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TUNIC

Take Zelda, take Dark Souls, and take a cup of tea.
TUNIC Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
gameplay, music
grinding, stability
92% User Score Based on 10,077 reviews
Critic Score 89%Based on 46 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox Cloud GamingXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStationXbox Series X|SPCXbox Game PassCloudMac OSXbox One
TUNIC Game Cover

About

TUNIC is a single player role playing game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Finji and was released on September 27, 2022. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

TUNIC is an isometric action game starring a small fox on a grand adventure in a land filled with ancient powers, lost legends, and fierce monsters. As you explore, you'll rebuild the game's Instruction Manual to discover secrets, collect items, and learn new combat techniques. Your goal is to unravel long-lost secrets and find the legendary treasure hidden in this mysterious world.

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92%
Audience ScoreBased on 10,077 reviews
gameplay637 positive mentions
grinding186 negative mentions

  • The game evokes strong emotions, nostalgia, and joy, reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda, creating a deep connection with players.
  • The graphics are widely praised for their charming, vibrant art style and attention to detail, enhancing the overall atmosphere and experience.
  • The unique gameplay mechanic of collecting pages from an in-game manual adds a rewarding sense of discovery and nostalgia, making exploration deeply satisfying.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, particularly combat, have been criticized for being clunky and frustrating, which may detract from the overall experience.
  • The story is often seen as cryptic and minimalist, requiring players to decipher the manual, which can be frustrating for those seeking a straightforward narrative.
  • There are mixed reviews regarding stability, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches, particularly in later sections of the game.
  • gameplay
    2,162 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Tunic* is characterized by its unique mechanic of collecting pages from an in-game manual, which gradually reveals game mechanics and lore, creating a sense of discovery and nostalgia reminiscent of classic adventure games. While the combat incorporates elements from souls-like games, such as stamina management and challenging boss fights, it has been criticized for being clunky and frustrating at times. Overall, the game offers a rewarding exploration experience, with intricate puzzles and a charming aesthetic, though its difficulty and obscure mechanics may not appeal to all players.

    • “The gameplay, progression, world design, and art direction are all thoughtfully crafted, making each moment of discovery deeply satisfying.”
    • “The way the game reveals its mechanics is awesome and it felt very similar to Outer Wilds in the sense that discovery is the driving factor for progression.”
    • “The manual mechanic is a very interesting mechanic because it made me look forward to finding pages, and learning a new tidbit of information.”
    • “The gameplay is very solid, but sometimes I'm feeling like there's something crucial, but it's just out of my reach.”
    • “The combat mechanics are definitely worthy of 'soulslike' and can be fairly challenging at times.”
    • “The gameplay loop contains the right level of confusion mixed with aha moments and all the items you can find gives it a zelda touch which rounds it out as one of the great video games.”
  • music
    1,273 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Tunic" has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Many players describe the soundtrack as beautiful, soothing, and fitting for the game's whimsical yet mysterious aesthetic, with some tracks being particularly memorable and evocative. While a few critiques mention that certain pieces may feel bland or forgettable, the majority agree that the music significantly contributes to the game's charm and emotional depth, making it a standout feature.

    • “The music, composed by Lifeformed and Janice Kwan, perfectly matches the game’s tone—dreamy, mysterious, and subtly melancholic—often changing dynamically to reflect different areas or events.”
    • “The soundtrack is absolutely beautiful and definitely playlist worthy.”
    • “The music is an absolute highlight as well.”
    • “On the minus side, the game has horrible melancholic elevator music as its soundtrack, and the difficulty is really uneven with the regular enemies being quite easy and the bosses being really (sometimes frustratingly) hard.”
    • “The soundtrack was very annoying to me though - very invasive and uninspired.”
    • “The soundtrack by Lifeformed is perhaps the most forgettable part of the whole experience, and that’s a shame.”
  • graphics
    1,223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of *Tunic* have received widespread acclaim for their charming, vibrant art style that combines low-poly aesthetics with modern lighting effects, creating a visually stunning experience reminiscent of classic Zelda games. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environments and the unique in-game manual, which features beautiful illustrations that enhance the overall atmosphere. While some critiques mention minor visual clarity issues, the overall consensus is that the game's graphics are a highlight, contributing significantly to its nostalgic yet fresh appeal.

