- June 8, 2021
- Eggnut
- 5h median play time
Tails Noir
Backbone features a compelling story and a well-realised post-noir dystopia, with engaging characters and some smart gameplay.
Platforms
About
Tails Noir is a single player role playing game with mystery and thriller themes. It was developed by Eggnut and was released on June 8, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.
In "Tails Noir," play as raccoon detective Howard Lotor and investigate a personal story in a dystopian, animal-inhabited Vancouver. Inspired by film noir, sci-fi, and existential philosophy, this narrative-driven adventure offers thought-provoking dialogues and immersive exploration, challenging your perspective on personhood amidst an inevitable end.











- Stunning pixel art and beautiful visuals that create an immersive atmosphere.
- Engaging story with interesting characters and witty dialogue that keeps players invested.
- Great soundtrack that complements the game's mood and enhances the overall experience.
- The story takes a confusing turn in the second half, shifting from a noir detective narrative to a bizarre sci-fi plot that feels disjointed.
- Ending is abrupt and unsatisfying, leaving many plot points unresolved and players wanting more.
- Gameplay is mostly linear with little interactivity, making it feel more like a visual novel than a traditional adventure game.
- story2,464 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
The story of "Backbone" (formerly "Tails Noir") is a unique blend of noir detective elements and surrealism, initially captivating players with its intriguing premise and rich world-building. However, many reviews highlight a significant decline in narrative coherence and satisfaction as the game progresses, particularly after a jarring plot twist that shifts the focus from a grounded mystery to a convoluted sci-fi narrative, leaving numerous plot threads unresolved and resulting in an abrupt ending. While the game's visuals and atmosphere are praised, the overall execution of the story has left many players feeling disappointed and yearning for a more cohesive and fulfilling conclusion.
“The attention to detail transforms the simple act of walking down a street into an emotional experience, as though the world itself is a character whispering its own broken story.”
“The story is engaging and all the characters feel so fleshed out and unique.”
“The main mystery established in the prologue dissipates and the story becomes something entirely unexpected and strange, which could maybe have worked if the story continued, but then it all comes to a screeching halt.”
“The story, which initially appears promising and complex, gradually becomes flatter and fails to fully capitalize on the narrative potential of its world.”
“The story feels incomplete, and it feels like there was a sequel planned, so maybe if this included the full story where we got to fully explore both the detective mystery plot and the sci-fi plot it would have worked out better the way it was written, but as it is now, it drops a lot without resolving much, with the last third being rushed and messy.”
Backbone review
Backbone features a compelling story and a well-realised post-noir dystopia, with engaging characters and some smart gameplay.
90%Backbone Review
Backbone does both, striking a balance between nostalgic and new, breathing another breath of life into the genre with its gritty, sad grin. This 2D, sidescrolling, pixel-art noir is a short but solid adventure mystery with stunning visuals and meaningful characters.
80%PC Review - 'Backbone'
65%
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Frequently Asked Questions
Tails Noir is a role playing game with mystery and thriller themes.
Tails Noir is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.
On average players spend around 7 hours playing Tails Noir.
Tails Noir was released on June 8, 2021.
Tails Noir was developed by Eggnut.
Tails Noir has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.
Tails Noir is a single player game.
Similar games include Backbone, Tails Noir: Prologue, Nobody Wants to Die, Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York, Lacuna and others.





