Tails of Iron

Backed by a stunning art style and the voice of Geralt of Rivia, Tails of Iron is an excellent action-adventure RPG that offers a challenging yet satisfying Souls-inspired experience in a captivating medieval world.

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In "Tails of Iron," players assume the role of Redgi, a young rat king, in a hand-drawn RPG where they'll face challenging battles and moral choices. The game now includes two free expansions: "Bright Fir Forest" with new quests, weapons, armors, and cosmetics, and "Bloody Whiskers," which adds a post-game questline and additional content. As Redgi, players must protect their kingdom from emerging threats and make crucial decisions that impact the story.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,012 reviews

story535 positive mentions

grinding70 negative mentions

Beautiful art style and engaging story that captures the essence of a fairy tale.
Challenging yet rewarding combat mechanics that encourage learning enemy patterns.
Narration by Doug Cockle (Geralt of Rivia) adds a charming touch to the storytelling.

Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, especially with inconsistent hitboxes.
Excessive backtracking and mandatory side quests can make the gameplay feel tedious.
Lack of invincibility frames during dodges leads to frustrating encounters, particularly with bosses.

story
1,478 mentions
36 % positive mentions
60 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The story of "Tails of Iron" is engaging and charming, featuring a classic revenge narrative where players control a rat prince on a quest to reclaim his kingdom from invading frogs. The game is narrated by Doug Cockle, known for voicing Geralt of Rivia, which adds a unique touch to the storytelling. While the main plot is straightforward and somewhat predictable, it is complemented by beautiful art and a whimsical atmosphere, though many players noted that the side quests often feel mandatory and repetitive, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The narration is also top notch, the voice of Doug Cockle (Geralt of Rivia in the Witcher series) is a welcome addition and brings a healthy dose of gravitas to the story beats.”
- “The story is charming and the narrator is great, along with the art direction.”
- “The story is simple but is really well told and does a great job in pushing the game forward.”
- “The story is pretty much linear despite having a map that looks like it encourages going off the rails and exploring, and be prepared for a lot of backtracking as every main quest will force you to return to the throne before telling you where to go next without an option to instantly return, so you end up having to run back and forth usually for no reason and with no new quests showing up so it seems the game is artificially being prolonged.”
- “The problem with the game is in the time wasting - you'll be sitting through hundreds of slow, pointless animations and running around the map following quest markers, back and forth between two places at times.”
graphics
607 mentions
66 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Tails of Iron" are widely praised for their charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes a storybook aesthetic, with detailed environments and cute character designs. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique visual presentation, which combines medieval themes with a whimsical yet gritty atmosphere, contributing to an immersive experience. While some minor graphical bugs were noted, the overall consensus is that the visuals are a standout feature, enhancing the game's appeal and storytelling.
- “The presentation is incredible right out of the gate, the hand-drawn art style evokes a storybook feel and looks amazing in motion.”
- “The art style is gorgeous (hand-drawn but the animations flow very naturally and not at all 'stick-figure-y') and everything looks like it jumped right out of a fable book.”
- “The artwork is beautifully drawn and meticulously detailed.”
- “Graphical bugs like weapons being invisible or the poor turtle when you get to the frog swamp only existing as a disembodied hand holding a pipe were minor (probably should patch that one?) had one bug where I was drinking when I died but revived stuck on a bench in the drinking animation and unable to get off so I had to quit and reload the save.”
- “However, the game cannot keep the same quality in the visuals in every area.”
- “Just a total waste of time, the art style and theme made me want to like it but it's truly not worth your time even if free.”
gameplay
521 mentions
39 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Tails of Iron" is characterized by its challenging yet rewarding combat mechanics, which emphasize parrying and dodging, reminiscent of souls-like games. While many players appreciate the engaging combat and charming art style, some criticize the repetitive nature of encounters, clunky mechanics, and issues with hitboxes that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these flaws, the game offers a satisfying gameplay loop that combines simple mechanics with a decent level of challenge, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is challenging and rewarding with basic yet time-sensitive combat.”
- “Amazing gameplay, simple, yet it has enough depth to keep you entertained.”
- “The gameplay is fun and engaging, with good story and amusing dialogue.”
- “The gameplay unfortunately is the meat of the game though, and that became quickly more irritating than fun, worsening as the difficulty of the areas went up.”
- “The combat mechanics are very simple, but some bosses are completely unreadable.”
- “The gameplay is simple and solid, but the mechanics can be frustrating and poorly explained.”
