Tales of the Black Forest

About

"Tales of the Black Forest" is a narrative-driven adventure game set in a dark and mystical forest. Players uncover secrets and make choices that affect the story's outcome, while encountering strange creatures and solving puzzles. The game features hand-drawn art and a hauntingly beautiful original soundtrack.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 911 reviews

story376 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted story that intertwines elements of Japanese folklore with real-life historical events, creating an emotional and engaging narrative.
The pixel art and soundtrack are stunning, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion of the game.
Characters are well-developed and memorable, with their individual stories adding depth to the overall experience.

The gameplay is primarily text-heavy with minimal interaction, which may not appeal to players looking for more traditional gameplay mechanics.
Some players found the pacing slow, particularly in the early chapters, which could lead to moments of boredom.
The English translation contains occasional awkward phrasing and grammatical errors that can detract from the storytelling experience.

story
699 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
45%
1%
The story in "Tales of the Black Forest" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging narrative, often blending elements of whimsy, horror, and real-life events, such as the Tokyo subway sarin attack. Players appreciate the well-developed characters and intricate plot twists, which keep them invested throughout the game, despite some noting issues with pacing and translation. Overall, the storytelling is considered the game's strongest aspect, making it a compelling choice for fans of narrative-driven experiences.
- “The story is, ultimately, a tragedy and works best when it's leaning into that rather than trying to be a horror game.”
- “The story itself was very touching and flowed well throughout the entire game.”
- “This game has such a rich and interesting story, environment and characters.”
- “The story is somewhat decent, though it was very confusing and the ending left much to be desired.”
- “The whole thing is just story, and I didn't even find the story particularly good.”
- “In a game like this, the main focus is the story, but that's where I found it inconsistent and weak.”
music
150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, effectively transitioning between eerie and comforting tones that align with the narrative's emotional depth. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, noting its immersive quality and how it complements the stunning visuals and storytelling. While some found the music to be generic or minimalistic at times, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional impact.
- “The music is amazing and creates/captures atmosphere extremely well.”
- “With stunning visuals and an immersive soundtrack, you'll be transported to a world full of magic and mystery.”
- “The seamless integration of music, artwork, and dialogue elevates the storytelling, leaving a heartwarming impression after each session.”
- “Also there's just no music at all in some areas of the game; I don't know if that's how it's supposed to be, but it felt weird.”
- “Character movement is really limited, and the soundtrack most of the time is really minimalistic and noticeably simple.”
- “The pixel art is weak, the soundtrack is dull, the world is lifeless.”
emotional
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is widely praised for its emotional depth, featuring touching narratives that resonate with players, often leading to tears and heartfelt connections with the characters. Reviewers highlight the seamless integration of music, visuals, and storytelling, which enhances the emotional experience, making it both heartwarming and occasionally haunting. Overall, it is described as a beautiful, engaging journey that balances lighthearted moments with profound themes, leaving a lasting impact on players.
- “The final chapter actually touched me and made me feel for the story and characters.”
- “The seamless integration of music, artwork, and dialogue elevates the storytelling, leaving a heartwarming impression after each session.”
- “What makes this game is the heartfelt story it's trying to tell.”
graphics
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game are predominantly praised for their charming pixel art style, which complements the emotional storytelling and immersive soundtrack. Players appreciate the beautiful hand-drawn visuals and atmospheric design, noting that the aesthetics enhance the overall experience, creating a cozy yet captivating environment. While some reviews mention the simplicity of the graphics, they are often described as aesthetically pleasing and well-crafted, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
- “With stunning visuals and an immersive soundtrack, you'll be transported to a world full of magic and mystery.”
- “[b]Beautiful art and atmosphere:[/b] the hand-drawn art style and atmospheric soundtrack create a breathtakingly beautiful world that begs to be explored.”
- “Every pixel and every animation is meticulously crafted, and the game's visuals are stunningly beautiful.”
- “The pixel graphics are pretty and the characters likable, though they didn't feel very fleshed out.”
- “- aesthetically it's honestly not that good.”
- “The pixel graphics' art style isn't anything revolutionary - though they work fine with the game.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
65%
4%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and linear, often taking a backseat to the narrative, with many players noting that it primarily involves walking, interacting with objects, and solving easy puzzles. While some appreciate the intuitive mechanics and smooth controls, others find the lack of depth and complexity disappointing, suggesting that the game is more akin to an interactive story or visual novel than a traditional game. Overall, the engaging story and characters tend to overshadow the gameplay shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience for those who prioritize narrative over mechanics.
- “Engaging gameplay: the gameplay mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, with a good balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat.”
