Tallowmere

About

Tallowmere is a single player and multiplayer casual hack and slash game with fantasy and violence themes. It was developed by Chris McFarland and was released on March 3, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

Indulge Lady Tallowmere and see how far through her lovingly violent dungeons you can delve in this 2D indie action roguelike-inspired platformer. New rooms are procedurally generated every time you play. How far can you make it?

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 363 reviews

gameplay32 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Addictive and fun gameplay with a simple but effective roguelike platformer design that keeps players coming back.
Wide variety of unique weapons and loot that change playstyle and add strategic depth.
Local multiplayer (couch co-op) support enhances fun and replayability with friends.

Repetitive level design and limited enemy variety can cause the game to feel monotonous after extended play.
Controls can feel clunky or floaty, and some combat mechanics like stun-locks and auto-aim are frustrating.
Procedurally generated levels sometimes create unfair or frustrating situations, such as trap placement blocking progress.

gameplay
85 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The gameplay is praised for its addictive, fast-paced, and straightforward roguelike platforming mechanics, featuring diverse weapons, meaningful challenge, and replayability through randomized levels. While some players find the controls clunky and the experience repetitive or janky, many appreciate the unique movement system, shield blocking, and infinite jumping that add depth and fun. Overall, the game offers a rewarding, skill-based loop that balances difficulty and enjoyment despite some rough edges and minimal polish.
- “The gameplay loop is straightforward but endlessly replayable.”
- “The freedom of movement pairs beautifully with the game’s shield mechanic, which allows you to block attacks if timed correctly.”
- “Tallowmere is a brutally difficult, yet extremely fun sidescrolling action roguelike with addictive gameplay, cool weapons, lots of loot to be found, randomly generated dungeon layouts, and some really neat mechanics too.”
- “I played for about 4 hours and by that point I had figured out the mechanics, so it became very repetitive.”
- “It's janky and unsatisfying to play... any experienced gamer will tell you the handling, responsiveness, and general gameplay feel of the control scheme must be well polished for this kind of game to succeed.”
- “This game is a tedious, monotonous waste of time, with bare bones gameplay and very little to keep it fresh; gameplay consists of mashing the left arrow key to attack and occasionally holding right to block everything directly in front of you forever.”
graphics
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
75%
8%
The graphics are simple, retro pixel art with a basic and repetitive tileset, which some find charming and fitting for the game's violent, quirky atmosphere, while others view them as lacking detail and polish. Although not flashy or modern, the style supports the gameplay and tone, and many players appreciate the aesthetic once accustomed to it. Overall, the visuals may deter some initially, but they complement the game's feel and do not diminish its appeal.
- “The sheer carnage feels satisfying, amplified by the pixelated art style that turns every encounter into a violent spectacle.”
- “The cute pixelated graphics, combined with gory deaths and silly dialogue gives this game a certain charm.”
- “This game is pretty sweet.. music is great, graphics are surprisingly good for a pixely type game, and the gameplay makes you keep coming back.”
- “A choice was made to use obsolete, decades old retro pixel art as a substitute for contemporary PC graphics.”
- “While there are options to change the resolution for the mobile app, all this does is scale up the simplistic 2D art assets, which makes little or no difference to the graphics quality.”
- “Without any other substantial graphics tweaks, it's not possible for gamers to improve the lacklustre 2D visuals.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
42%
The game boasts exceptionally high replayability driven by procedural generation, random weapons, and varied enemy attacks, ensuring each run feels unique. Modifiers and scalable difficulty add depth, catering to both new and experienced players, while multiplayer enhances the experience further. Overall, its endless variety and engaging gameplay loops keep players coming back for numerous playthroughs.
- “These modifiers let experienced players push their limits, adding a layer of replayability and risk-reward balance that keeps the experience engaging long after the first few hours.”
- “Every room you encounter is different in every run, creating high replayability, and the weapons are random.”
- “A developer that cares, random generation for endless replayability, modifiers to make it easier/harder when you want to mix up the difficulty, and a lot of character to match.”
music
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
12%