music
269 mentions
58 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received a mixed response, with many praising its quality and integration into the gameplay, particularly the use of diegetic music played by NPCs that enhances immersion. While some tracks are memorable and fit the game's atmosphere well, others are noted as forgettable or sparse, leading to moments of silence that could benefit from more background music. Overall, the soundtrack complements the art and narrative effectively, contributing to a charming and engaging experience.
- “The sound design is great as well; all sounds and music are high quality, and battles erupt in a suitably visceral and punchy exchange.”
- “The music is always played from something or someone; it's never just walk into a room and there's music, there'll be a musician in the background playing.”
- “The music and sound design fit the setting and do their job well, creating an immersive experience.”
- “There is no atmospheric music or any music at all.”
- “The music is forgettable and nothing really worth speaking of, which is a shame.”
- “Music - it fits but nothing stands out, or helps to immerse you in the game in any memorable or significant way; you won't remember any of the sounds of this game after you're done.”
atmosphere
95 mentions
71 % positive mentions
26 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its beautiful art style, engaging world-building, and effective use of music and narration, creating a charming yet gritty experience reminiscent of beloved fantasy tales. While many players appreciate the immersive environments and emotional depth, some note that gameplay issues, such as tedious backtracking and poor controls, can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere stands out as a significant highlight, drawing players into its richly crafted world.
- “The artwork is astounding and coherent throughout the levels; it's very inspiring to see the level of detail and parallax effect within a 2D environment. Every town and area has a distinct atmosphere complemented beautifully with the music.”
- “The narration and art draw you deep into the atmosphere of a world that is equal parts gritty and charming, in a Hollow Knight meets Redwall sort of way.”
- “The audio and atmosphere of the game really shine as they choose a fantastic score and really delve into their world-building.”
- “Overall I get the feeling that the devs might have focused way too much on aesthetics and atmosphere and forgot to polish the game and make it fun to play. I haven't gotten to the point of dropping it completely, but the more I go on, the more I feel that moment getting closer.”
- “Great graphics and atmosphere, but the game itself is janky and awful. Glad I bought it on sale.”
- “Ultimately, the reason to play this game is the charming atmosphere because it was very easy. The shallow combat and the side quests that you're forced to do to progress don't make me want to play again.”
grinding
75 mentions
4 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and repetitive, particularly due to excessive backtracking and side quests that often require players to revisit the same areas. While some players found the gameplay enjoyable and not overly grindy, many expressed frustration with the lack of fast travel options and the monotonous nature of quests, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, the grinding aspect is seen as a major flaw, making the game feel artificially prolonged and less engaging.
- “Great game, fun to play, does not stress you out and offers easy completion with no grinding required.”
- “No grinding or exploring required.”
- “No grinding for levels.”
- “I'm not even talking about the mandatory grinding of coins through stupid quests like - go there and kill 3 mobs.”
- “The 'side quests' are incredibly tedious, repetitive content clearly designed to pad out the game's length.”
- “You might spend 2 hours grinding literally the same room, which you have to keep running back to over and over (because you can only have one quest at a time), to get enough currency to progress the story.”
humor
72 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever puns, witty character names, and amusing references to pop culture and history, which enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the balance of lightheartedness with darker themes, delivered through engaging narration, particularly by Doug Cockle, known for voicing Geralt from The Witcher. Overall, the game's charm and comedic elements contribute significantly to its appeal, making it a fun and enjoyable adventure.
- “The humor really lifts the story to greater heights; highly recommended if you're looking for a short and fun adventure.”
- “There's also a plethora of references to history, other franchises, and general nerd culture: I found myself chuckling quite a bit after seeing names of enemies or locations - or even recognizing parallels in certain situations.”
- “The game captures a lot of grittiness, humor, and friendship, which really makes paying the amount I recommended worth it.”
replayability
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
26 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it offers a linear experience with limited exploration and few incentives to replay beyond trying different difficulty levels. The short playtime of 7-12 hours further diminishes its value, leading many to recommend purchasing it on sale rather than at full price. While some players may find enjoyment in achieving completionist goals or absorbing the atmosphere, the consensus is that the game lacks substantial replay value.
- “There is also some sort of replay value if it's either getting all the achievements, or playing through the game on a harder difficulty or just absorbing the atmosphere.”