- “The gameplay was smooth with the controls, the pixel and character art is gorgeous, and the sound/music design is also very good for a game like this.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive, the story (which weaves three distinct chapters together) is compelling, and the pace is excellent.”
- “Do not expect much gameplay except for walking/running and interacting with objects in the world; there are also some puzzles but those are very simple to figure out.”
- “The gameplay is mostly reading dialogue, walking around, and solving puzzles.”
- “I was disappointed, but could've rolled with it... however, the gameplay is also bad, because there is no gameplay.”
atmosphere
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
11%
6%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its captivating blend of beautiful art, immersive music, and engaging storytelling, creating a rich and varied experience that ranges from spooky to heartwarming. Players appreciate the well-designed environments and the emotional depth conveyed through the soundtrack, which enhances the overall mood. Despite some minor flaws, the atmospheric elements effectively draw players into the narrative, making it a memorable adventure.
- “The game’s atmospheric environment and intriguing narrative offer a captivating adventure.”
- “The atmosphere was fantastic and the environments were beautiful.”
- “The way this game establishes atmosphere is also great; it can be really unsettling when it needs to be and really heartwarming as well, with unique and varied environments.”
- “A few times I felt like I was about to cry, but the music put me out of the moment and ruined the atmosphere for me.”
- “Although there were some parts that didn't have background music, which is kind of sad since it doesn't give any atmosphere.”
- “My personal biggest gripe is the dissonance between the atmosphere and what's happening at the moment.”
replayability
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
29%
29%
"Tales of the Black Forest" features multiple endings influenced by player choices, enhancing its replay value and narrative depth. While some players find it solid for a single playthrough, opinions on overall replayability vary, with ratings ranging from 7/10 to claims of it being almost infinitely replayable.
- “Tales of the Black Forest offers multiple endings based on the player's choices, adding replay value and depth to the story.”
- “Replayability: 7/10”
- “Infinitely replayable (or almost)”
- “Not sure really about replayability, but for just a one-time playthrough, Tales of the Black Forest is extremely solid.”
- “Maybe not so high for replayability, but it was worth the couple of hours.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
33%
50%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious and unengaging, with some players finding it a chore that detracts from the overall experience. While the game offers a story-rich adventure, the grinding can feel excessive and may lead to frustration, prompting some players to seek refunds rather than continue.
- “It's not too tedious on the puzzle and the suspense was always there.”
- “I found its shortness a blessing, because it was pretty boring and tedious compared to literally every other game of its type I've ever played.”
- “If you are interested in a story-rich adventure game and the gameplay looks appealing to you, I'd recommend this game; just be prepared for a simultaneously satisfying and yet tedious ending.”
- “All in all, in 1.5 hours it felt very tedious and the story did not become interesting enough to keep playing. I decided it's better to get a refund than hope for it to become any better.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively blends horror, adventure, and mystery with a strong emphasis on humor, featuring charismatic characters that evoke laughter through their unique quirks. Players are encouraged to engage with the story and dialogues to fully appreciate both the comedic and poignant moments, creating a balance that enhances the overall experience.
- “The storyline itself is remarkable, blending elements of horror, adventure, and mystery with a generous dose of humor and charismatic encounters.”
- “I really felt myself enjoying their company and laughing with their large amount of quirks and traits that made them feel individual.”
- “Scary at times but also funny and intriguing as you progress.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
While the characters are charming and well-designed, many players feel that the game suffers from limited character development, lacking significant growth or change throughout the story. Despite this, the immersive storytelling and appealing visuals contribute positively to the overall experience.
- “Really liked the story, the scenery, and the character designs.”
- “From immersive storytelling to lovely character designs and beautiful music; from start to finish, it never stopped to amaze me.”
- “The character designs and sprite work are neat and add a fair amount of personality to the characters and game.”
- “Limited character development: while the characters are charming and well-written, some players have noted a lack of significant character development throughout the game.”
- “Limited character development: while the characters are charming and well-written, some players have noted a lack of significant character development throughout the game.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
Overall, players report some technical glitches and bugs that can detract from the gaming experience, although many have successfully completed the game without significant issues.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, making for a stable experience.”
- “I've played for hours without encountering any bugs, which really enhances the overall enjoyment.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I can always rely on it to perform consistently.”
- “Technical glitches: A few players have encountered technical glitches and bugs that detract from the overall experience.”
- “This game has an awesome story and amazing background music, but I completed the game with all achievements in 6 hours and 30 minutes (Steam is a bit buggy with playtime).”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is reported to be poorly optimized, leading to performance issues that detract from the overall experience.