The Sexy Brutale

85%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,630 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
The Sexy Brutale Game Cover
The Sexy Brutale is a fantastic game that combines style and unique mechanics to amazing effect. I truly hope to see more games like this in the future.
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"The Sexy Brutale" is a puzzle-adventure game where players attend a masquerade ball in a mansion, but time repeats in a loop. As a guest with the ability to be unseen, you must prevent the deaths of other guests by learning their routines and manipulating objects and the environment. With each successful prevention, you uncover more of a sinister plot.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

85%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,630 reviews
story1,162 positive mentions
replayability32 negative mentions
  • Unique and engaging time loop mechanic that allows players to gather information and solve puzzles.
  • Beautiful art style and fantastic soundtrack that enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • Compelling story with interesting characters and emotional depth, leading to a satisfying conclusion.
  • Puzzles are often too simple and straightforward, lacking complexity and challenge.
  • Game is relatively short, with many players completing it in under 10 hours, which may not justify the full price.
  • Controls can be clunky and unresponsive at times, leading to frustration during gameplay.
  • story2,451 mentions

    The story of "The Sexy Brutale" is a captivating blend of murder mystery and time loop mechanics, where players must prevent the deaths of guests in a lavish mansion while uncovering a deeper narrative filled with twists and emotional depth. Many reviewers praised the game's ability to weave storytelling with gameplay, creating an engaging experience that keeps players invested until the end, despite some criticism regarding pacing and predictability. Overall, the narrative is highlighted as a strong point, with a unique art style and a memorable soundtrack enhancing the storytelling experience.

    • “The story is phenomenal, the puzzles are great, and the foreshadowing and overall design of the map/characters is amazing.”
    • “The story grips further you as you prevent each murder, feeding you information about the guest that you just saved and then a little more of the overarching narrative.”
    • “The story unfolds slowly until the very end, where you basically get a few plot dumps and huge twists come out of left field one after another.”
    • “The story does become a bit messy and complicated at the end, but that's only a problem if you take this (cartoon!) game too seriously.”
    • “The characters and story hint a lot at complexity and there is some stuff there but much of it falls short mainly because there is just not enough content.”
    • “The main value of the game is definitely in the story, not the puzzle-solving.”
  • music1,493 mentions

    The music in *The Sexy Brutale* is widely praised for its exceptional quality, featuring a captivating blend of jazzy and electro-swing elements that enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Many players noted how the soundtrack dynamically shifts to match the events occurring in the game, building tension as characters approach their fates. While some found the music occasionally repetitive or jarring during transitions, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack significantly elevates the gaming experience, making it a standout feature of the title.

    • “Incredible music and really awesome world building.”
    • “The soundtrack is probably the best, so much that after hundreds of games this is the first one I have bought the soundtrack from.”
    • “The music is fantastic, the story / how you approach it is awesome (you'll never guess the truth behind this until close to the end) and the gameplay is very interesting, built around time loops and spying, puzzling together when what is happening and why and then figuring how to stop it.”
    • “The music can feel repetitive after the 20th 12-minute cycle, but the different tracks for each section break it up a little.”
    • “The soundtrack can also be pretty jarring when moving from one area to another, because the music in certain areas is meant to accompany the character events happening nearby - it's the most jarring when the music swells near a character death and you move to a room in another area, and suddenly the music is dead calm.”
    • “My biggest complaint, I suppose, is that the music at times got a bit tiring. There are different songs in different parts of the mansion, but you'll be traveling through certain areas quite a bit, and those same songs grated on me after a while.”
  • gameplay1,474 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Sexy Brutale" is centered around a unique time loop mechanic that allows players to relive the same day to prevent murders, combining elements of puzzle-solving and stealth. While the mechanics are engaging and the puzzles are satisfying, many players found them to be relatively simple and lacking in complexity, leading to a gameplay experience that can feel repetitive. Overall, the game is praised for its stylish presentation and intriguing narrative, but some feel it doesn't fully utilize its innovative mechanics, resulting in a shorter and less challenging experience than expected.

