Tarnished Blood [Tactic RPG]

About

"Tarnished Blood " is an early access game that recently released update 3, focusing on fixing various bugs and issues. Improvements include streamlined portal placement, fixed gamepad functionality, and adjusted weapon upgrade costs. Additionally, character traits and leveling mechanics have been refined for better consistency and clarity. The game features tactical combat and character progression, with updates regularly addressing player feedback.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 143 reviews

gameplay35 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a unique time-control combat system that adds depth and strategy to battles, making each encounter feel fresh and engaging.
The dark, hand-drawn visuals create an immersive atmosphere that enhances the game's grim themes and monster designs.
High replayability is achieved through varied events, distinct bosses, and the ability to customize characters and strategies, keeping gameplay dynamic.

The game suffers from a steep learning curve and lacks detailed tutorials, which can make it difficult for new players to grasp its mechanics.
Many players find the combat unbalanced, with certain bosses being excessively difficult, leading to frustration and the need for frequent restarts.
As an early access title, the game has bugs and stability issues that can disrupt gameplay, along with a general lack of content and progression options.

gameplay
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
62%
3%
The gameplay is characterized by a unique blend of tactical RPG elements, time manipulation mechanics, and monster hunting, creating a compelling and dynamic experience. Players appreciate the strategic depth and replayability, though some find the learning curve steep and certain mechanics, like the root growth system, clunky. Overall, the game offers a fresh and engaging gameplay loop that rewards experimentation and adaptation, making it a standout in its genre.
- “The unique time-control mechanic adds depth, making each victory feel well-earned and satisfying.”
- “Its dynamic gameplay, strategic depth, and haunting world make it a standout in the genre and an unforgettable journey.”
- “With hours of gameplay and an evolving array of unlockable items, abilities, and bosses, every playthrough stays exciting.”
- “Especially if you're coming into this with experience with KDM and are familiar with the long haul a campaign of that can be, the short length of one run in this game doesn't really give you enough reason to engage with some of the longer-term mechanics.”
- “I also think the 'root growth' mechanic to prevent infinite rewinding is pretty clunky.”
- “I personally did not like this mechanic because it felt really punishing.”
graphics
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The game features captivating hand-drawn dark fantasy visuals that create an immersive atmosphere, particularly in its monster designs and combat scenarios. While many players appreciate the unique aesthetic, some express dissatisfaction with the character art style, finding it off-putting compared to the otherwise stunning visuals. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's eerie charm, though opinions on character design may vary.
- “Hand-drawn dark fantasy visuals bring a unique and atmospheric style to monster designs and combat scenarios.”
- “Distinctive visuals: hand-crafted monster designs elevate the eerie, immersive atmosphere, pulling you deeper into the experience.”
- “From the start, I was captivated by its eerie, hand-crafted visuals and the intense, strategic battles where every decision counts.”
- “I have also seen people complaining about the character art style; if you don't like it, that's fine.”
- “It's not that the art style for the humans is bad... it just feels off for me. I think it's the default expressions and proportions, and the contrast between them and the rest of the setting.”
- “The dark aesthetic and light crafting combined with the timeline-based combats are fascinating from a mechanical perspective.”
story
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
63%
19%
The game's story is noted for its potential, with players expressing a desire for more lore and narrative depth. Choices significantly impact gameplay, creating a unique experience with each decision, while ongoing updates promise to enhance the story's complexity and immersion. However, some players find the narrative elements inconsistent, particularly regarding character situations and mission challenges.
- “Choices carry weight, with each decision impacting survival and forging a unique story.”
- “This commitment to improvement promises even more story depth, challenge, and immersion with each update.”
- “One of the men has to recover from giving birth, so I send the other two out to fight a giant cosmic entity on a suicide mission.”
- “The game could also do with a story and some lore.”
- “One of the men has to recover from giving birth(?), so I send the other two out to fight a giant cosmic entity, suicide mission.”
- “Next hunt the boss is strengthened and uses much stronger attacks - which is quite strange for a second mission.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
50%
30%
The game offers high replayability with dynamic challenges, varied events, and progressively difficult encounters that keep gameplay engaging across multiple campaigns lasting 10-20 hours. However, players suggest that additional content and significant modifiers to randomize runs could further enhance the replay value.
- “High replayability: each run introduces varied events, keeping the gameplay dynamic and engaging.”
- “Some more content, and especially a way to add significant modifiers to randomize runs could make this much more replayable.”
- “10-20 hours per campaign, with dynamic, replayable elements and progressively challenging encounters.”
- “Dynamic challenges and replayability: every campaign introduces new events, bosses, and tactics, ensuring gameplay remains intense and engaging.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The atmosphere of "Tarnished Blood" is characterized by its hand-drawn dark fantasy visuals and unique monster designs, which create an eerie and immersive experience. Reviewers highlight the game's haunting ambiance and rich setting, enhancing the strategic gameplay and making it a compelling choice for fans of dark-themed RPGs. Overall, the game's distinctive style and atmospheric depth are praised as key elements that draw players into its world.
- “Hand-drawn dark fantasy visuals bring a unique and atmospheric style to monster designs and combat scenarios.”
- “Distinctive visuals: hand-crafted monster designs elevate the eerie, immersive atmosphere, pulling you deeper into the experience.”
- “With its distinctive combat mechanics and haunting atmosphere, Tarnished Blood promises a gripping and strategic gameplay journey.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game features a unique blend of time manipulation and Monster Hunter-style loot mechanics, where players fight specific monsters to obtain exclusive equipment and general loot for upgrades. Notably, the progression system eliminates traditional grinding, as the year advances regardless of victory or defeat, forcing players to make strategic use of limited resources.
- “Win or lose, the year will advance after the hunt; this means no grinding, you'll have to use whatever little resources you get from what you kill.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report significant stability issues during gameplay, particularly with mechanics that freeze character actions and impose heavy damage from bosses, making encounters feel unbalanced and frustrating. The unpredictability of attacks and the impact of environmental effects, like fog, further complicate the experience, leading to a challenging and often unstable gameplay environment.
- “In the next turn, he gets 1-2 items from the hunt (armor or weapons that are still weak) - 1 hit from the boss kills 8 HP and my characters have a maximum of 12-13 HP. Then, 1 attack freezes them until the end of the hunt.”
- “Or it chooses an attack that automatically hits, and if you run away with 1 character, it chooses another one to attack. Playing with fog that freezes your actions is definitely a dozen times harder.”