The Royal Writ

About

The Royal Writ is a single player strategy game. It was developed by Save Sloth Studios and was released on August 7, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

In The Royal Writ, you command a deck of charming animal warriors on a strategic battlefield where cards advance to attack the enemy. Each card lost to the enemy base is permanently removed, making sacrifice a crucial part of your evolving strategy. Build a legacy through the unique stories of your fallen yet valiant subjects.

Genres & Tags

Strategy

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 219 reviews

gameplay44 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

The game features a charming art style and delightful music that enhance the overall experience.
Gameplay is engaging with unique mechanics that encourage strategic thinking and experimentation with card synergies.
The first act is enjoyable and offers a relaxed pace, while the second act introduces new challenges that keep the gameplay fresh.

The second act can feel overly punishing and frustrating, with difficulty spikes that may deter players.
Some mechanics and card interactions are poorly explained, leading to confusion and potential frustration during gameplay.
Randomness can heavily influence outcomes, making it feel like wins or losses are often determined by luck rather than skill.

gameplay
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of simple mechanics and strategic depth, particularly in the first act, which serves as an accessible introduction. However, the transition to act 2 introduces new mechanics that can feel punishing and frustrating, especially with unclear interactions and a reliance on chance. While the game features charming visuals and a unique blend of deck-building and tactical elements, many players find the mechanics inconsistent and sometimes overwhelming, leading to a mixed reception overall.
- “The gameplay is entertaining, if RNG dependent like most roguelite deckbuilders, but unlocking more content with each subsequent playthrough helps keep things lively.”
- “A very fun, easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay loop keeps each run feeling fresh, and additional New Game+ challenges give the game lots of replay value.”
- “It's a delightfully simple but deep combination of Slay the Spire deckbuilding, unit-based tactics, and combination/equipment RPG/lite mechanics.”
- “The big thing that turned me away from this game was the nebulous mechanics.”
- “Many cards and bosses have unique mechanics that are not described well enough to intuit how they interact with other cards/mechanics.”
- “Gameplay can be punishing at times; not sure if it needs tuning.”
music
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
38%
5%
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm, catchy melodies, and integration with gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's energy and unique influences, noting its ability to create a delightful atmosphere that complements the game's art style. While some mention minor repetitiveness, the consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal and enjoyment.
- “This game is endlessly charming, a real thinker, and has music that is both stuck in my head and integrated quite neatly into the game!”
- “The music is great, snappy and full of energy.”
- “From the great music, through the funny story, to the joyful but challenging boss mechanics and slick art, it is a wonderfully crafted, all-encompassing piece of art.”
- “The only thing I can appreciate is the music and the aesthetics.”
- “My only complaint would be the music as it can tend to be a bit repetitive, but that's honestly the only flaw I can find with this game.”
- “Super charming visual style with sound and music that accentuates it, but absolutely opaque game design that makes it difficult to gain a sense of mastery run over run.”
graphics
51 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
27%
6%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their charming and unique art style, which combines elements reminiscent of children's storybooks and medieval codices. Players appreciate the attention to detail, vibrant colors, and engaging animations that enhance the overall experience, alongside a catchy soundtrack that complements the visuals. Overall, the game's aesthetic is described as beautiful, fun, and well-crafted, making it a standout feature that captivates players.
- “The characters even have visible progression in their artwork and abilities, which is incredibly cool and reflects the huge effort put into the details.”
- “Presentation is fantastic: visually, it features a unique and charming art style that I can’t get enough of.”
- “An absolutely lovely time -- unique mechanics, a beautiful art style, and just the right amount of challenge.”
- “The only thing I can appreciate is the music and the aesthetics.”
- “It may be that you intend it to be an old school rogue-like where you had to figure out the effects on your own, but the art style does not give that impression.”
- “Got fooled by the unique art style and bought it.”
story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
65%
23%
12%
The game's story is characterized by a whimsical and charming narrative that blends elements of fairytales with darker themes, featuring a pampered bird king on a conquest. While some players find the story engaging and well-written, others view it as minimal yet enjoyable, serving as a delightful backdrop to the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is complemented by stunning art and music, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
- “The art is amazing, the story is actually really well written, and I just like the whole atmosphere of the game.”
- “You play as a pampered and idiotic bird king who sets out to conquer the land on a whim, and it combines aspects of storybook fairytales and at times fairly dark scenarios.”
- “From the great music, through the funny story, to the joyful but challenging boss mechanics and slick art, it is a wonderfully crafted, all-encompassing piece of art.”
- “You play as a pampered and idiotic bird king who sets out to conquer the land on a whim, and it combines aspects of storybook fairytales with fairly dark scenarios.”
- “The story is meh.”
- “It's possible there are strategies I'm missing, but it seems more likely that this is an intentional thematic design that fits the 'story' of the second act.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, funny character names, and whimsical tone, which balances lightheartedness with darker themes. Players appreciate the hilarious card transformations and the amusing storytelling that enhances the overall charm and enjoyment of the gameplay. The combination of engaging mechanics, delightful art, and a humorous narrative creates a uniquely entertaining experience.
- “The card transformations are hilarious.”
- “Funny writing and great style!”
- “On top of innovative, engaging, and ever-evolving gameplay, this game sports gorgeous and unique art, delightful music, and excellent humor!”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
17%
50%
Overall, the game offers high replayability due to the variety of unlockable cards, synergies to explore, and the introduction of a 'hardship mode' that enhances difficulty. Players appreciate the well-designed gameplay and numerous challenge runs, which contribute to a fresh experience with each playthrough. While the absence of an additional act is noted as a downside, the engaging mechanics and newgame+ challenges ensure that players can enjoy many hours of replay value.
- “Replayability seems very high.”
- “A well-designed gameplay and challenges give a lot of replay value.”
- “There's still a fair bit of replayability with more cards to unlock, synergies to figure out, and a new 'hardship mode' that adds ways of making the game harder, but there isn't another act, which is kind of sad.”
- “As for replayability, I'm currently 10 hours in (plus another 8 on the demo) and I've yet to complete act 2, and as far as I can tell there's a bunch more difficulty levels (think stakes in Balatro) and challenge runs I've yet to unlock, let alone play.”
- “A very fun, easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay loop keeps each run feeling fresh, and additional New Game+ challenges give the game lots of replay value.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning art, well-written story, and immersive design, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional music and overall ambiance as standout features. While the atmosphere is a significant draw, some suggest that the gameplay may not meet expectations for those seeking a robust roguelite experience. Overall, it offers a captivating environment that enhances the initial playthrough.
- “The art is amazing, the story is actually really well written, and I just like the whole atmosphere of the game.”
- “It's such a lovely atmosphere to immerse myself in!”
- “The design, the music, and the atmosphere of this game is 10/10.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the emotional impact of losing a cherished unit to be quite profound, often describing the experience as heartbreaking. This highlights the game's ability to create strong attachments and evoke genuine feelings of loss.
- “Losing your treasured unit is actually kind of heartbreaking.”
- “The story made me feel a deep connection to the characters, leaving me emotionally invested in their journey.”
- “Every decision I made had weight, and the consequences often left me feeling a mix of joy and sorrow.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express disappointment with the reliance on grinding in games, viewing it as an outdated method to extend gameplay and create artificial difficulty. They argue that this approach detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that developers should seek more engaging alternatives.
- “I'm extremely disappointed that some devs in 2025 still believe that grinding and artificial difficulty is acceptable as a way to pad their games.”
- “This means you can lose your decks one decent gimmick without tedious levels of focus and scrutiny.”