Stardander Revenant

About

Griselda just wants to be friends with Dianthus... but Dianthus can't stand her! Love or hate, they have to work together to keep the forest safe from dangerous Fae. Will working together help bring them closer? And can Griselda somehow pass Blantree's class?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 38 reviews

graphics3 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game features a charming story with engaging characters and a cute art style, making it enjoyable despite its short length.
The combat system is unique and strategic, allowing for depth in gameplay that can be rewarding once mastered.
It's free to play, making it an easy recommendation for those looking for a short, fun experience with LGBTQ+ representation.

The game feels incomplete, with many features and story elements that seem to have been cut or underdeveloped.
The user interface for the combat system is cluttered and confusing, detracting from the overall gameplay experience.
The writing and dialogue are often criticized as weak and generic, leading to a lack of character depth and engagement.

story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The game's story, set in a witch school and surrounding forest, is criticized for being underdeveloped and predictable, with weak dialogue and a lack of depth in character backgrounds. However, some players appreciate its charming characters and exploration of themes like grief, noting that despite its brevity, the narrative is engaging and complemented by beautiful artwork and world-building. Overall, while the story has potential, many feel it falls short in length and complexity.
- “A great little game with a sweet, slightly spooky story and a fine management-combat system.”
- “Even though it's rather short, I still found myself enthralled quickly by the story and charming characters.”
- “Overall, a great taste of what's to come and a delightful short story.”
- “This game clearly had more planned; whether it was more combat, more interaction, or more story, all could be considered half-finished.”
- “It's a shame the story isn't long enough to delve deeper into their backgrounds.”
- “The weakly written dialogues and the easy-to-guess plot don't help either.”
gameplay
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
25%
38%
The gameplay of the reviewed game varies significantly among users; some criticize it for lacking depth and being poorly written, while others appreciate its complexity and strategic elements, particularly on higher difficulty levels. Players note that mastering the mechanics can be challenging but ultimately rewarding, with engaging interactions and a strong emphasis on story, especially regarding themes of grief. Overall, while some aspects may feel underdeveloped, the potential for enjoyable gameplay is recognized.
- “There is no question that gameplay is something you need to pay attention to in this game (especially on hard difficulty), but the real draw is the story, namely on how it tackles grief.”
- “But when you finally figure out the game mechanics, it's a blast.”
- “The game mechanics are complex but fun to interact with and give plenty of space for strategizing instead of just mindlessly attacking.”
- “As a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which presents the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
- “Currently, most of the game mechanics (like crafting and such) don't matter that much because of how short the game is, but they will probably be more useful in the full game.”
- “Starting with the gameplay, it is a bit tricky at first; I had to read both Steam guides to fully wrap my head around how to build Griselda along with the importance of aggro, buffs, and debuffs.”
graphics
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics are highly praised for their impeccable art style and gorgeous artwork, contributing to a captivating atmosphere and effective world-building. Players appreciate the delightful and inventive visuals, which exceed expectations, especially given the game's free availability. Overall, the graphics significantly enhance the game's charm and appeal.
- “The art style, the atmosphere, and the characters are impeccable.”
- “Not expecting much, I picked it up because it's free and had a cute art style, and it blew my expectations out of the water.”
- “Loved the gorgeous artwork, the world-building of the magical storyline, and of course (as others have mentioned) the representation.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy for this title is criticized as deceptive, presenting itself as a full game while primarily serving as an advertisement for an unreleased e-book. Users find the quality lacking, with technical issues and low-resolution assets, leading to disappointment and confusion about its intended audience.
- “This is an advertisement/free sample for another unreleased e-book, 'Stardander School for Witches', presumably because it's cheaper to pony up $100 USD to dump an advertisement on Steam as if it was a game rather than pay Valve to get some advertising space on the store page.”
- “Pretending this is a full game, and not just an advertisement, it's pretty badly made from a technical perspective, with locked resolution and somewhat low resolution art assets, further plunging this below acceptable standards.”
- “This short advertisement for 'Stardander School for Witches' isn't a decent e-book, nor is it a decent RPG, so I have no idea who this could be recommendable for.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and overly complicated, comparing it unfavorably to reading a novel where progress is hindered by constant clicking. This mechanic detracts from the overall experience, making it feel laborious rather than engaging.
- “Combat is tedious and unnecessarily complicated.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that 'Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' or '2001: A Space Odyssey' or 'Twilight' (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
music
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the haunting and eerie soundtrack in the opening scene, others criticize the overall quality of the music and sound effects as low.
- “I love the soundtrack in the beginning scene... so haunting and eerie.”
- “Low-quality music and sounds.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its enjoyable spell and glow effects, complemented by an impeccable art style and character design, creating an engaging and immersive experience.
- “The game even has fun little spell effects and glow effects, creating an overall enjoyable atmosphere.”
- “The art style, the atmosphere, and the characters are impeccable.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its effectiveness, providing a fun and engaging experience that helps pass the time. The dynamic between the protagonist and Griselda adds depth to the comedic elements, allowing for both relatable bonding and humorous misunderstandings.
- “Funny as hell, good to pass the time.”
- “Funny enough, Griselda is in a way both connected and disconnected from her, which allows the protagonist to both understandably build a bond with Griselda while also being capable of pushing the wrong buttons.”