- “Don't expect massive replay value, but it is fun for the first go-through.”
- “For gamers like me, this game doesn't have a lot of replay value; once you do everything, there's nothing more to do other than making a new game on a harder difficulty.”
- “I would say that the replay value is low, as there is one story, it is being told, your hand is being held - that's it.”
- “Unfortunately, the game has no replayability value, because it is strictly linear, offering little exploration on your own.”
- “25 bucks for what amounts to a 7-12 hour one-time experience (there isn't really replayability here) that you can finish in one or two sittings seems kinda steep to me, so maybe get it on sale.”
emotional
16 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt narrative, which combines simplicity with depth, evoking laughter and tears from players. Many reviewers appreciate the touching story of a rat child destined to be king, enriched by relatable themes of love and companionship, making it a wholesome experience. Overall, the game successfully creates a strong emotional connection through its charming characters and engaging storyline.
- “Great game, solid experience; it made me laugh and made me cry. What more do you want from an indie game?”
- “Absolutely the most gut-wrenching cute game I've ever experienced. I'm a softy for rats, so at times I cried, but I think that goes to show what a little love and a lot of imagination can do to create a beautiful little work of stellar art!”
- “If you ever bonded with an animal friend, you'll immediately understand how emotionally important this is.”
stability
15 mentions
20 % positive mentions
7 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a solid performance and no significant issues, while others encountered various bugs, glitches, and unresponsive controls, particularly during combat. Notably, some users experienced game freezes on specific platforms, while others reported minor graphical and audio glitches. Overall, the game's stability appears to vary widely depending on the platform and individual user experience.
- “Absolutely no glitches I ran into, no stutters, no crashes, etc. It played flawlessly to the end.”
- “I found no game-breaking bugs, no freezes, and no crashes to speak of.”
- “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “The combat is indeed brutal, but also very unforgiving; controls are not responsive enough and hitboxes are buggy at times.”
- “The game itself is not bad, but it just doesn't work on my desktop... I can play it on my Steam Deck, but when I try to load the save on my desktop, it just freezes at a black screen.”
- “For starters, the fighting is buggy at best; enemies can and will hit you multiple times with the same attack, they can and will stun lock you and cause you to die from full HP to 0 with 0 iframes, and it feels impossible to learn certain boss patterns due to the reaction time you need to actually get to later phases and not just get stun locked.”
character development
11 mentions
64 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
Overall, reviews indicate that while the character design and visuals are praised for their charm and quality, there is a significant lack of character development in the gameplay. Some players appreciate the engaging story, but many express disappointment in the absence of depth in character progression and development mechanics.
- “Super game, fun and strange story, challenging combat, interesting character development, lovable artwork, good music, witcher voice - what's not to like!”
- “The story is very engaging, and the character development is fantastic.”
- “A fun soul-like game with good character design.”
- “There is almost no character development and no experience, leveling, or skills.”
- “Lacks character development.”
- “The graphics are really cute as well as the character design.”
optimization
10 mentions
60 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is solid, with smooth performance and no significant bugs reported by users. While Doug Cockle's narration is praised for enhancing the experience, opinions on its quality vary, with some finding it stellar and others describing it as flat. However, the lack of adjustable video settings and concerns about value for the price point are noted drawbacks.
- “Cockle's wonderful performance significantly enhances the overall experience and does a lot of heavy lifting.”
- “The art is charming beyond belief with excellent direction through the whole game, and Doug Cockle (of Witcher fame) gives a fantastic performance as the narrator, who, if I remember correctly, is the only person that speaks in the game.”
- “Not only is the art style refreshingly cute (and does not prepare you for the many massacres you'll commit in the name of ratkind), it is responsive, runs smoothly, and plays like a charm.”
- “No adjustable video/performance settings other than changing resolution and disabling VSync. I don't care about the fancy bloom (which is way more laggy than it's worth) and parallax; I want a stable framerate.”
- “But it's like the wish version of Geralt - I don't know if it was the direction or just a phoned-in performance, but the narration was flat and forgettable.”
- “Performance was solid and I didn't run into any bugs or glitches.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate frustration with the monetization strategy of "Lords of the Fallen," suggesting that the game's advertising may be misleading, as players feel it lacks certain expected features or content.
- “The monetization in this game feels exploitative and frustrating.”
- “I can't believe how much they push for in-game purchases; it ruins the experience.”
- “The constant ads and paywalls make it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”