The Lonesome Guild

About

The Lonesome Guild is a single player role playing game with a kids theme. It was developed by Tiny Bull Studios and was released on October 23, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

The Lonesome Guild is an emotional adventure where you guide Ghost, a memory-lost spirit, to restore balance in the world of Etere. Build deep bonds with a diverse party of six, unlocking their strengths through heartfelt stories and conflicts. Explore, battle, and share moments of togetherness in this tale of hope and renewal.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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98%

Audience ScoreBased on 101 reviews

story33 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

Charming art style and sound design that enhances the overall experience.
Engaging story that explores deeper themes of loneliness and friendship, with well-developed characters.
Fun and dynamic combat system that allows for character swapping and experimentation with builds.

Combat can become repetitive over time, lacking complexity as the game progresses.
Some characters feel underdeveloped compared to others, leading to uneven storytelling.
The absence of a mini-map can make navigation confusing, especially in larger areas.

story
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
76%
2%
The story of "The Lonesome Guild" is a heartfelt exploration of loneliness, friendship, and personal growth, featuring a cast of well-developed characters each with their own backstories and traumas. While the narrative starts off somewhat cliché and lighthearted, it evolves into a more mature tale with emotional depth, engaging twists, and a satisfying conclusion that ties together the various character arcs. Overall, players appreciate the balance of cozy aesthetics with serious themes, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy story-driven games.
- “It's a gem, it's a beat 'em up wrapped in a warm blanket of storytelling and character development.”
- “The characters are well designed and written, and the game skillfully balances wholesomeness with tragedy, giving us many emotional and touching plot twists and moments.”
- “The lonesome guild is an emotional action RPG about a group of champions who unite with each other in order to find their purpose and a mission to overcome loneliness and know the truth.”
- “The overall arc of the narrative is a little cheesy, especially at the beginning, as a story about the power of friendship.”
- “Characters are fairly rote despite their layered personalities, and although that feeds into the storybook feel, it's trite to know some story beats that will play out over the next hour from the second you meet someone.”
- “The story feels confused about its tone.”
gameplay
38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
47%
8%
The gameplay is generally well-received, praised for its engaging mechanics, character swapping, and the integration of story elements into gameplay. While it offers a simple and accessible combat system that is easy to grasp, some players noted issues with repetitiveness and a lack of complexity in certain aspects. Overall, it strikes a balance between fun and relaxation, making it enjoyable for both casual players and those invested in the narrative.
- “I normally don't like these types of games, where you have to control the whole party, but the swapping mechanic with ghosts makes it a lot more manageable and fun to play.”
- “The gameplay is accessible, focusing on character swapping to solve puzzles and engage in combat.”
- “The party-based fighting mechanics are fun and quite smooth - swapping between characters is so much fun.”
- “There's just a particular gameplay aspect that I didn't like, which is the absence of a mini-map menu whenever we're exploring a location.”
- “The story was good, if you like that sort of thing, but I'm in it for gameplay when it comes to RPGs, so I couldn't handle the game locking you to whatever level the devs wanted you to be at any given point in the story.”
- “It's a game that mixes cozy with a serious storyline, but hampers me down with repetitive, not-that-complex gameplay.”
graphics
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
51%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and charming art style, which combines a cute, storybook aesthetic with rich detail and vibrant colors. Reviewers appreciate how the visuals enhance the overall experience, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere that contrasts with the deeper themes of the story. The art style is described as both captivating and well-executed, making it a significant draw for players.
- “I immediately fell in love with the beautiful art style and was incredibly curious about the story that awaited me.”
- “The graphics are colorful and well detailed and bring the flavor of a world straight out of some Aesop-esque tale, if Aesop actually had some steampunk influence.”
- “The overall art style gives the game a warm, handcrafted feel that makes it a pleasure to explore.”
- “The graphics are colorful and well detailed and bring the flavor of a world straight out of some Aesop-esque tale, if Aesop actually had some steampunk influence...”
- “At first glance, you see a party-based game with cute aesthetics - but it has far more emotional depth in its storytelling.”
- “A story wrapped in a cute aesthetic with the tale of trauma, family dynamics, sociological issues, religion, and even the disdain of others.”
emotional
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its well-crafted characters and a narrative that masterfully balances wholesomeness with moments of tragedy, resulting in a deeply emotional experience. Players highlight the heartfelt storytelling, charming art style, and relatable themes of friendship and loneliness, often leading to tearful moments. While it may appeal more to those who enjoy kid-like heartfelt stories, its emotional depth and engaging gameplay make it a standout title in the action RPG genre.
- “The characters are well designed and written, and the game skillfully balances wholesomeness with tragedy, giving us many emotional and touching plot twists and moments.”
- “A beautiful, charming, and emotional game fit to snag and pull at your heartstrings in every good way possible; give it a chance, it's fun, engaging, and full of relatable instances all around a very solid under-the-radar RPG release.”
- “What a beautiful and hidden game... each scene is more painful and touching than the last.”
music
