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 1,013 reviews

story422 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features a beautifully crafted story that intertwines Japanese mythology with real 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 minimal, with a heavy focus on dialogue and story, which may not appeal to players looking for more interactive elements.
Some players experienced issues with pacing, feeling that certain sections dragged on or were overly drawn out.
The translation can be clunky at times, which may detract from the overall storytelling experience.

story
793 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
46%
1%
The game's story is widely praised for its emotional depth, captivating characters, and engaging narrative, often drawing on real-life events and Japanese folklore. Players appreciate the well-crafted plot twists and the ability to connect with the characters, making it a memorable experience despite some critiques regarding pacing and translation issues. Overall, the story is considered the standout feature, providing a rich and immersive journey that resonates with players.
- “This game has an amazing story (based on true events) with some cool plot twists at the end too.”
- “The story is beautiful and the dialogues are interesting.”
- “The story, though quite silly, is engaging.”
- “I honestly felt like I was just in the back seat, watching and reading what happened as opposed to actually playing the game and being involved in the story.”
- “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.”
music
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the atmosphere, fitting seamlessly with various scenes and emotions, from cozy moments to intense horror. Many players noted that the soundtrack is beautifully composed, elevating the storytelling and immersing them in the game's world. While some found the music to be generic or minimalistic at times, the overall consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's emotional depth and immersive experience.
- “The music is amazing and creates/captures atmosphere extremely well.”
- “Beyond its visuals, the game shines with its atmospheric soundtrack and a well-crafted story that keeps you invested from start to finish.”
- “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.”
- “A few times I felt like I was about to cry, but the music pulled me out of the moment and ruined the atmosphere for me.”
- “The pixel art is weak, the soundtrack is dull, and the world is lifeless.”
emotional
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its touching narratives, well-developed characters, and the ability to evoke strong feelings, including joy and sadness. Many reviews note the seamless integration of music and visuals that enhance the storytelling, creating a heartfelt experience that resonates deeply with players. Overall, the game is described as a beautiful blend of emotional depth and engaging storytelling, often leaving players in tears or with a sense of warmth.
- “Overall a very touching game that makes me want to research more into the actual events.”
- “The final chapter actually touched me and made me feel for the story and characters.”
- “The storytelling, characters' facial expressions, and the appropriate background music makes this game stand out as a memorable and emotional adventure game.”
graphics
108 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming pixel art style, which enhances the overall aesthetic and atmosphere. Players appreciate the beautiful artwork and how it complements the engaging story, creating an immersive experience. While some note that the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they effectively contribute to the game's emotional depth and cozy vibe.
- “The art of the game, visuals, and music are lovely and oddly 'comfy'.”
- “Every pixel and every animation is meticulously crafted, and the game's visuals are stunningly beautiful.”
- “The beautiful art style, story inspired by true events, and music make this game feel extraordinary.”
- “- aesthetically it's honestly not that good.”
- “The pixel graphics' art style isn't anything revolutionary - though they work fine with the game.”
- “In some moments I even felt like I was playing a Silent Hill game, where the visuals, sounds, and puzzles made me feel completely trapped in a veil of uncontrollable distress.”
gameplay
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The gameplay is generally described as simple and minimal, often taking a backseat to the narrative, with most interactions involving walking, clicking, and solving easy puzzles. While some players appreciate the intuitive mechanics and smooth controls, many express disappointment in the lack of depth and excitement, likening it to a visual novel with RPG elements. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize story over gameplay complexity.
- “The gameplay mechanics are intuitive and enjoyable, with a good balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat.”
- “Despite its minor flaws, the game's beautiful art, engaging gameplay, and rich narrative make it a journey worth undertaking.”
- “The gameplay is intuitive, the story (which weaves three distinct chapters together) is compelling, and the pace is excellent.”
- “Personally, I found the gameplay a bit lacking.”
- “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 itself was nothing worth mentioning, and things like puzzles and such weren't much difficult.”
atmosphere
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
81%
14%
5%
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 unique environments and the emotional depth conveyed through the soundtrack, which enhances the overall mood and narrative. While some found the atmosphere occasionally heavy or dissonant, the majority agree that it effectively draws players into the game's world, making it a memorable adventure.
- “The game’s atmospheric environment and intriguing narrative offer a captivating adventure.”
- “Beyond its visuals, the game shines with its atmospheric soundtrack and a well-crafted story that keeps you invested from start to finish.”
- “The way this game establishes atmosphere is also great; it can be really unsettling when it needs to and really heartwarming as well, the environments you traverse are all unique and varied.”
- “Although there were some parts that didn't have background music, which is kind of sad since it doesn't give any atmosphere.”
- “I know people tend to hate jumpscares, but when the jumpscares themselves are so weak and few, it's hard to even create that scary atmosphere.”
- “My personal biggest gripe is the dissonance between the atmosphere and what's happening at the moment.”
character development
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
23%
33%
Character development in the game is characterized by charming and well-designed characters, with many players praising their adorable aesthetics and personality. However, some reviewers have noted a lack of significant character growth throughout the narrative, suggesting that while the characters are engaging, they may not evolve in meaningful ways as the story progresses. Overall, the character design and presentation are highlights, but deeper development may leave some players wanting more.
- “The character design is top notch, both the sprite and the 2D characters moving around the world; they're a mix of cute and adorable at times, especially the fox kid—so cute!”
- “The character design, along with the sprites, is the absolute best. They are so adorable; Kashin Kihara is an incredibly adorable character, and it's hard for me to think of any other character that I'd take over her in terms of how adorable they are.”
- “From immersive storytelling to lovely character designs and beautiful music; from start to finish, it never stopped to amaze me.”
- “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.”
- “The character designs and sprite work are neat and add a fair amount of personality to the characters and game.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
37%
25%
"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 its overall replayability vary, with some rating it as moderately high and others suggesting it may not warrant multiple runs.
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
29%
57%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious and unengaging, with some players finding it a chore rather than an enjoyable challenge. While the game offers a story-rich experience, the grinding can detract from the overall enjoyment, leading some to seek refunds rather than continue playing.
- “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
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, seamlessly woven into a storyline that combines horror, adventure, and mystery. Players appreciate the quirky characters and their interactions, which provide both comedic and poignant moments, enhancing the overall experience. Engaging with the dialogue and clues is essential, as it enriches the narrative and reveals the game's humorous highlights.
- “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.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Overall, players report mixed experiences regarding stability, with some encountering technical glitches and bugs that impact gameplay. However, others have completed the game without significant issues, indicating that stability may vary among users.
- “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
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization of "Tales of the Black Forest" is generally regarded as solid, contributing to its status as a must-play indie adventure, thanks to its engaging story and well-translated dialogues. However, some users express concerns about its overall optimization, suggesting mixed experiences.
- “Tales of the Black Forest is a solid, well-optimized, and fascinating indie adventure, one that can easily be a must-play if you like a great story, fantastically translated dialogues, and intriguing characters.”

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7h Median play time

8h Average play time

5-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 7 analyzed playthroughs

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