    • “The graphics are outstanding as well as the camera angles that you need to shift from time to time, as something may be hiding behind a wall that is not seen by using the normal camera.”
    • “I'm glad that the devs didn't go with a pixel graphics design and instead the graphics are crisp and smooth.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, the music is super relaxing, and the world is full of secrets and mysteries.”
    • “The graphics are simplistic, but work well with the nostalgic gameplay.”
    • “The graphics can be a tad difficult to get their meaning across, when the text is done as symbols.”
    • “Don't let the cute aesthetic fool you, this game has a surprising depth and complexity.”
  • story
    1,139 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Tunic" is characterized by its cryptic and minimalist approach, primarily conveyed through environmental storytelling and an in-game manual that players must piece together. While some players appreciate the depth and mystery of the narrative, others find it frustratingly vague and difficult to follow, often requiring external resources to fully understand. Overall, the game offers a unique storytelling experience that rewards exploration and curiosity, though it may not satisfy those seeking a straightforward plot.

    • “The story is told through the gameplay and little things, and the way it's all done makes the game feel like a form of art.”
    • “The story is charmingly excellent, even overcoming most difficult obstacles can be challenging for hardcore gamers who want to play crazy.”
    • “The devs perfectly capture the feel of the old NES instruction manuals (while also incorporating that manual into the game in a truly wonderful way) while also doing an impressive job telling a compelling story with virtually zero dialogue.”
    • “The story is largely up to interpretation, which was a disappointment.”
    • “The story is pretty simple with it not really being told to you at all unless you decipher the manual, but for a game like this that takes heavy influence from the Legend of Zelda, having a simple story is all it really needs as its depth comes from other aspects.”
    • “The story is locked behind a secret language, obscure puzzles, and an instruction manual you need instructions to interpret.”
  • atmosphere
    236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its enchanting visuals, immersive sound design, and captivating music, which together create a rich and mysterious world reminiscent of classic adventure games. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke nostalgia while encouraging exploration and discovery through its atmospheric storytelling and clever puzzles. However, some reviewers noted that the atmosphere can occasionally feel inconsistent, particularly when juxtaposed with challenging combat elements.

    • “The vibrant, toy-like world is rich with detail and atmosphere, from mossy ruins and shimmering beaches to eerie underground caverns.”
    • “The music also fits beautifully, giving off chill, lo-fi vibes that complement the atmosphere.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, tight gameplay, and charm are all here and come together in a way that builds off its clear inspirations.”
    • “The overall atmosphere started to grow stale for me.”
    • “Personally, I think it's an atmosphere problem.”
    • “It doesn't do all that much to set and maintain the atmosphere.”
  • grinding
    195 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating, particularly in the later stages. While some appreciate the challenge and depth of the puzzles and combat, others criticize the repetitive nature of gameplay, backtracking, and poorly designed mechanics that contribute to a sense of monotony. Overall, the experience can feel like a slog, especially for those who are not fans of grinding or intricate puzzle-solving.

    • “This might sound problematic but the world is well-made enough for it not being tedious.”
    • “The puzzles required to obtain the true ending were ridiculously obtuse and unfun, and even if you knew the solution, executing on it was difficult and tedious enough that I cannot recommend this game in good conscience to anyone.”
    • “The combat is about as challenging as you make it, putting in some grinding and exploration can make the bosses manageable, but not necessary.”
    • “The lack of fast travel in this game has already made for some of the longest and most tedious treks in my gaming career, and I've played all the soulsborne games.”
  • emotional
    129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with players expressing feelings of nostalgia, joy, and a deep connection to the gameplay experience. Many reviewers noted that the game evokes childhood memories of exploration and discovery, reminiscent of classic titles like Zelda, while also delivering heartfelt moments and emotional storytelling through its art and design. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully creates a rich emotional journey that resonates with players on multiple levels.

    • “Though Tunic has a minimalistic story on the surface, there’s an emotional undercurrent that grows as the mysteries unfold.”
    • “This game made me feel every emotion that I have not felt in so long; it's beautiful, colorful, happy, and emotional.”
    • “The whole experience made me feel like a kid again exploring the original Legend of Zelda for the first time.”
  • humor
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players appreciating its clever design and whimsical elements, such as the funny fox protagonist and quirky NPCs. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to blend humor with challenging puzzles and combat, often leading to amusing moments of discovery and frustration. Overall, the humor is described as charming and integral to the game's appeal, providing a lighthearted contrast to its more serious themes and gameplay mechanics.

    • “It's really funny when you realize that the game is so souls-like that it even uses plot points of Dark Souls as the basis for its story and lore.”
    • “The game constantly kept me on my toes, laughing, smiling, and yelling 'oh you cheeky devs' when discovering secrets.”
    • “You will very easily find yourself humored and amazed at the small little details put into this game, and absolutely dumbfounded at some of the bigger ones.”
    • “This game is not funny or clever; the glyph system is ridiculous, and the combat is a complete joke.”
    • “The humor falls flat and feels forced, making the experience more frustrating than entertaining.”
    • “I expected some laughs, but the jokes are stale and the comedic timing is off.”
  • replayability
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed, with some players noting low replay value due to the nature of knowledge-based progression and puzzle-solving, while others appreciate features like New Game+ and speedrunning modes that enhance replayability. Many reviews highlight the enjoyment of exploring secrets and collectibles, but some feel that the experience diminishes after the first playthrough. Ultimately, while there are elements that encourage replay, the game may not offer extensive replay value for all players.