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game has received high praise for its enchanting and adaptive qualities, seamlessly blending with various settings and enhancing the overall experience. Players have noted the nostalgic and calming soundtracks, particularly highlighting memorable moments like piano pieces during relationship level-ups. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature that complements the game's stunning visuals and engaging narrative.
- “The things that stood out to me the most in this game were the set design and the music; everything else was good in its own right, but those drew my attention in the most magnetic way.”
- “Combined with how the music blends with each setting, it pulls you in gently.”
- “The nostalgic soundtracks and music during your journey will leave you mesmerized, and it's mind-calming as well. I had fun exploring and solving puzzles while listening to them.”
- “The devs really nailed every aspect from story to battle system to music.”
- “Music is adaptive, which is always a plus.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
57%
Players appreciate the lack of grinding in the game, as experience is gained passively for all characters, allowing for easy party swaps and a smooth story progression. The absence of grindy achievements and the fast-paced narrative contribute to a more action-adventure feel, though some note that certain areas can become tedious and suggest a need for more strategic combat mechanics.
- “No grinding for experience needed; everybody gets experience even if they're not in the active party, making it much easier to swap in and out between combats.”
- “Achievement-wise, the game has no grindy achievements, and most things aren't missable.”
- “The story moves at a good pace, with no grinding required.”
- “Fast travel gets tedious when trying to reach rest areas just to then fast travel.”
- “Certain areas go on for too long and can get tedious after a while; combat could use more strategic mechanics.”
- “The lack of grinding made it feel more like an action-adventure game rather than an RPG, especially since there were no shops either.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
Character development in the game is highlighted as a standout feature, with expressive character portraits and charming designs, such as the adorable "bumblebuns." The combination of engaging storytelling and appealing art enhances the overall experience, making it a must-try for fans of character-driven narratives.
- “It's a gem, it's a beat 'em up wrapped in a warm blanket of storytelling and character development.”
- “Overall, if you like the character design and a good story, definitely try The Lonesome Guild.”
- “The character designs are incredibly cute, and the music/sound effects are just stellar.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
- “While the visuals are appealing, the character arcs are predictable and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
- “I found the character interactions to be lacking, which diminished my investment in their growth and stories.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization on the Steam Deck is considered passable, with users reporting noticeable stuttering and navigation issues, particularly for those accustomed to mouse and keyboard controls. Overall, the performance does not meet optimal standards.
- “I am a mouse and keyboard guy to my core, and it just isn't optimized for that style of play.”
- “Performance on Steam Deck is not optimal but passable.”
- “I'm experiencing quite a bit of stuttering, which is frustrating, especially when trying to navigate a map every few minutes with no clear orientation.”
- “I am a mouse and keyboard player at heart, and the game just isn't optimized for that style of play.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game has limited replayability, primarily appealing to players seeking self-imposed challenges or completionists interested in uncovering secrets. While it offers charm and clever puzzles, many reviewers feel that additional content or tweaks could enhance its replay value for veteran players.
- “And a scarce replayability (unless you want to challenge yourself by not using equipment/items or not doing quests for leveling up, etc.).”
- “I'd love to see how the devs can squeeze some extra replay value out of the game, as it felt a bit short but justifies its price tag, is full of charm, clever puzzles, and tons of secrets for completionists.”
- “These tweaks would massively improve replay value and give veterans more to chew on.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
The atmosphere of the game is described as lighthearted and immersive, effectively balancing serious themes with a charming, kid-friendly aesthetic. This creates a unique mood that resonates with players who appreciate emotionally engaging experiences without vulgarity, reminiscent of titles like Pokémon Mystery Dungeon and Undertale.
- “You open the game and are immediately immersed in a specific mood and atmosphere.”
- “It's lighthearted, doesn't have a lot of cursing, and the atmosphere built around not being so vulgar makes serious topics really pop.”
- “If the vibes, atmosphere, and real-life better person leanings of aesthetically cute but sometimes emotional kid-friendly games is your thing (see: Pokémon Mystery Dungeon, Undertale, Ori, Klonoa, etc.), do yourself a favor and get The Lonesome Guild already.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion that I was hoping for.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the overall vibe is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or connection.”
- “The environment feels lifeless, making it hard to get lost in the world or feel any sense of adventure.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by lively character interactions and witty banter, often providing genuine laughs amidst a serious narrative. While some moments may be frustrating, they can also be amusing in retrospect, contributing to the overall charm of the experience.
- “If you're looking for a cozy action-adventure game with an interesting and often surprisingly emotional and serious narrative that's carried by funny, lively characters - yes, absolutely.”
- “The banter between characters is fun, realistic, and genuinely funny at times (especially the part where one character goes 'did you just insult me?').”
- “Funny in hindsight, but quite frustrating in the moment.”

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65%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews

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8h Median play time

14h Average play time

3-30h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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