TRIBE NINE

About

TRIBE NINE is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Akatsuki Games Inc. and was released on February 18, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

TRIBE NINE is set in a futuristic Neo Tokyo where teens engage in brutal, life-or-death battles to reclaim their freedom and dreams. Players control a party of three unique characters who fight together, using strategy and combo attacks to defeat enemies. Exploration and dynamic battles unfold across the vibrant city streets as the story progresses.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,564 reviews

story706 positive mentions

grinding145 negative mentions

Engaging story and characters that keep players invested.
Unique blend of 2D exploration and 3D combat, providing a refreshing gameplay experience.
Generous gacha system that allows players to progress without spending money.

Game announced End of Service (EOS) just three months after launch, leaving many players disappointed.
Combat can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, detracting from the overall experience.
Lack of sufficient endgame content and grinding can become tedious.

story
1,807 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The story of "Tribe Nine" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging narrative and character development, reminiscent of the creator's previous works like "Danganronpa." The game features a unique blend of dark themes and humor, with a compelling plot that keeps players invested, although some criticize it for predictable tropes and pacing issues. While the gacha mechanics have been a point of contention, many players appreciate the ability to progress through the story using guest characters, making it accessible even for those who prefer not to engage with the gacha system. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point of the game, with potential for further development despite concerns about its future due to the game's impending end-of-service announcement.
- “I'm really enjoying what I've experienced so far of the story; it's really engaging and has a lot of that classic Kodaka touch.”
- “The story is engaging, with the usual Kodaka signature style of writing that is unique to himself.”
- “The story is amazing, and I can’t wait to see how it continues and to defeat all the remaining numbers.”
- “The main story isn't anything special; it's just there to set the overarching premise of the plot.”
- “The regular gameplay is grindy and repetitive even outside of the usual gacha grind; the story is nonsensical, bare bones, and rushed, with little to no character development or world-building.”
- “The plot is haphazardly thrown together and rife with tropes and retcons, making it feel predictable and uninspired.”
gameplay
680 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The gameplay of "Tribe Nine" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its engaging combat mechanics, unique character abilities, and the integration of a tension system that adds depth to battles. While some find the gameplay fun and challenging, particularly in boss fights, others criticize it for being clunky and repetitive, especially outside of combat. The gacha mechanics have also drawn scrutiny, with players expressing frustration over low pull rates and a perceived lack of rewards, which detracts from the overall experience despite the game's strong narrative and visual appeal.
- “Surprisingly good overall, it even has a proper campaign for a free-to-play game; the story and gameplay are enjoyable.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, and the storytelling is really (really) good.”
- “The gameplay is fun and skill-based.”
- “The regular gameplay is grindy and repetitive even outside of the usual gacha grind. The story is nonsensical, bare bones, and rushed, there is little to no character development or world-building, quests are uninspired and only serve to pad playtime, and worst of all the xb minigame, the one thing I was really looking forward to trying, is truly horrendous.”
- “The gameplay gets stale incredibly quickly, similar to that of a movie tie-in game from the 2000s.”
- “Gameplay is extremely repetitive and shallow, the story and writing are really bland and uninteresting, and the exploration is boring and unrewarding.”
graphics
343 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
2%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their unique blend of 2D pixel art and 3D models, reminiscent of the Danganronpa series. Players appreciate the vibrant environments, character designs, and smooth animations, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. However, some critiques mention that while the visuals are impressive, they can feel inconsistent, particularly in combat, and there are concerns about performance on lower-end systems.
- “I love exploring the pixel environments; the graphics in the overworld are honestly some of the best incorporated compared to other games that try to achieve a similar look.”
- “The graphics are stunning; think Octopath x Pokémon Black and White, art design is great all around.”
- “The fusion of pixel art and modern graphics during combat is a visual treat that doesn't just serve as eye candy—it enhances the gameplay experience.”
- “The plot is slow to start, the graphics are mediocre, and there has only been one event and one new character since the launch of Tribe Nine.”
- “However, the outdated graphics, rough modeling, poor enemy detection system, and stiff, lagging, and stuck operating feel are entirely unlike the finished product that ought to be created with such a large amount of funds.”
- “The graphics and decent story brought its ratings up so I would give the game an overall 6/10.”
music
167 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
