Touhou Mystery Reel

About

Touhou Mystery Reel is a single player casual action adventure game. It was developed by Iceprite and was released on February 13, 2022. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

Touhou Mystery Reel is a horizontal scrolling action game. The game has a unique combat system. Players make different decisions in the level, which will trigger different plots at the end of the level. It is up to the player to challenge a stronger BOSS or do something "dirty".

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 195 reviews

gameplay10 positive mentions

Engaging and challenging boss fights with a satisfying parry/timing combat system.
Cute pixel art and well-crafted character design with appealing music.
Lots of secrets and hidden interactions encouraging exploration and replayability.

Controls can feel confusing and stiff, with poor keyboard support and no key remapping.
Lack of clear tutorials and poor communication about game mechanics and boss patterns.
Game is short with limited levels, and development has been slow or possibly abandoned.

gameplay
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
38%
14%
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging mechanics, satisfying combat elements like parrying, and charming art style, though some players find the controls unintuitive and the difficulty quite high. While initially stiff or limited in content, mastering the mechanics offers a rewarding experience, with expectations of more depth as the game develops. Overall, the gameplay is considered fun, neat, and enjoyable despite some minor frustrations.
- “An amazing experience with high quality gameplay and graphics as well as having really high difficulty.”
- “Interesting mechanics that once you master them it becomes very enjoyable and the boss is very satisfying once you understand the choreography perfectly.”
- “Parry feels very satisfying to execute and I wish more games would have the mechanic.”
- “Yet another gameplay decision that I don't understand.”
- “The health with stamina mechanic is annoying too.”
- “First off, the gameplay system.”
music
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is consistently praised for being appealing, bubbly, and fitting well with the overall atmosphere. It complements the pixel art and unique combat, enhancing the exploration and replayability experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong positive aspect of the game.
- “Amazing music enhances the gameplay experience with nice quests and an original reels feature that ties into the combat system.”
- “I love the bubbly music and appealing pixel art, which makes the unique fighting system encouraging exploration fun and satisfying.”
- “The character sprites and music are great, complemented by fascinating hidden rooms and humorous references.”
graphics
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
The graphics are praised for their high quality, clean and cute art style, drawing comparisons to titles like Luna Nights. Users find the visuals appealing and fitting the indie game style, contributing to an overall engaging experience.
- “An amazing experience with high quality gameplay and graphics as well as having really high difficulty.”
- “Graphics are cute and clean, music's nice, gameplay sometimes feels a bit stiff, but the more you get used to it, the more it feels just right.”
- “Good controls, visuals and story.”
humor
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is widely praised for its clever, absurd, and playful elements, including funny secrets, witty references, and engaging character interactions. Players appreciate the lighthearted tone, which complements the gameplay and adds an entertaining layer to the experience.
- “Some of the secrets you find are absurd and funny, such as making a boss slip on the most devastating of all banana peels (so powerful, even the Looney Tunes would outlaw it).”
- “This game has a lot of potential; the character sprites and music are great. There are several references from other works that I find very funny. The hidden rooms and the conversations with the characters are fascinating and made me laugh.”
- “Although the game is free to play and still in early access, it offers a lot of things to do, and the impact of our actions is pretty funny too.”
story
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The story is praised for being a strong framing device that complements the gameplay, featuring engaging quests and intriguing subtleties that enhance the overall experience. It adds depth to the game, especially appreciated by fans of the Touhou series.
- “Very nice game, good combat system, high replayability value, amazing music, nice quests and the unique reels feature. To beat the boss, you need to gather information on their attacks by completing quests or finding secrets, making the story engaging and interactive.”
- “Good controls, visuals, and story.”
- “The story in TMR is a great framing device.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game runs smoothly with good optimization; however, some players find the difficulty curve unexpectedly steep.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers high replayability thanks to its original reels feature and strategic combat system, encouraging players to explore quests and secrets to gather information needed to defeat bosses. This engaging cycle fosters repeated playthroughs to master different strategies.
- “Very nice game, good combat system, high replayability value, amazing music, nice quests, and the best reels feature is so original. To beat the boss of the level, you first need to obtain information on their attacks. By doing quests or finding secrets, you obtain reels and information on how to counter some attacks.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is minimal, with limited focus beyond basic design and the presence of a familiar character, Reimu.