Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical

Stray Gods felt like it was made for me. If you love musicals in the rock opera genre, then dive in immediately as there is a story full of emotion and fantastic music waiting for you.

87%Game Brain Score

music, story

stability, atmosphere

96% User Score Based on 3,106 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 33 reviews

Platforms

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About

Murder. Gods. Romance. Band practice? Unravel the mystery of the Last Muse’s death in an interactive roleplaying musical where Greek gods live hidden among us. Use your newfound powers of musical persuasion to choose how this wry and moving saga will unfold. How will the curtain fall?

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical screenshot

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,139 reviews

music1.3k positive mentions

stability36 negative mentions

The game features a unique blend of musical elements and interactive storytelling, allowing players to influence the songs based on their choices.
The voice acting cast is exceptional, with performances from well-known actors that bring the characters to life.
The art style is visually stunning, resembling a comic book aesthetic that enhances the overall experience.

The audio mixing can be inconsistent, with some characters' voices being too quiet or too loud compared to others.
The songs, while innovative, may not be memorable or catchy enough for a musical, leading to a lack of lasting impact.
The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 5-7 hours, which may not justify the full price for some players.

music
4,100 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The music in "Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical" has garnered mixed reviews, with many praising its innovative integration into gameplay, allowing players to influence song styles and lyrics through their choices. While some songs are described as catchy and emotionally resonant, others are criticized for being forgettable or lacking the polish expected from a musical. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a unique aspect of the game, appealing particularly to fans of musicals and interactive storytelling, though it may not meet the high standards of traditional musical theater for all players.
- “I heartily recommend this game if you enjoy musicals and interactive stories!”
- “The songs are there, and they are the beating heart of this game (it sounds and flows everywhere you go) but I would say that the story, the mystery to solve and the characters' conversations are the skeleton that holds everything together.”
- “The music changes in front of you as you make your choices, the tone the lyrics transform, allowing you to almost tailor not just the story but the songs themselves as you play it out in real time.”
- “The music feels pretty mediocre to bad most of the time with a lot of sing talking, lyrics being off rhythm, and notes people can't hit.”
- “For a game that's advertised as a musical, I was expecting something more out of the music.”
- “The songs are completely forgettable, nothing is catchy or memorable, neither the melodies nor the lyrics.”
story
1,928 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
48%
2%
The story of "Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical" is a captivating blend of Greek mythology and modern themes, featuring a compelling narrative that revolves around a murder mystery and the protagonist's journey to prove her innocence. Players experience a rich, interactive storytelling format where choices significantly impact character interactions and the musical elements, although the overall plot can feel linear and predictable at times. With stunning visuals, a talented voice cast, and emotional depth, the game offers a unique and engaging experience for fans of story-driven games and musicals alike.
- “The story is well narrated and touching.”
- “The story was incredible, falling in love with mythology all over again; also kind of cheesy, but I’m a sucker for that kind of storytelling.”
- “The story is engaging and the lore is unique.”
- “Sadly, the visual novel story part is somewhat interesting, but it's all ideas, concepts, and characters cribbed from better games, notably The Wolf Among Us and Hades, with a dash of Hadestown thrown in.”
- “The story, unfortunately, wobbles a bit at times. It starts strong and finds a satisfying ending, but a few parts in the middle sag a bit, a few story beats loose with twists I can’t quite relate to and setups that can’t quite land the pay-off.”
- “The problem with the role play tag is that you don’t really get to tell the game who Grace is; it’s more like you can mix a certain flavor of protagonist into her, and then you make about five crucial decisions during the course of the story, and that’s it.”
graphics
351 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
37%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their stunning, comic book-inspired art style, which many players found enchanting and well-suited to the narrative. However, some critiques noted issues with limited animation, occasional pixelation in backgrounds, and minor graphical glitches that detracted from the overall experience. Despite these concerns, the vibrant visuals and character designs were highlighted as standout features, contributing to the game's charm and appeal.
- “Stunning visuals and amazing story.”
- “The visuals are gorgeous.”
- “The art style is absolutely gorgeous and I wish they had comic books because the lore is so interesting!”
- “I'd describe its visuals as having very limited animation, if any.”
