Skip to main content

Thymesia

A fast-paced soulsborne game for those who enjoyed Bloodborne and wished there was more.
Thymesia Game Cover
76%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, optimization
82% User Score Based on 3,959 reviews
Critic Score 70%Based on 39 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCEpic GamesPlaystation 5CloudPlaystation 4Xbox OneXbox Cloud GamingWindowsPlayStation
Thymesia Game Cover

About

Thymesia is a single player hack and slash game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by OverBorder Studio and was released on August 18, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

"Thymesia" is a single-player fantasy hack and slash game with a good plot, stellar mechanics, and impressive graphics. As Corvus, players must restore the fallen Kingdom of Hermes by harnessing the power of the plague and battling infected monsters to uncover lost memories. However, be prepared for lots of grinding, bugs, and uncovering more secrets along the way. The game promises intense combat with gruesome bosses and various plague weapons to collect.

Skip User Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,959 reviews
gameplay447 positive mentions
grinding107 negative mentions

  • Fast-paced and fluid combat system that rewards aggressive play.
  • Unique plague weapon mechanics that allow players to steal and use enemy abilities.
  • Engaging boss fights that provide a satisfying challenge.
  • Short game length with limited enemy and boss variety.
  • Inconsistent parry mechanics that can lead to frustrating combat experiences.
  • Repetitive level design with reused environments for side quests.
  • gameplay
    1,228 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Thymesia" has received mixed reviews, highlighting its fast-paced combat and unique mechanics, such as the dual health bar system and plague weapon abilities, which encourage aggressive play. While many players appreciate the satisfying parry and claw mechanics reminiscent of "Sekiro," others criticize the game's clunky execution, inconsistent hitboxes, and repetitive enemy encounters, leading to a sense of frustration. Overall, the game offers a solid but imperfect experience, appealing primarily to fans of the souls-like genre who enjoy challenging combat and character customization.

    • “Solid game with innovative mechanics and a fun combat system.”
    • “The claw mechanics are fun and unique.”
    • “The gameplay is tight and responsive, and it's overall really fun to achieve combos and experiment with plague weapons.”
    • “The gameplay was clunky and took a few hours to get used to.”
    • “However, because there is no customization, and far too many minibosses, the gameplay can start to feel repetitive quicker than Sekiro ever did.”
    • “The parry system in this game feels clunky and unreliable, often hindered by buggy mechanics and inconsistent hitboxes.”
  • story
    928 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Thymesia" is generally perceived as underwhelming, with many reviewers noting its reliance on scattered notes and text logs for lore, which can feel tedious and disengaging. While some players appreciate the intriguing premise involving a plague and memory recovery, the narrative lacks depth and cohesion, often feeling generic and poorly conveyed without voice acting. Overall, the game prioritizes combat over storytelling, leading to a mixed reception regarding its narrative quality.

    • “The story is intentionally cryptic, unraveling through scattered notes and fragmented memories.”
    • “The atmosphere and story aren't anything to write home about, but the game has a decent plot and notes on the lore of the world are around if you are the type that enjoys those things.”
    • “The story may be short but the fighting mechanics is what makes me love this game!”
    • “The story is not really explained and the lore bits that are lying around the world are uninteresting.”
    • “The story feels strangely ignored (at the end, I didn't understand anything more than what the initial cutscene said), not to mention that it's badly narrated, and there are dialogues during boss fights but, not having a dubbing, it's all subtitles, and who reads them during a boss fight?”
    • “The story is absolutely strange and not memorable; actually, I did not even get it.”
  • graphics
    393 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Thymesia" receive mixed reviews, with many praising its dark and atmospheric aesthetic reminiscent of "Bloodborne" and "Sekiro." While some players find the visuals stunning and immersive, others criticize them for being inconsistent, with occasional graphical bugs and a lack of detail in certain areas. Overall, the game is seen as visually appealing for an indie title, though it may not meet the high standards set by larger AAA games.

    • “The graphics are absolutely amazing, one of the best souls-likes I've ever played. Amazing job, devs; it's so cinematic.”
    • “The visuals are dark, maniacal, and gruesome, but lack some of the atmospheric depth you find in other titles.”
    • “Thymesia seamlessly combines breathtaking visuals, immersive combat, and a gripping story, making it a must-play for those seeking an unforgettable gaming adventure.”
    • “This game is ugly; graphically, that's not the issue. It's actually that the environment is either rendered with little care, or that the artists and designers who worked on it didn't have the experience to flesh out a truly beautiful yet somber experience, although that is clearly what they were going for.”
    • “The graphics are also weird; there are parts of the game where it looks great and parts where it looks like a mid-2000s Rockstar game.”
    • “The visuals are uninspired medieval fantasy rendered in muddy textures on generic character designs; everything is flat and grey, and knights and villages. I really hoped we had left this kind of world back on the 360.”
  • music
    222 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, particularly during boss fights. While some tracks are described as memorable and fitting for the game's dark tone, others find the soundtrack to be repetitive or forgettable. Overall, the music contributes positively to the game's ambiance, though it may not leave a lasting impression for all players.

