experience that balances lightheartedness with deeper themes. Many players found themselves laughing out loud, appreciating the game's ability to evoke both humor and heartfelt moments throughout the narrative.

    • “Genuinely funny and heart-touching dialogue!”
    • “The writing was hilarious, hit on some real issues, and overall the game was fun.”
    • “It's adorable, frequently funny, and shockingly touching.”
  • emotional67 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its touching narrative, well-developed characters, and a balance of humor and heartfelt moments that resonate deeply with players. Many reviewers noted that the story evokes a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, and effectively tackles themes of friendship, survival, and personal growth. The game's charming aesthetics and strong soundtrack further enhance its emotional impact, making it a memorable experience that players feel compelled to share and revisit.

    • “The journey made me cry and laugh out loud, and I can't stop talking about it.”
    • “This game made me feel things for imaginary animated rodents.”
    • “There were several moments in this game that were incredibly emotionally resonant and almost brought me to tears.”
  • grinding59 mentions

    The game is praised for its complete absence of grinding, allowing players to level up through story progression and boss battles rather than repetitive combat. This design choice contributes to a streamlined experience that emphasizes narrative and character development, making it appealing for those who prefer a more casual RPG without the typical grind associated with the genre. Overall, players appreciate the focus on meaningful gameplay and exploration over time-consuming grinding activities.

    • “There is no grinding for XP, but the levels come from character development and overcoming in-game bosses.”
    • “This game is more story-focused than gameplay; all level-ups are from doing the story, so there's no grinding.”
    • “As advertised, there is no grinding in the game, so you level up really fast and quickly outscale anything the game throws at you.”
    • “Honestly, games have become such open-ended time wasters that I've felt overwhelmed to even start a new RPG game and spend countless hours on repetitious quests and grinding.”
    • “Like many games in the aforementioned emerging indie pseudo-jrpg subgenre, it tries very hard to fight negative conceptions of the genre as 'too grindy' at the cost of having overly brisk pacing that makes it hard to fully appreciate the nuances of the game's combat.”
    • “My only real complaint is most of the leveling system is mostly tied to story events rather than grinding, which will make it tricky to complete the final fights of the game especially if you try to rush through the story.”
  • character development34 mentions

    Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and creativity, with many reviewers highlighting strong writing, diverse character designs, and engaging narratives that resonate emotionally. While some critiques mention inconsistencies or weaknesses in specific character arcs, the overall consensus is that the character development is a standout feature, often surpassing that of larger AAA titles. The integration of character growth with gameplay mechanics further enhances the storytelling experience, making it a compelling aspect of the game.

    • “The writing is spectacular, the character development is stellar, the combat flows well and the music sticks in your head in the best possible way.”
    • “Rich story, amazing character development, it made me laugh, it made me cry.”
    • “Engaging story, excellent character development, and clever writing.”
    • “As for Verm's own character development, he's essentially someone from an apolitical revenge story being dragged into a more political one, since the humans are enough of a threat that all of society must shape their policy around them, causing his quest to essentially be criminalized and his justice denied.”
    • “What I got: LGBT mice but there's a death in the first 5 minutes and the story doesn't talk about it, makes Vern an asshole (poor character development), and the rest of the story isn't written well.”
    • “Character development is really weak and sometimes outright negative, and their actions, although written off as being morally good and in a very 'and everything worked out and everyone lived happily ever after :)' kind of way, would really just have catastrophic consequences for each other, their societies, and people in general.”
  • atmosphere18 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its enchanting blend of art, writing, and a strong soundtrack that enhances both adventurous and emotional moments. Players appreciate the charming and immersive environments, which evoke nostalgia while balancing lightheartedness with darker themes. Overall, the synergy between music, story, and atmosphere creates a captivating experience that resonates deeply with players.

    • “The atmosphere of the game is created through the art and the writing, but it's solidified by the soundtrack.”
    • “Amazing atmosphere, wonderful soundtrack, awesome stories.”
    • “The writing, the music, the combat, and the atmosphere are well tuned and have great synergy together.”
    • “The mechanics aren't anything to brag about, but the atmosphere is very charming while retaining its occasional darker moments.”
    • “Good music, decent pixel art, and the way they create the atmosphere in certain scenes are really well done.”
    • “Look, the reason I'd play this again is because the story and atmosphere are enchanting.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    Overall, the game is criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers a linear experience without options for new game plus, difficulty modes, or significant side quests. While the story and style are appreciated, players feel that the limited replay value diminishes the overall experience, making it more suitable for a single playthrough rather than repeated enjoyment.

    • “My only gripe is that I wish there was more replayability, extra storylines and side quests, difficulties, but that honestly just comes from a place of love for this game.”
    • “Really great story-driven RPG, short but replayable.”
    • “For the sake of replayability though, a hard mode or something similar would be greatly appreciated.”
    • “Unfortunately, without a new game+ or other difficulty modes and with the story being extremely linear (you pretty much can't do any side quests until right up against the last mission, which you can start at any time), there is absolutely no replayability factor.”
    • “Be aware though, it has no replay value other than to find secrets that you missed and to relive the story.”
    • “No replayability - I believe the dev has addressed this but for now there are not many reasons to replay the story.”
  • stability6 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while players appreciate its graphics and aesthetic, they report various glitches, including wall issues, audio problems, and scene transition flashes. Most users find it playable with only minor bugs, though some have experienced more significant issues during key moments in gameplay.

    • “The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs.”
    • “I haven't encountered any major issues during my playthrough.”
    • “The stability of the game is impressive, allowing for an uninterrupted experience.”
    • “There were a few glitches (Sir Leo's final fight just ended? The first time I fought the turtle I did no damage and had to reset.) I also think the game is too short.”
    • “Outside of that, there were also some annoying glitches when the game transitions from one scene to another where the screen would repeatedly flash.”
    • “If you like turn-based RPG combat you will love this, only cons were some wall glitches at times but very nice art style and story.”
  • optimization3 mentions

    Overall, players report that the game runs smoothly with effective optimization, allowing most encounters to be resolved quickly, typically within 2 to 3 turns. Performance on desktop systems is generally stable, with no significant issues noted.

    • “Many encounters will go by quite quickly with any decent amount of optimization, with only about 4 encounters taking any more than 2 or 3 turns in my first playthrough.”
    • “[h1] [b] Graphics (quality/animations/ui/performance) – [6/10] [/b] [/h1]”
    • “No issues with performance on my desktop.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is generally well-received, with users praising the balance between content quality and microtransactions, resulting in a score of 9/10. Players appreciate that the game world, narrative, and length provide substantial value without feeling overly reliant on in-game purchases.

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

Buy Small Saga

Play time

8hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
7-11hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games