- “Some of the 3D graphics come off pixelated and under-finished at times when compared to the beautiful 2D art of the characters, and, as many people mention, the audio balancing is often an issue as it fluctuates from really quiet to uncalled-for yelling.”
- “There were a lot of complaints about not fully committing to either stills or animated graphics.”
gameplay
266 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
71%
2%
The gameplay of "Stray Gods" primarily revolves around dialogue choices and a unique musical mechanic that allows players to influence song progression, making it feel more like an interactive visual novel than a traditional RPG. While the gameplay is often described as simplistic and lacking in depth, the engaging story, stunning art, and exceptional voice acting elevate the experience, appealing particularly to fans of musicals and narrative-driven games. However, players seeking more complex mechanics or action-oriented gameplay may find it lacking.
- “The gameplay is rather simplistic but is balanced by the complex paths and novel concept.”
- “The integration of song and music into the gameplay not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also adds a layer of emotional depth to the characters and story.”
- “I love how the choice mechanics play out.”
- “There isn't any actual gameplay.”
- “Your choices not mattering is not surprising, but the lack of impact in the moment-to-moment gameplay is really disappointing.”
- “The gameplay is a bit bare-bones, if I'm honest, but this game is in essence a visual novel with some musical sections, so minute-to-minute gameplay isn't a huge concern.”
emotional
260 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players reporting a profound connection to the characters and story, often leading to tears and laughter throughout their experience. The integration of music and interactive choices enhances the emotional depth, making pivotal moments resonate strongly. Overall, the game is described as a heartfelt journey that effectively combines humor, drama, and musical elements, resulting in a memorable and moving experience.
- “This game is so masterfully crafted and such a deep and emotional experience to play!”
- “I cried a lot but honestly this game is so beautiful in every aspect and I would highly recommend it!!”
- “What a wonderful emotional journey.”
optimization
163 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
33%
9%
The optimization of "Stray Gods" has received significant criticism, with many users noting that the game feels rough and unpolished, particularly in terms of performance issues such as stuttering and desynchronization during music segments. While the voice acting and musical performances are highly praised, the overall technical execution appears to have suffered due to budget allocation, leading to a less than smooth gaming experience. Despite its artistic strengths, the game's optimization shortcomings detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “I've seen good storytelling, characters, and performances before (all of which this game nails) but never have I seen such an intuitive and yet unbelievably complex system of songs that mold dynamically to the player's choices.”
- “And on top of that, it's an incredibly ambitious musical in terms of technical complexity, most of which you won't even notice in a first play until you go back and realize just how many branching paths and alternate performances each song has.”
- “This is, simply put, a solidly written and acted visual novel with a veteran voice cast delivering knockout performances.”
- “The downside is it's pretty clear their budget went to getting it fully voice acted, and not to the art, UI, bug testing, optimization, or really any other aspect, all of which feel rough and unpolished.”
- “This game is terribly optimized, and it shows.”
- “However, optimization and stability may be an issue.”
replayability
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
57%
2%
The game boasts high replayability due to its flexible choice system, which significantly alters story outcomes and musical experiences with each playthrough. Players have reported enjoying multiple runs to explore different paths, endings, and character interactions, with many expressing a desire for additional content to further enhance replay value. While some noted that certain choices may not lead to drastically different experiences, the overall consensus is that the game's engaging narrative and musical elements provide ample incentive for repeated play.
- “The replay value lies in discovering the myriad paths and endings.”
- “One playthrough isn't too long (only 6 hours on average), but with so many branching paths in both the overall story and in every single song (some songs being exclusive to the paths you take!) it is very replayable; both for hearing the songs again, hearing them in a new way, and experiencing what you missed before.”
- “The almost endless variations of most songs is blowing my mind, and it has a lot of replay value because of that.”
- “However, it's disappointing that this game doesn't have much in the way of replayability.”
- “I'm unclear as to how much replay value this game will have as the overall plot doesn't appear to change.”
- “This is all okay for the first playthrough because the rest of the game is so good, but for me the songs really hinder replayability.”
humor
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its sharpness and ability to balance emotional depth with comedic moments, often eliciting both laughter and tears from players. Characters are described as endearing and funny, with clever writing that includes deep-cut jokes and unexpected twists, enhancing the overall narrative experience. Players appreciate the seamless integration of humor within the context of Greek mythology and urban fantasy, making for a compelling and entertaining journey.
