Tales of the Black Death

Tales of the Black Death inserts players directly into the cruel world of 14th century Europe and challenges them to ward off death in its many brutal forms. Featuring beautifully hand drawn characters and environments juxtaposed to an atmospheric soundtrack and, of course, the horrific subject matter, Tales of the Black Death soberly puts into perspective just how lucky we are to live in a world with modern medicine and current creature comforts (with respect to everything that’s happened these past two years). If you’re looking for a historical fiction visual novel where choices really, really matter, Tales of the Black Death awaits those with a curious mind and a strong stomach.

47%Game Brain Score

story, music

gameplay

67% User Score Based on 9 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 1 reviews

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About

Tales of the Black Death is a single player survival role playing game with horror and historical themes. It was developed by Doubleton Game Studio and was released on October 15, 2021. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Tales of the Black Death is a choice driven interactive fiction plague survival story that pins your morality against your survival. The game is a three-part series set in the Middle Ages during the plague that spread from Italy to France and finally reached England. In Tales of the Black Death, you play as Baldasar, a young Italian boy.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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67%

Audience ScoreBased on 9 reviews

story6 positive mentions

The game features a compelling and engaging story that explores difficult moral choices, making players reflect on their decisions.
The atmospheric artwork and soundtrack effectively transport players to the historical setting, enhancing the overall experience.
Frequent decision points keep the gameplay dynamic and prevent long stretches of text without interaction, maintaining player engagement.

Checkpoints are too far apart, leading to frustrating death loops that can break immersion and require players to replay large sections of the game.
Some gameplay mechanics, such as the chase scenes, are poorly executed and can lead to bugs, detracting from the overall experience.
The focus on plot over character development may leave some players feeling disconnected from the narrative and its characters.

story
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The story is described as engaging and compelling, with a strong atmospheric presence enhanced by artwork and music that effectively transport players to a historical setting. While some find the narrative unrealistic and focused more on plot than character development, the choices presented throughout the journey are praised for their depth and impact on character growth. Overall, players appreciate the balance of morality and survival, making the storytelling a significant draw of the game.
- “The atmospheric artwork and music really transport you to this historical period, the story is engaging, and balancing morality with survival led to lots of interesting choices.”
- “I genuinely enjoyed my time with Tales of the Black Death, not only for its compelling story and fun gameplay but also for the real and raw choices that were presented to Baldasar throughout his journey and how it made him believably grow as a person.”
- “The story is very engaging and effective in delivering the collective and individual drama, helped by a very inspired art style and soundtrack.”
- “I also think it's too focused on plot rather than characters/dialogue, from what little I played, which I admit is very little.”
- “I also loved that you get three different settings, each with different vibes and storylines (although how does this peasant kid who's probably never been to school learn languages so fast?).”
music
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The music in the game is highly praised for its atmospheric quality, effectively complementing the engaging story and beautiful art style. Reviewers note that the soundtrack enhances the emotional depth of the narrative, while the sound design contributes to the overall immersive experience. The combination of evocative music and striking visuals creates a powerful backdrop that resonates with the game's historical themes.
- “The voice acting is excellent and the art and soundtrack are beautiful.”
- “The story is very engaging and effective in delivering the collective and individual drama, helped by a very inspired art style and soundtrack.”
- “The writing is good quality as is the soundtrack which complements the art style well.”
- “That goes also for the sounds and music.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning artwork and immersive music, effectively transporting players to a historical period marked by moral dilemmas and survival choices. The beautifully hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric soundtrack enhance the storytelling, creating a compelling experience that reflects on the grim realities of the past. Overall, the atmosphere is a standout feature that deeply engages players and enriches the narrative.
- “The atmospheric artwork and music really transport you to this historical period; the story is engaging, and balancing morality with survival led to lots of interesting choices.”
- “Game play (and even the tutorial) drips with atmosphere.”
- “Featuring beautifully hand-drawn characters and environments juxtaposed to an atmospheric soundtrack, tales of the Black Death soberly puts into perspective just how lucky we are to live in a world with modern medicine and current creature comforts.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are praised for their atmospheric artwork and inspired art style, effectively transporting players to the historical period of the game. The visuals, combined with a compelling soundtrack, enhance the engaging narrative and the moral choices players face, creating a cohesive and immersive experience.
- “The atmospheric artwork and music really transport you to this historical period, the story is engaging, and balancing morality with survival led to lots of interesting choices.”
- “The story is very engaging and effective in delivering the collective and individual drama, helped by a very inspired art style and soundtrack.”
- “The graphics are wonderfully atmospheric and the drawn style is perfect for this time.”
gameplay
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
Gameplay experiences vary significantly among players; one reviewer found the gameplay lacking and unengaging, while another praised "Tales of the Black Death" for its enjoyable mechanics and meaningful choices that enhance character development.
- “I genuinely enjoyed my time with Tales of the Black Death, not only for its compelling story and fun gameplay but also for the real and raw choices that were presented to Baldasar throughout his journey and how it made him believably grow as a person.”
- “I do not recommend this game to anyone, as after four hours of gameplay, it has become clear to me that the creator does not know anything about a good gameplay experience at all.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the game highly replayable due to the impact of their decisions on achievements, encouraging multiple playthroughs to explore different outcomes.
- “The achievements depend on both good and bad decisions, which makes this game highly replayable.”
- “Each playthrough offers a unique experience, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.”
- “The variety of paths and endings keeps me coming back for more, as there's always something new to discover.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is primarily driven by the engaging and funny interactions with the raven, alongside the charming character of the aunt. However, some players felt that the humor became diluted as the narrative progressed, leading to a disjointed experience that detracted from their enjoyment.
- “Also, the raven/crow is quite funny.”
- “The art is very nice, and the raven and the aunt were the right idea. The raven is funny and engaging, while the aunt seems like a genuine character with a little mystery. I wish I got to spend more time with her.”

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

Tales of the Black Death Review (PC)
Tales of the Black Death inserts players directly into the cruel world of 14th century Europe and challenges them to ward off death in its many brutal forms. Featuring beautifully hand drawn characters and environments juxtaposed to an atmospheric soundtrack and, of course, the horrific subject matter, Tales of the Black Death soberly puts into perspective just how lucky we are to live in a world with modern medicine and current creature comforts (with respect to everything that’s happened these past two years). If you’re looking for a historical fiction visual novel where choices really, really matter, Tales of the Black Death awaits those with a curious mind and a strong stomach.
Heypoorplayer.com
70%

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Frequently Asked Questions

Tales of the Black Death is a survival role playing game with horror and historical themes.

Tales of the Black Death is available on PC, Phone, iPad, iPhone and others.

Tales of the Black Death was released on October 15, 2021.

Tales of the Black Death was developed by Doubleton Game Studio.

Tales of the Black Death has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its gameplay.

Tales of the Black Death is a single player game.

Similar games include The Pale Beyond, Rosewater, The Walking Dead: Season Two, Sigh of the Abyss, Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit and others.

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