    • “The puzzles are deeply entwined with the time loop mechanic in a way that made them satisfying to solve, but not particularly difficult.”
    • “Great visuals and soundtrack, engaging gameplay loop, interesting story, it has everything.”
    • “The gameplay loop is incredibly rewarding.”
    • “The gameplay and puzzles are a bit shallow, but the game oozes style.”
    • “Initially, what The Sexy Brutale had to offer was somewhat disappointing, as it was marketed as a mystery/detective game with a time loop element, yet the gameplay itself is a largely puzzle-based experience with no actual detective work involved.”
    • “In fact, the gameplay is rather lousy if you get down to it.”
  • graphics804 mentions

    The graphics of "The Sexy Brutale" are widely praised for their unique and charming art style, which combines whimsical and gothic elements, reminiscent of Tim Burton's aesthetic. Reviewers highlight the game's vibrant visuals and detailed environments, noting that the art effectively complements the narrative and gameplay, despite some minor performance issues and a lack of adjustable graphical settings. Overall, the visuals, along with the engaging soundtrack, significantly enhance the immersive experience of the game.

    • “From the unique and consistent style of graphics to the frankly banging soundtrack, Sexy Brutale really transports you into its world and invites you to explore.”
    • “The graphics are colorful, pretty, and stylish; the music is perfectly complementary, and the writing is witty and quite good.”
    • “The graphics, art styles, and character designs are quite unique and very cute, while also being brutal in certain parts of the game.”
    • “If you're going to take the time to develop a somewhat complex story with multiple overlapping pieces, then don't pair it with a pop-figurine art style.”
    • “The graphics are a bit dated by today's (2020) standards, but it has its charms.”
    • “Unfortunately, there were some occasional glitches with the graphics and controls that would cause the game to freeze up for a few seconds when entering a new area.”
  • atmosphere242 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its rich, vibrant, and immersive qualities, effectively blending elements of dark humor and gothic horror within a whimsical art style. Reviewers highlight the captivating soundtrack and intricate design of the mansion, which enhance the overall experience and draw players into its compelling narrative. While some note that the gameplay may lack depth, the strong atmosphere and engaging character interactions keep players invested throughout their journey.

    • “The atmosphere is rich and vibrant with several small stories woven neatly together and fellow characters that feel fun and personable.”
    • “It's eerily atmospheric, really well written and endlessly fascinating.”
    • “The entire atmosphere is amazing, the visuals are simple but neat, the mansion itself is designed nicely and it rarely gets confusing despite there being a number of rooms.”
    • “While I like the premise, the presentation from looks to sounds and the atmosphere, I can't see any depth to the gameplay or longevity whatsoever.”
    • “I suppose they were trying to create a tantalizing atmosphere of mystery, but without anything meaningful to invest in, it all rings hollow.”
    • “Environmental sounds don't really have the satisfying effect the rest of the game's atmosphere deserves, and footsteps (as well as a few other noises) are obnoxiously loud.”
  • emotional130 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its heartfelt storytelling and impactful endings that evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears. Reviewers appreciate the depth of character development and the clever integration of gameplay mechanics with the narrative, which enhances the emotional experience. While some found the emotional payoff to be predictable or lacking in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a powerful and touching journey that resonates deeply with players.

    • “By the time you reach the end, you'll likely be emotionally invested in the outcome, and the game knows it - and makes sure the finale hits hard.”
    • “The story is intriguing all the way with a huge emotional payoff at the end.”
    • “It's the best case of using a video game to tell a truly heart-wrenching story, in a way that a book or a film couldn't, that I've seen.”
  • replayability118 mentions

    The game generally lacks significant replayability, with most players completing it in about 6-8 hours and feeling that there is little incentive to play again after achieving 100%. While some may find value in collecting extras or experiencing the story anew after some time, the linear nature and straightforward puzzles limit the overall replay value. Overall, it is considered a worthwhile experience for a single playthrough, especially for fans of the genre.

    • “I completed 100% (all the extras and unlockables) in about 8 hours, and there is probably not a ton of replayability after you are done, but if you are a fan of mystery games, or the type of game where you 'rewind and redo' after gaining new knowledge and powers, I cannot recommend this highly enough.”
    • “It seems like the game can be done in under 8 hours easily which might seem short, but there's optional collectibles and the game has a great charm to it that makes it short and sweet, so it adds a lot to the replayability for me.”
    • “While the puzzles themselves are not overly difficult and the replay value may not be high given the nature of a puzzle game, the entertainment I received was well worth the money.”
    • “It's a single playthrough experience without much replayability.”
    • “After a good 6-8 hours, I'd say you've seen everything and there is little to no replay value past that.”
    • “The only letdown is a lack of replayability, but nothing will compare to that first playthrough.”
  • optimization78 mentions

    The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting frequent performance issues, including stuttering and frame drops, particularly during room transitions. While some users experienced minor hiccups, others described the performance as "abysmal" and "unplayable," even on high-spec machines. Overall, these optimization problems detract from the gameplay experience, though some players still found enjoyment despite the technical shortcomings.