- “I laughed a lot while doing this, searching for funny lines or combinations, and even after many hours I kept finding new lines.”
- “Apollo being an emo surfer guy was also so funny to me; he was who I romanced because he's just so iconic.”
- “The writing seamlessly combines humor, drama, and mythology, creating a narrative that is not only compelling but also emotionally resonant.”
character development
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
5%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and engagement, with many reviewers noting that it unfolds effectively within a short timeframe, enhancing the overall narrative experience. The character designs are generally described as beautiful and diverse, although some critiques mention that certain designs may be overly complex or repetitive in presentation. Overall, the combination of strong storytelling, voice acting, and character development contributes to a compelling and immersive gameplay experience.
- “Beautiful stylized animation, wonderful engaging story, so much deep character development in such a short time but still written so well!”
- “This is a masterfully created game with everything you could ask for, romance options, betrayal, character development, and more.”
- “Overall, loved the character development and choices I made.”
- “Despite characters having unique and memorable designs, it just came down to bad taste; most do not look good, save for maybe the main character (who is still somewhat plain).”
- “Some of the character designs are really edgy... I get that you want to give them a distinctive look, but the designs just scream, 'Hey, look at me, I am an LGBT rocker goth girl.' You can tone down the looks.”
- “Character designs are over-designed; they look ridiculous.”
stability
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game has been reported to have several stability issues, including minor graphical glitches, audio problems, and occasional crashes that disrupt gameplay. While these bugs can detract from the experience, they are generally not game-breaking, and many players remain hopeful for future patches to improve stability. Overall, the game is considered playable despite its technical shortcomings.
- “Biggest strike against the game is that I had quite a buggy experience; several of the big musical numbers had the voices cut out, and I had to quit to desktop and start it over again, which was devastating for immersion, but it's quick to get back in, so it could be worse.”
- “I've had moments where the sound just disappears mid-song, or the lines aren't fully voiced, and even complete game freezes which make me restart the game.”
- “The game's only issues on launch day are entirely technical: there's a glitch corrupting some people's save files, voice line volume not being the same between characters in some scenes, there's one song where the captions are way faster than the singing, and there's a litany of little graphical glitches here and there that made characters that should've been in focus blurry or made the scaling of their portraits glitch.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its integration of music and character design, which collectively enhance emotional depth and immersion. While the overall direction and art elements create a cohesive experience, some players noted moments of disconnection due to character audio issues and silence between songs that disrupt the flow. Nonetheless, the variety of moods and the effective use of sound contribute significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere.
- “The integration of song and music into the gameplay not only enhances the overall atmosphere but also adds a layer of emotional depth to the characters and story.”
- “The direction was phenomenal and all of the characters really embody the tone and atmosphere the work is trying to create: character design, art direction, background elements, voice acting, etc. These elements really blend well together into a kind of pot that--at least in my playthrough--never felt out of place.”
- “The music is incredible and really helps to create an atmosphere.”
- “Some characters sound like they're at the end of a tunnel, and it takes away from the overall atmosphere and immersion.”
- “In between songs there's often a block of silence and it takes a while until some ambient background music starts to give some atmosphere.”
- “The sense of motion alone holds attention so much better for that reason, and that's before getting into the wide variety of moods and atmospheres created in the song events.”
grinding
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
36%
45%
Players have mixed feelings about grinding in the game; while some find the achievement system manageable and enjoy replaying for the variety of songs, others feel that the grinding can become tedious and detracts from their overall enjoyment. The necessity for grinding is acknowledged, but it risks losing players' attention over time.
- “Achievements aren't too grinding, and replaying is actually fun because you get to listen to a variety of the songs and melodies.”
- “Time for grinding will be required.”
- “Were it any longer, it would become tedious.”
- “Too ADHD, things lose my attention. 100%ing stuff usually involves grinding out tedious achievements, and I get bored.”
- “You'll be grinding a lot.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for misleading advertising that sets different expectations, particularly by presenting it as something other than a visual novel. Despite this, players have found the actual experience to be surprisingly enjoyable, suggesting a disconnect between promotional content and gameplay.