The music in the game is generally described as simple, catchy electronica that fits the retro art style and hectic combat, though some find it repetitive, dreary, or unmemorable compared to other roguelikes. While it complements the game's tone and gameplay adequately, many suggest that a wider variety or more atmospheric tracks could enhance immersion and emotional impact. Overall, the soundtrack gets the job done but leaves room for improvement in selection and mood depth.
- “All of the weapons feel fun to use, the sounds and soundtrack are simple but snappy, and the difficulty is brutal yet rewarding when you get good loot drops.”
- “This game is pretty sweet.. music is great, graphics are surprisingly good for a pixely type game, and the gameplay makes you keep coming back.”
- “The music is easy and catchy electronica. If you dig the gameplay you could easily invest many dozens of hours on this game.”
- “The soundtrack and sound effects complement the grim tone but can become repetitive over long sessions.”
- “The music was dreary, and the gameplay collapsed almost immediately into a single question: how good is your katana?”
- “Graphics, music, and sound effects vary in quality but are generally just meh and, in the case of the sounds, not always well-balanced.”
humor
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Tallowmere stands out for its dark, twisted humor that blends seamlessly with its brutal, fast-paced gameplay, turning violent moments into bizarre and amusing punchlines. The game’s quirky, irreverent tone, witty dialogue, and humorous weapons make it distinctively funny and entertaining, often provoking genuine laughter. This playful approach to roguelike mechanics adds charm and lightheartedness without detracting from the challenge.
- “Tallowmere is a brutal and strangely captivating indie roguelike that fuses chaotic combat, dark humor, and old-school design into a surprisingly addictive experience.”
- “This kind of twisted humor runs throughout the game, turning moments of brutality into bizarre punchlines that make Tallowmere feel distinct from its peers.”
- “The game never takes itself too seriously and the dialogue is generally pretty funny because of it.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
The game's story is minimal and largely driven by randomized dungeon runs and procedural generation rather than a structured plot, emphasizing player-driven triumphs and challenges. While some appreciate the roguelike's fair difficulty and occasional narrative moments, others wish for a more developed story and progression. Overall, the story aspect is light-hearted and serves more as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus.
- “Every run feels like a story in itself—one of triumphs, blunders, and glorious defeats.”
- “Randomised dungeons and an excellent storyline will keep the player coming back for more, time and time again.”
- “There are some wacky quests that will abruptly interrupt your game, sometimes with mini in-game cinematics.”
- “The mobile app features no proper level design or game/story flow/plot, as they opted to try to use samey repetitive procedural generation algorithms as a substitute for adding such content to the mobile app, avoiding the important job of level/map design.”
- “The plot is essentially 'go fight'.”
- “I also would like to see the game expand into something with a real story and progression.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game becomes tedious and monotonous after several hours, with usability issues and basic design flaws that hinder smooth gameplay. Players often find the repetitive mechanics and lack of engaging variety lead to a tiresome experience, especially beyond 30 floors or a few hours of play.
- “9 hours of gameplay were AFK card farming.”
- “Eventually it gets tiresome and tedious; you can drain the game of all its worth within 2-5 hours.”
- “After 30+ floors it started to get a little tedious.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The game's atmosphere is a compelling mix of grim, cartoonish violence and pixelated grit, enhanced by effective graphical and sound effects that create a playful yet intense mood. While the overall ambiance is praised, some repetitive textures and the retro-style music receive mixed feelings for not fully matching the dark dungeon theme. Nonetheless, the atmosphere supports both the game's humor and challenging gameplay well.
- “The blood-splattered floors, gloomy corridors, and flickering torches create a grim but oddly playful atmosphere.”
- “Requires some intelligent planning as well as quick reactions to get through many of the tougher levels, and the graphical/sound effects build up the atmosphere of cartoonish violence perfectly.”
- “One of the things I like most about this game is the atmosphere.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed, with some players experiencing frustration due to tricky mechanics like unintended airjumps, while others see potential for deeper emotional engagement, suggesting improved music could enhance the overall emotional impact.
- “I'll stick around this game for more weeks without touching any other.”
- “Maybe some music that creates a stronger emotional response from the player... get that 'awww ♥♥♥♥' feeling going on....”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization of Tallowmere is viewed negatively, with users perceiving it as a cash grab from mobile developers rather than a genuine PC game. The game's poor quality and mobile-oriented design contribute to dissatisfaction with its value proposition.