    • “The game runs smoothly with the only occasional stutter as you transition from room to room.”
    • “It's a hell of a 7 hour ride and the fun is only slightly diminished by the slight performance issues.”
    • “As a note on performance, I had very few issues other than a few hiccups transitioning between rooms where the game would drop a couple of frames.”
    • “Utterly abysmal frame timing that renders the game a stuttering, unplayable mess.”
    • “The game has absurd performance issues even on high-spec machines, the drops in framerate often causing dropped inputs forcing me to click repeatedly to do something as simple as enter a door.”
    • “This is one of the worst optimized games I've ever seen.”
  • humor76 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a clever blend of dark and macabre elements, often eliciting laughter through its witty dialogue and absurd situations. Players appreciate the mix of suspense and humor, with many noting the game's ability to balance lighthearted moments with deeper, more serious themes. Overall, the writing and character interactions are highlighted as particularly entertaining, making the experience both funny and thought-provoking.

    • “I had a few 'eureka' moments and even one moment where the way to prevent the death of someone was a funny method that made me laugh.”
    • “The characters and writing is a clever blend of humorous and dark, with enough moments to make you laugh while simultaneously shocking you with their brutality.”
    • “One murder required me to screw over the perpetrator in a way that left me laughing like a gremlin, which is always fun.”
  • grinding62 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is frequently criticized for being tedious, with players noting slow movement, repetitive tasks, and the need to reset the day multiple times, which can lead to frustration. While some mechanics are initially engaging, they often become monotonous, particularly in later stages where waiting for events and solving puzzles can feel like a slog. Overall, the game struggles to balance its intriguing concepts with the repetitive nature of its gameplay.

    • “The objectives to 100% weren't too tedious.”
    • “You run slowly, you have to reset the day many, many times, and it gets tedious after a while.”
    • “The gameplay puzzles with restarting the day were fun at first but became tedious by the midpoint with all the trial and error.”
    • “The challenge isn't figuring them out, it's sitting through the tedious NPC travel routines waiting for the right time to do something.”
  • stability62 mentions

    The game's stability is marked by a mix of minor bugs and occasional freezes, particularly during room transitions and interactions with objects. While some players experienced clunky gameplay and graphical glitches, most reported that these issues were not game-breaking and resolved themselves quickly, allowing for an overall enjoyable experience. However, a few users noted that additional polish could significantly enhance the game's performance.

    • “No bugs or glitches as far as I have found, so if you are interested in this game, I heartily recommend you purchase it.”
    • “If that wasn't annoying enough, there are freezes all over the place.”
    • “Unfortunately, there were some occasional glitches with the graphics and controls that would cause the game to freeze up for a few seconds when entering a new area.”
    • “But the intro is a bit buggy though, sometimes it crashes and just doesn't work; I have to restart it multiple times.”
  • character development58 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its vibrant and unique character designs, which are described as charming and visually appealing, contributing to the overall atmosphere. While the characters are diverse and memorable, many reviews indicate a lack of deep character development, suggesting that while they are interesting and well-designed, they do not undergo significant growth or change throughout the game. Overall, the character design is praised for its creativity and cohesion with the game's art style and narrative, enhancing the player's experience.

    • “The character designs are all unique and memorable, and the music is out of this world.”
    • “The character design is amazing and the whole world is a visual delight.”
    • “I simply cannot get enough of the character design and soundtrack; it's cute, dark, and full of personality.”
    • “Interesting diverse cast of characters: you got diversity and no one results flat out boring, gotta love the creative ways they get killed too, not really a lot of character development (we're gonna cover this better later) but they still end up being diverse, characteristic, and all around interesting.”
    • “As you might guess from the title, just about everything in the game is over-the-top and exaggerated, from the flavor descriptions to the mansion visuals to the theatrical murders to the character designs.”
    • “The character design, along with the environment design, stays cohesive as one walks through the corridors and rooms of the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

79% average critic score

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Play time

7hMedian play time
7hAverage play time
5-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 36 analyzed playthroughs

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