String Tyrant

About

String Tyrant is a single player survival survival game with a horror theme. It was developed by Bottled Starlight and was released on June 4, 2020. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"String Tyrant" is a survival horror game where players must escape a mysterious mansion filled with monsters and traps. Using an active card-based combat system, players build combos with magical cards to fend off enemies and unlock the manor's secrets for a chance of escape. If defeated, players become ensnared and join the manor's residents, hunting their former friends. A free demo is available for system compatibility testing.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 17 reviews

story5 positive mentions

The game features a unique and engaging story that explores themes of transformation and identity, resonating deeply with players.
Gameplay mechanics are original and creative, combining exploration, turn-based combat, and a card system that adds a strategic element to encounters.
The art style is charming and contributes to the game's atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience despite its simplicity.

The card aspect of the game is superficial, offering limited deck customization and leaving players feeling unsatisfied if they were expecting a deeper card game experience.
The game can be confusing at first, particularly the tutorial, which may require additional examples and clarity to help players understand the mechanics better.
Some players may find the game too short, with only a few hours of content, which might not justify the purchase for those looking for a longer experience.

story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The game's story is engaging and well-crafted, centering on Mary’s quest to find her brother and friend in a mysterious manor filled with dolls. Players appreciate the unique mechanics and multiple endings, as well as the inclusion of missable notes that deepen the narrative. While the visuals may not be modern, the storytelling and transformation themes are compelling enough to keep players invested throughout the experience.
- “Very quaint little game with some really fun original mechanics and a surprisingly interesting story and characters.”
- “The storyline is pretty well crafted and certainly distinctive.”
- “By the end of the game, that feeling dies down a bit - you've learned the mechanics and found the best equipment, but it happens late enough to complete the game due to the story (also quite curious).”
- “The story is about Mary trying to find her brother and her friend in a manor filled with dolls, and then escape from it.”
- “For the price it asks, it's an alright game; if you're a fan of storytelling and transformations, you will enjoy 5 hours of this, another 4 if you go for hard mode.”
gameplay
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
28%
27%
The gameplay is praised for its unique mechanics, allowing players to join the enemy side rather than facing instant defeat, which adds depth to the experience. While the graphics may not be modern, the engaging story and original gameplay elements, including exploration and turn-based combat, create a compelling atmosphere, particularly within the horror genre. However, some players found the hiding mechanics challenging, and the gameplay can become repetitive as players master the mechanics and equipment late in the game.
- “Very rare game that brings the mechanic of joining the enemy side instead of an instant loss.”
- “Very quaint little game with some really fun original mechanics and a surprisingly interesting story and characters.”
- “It has a pretty neat mechanic to help encourage exploration and reduce frustration.”
- “For me personally, hiding mechanics were the hardest to understand.”
- “As a result, a lot of the gameplay is exploration/fleeing to find the resources you need to keep up with enemies and keys to unlock new areas.”
- “Gameplay is turn-based and focused on exploration.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The graphics of the game are described as charming yet simplistic, reminiscent of older styles rather than modern standards. While some players find the visual presentation lacking, they appreciate how the engaging gameplay and story compensate for it, making the graphics a non-issue. Overall, the unique art style contributes positively to the game's quirky atmosphere.
- “Art style is charming and the endings are nice as well.”
- “Bizarre little game, a mixture of old school text adventure with a graphical setup and command menu system (doesn't have every command but has most) with survival horror and a turn-based card focused combat system.”
- “I'd like to see more games like this one, where interesting gameplay and story make you overlook the cheap visual style. It's nice in its own way, but still far from modern graphics.”
- “Bizarre little game, a mixture of old school text adventure with a graphical setup and command menu system. It doesn't have every command but has most, and the graphics feel outdated.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The atmosphere is highly praised, with many users feeling it compensates for any spatial limitations in the game.
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
- “Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
- “The ambiance is rich and layered, creating a sense of tension and wonder throughout the game.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users find the humor in the game's mechanics, particularly in the quirky command system, which can lead to amusing situations. However, some players express a desire for clearer examples to enhance their understanding and enjoyment of these humorous elements.
- “The humor in this game is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the most challenging moments enjoyable.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious character interactions throughout the game.”
- “The comedic timing in the cutscenes is spot on, adding a delightful layer of fun to the overall experience.”