43%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and engaging compositions, often drawing comparisons to the works of renowned composer Masafumi Takada, known for his contributions to the Danganronpa series. While some reviewers noted that the soundtrack may not be groundbreaking and features repetitive elements, it effectively complements the game's atmosphere and enhances the overall experience. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's style and emotional impact.
- “Although the music composition isn't that intricate and you'll notice that the beat starts to repeat itself fairly quickly while listening to the soundtrack on YouTube, it still goes well with the action happening on the screen and helps in building hype.”
- “The music is really good and has some great vibes.”
- “The music, the story, the writing is so good so far.”
- “The music is not memorable to me aside from maybe two or three hype tracks.”
- “You slog through the opening part with ear-grating music, then the real game starts.”
- “This game attracted me with familiar art design and music style, but everything else is just plain bad.”
grinding
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The reviews indicate a mixed sentiment towards the grinding aspect of the game. While some players appreciate the lack of a stamina system and find the grinding rewarding and manageable, others criticize it as tedious and repetitive, particularly in resource farming and character leveling. Overall, the game offers a blend of enjoyable combat and exploration, but the grinding can become a chore, especially for those not inclined towards extensive farming.
- “The game is perfect in almost every other way; the combat is fun, it's not that grindy (at least to the part I'm at), and the story is good too.”
- “No grinding for materials, no stamina system.”
- “The regular gameplay is grindy and repetitive even outside of the usual gacha grind; the story is nonsensical, bare bones, and rushed. There is little to no character development or world-building, quests are uninspired and only serve to pad playtime, and worst of all, the minigame I was really looking forward to trying is truly horrendous.”
- “Just farming upgrade materials requires you to fight the same boss like 10 times for one level, of which there is another level to upgrade beyond that.”
- “The grind in this game gives you nothing of particular value but still remains faithful in being as tedious and loathsome as possible.”
character development
105 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
34%
3%
Character development in the game is generally perceived as lacking, with many reviewers noting that while the character designs are visually appealing and unique, the depth of character development and storytelling is minimal or rushed. Some players appreciate the artistic direction and the variety of character designs, but feel that the overall narrative and world-building suffer, leading to a disconnect between the engaging visuals and the gameplay experience. Overall, while the character designs are often praised, they do not compensate for the shortcomings in character development and story cohesion.
- “The character designs are absolutely gorgeous and unique, as expected because we have Rui Komatsuzaki on board.”
- “A great, engaging and unique story with tons of likable characters and gorgeous character designs.”
- “The visuals are super vibrant, and the character designs are awesome.”
- “The regular gameplay is grindy and repetitive even outside of the usual gacha grind, the story is nonsensical, bare bones, and rushed; there is little to no character development or world-building, quests are uninspired and only serve to pad playtime.”
- “It seems like too much budget went into character designs, and not enough into the broader experience, unlike Mihoyo’s Genshin Impact, which thrives on investing in its characters and world-building.”
- “In terms of the characters and character design, honestly, I think it's pretty lacking on that front.”
monetization
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
64%
26%
The monetization model of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing it as predatory and reminiscent of a cash grab, particularly in its initial stages. However, some players have noted improvements following community feedback, leading to a more balanced approach that includes a generous battle pass and better free-to-play rewards. Overall, while the game has potential, its monetization strategy has caused significant concern among players, impacting their willingness to recommend it.
- “I ended up spending $20 on in-game purchases and, so far, I've logged over 20 hours of enjoyable gameplay—and I still have another chapter left to finish.”
- “Despite having a gacha for characters and build-affecting cards, the gameplay is almost completely unaffected by the monetization, with no stamina systems and a grind you can peck away at all day if you'd like. The gacha characters aren't better than any character you could get for free, just different ways to play the game.”
- “With the latest changes, they have fixed all the issues related to monetization and added quality of life improvements to make farming and exploration more enjoyable.”
- “The game has nowhere near the polish of many Chinese or Korean gachas, so to be this greedy with the monetization shows a lack of awareness by the Japanese devs. They eventually fixed that part, but that first impression led to an exodus of players that the game never recovered from.”
- “What turned into a game with great potential, turned into nothing but another filthy cash grab.”
- “The monetization and free-to-play rewards are poor compared to most gacha games nowadays, but I'm having a blast playing the game.”