    • “The game's atmosphere, background music, and level design contribute nicely to its grim, plague-ridden tone.”
    • “The dark, gothic environments ooze atmosphere, supported by a haunting soundtrack and oppressive lore.”
    • “The music is surprisingly good -- maybe even great.”
    • “No voice acting at all and very minimal music; most of the game is silent besides clanks and grunts occasionally.”
    • “The soundtrack does a competent job of reinforcing the bleak tone, but doesn’t leave a lasting impression.”
    • “The music is totally forgettable.”
  • atmosphere
    189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gothic environments and haunting soundtrack, reminiscent of titles like Bloodborne and Sekiro. Many reviewers highlight the immersive world design and rich visual style, which effectively convey a plague-ridden tone, although some note that the atmosphere can feel monotonous or lacking in depth at times. Overall, while the atmosphere is a strong point, it is often accompanied by critiques of the game's narrative and gameplay mechanics.

    • “The dark, gothic environments ooze atmosphere, supported by a haunting soundtrack and oppressive lore.”
    • “The atmosphere is immersive with rich lore if you have the patience to dig through it all.”
    • “Thymesia's world is dark and atmospheric, with a haunting soundtrack and detailed environments that create a sense of dread and unease.”
    • “Now, not all souls-likes need to nail the bosses if they nail other aspects like the atmosphere and world design, but this game is completely and utterly devoid of those things as well.”
    • “The atmosphere is rather bland and lacks a certain impact, and the maps feel rather repetitive, getting lost in them is completely normal as they all look way too similar.”
    • “Honestly, pretty disappointed with Thymesia.. it's trying to be a poor copy of Bloodborne.. with none of the atmosphere or story.”
  • grinding
    118 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive due to limited farming spots and the need to repeatedly defeat the same enemies and bosses. While some appreciate the challenge and the potential for achievement completion, others criticize the grind for upgrades and materials as unnecessarily long and frustrating, particularly given the game's short length. Overall, the lack of diverse content and uneven difficulty curve contribute to a grinding experience that can detract from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “Achievements are mostly not tedious to complete (I'm short of just 2 to 100%).”
    • “About 10 hours for a playthrough of all the levels (not grinding all achievements).”
    • “Overall, it's not long as my 7 hours shows for all missions and no farming.”
    • “With so few areas, there just aren’t enough interesting farming spots or side content to keep progression engaging.”
    • “Overall, Thymesia has potential and some enjoyable elements, but the lack of content, uneven difficulty curve, and repetitive farming hold it back.”
    • “The skills are nice, but unlocking them takes too much time and grinding for such a short game.”
  • optimization
    83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on lower-end hardware. While some users report smooth gameplay and good frame rates, others highlight frequent micro-freezes and input lag that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual setups, with many hoping for future patches to address these concerns.

    • “It runs smoothly, and I can easily go back to the stage that I want.”
    • “Game has zero performance issues, I never saw framerates drop below what I had it set to (60 fps). The game is very well optimized.”
    • “The graphics are quite good, and my rig (Ryzen 5800X with a 6900XT) can play this at 1440p with everything cranked up to ultra at a steady 140fps with practically no dips or drops.”
    • “The game is very poorly optimized.”
    • “Performance suffers from frequent stutters for no discernable reason, GPU usage is excessively high, and there's severe input lag.”
    • “I have a pretty beastly machine and the optimization has still not been addressed.”
  • stability
    48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and no crashes, while others have encountered significant bugs, glitches, and issues with the combat system. Common complaints include inconsistent hitboxes, freezing during certain actions, and problems with saving progress. Overall, while some players enjoyed a stable experience, many found the game to be buggy and unpolished, affecting their overall enjoyment.

    • “Runs great on Linux/Proton 4K@120fps without any crashes.”
    • “Performance-wise, the game runs great; using a medium-range PC, it ran on ultra settings at a stable 100fps without any crashes or stuttering issues.”
    • “Runs great on my 3070, smooth hovering around 120 fps on ultra (fans kick up a bit, but it's what they're there for).”
    • “Three times the game has erased my saved games, and it wasn't possible to recover the files, even when I followed some troubleshooting that the developers posted on the community forum.”
    • “The controller controls are absolute garbage and when Corvus is walking, it lags or the FPS drops or it glitches.”
    • “The game is currently buggy but more in the quality of life matter.”
  • replayability
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the variety in combat styles, multiple endings, and the ability to revisit specific levels, many express disappointment over its short length and lack of substantial content. The absence of a New Game Plus mode and limited build diversity further detract from its replay value, leaving it feeling less rewarding for those seeking deeper engagement. Ultimately, it offers some replayability, particularly for those interested in achievements or exploring different character builds, but it may not satisfy players looking for a more extensive experience.