    • “The game is designed with sequence-breaking and replayability in mind, and it paces out the reveals of shortcuts and puzzles better than just about any other game I have played.”
    • “The endless content, the replayability, the easter eggs, everything is so good.”
    • “It's a great experience with a good amount of replayability through the new game+.”
    • “For me, the replayability is low.”
    • “Replay value -- 2/10 -- many special collectibles but with no purpose and you 'will' need a guide.”
    • “There's very little to no replay value and the novelty is lost after the first experience.”
  • stability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant bugs and glitches, particularly in later sections, while others report a smooth performance with minimal issues. Common problems include UI obstructions, collision glitches, and freezing, but many players found the game largely playable and enjoyable, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck and Apple Silicon. Overall, while there are notable stability concerns, they do not universally detract from the gaming experience.

    • “And last, it runs great on the Steam Deck, which is a great way to enjoy this little gem.”
    • “It's amazing that a single developer can deliver a more well-polished, bug-free, compelling experience than giant studios with teams of developers, testers, and piles of cash.”
    • “All of that, without even discussing the beautiful visual style and phenomenal sound design/music, nor the basically bug-free gameplay.”
    • “I had recurring problems with white screen glitches, frozen camera, and a stuck UI requiring restarting the game.”
    • “Unfortunately over time it just gets worse and worse, as it seems all the polish was done on the early game areas and later sections become increasingly buggy and areas become increasingly tedious to traverse.”
    • “Game freezes at least twice an hour on average.”
  • optimization
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally praised, with many players reporting solid performance, smooth gameplay, and minimal bugs or glitches. However, some users experienced issues with mouse and keyboard controls, random stuttering, and performance drops in specific scenarios, indicating that while the game is well-optimized for most setups, there are still areas for improvement. The graphics and overall technical execution received high marks, contributing to a positive experience for most players.

    • “It runs smoothly and is well-optimized.”
    • “The graphics are really beautiful and the game runs perfectly (like seriously I didn't encounter a single bug or performance hitch), and the vibe and art style are something special.”
    • “Very well optimized, had zero lag spikes throughout the game.”
    • “I had to request a refund; this game is not optimized for mouse and keyboard, unfortunately.”
    • “My only complaints are I experienced random stuttering (about 3 or 4 different times in my ~18 hours), and the camera got me killed a few times from being unable to see an enemy.”
    • “The default control layout is pretty poorly optimized, feeling cramped and not using the mouse at all.”
  • character development
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its charming and adorable character designs, which draw comparisons to classic titles like Zelda and Final Fantasy. While the protagonist's design is particularly praised, some critiques mention a lack of creativity in enemy designs. Overall, the character design contributes significantly to the game's engaging atmosphere and immersive experience.

    • “Everything about this game is perfect from the character design to the soundtrack.”
    • “The combat is engaging, the character design is fascinating, and the world feels alive.”
    • “The music, character design, combat, and story pull you in immediately and only get better.”
    • “The only real complaints I have about the game are that the character design is a little basic and unlike a trip to Hyrule, Tunic's quest is a lonely adventure in a mostly dead world.”
    • “One of the flaws of the game, in my opinion, is the enemy character design; very poor creativity, as they are just Zelda monsters.”
    • “Even the character design, menus, and items call back to games like Zelda 1 or Final Fantasy, with a spectacular modern twist!”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game is not explicitly addressed in the reviews, but there is a sense of caution regarding the marketing, suggesting that players should be wary of how the game is presented versus the actual experience. Overall, the focus seems to be more on the gameplay and style rather than the monetization strategy itself.

    • “Don't be fooled by advertising calling it an action-adventure game.”
    • “Ever since I first saw the announcement of the game, I've been skipping pretty much all advertisements for the game to go in as blind as possible.”
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14h Median play time
26h Average play time
12h Main story
22h Completionist
8-35h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 46 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

TUNIC is a role playing game with fantasy theme.

TUNIC is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Steam Deck and others.

The main story can be completed in around 12 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 22 hours to finish. On average players spend around 26 hours playing TUNIC.

TUNIC was released on September 27, 2022.

TUNIC was developed by Finji.

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

TUNIC is a single player game.

Similar games include ANIMAL WELL, Death's Door, Hyper Light Drifter, Lunacid, Drova: Forsaken Kin and others.