Small Saga
- November 16, 2023
- Darya Noghani
- 8h median play time
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.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Outstanding quality of writing and character development, making every character memorable.
- Gorgeous pixel art and an amazing soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- A heartfelt and inclusive story that resonates with themes of love, loss, and social justice.
- The game is quite short, taking around 8-10 hours to complete, which may not justify the price for some players.
- Combat is overly easy, lacking challenge and depth, which may disappoint players looking for strategic gameplay.
- The political messaging can feel heavy-handed and detracts from the immersion at times.
- story1,871 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Small Saga" follows a vengeful mouse on a quest to confront an ancient threat to rodentia, blending themes of revenge, identity, and social commentary. Reviewers praise its engaging narrative, well-developed characters, and charming world, though some criticize the overt political messaging and predictability of the plot. Overall, the game is noted for its captivating storytelling and emotional depth, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.
“Phenomenal story writing and character development, beautiful soundtrack that absolutely goes.”
“Characters have wonderful development, the scenery is both cute and wonderful, and the plot covers so many things over such a wide spectrum, it makes me absolutely adore this game and the story it conveys, and I believe anyone who is a fan of a story should play.”
“The story is fantastic, filled with engaging twists and turns that kept me interested from start to finish.”
“The story was maybe a 6/10, and is quite heavy on the woke messaging.”
“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.”
- music820 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its exceptional quality and variety, describing it as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. The soundtrack is noted for its ability to complement the game's atmosphere, with memorable boss themes and catchy tavern songs that resonate with players long after gameplay. Overall, the music is characterized as "phenomenal," "banger," and "top-notch," making it a significant highlight of the game.
“The music is excellent, and fits the world and the story perfectly.”
“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.”
“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.”
“There are areas where music will abruptly stop or areas where there is no music at all.”
- gameplay428 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative 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 charming art style and engaging narrative, many note that the combat lacks depth and can feel unchallenging, making it more suitable for those seeking a light RPG experience rather than hardcore gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as enjoyable for its storytelling and characters, but may disappoint players looking for intricate gameplay mechanics.
“The gameplay is fun, the characters are memorable, and the art style is pleasing.”
“With charming characters, an amazing soundtrack, a wonderful story, a delightful art style, and fun and entertaining gameplay, Small Saga is a must-own if you haven't got it yet.”
“It's fairly light on gameplay and heavy on story—packing what feels like 20 hours of plot into a concise 6-hour experience.”
“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.”
“Absolutely loved the story of the game, however the actual gameplay was much too easy and it felt like there were no real stakes in every combat against a calamitous giant animal.”
- graphics336 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Small Saga" have been widely praised for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and intricate details that evoke nostalgia for classic JRPGs. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful aesthetics, well-crafted environments, and expressive character designs, although some note minor graphical glitches and blocky animations during movement. Overall, the visuals are considered a significant strength of the game, enhancing the storytelling and gameplay experience.
“Charming visuals: 'Small Saga' features a delightful pixel art style that brings the world of small creatures to life with vibrant colors and intricate details.”
“The art style is gorgeous, the worldbuilding is wonderful, and the characters all had interesting stories of their own.”
“The visuals are beautiful and the story kept me hooked all the way through.”
“Overall if you think the art style and charm of the setting can beat out extremely dull combat and overt political and in your face posturing then by all means get the game.”
“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.”
“This is not a game you play for cunning game mechanics, action sequences, or mind-blowing graphics.”
- humor273 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its charm and wit, blending playful banter, puns, and modern references that resonate with players. While some dialogue may come off as cringe-worthy or overly reliant on internet lingo, the overall comedic timing and character interactions are noted as genuinely funny and heartwarming. The game successfully balances humor with deeper themes, creating a memorable experience that leaves players laughing and emotionally engaged.
“The writing was hilarious, hit on some real issues and overall game was fun.”
“I wish I had played this sooner, Small Saga is an incredibly charming game, with several moments that left me in stitches from laughing as well as moments of genuine heart that endear you to these characters you come to know.”
“It's adorable, frequently funny, and shockingly touching.”
- emotional132 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Small Saga" is highly praised, with players experiencing a rollercoaster of feelings ranging from laughter to tears, thanks to its engaging narrative and well-developed characters. The game effectively balances humor and heartfelt moments, creating a rich emotional investment through its charming story and strong soundtrack. While some critiques mention a lack of character evolution, the overall sentiment highlights the game's ability to resonate deeply with players, making it a memorable and touching experience.
“The writing is excellent and surprisingly touching.”
“I don't mind admitting, this game made me cry.”
“There were several moments in this game that were incredibly emotionally resonant and almost brought me to tears.”
- grinding117 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative 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 creates a streamlined experience that emphasizes narrative and exploration, making it appealing for those who prefer a more casual RPG without the typical grind associated with the genre. While some players miss the depth of traditional grinding mechanics, the overall consensus is that the lack of grinding enhances the enjoyment and pacing of the game.
“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; most fights are event fights that happen at certain points of the story, with no random encounters or respawning enemies. All level-ups are from doing the story, so 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 (also less satisfying knowing you will never get to complete those skill trees).”
- character development67 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and creativity, with many reviewers highlighting the engaging writing, diverse character designs, and emotional storytelling that resonate with players. While some characters experience significant growth, others are criticized for lacking depth or having arcs that feel unfulfilled. Overall, the game is noted for its strong narrative integration with character progression, making it a standout in its genre despite some mixed opinions on specific character arcs.
“Engaging story, excellent character development, and clever writing.”
“Rich story, amazing character development, it made me laugh, it made me cry.”
“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.”
“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.”
“- Verm getting a character development arc that really changed nothing.”
- atmosphere35 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its enchanting blend of strong soundtrack, charming art, and compelling writing, which together create an immersive experience. Players appreciate the emotional depth and nostalgic feel of the medieval-inspired rodent world, enhanced by innovative lore and thought-provoking environments. Overall, the synergy between music, story, and visuals contributes to a captivating and memorable atmosphere that resonates 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.”
- replayability28 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers a linear story experience without additional modes or side quests to encourage multiple playthroughs. While the narrative and art style are appreciated, players feel that the absence of features like New Game+ or difficulty settings limits the game's long-term engagement. Most agree that while it is worth experiencing once, it does not provide sufficient reasons to return after completion.
“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.”
“No replayability - I believe the dev has addressed this but for now there are not many reasons to replay the story.”
“You can finish it in a day and there's currently less to no replayability in terms of a new game+ or post-end goals, but you would feel very satisfied.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The game generally performs well with only a few notable glitches, such as wall issues and occasional audio problems, particularly when played on a Steam Deck. While some players experienced frustrating bugs during key moments, the overall stability is considered acceptable, allowing for an enjoyable experience despite these minor setbacks.
“The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs.”
“I haven't encountered any major issues; the stability is impressive.”
“The performance is solid, making for a seamless gaming 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.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is generally effective, allowing most encounters to be resolved quickly, typically within 2 to 3 turns. Players report no significant performance issues on desktop systems, indicating a stable experience during gameplay. However, the graphics quality and animations received a moderate score of 6/10, suggesting room for improvement in visual optimization.
“No issues with performance on my desktop.”
“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.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is generally well-received, with users rating it highly at 9/10, indicating that the microtransactions are perceived as fair and do not detract from the overall game experience.