    • “Whether you prefer ranged attacks or close-quarters combat, there’s a variety of ways to approach fights, adding replayability and depth.”
    • “The game boasts a fair amount of replayability thanks to its skill trees and multiple endings.”
    • “Multiple endings make this game replayable as hell.”
    • “If you’re looking for a shorter souls-like with a unique theme, you might enjoy it — but if you’re hoping for depth or replayability, it may leave you disappointed.”
    • “The game is very short, and there's not much replay value, but this is a very small indie studio and this is their first game; I'm excited to see what they come up with next.”
    • “The game seems to have replay value at the multiple endings aspect, but some frustrations with the final boss might turn some people off from replaying it.”
  • character development
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the strong character design and immersive atmosphere, while others criticize the lack of engaging story and character depth. Although the visuals and art direction are noted as impressive, the absence of voice acting and limited variety in enemy designs detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the character designs are celebrated, the narrative and character development aspects leave much to be desired.

    • “The atmosphere, the music, the character development, and, in my opinion, the highly successful concept of potion making - everything played and built a very good feeling of immersion.”
    • “Overall fluent gameplay, top-notch action, cool world, and character designs for a very short game like this.”
    • “[Great combat and skill system, great music especially during boss fights, plays very smoothly with no input delays present, amazing character designs].”
    • “The main character is a twink and a bird, so if you don't like projecting onto that character design, that's another detraction.”
    • “- No voice over; the character design of this game is really strong, but the lack of voices is quite an immersion-breaking hurdle. Also, most of the boss dialogue is written as subtitles while you fight them, and to be honest, it's hard to find the time to read what they are saying during the battle.”
    • “The visuals are uninspired medieval fantasy rendered in muddy textures on generic character designs. Everything is flat and grey, with knights and villages. I really hoped we had left this kind of world back on the 360.”
  • humor
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, with players finding amusement in broken mechanics, quirky bugs, and the absurdity of certain combat scenarios. While some aspects, like the lack of voice acting and hit registration issues, contribute to the comedic experience, others, such as the tutorial boss's overwhelming difficulty, provide a humorous contrast to the game's serious tone. Overall, the humor is described as a blend of dark comedy and slapstick, making for a uniquely entertaining experience despite its flaws.

    • “The tutorial end boss just made me laugh because after struggling through the tutorial for almost an hour, watching the main character get his butt handed to him just made me lose it, which was needed because the combat system sucks.”
    • “The combat system is fast, funny, and customizable; I loved it.”
    • “There's no voice acting, which is pretty funny actually.”
  • emotional
    13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a range of emotional responses to the game, with some experiencing deep connections and moments of sadness, particularly through character narratives and boss encounters. However, others feel that the storytelling and emotional depth are lacking, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the game to be a touching journey, others criticize its execution, leading to mixed feelings about its emotional impact.

    • “Thymesia is an indie soulslike that took me on an emotional rollercoaster.”
    • “A touching story about a man finding himself... literally.”
    • “I cried a few times but it was a great experience.”
    • “The story was incredibly boring and failed to evoke any emotional response.”
    • “The setting felt lifeless, making it hard to connect with the characters or their struggles.”
    • “I found the narrative to be dull, lacking the emotional depth that I was hoping for.”
  • monetization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism, with players feeling it lacks depth and originality, leading to perceptions of it being a cash grab. While some acknowledge that the game does not overtly exploit players financially, the overall experience feels rushed and uninspired, failing to add value to the souls-like genre.

    • “Everything feels like this was a quickly made cash grab. I never even heard of this game at all, anywhere, period, until about over a month ago, and I have a long list of souls fans who keep me appraised of any new souls/sekiro/bloodborne game coming out.”
    • “I'm sure there are reasons as to why it happened, because nothing in this game screams to me that this is a cash grab.”
    • “This game adds nothing to the soulslike genre.”
Skip Critic Reviews
Skip Game Offers

Buy Thymesia

9h Median play time
8h Average play time
5-12h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 41 analyzed playthroughs
Skip Videos

Videos

Skip Games Like Thymesia
Skip FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Thymesia is a hack and slash game with fantasy theme.

Thymesia is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 8 hours playing Thymesia.

Thymesia was released on August 18, 2022.

Thymesia was developed by OverBorder Studio.

Thymesia has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Thymesia is a single player game.

Similar games include AI LIMIT, The First Berserker: Khazan, Mortal Shell, Lies of P, Steelrising: Bastille Edition and others.