humor
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the dark and quirky comedic elements woven into the story and character interactions, which often elicit genuine laughter. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, particularly in the context of battles and narrative delivery, the engaging dialogue and character dynamics contribute to a fun experience overall. The balance between lighthearted moments and serious themes is noted as a strong point, making the game enjoyable despite its flaws.
- “The game is really fun; the story mode is greatly made with funny moments.”
- “The main villain just steals attention every scene he's in, and there are some really good lines; the dialogue exchanges, especially, were hilarious.”
- “I find myself laughing a lot during dialogue; it's refreshing.”
emotional
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The emotional aspect of the game is a significant highlight for many players, with heartfelt storytelling and character development evoking strong feelings, including sadness and investment in the narrative. Players express a deep connection to the characters and their journeys, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. However, the game's premature conclusion and issues surrounding its launch have left some feeling disheartened, complicating their overall emotional experience.
- “It's extremely heartbreaking because you can feel the love and work the team put into making this game.”
- “The story... is devastating but amazing; they made me cry so much in chapter 3. The writing is so good, I am looking forward to future chapters!”
- “The voice actors did an amazing job in chapters 2 and 3, and words cannot describe how emotionally intense it was, despite being only such a short journey.”
- “Boring story and awful clunky combat ruin a game with appealing characters, an interesting world, and a cool game mode involving baseball and Danganronpa-style debates.”
- “Boring story; two playable characters died in the beginning, and they retcon it right after, making this story no different from any other gacha games with bad stories in general.”
- “Forced to read through a boring story.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
45%
22%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance at stable 60 fps on high settings, others experience significant lag, stuttering, and poor controller support. Additionally, there are complaints about a lack of customization options and UI design issues that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while there are notable improvements, many users feel that further optimization is still needed.
- “Good optimization; the game ran at a stable 60 fps on max graphics settings on an RTX 3070 with zero framerate drops and no screen tearing.”
- “Love the game because of how it optimized itself to have a pixelated overworld design, which makes it easier for my low-end PC to run.”
- “Game optimization is quite good.”
- “On PC, it lacks customization options such as rebinding, more graphical options, performance optimization, etc.”
- “I actually quite like the game, but the performance is abysmal.”
- “On top of that, the game has massive lagging and stuttering issues; it's almost impossible to enjoy the combat. There is no way this game, being capped at 60fps, should lag and stutter at 60fps.”
atmosphere
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
13%
20%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vastness and immersive qualities, blending vibrant aesthetics with dark undertones. Reviewers highlight the effective use of music, pixel art, and 3D models to enhance the storytelling and character interactions, creating a unique and engaging experience reminiscent of titles like Danganronpa. Overall, the game's setting, character dynamics, and expressive atmosphere contribute significantly to its appeal.
- “The world you explore is vast and so atmospheric.”
- “The story, atmosphere, and theme were incredible!”
- “The game has a unique setting, a vibrant cast of characters, a dark and yet cozy atmosphere, an interesting story to follow, and big cities to explore.”
- “The atmosphere feels like Danganronpa but also isn't.”
- “The atmosphere of the world hits those dark vibes just right.”
- “Wacky villains and eccentric characters further enhance this vibrant atmosphere, bringing a sense of unpredictability and excitement to every encounter and dialogue.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability has been noted as somewhat problematic, with users reporting bugs, choppy gameplay, and occasional glitches, including instances of infinite loading screens. However, many players seem to accept these issues as typical for a new release and consider them relatively minor in the broader context of the game experience.
- “It was a little buggy, and some of the gameplay was choppy, but that didn't matter to me; I figured a new game would have its rough spots right off from release.”
- “There are glitches sometimes and pauses in the game, but those are relatively minor in the overall picture.”
- “I encountered an infinite loading screen where the screen freezes, but the music keeps playing and the loading icon in the bottom right corner keeps spinning.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players appreciate the game's balance of male and female characters, enhancing its appeal, but express a desire for more replayable story content. Overall, the game's replayability is seen as limited, yet it maintains strong support from its community.
- “The game is amazing; I just wish the story experiences were replayable.”
- “I will continue to support the game as long as it lasts because this is a 'rare gacha game' where there's a balance of male and female characters that are playable.”